Back from a long spin around Howth last night, my shins and knees are shredded from furse, briars and trail rash. The clean off afterwards looked like the shower scene from Psycho.
Long pants are way too hot. I was thinking of getting these, they might look a bit daft but they should help:
You can pedal all day in them they come down about half way down your shin so give you enough protection. The full length ones you posted are terrible for pedalling and are better suited to dh riding. They move around alot and end up never being where you need them to be
if you are riding XC all the time Greg, then no pads, you will sweat buckets and they will be unbearably uncomfortable unless you are crawling around.
For general trail riding and having fun, then Als recommendation is bang on the money.
This is not meant to sound like a kick up the hole, but why don't you get up to the offending trail and cut back those gorse !! or organise a crew to help you. There are several people out that way who i'm sure would be glad to do it with you. They only need a leader !!
Thanks for the input guys, I'm glad I posted before buying.
I have used ordinary shin guards with reasonably good results - the one used for hockey, etc that are secured like a half sock around your heel. They look crud but keep the briars away.
Two years ago one of our group wrote a nice letter to Fingal CoCo which resulted in them sending several workers to do an extensive opening/widening of the trails. You have to be very careful dealing with the CoCo as there are members who'd ban bikes from the area given any excuse.
Credit to P Bonnie who did a lot of work last Summer on the Howth trails.
It's a good idea about arranging a meitheal this year. There are many km of trails, we will pick a section at a time.
well there you go..while you're at it, start a Club out there !!
Theres no actual Northside Club !!and the Northside is nearer the Coolies than Wicklow ( probably not true but hey a good lie is better than a bad truth anyday). Plus an organised Northside club could more recognition for trails in St Annes, Howth and get the Phoenix Pk back.
IMRA runs a Hillrun on Howth every year..if them scaldy feckers can do it, so can we !!
Richie
These pads are great.. and just perfect for what you need..
Have used them myself.. they are light weight, made from neoprene, not designed for DH use or for taking big hits but for general protection from gorse / thorns / scratches they are great..
There is a group Howth Patch Ways, volunteers doing some work in the trails , I have been in contact with Kevin one of the organizers of the group and have a chat with him.
He told me that they donât like too much bikers because they donât stick with the existing trails creating a fair bit of erosion, and some people donât stop for walkers and push then of the trail. What I think is fair enough of their part, is up to us to change their view and show that walkers and bikers may leave in Harmony and use the same space.
I leave in Howth myself and have volunteer for the group, with we get more bikers there, I believe we can show then there is no reason to ban bikes and we may get some work done in the trails to suit out needs as well.
good man Mario, the man to talk to is Sean Herlihy ( The Happy Fairy ) he is the Chairman of the Offroad Commission and he lives in Raheny. Hes the Number one man for MTB Access for Ireland..PM him and let him know whats going on,
Richie
That's a crackin' idea your Byrneress about starting a Northside Club. The big concern I have is: Howth Head is "sensitive". A group of 2 or 3 MTBers behaving themselves is usually OK. A group of 10 or 20 MTBers could be a problem.
I am a bleedin' expert in lights because at night there are no walkers. Hit those trails on a Summer weekend day and you'd need a flak jacket.
Following on the success of the Epic midweek course I am wondering if a circuit could be mapped out to allow XC racing.
When I'm let I am mad keen to join one of your Fri pm or Sat am spins; talk then.Greg.
Good man Greg, i will give you members access to our forum and you can come to any of our outings.
If theres anything I can do to help you let me know ! Though I am way out of my depth on the Northside !!
The funny thing is, all these places are " sensitive"
we were told we'd never get to use Djouce for a race ..never !!
and yet here we are , a race every year for several years now..
as for 3 Rock...never happen..bollocks !!
MAD own it now !!
Its all about the approach and regardless of how uncool certain people might think Clubs are..we would have nothing without them..
The Authorities like Clubs..Clubs have rules..they are affiliated to a National Organisation that they can talk to..
Imagine an Urban Downhill going from the top of Howth to the Harbour !!
All it takes is one man with a vision !!
I have to laugh at " Sensitive " ..a big dirty hill coated in Gorse !! and Bracken !!
Sean will give you the spiel on sustainable trails and all that jazz..blind them with documents !!
Richie