Mcleans Island Christchurch disappointment

[Ayrtonsenna]

Decided to go to Mcleans for a ride….its been awhile- like 10 years!…..and shit I was disappointed…..I arrived to find a sign from the council saying due to the extreme winds, and fallen trees all trail rides were closed…shit.

So I unloaded the bike and went for a good look around anyway……managed to get around a few fences, but a waste of time really.

Could someone enlighten me to where I’m able to- just go for a ride?? I’d like to get some practice in before embarrassing myself at the next trail ride.

Cheers guys.

Ants

[Transalper]

Going in at Weedons Ross Road is the place I'd start if Miners Bank Rd is closed. You can go up and down stream from there in the trees and out in the open.
A lot of the place has signs indicating one way traffic only so try not going the wrong way if you see those or you risk a higher chance of a head on as everyone thinks we are all going the same direction.
I wouldn't bother with the closer entrance by the gun club which is now an ATV area.
There are some nice sandy tracks some naughty people have made in the restricted area between Miners Bank paintball area and Weedons Ross but it is a restricted area so I guess you take your chances. No idea what the fine might be.
And yes a lot of it is now regularly closed due to tree fall risk and flooding etc. or permanently closed for reassignment to walkers, horses and cyclists.
Long gone are the days you could ride from bridge to bridge on both sides of the river.

[Ayrtonsenna]

End of weedons Ross road looks great- just past the airfield, doing the Google map thing…
I can see alot of tracks, I guess there open to Mountain bikers / general public etc?
Wheres the safest place to leave the vehical and trailer?

Appreciate your help.

Ants

[Transalper]

Don't know about the safest, people park more or less anywhere along Weedons Ross on the gravel, I usually park at S43 28.201 E172 23.378 which is where the gravel starts, but on the left just off the road straight over the hump.
Don't see any point driving any further except the main bike entrances through the fences that are usually open are down nearer the river around S43 27.679 E172 23.612

The river has washed away some parts of the tracks so take care when nearing the edges of the river.
In the trees when I was there last there were still a lot of impassable ones down across the tracks and others leaning on others kind of ready to fall from the big winds several months earlier.

[Stylo]

Don't know about the safest, people park more or less anywhere along Weedons Ross on the gravel, I usually park at S43 28.201 E172 23.378 which is where the gravel starts, but on the left just off the road straight over the hump.
Don't see any point driving any further except the main bike entrances through the fences that are usually open are down nearer the river around S43 27.679 E172 23.612

The river has washed away some parts of the tracks so take care when nearing the edges of the river.
In the trees when I was there last there were still a lot of impassable ones down across the tracks and others leaning on others kind of ready to fall from the big winds several months earlier.

It surely can't be worse than the 'refined' MC park they've set up on the North bank by the old Waimak bridge, however many trees have come down. And it used to be a great place to go, no wonder it's off the 'places to ride list ' now and well done the Waimak council.

Largely fenced off for the sake of MTB riders, noticed they don't go their either. Fences don't mean fun .

[Hads]

I often take the 4wd to the forest end of swamp rd in Loburn, it would be quite good for a motocross bike too I think, it does have a few fallen trees, but often you can get round them with a bike, or take a different track.

[Transalper]

I often take the 4wd to the forest end of swamp rd in Loburn...

That's worth a look thanks, I haven't seen much of the Ashley area other than the North bank, East of the Rangiora bridge and that wasn't too interesting. oh and some West of Rangioras bridge on the South bank by mountainbike and foot.

The Waipara riverbed is a bit of fun when the water is low, a lot further to go to get there though. Got from the Amberley entrance to within about half a Km of the Waipara River Gorge on my last visit to that riverbed.

[Tazz]

Suppose you'd need some bloody weet-bix box chainsaw license and 35 official signed documents of permission to go about it 'officially', but living by the 'it is easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission' saying, why not grab a few riders, a chainsaw and clear some of it up?
Or have they slammed heaps of fences in the middle of the tracks as well?

[Transalper]

I for one live in the city and have no fire place (council is phasing them out you know) so have neither a chainsaw to use, or any idea how to safely use one if I did... even more so I imagine using it on trees lying against other trees across tracks to be more of a risk for the inexperienced user than normal cutting of trees.
I like my limbs attached and also not crushed but it's a nice idea.
Unfortunately it's all too big for my pruning saw which I carry sometimes but I've even got that a bit stuck once or twice.

[Sidey]

Hi guys

Thanks for notifying us of all the fallen logs and stuff. Sounds Ma Nature has turned the area into a nice trials bike park! I'll get in touch with the Pioneer club and let them know that what used to be boring is now useful. Just: don't clear the logs please!

Keep your feet on the pegs but keep reaching for the stars ... Sidey

[Ayrtonsenna]

Thanks for the advice guys…popped down to Weedons today for a few hours had a great time… I’m now happy with the bike and looking forward to doing my first trail ride!

Cheers
Ants

Tried to upload a pic- wtf

[Alpha Solo]

Hey Beadle - Get back upstairs!!!

If you are not already aware of it, this is the bible for most of us -

http://www.adventureguide.co.nz/

It will be soon replaced by an updated version under the banner LDM (see other posts) at the start of next month.

If you really wanna get dirty with Katie then bring her over to the coast!!!

Paul.

[Tazz]

I for one live in the city and have no fire place (council is phasing them out you know) so have neither a chainsaw to use, or any idea how to safely use one if I did... even more so I imagine using it on trees lying against other trees across tracks to be more of a risk for the inexperienced user than normal cutting of trees.
I like my limbs attached and also not crushed but it's a nice idea.
Unfortunately it's all too big for my pruning saw which I carry sometimes but I've even got that a bit stuck once or twice.

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRq3cwLTmfkxEW5q23TfPq5BNj5yJaHY VC5JZ5Qfrv2DCHu1yJP

:p

I wasn't meaning you or anyone in particular, just in general. If you're smart enough to not rush out with a chainsaw and casually take your leg off because of inexperience, no one is going to judge you harshly :msn-wink:

Sounds like some mad bugger likes the logs across the tracks anyway :2thumbsup