Following the discovery of the tree-disease P. ramorum in Moneyscalp forest, large areas of trees are to be felled to prevent the spread of the disease. The forest is closed to all users during the felling and access will be limited to forest roads only for a period of 3 years. We urge all mountinbikers to observe the access restrictions.
There is a risk of the infection spreading to nearby Tollymore and if this is occurs, similar restrictions must be put in place. The Forestry Service hopes to be able to confirm the situation in the spring.
Tree disease found in Moneyscalp Woods, Tollymore – BBC News
An update from Coillte Outdoors:
Forest operations of windrowing brash close to MTB Trails at Ballinastoe.
Forest operations in the way of windrowing brash has started on a clearfelled section, this is to facilitate new planting that will be commencing shortly, please note there might be small section closures as a result. For your health and safety please respect these closures and do not approach any machinery.
Following a recent call for submissions to the Coillte MTB Strategy, concerns have been raised in some quarters regarding the level of involvement of the mountain bike community in communications with Coillte, as well as other landowners, and also relating to the level of progress to date and the value of continued dialogue. While it is not practical to deal with all the various points here, I want to give an overview of where we are and suggest a mechanism for addressing specific concerns and communicating information going forward.
While there have been some notable steps forward over reason years, and much progress has been made, it is an undeniable fact the progress in certain areas has been slow and fraught with issues. Instead of going through a litany of successes and failures I will explain where things stand at this moment in time and how we plan to progress them forward.
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Questions and answers will appear in our new FAQ section.
The CI Offroad Commission is currently making submissions to Coillte regarding a draft National Mountain Bike Strategy.
While we are confident we are aware of many of the key hotspot areas for mountain bike activity, there may be areas of Coillte lands being use that we are not aware of.
If you are a local club active in an area that you feel we may not be aware of please email offroad.commission@gmail.com, with details of both your club and the location.
The purpose of this exercise is to gain a better understanding of the level of activity across Coillte lands and to form the basis of a frame work which may lead to future trail development at both local and national level.
All information will of course be treated as confidential and will not be used for any form of punitive reasons.
There is quite a tight deadline which we have to work to so as far as possible could you please send submissions by Sunday 30th October.
If you feel you would like to make a submission but have concerns please feel free to contact Sean Herlihy at 087 9854445 to discuss.
Regards
CI Offroad Commission
From Coillte Outdoors:
Remedial work on the single track parts of the Ballinastoe MTB trail will commence on Monday the 26th September and will be ongoing for 3 weeks until the 14th October, please note there will be rolling section closures as a result. For your health and safety please respect these closures and do not approach any machinery.
Sorry for the inconvenience – but it will be well worth it.
In partnership with Cookstown District Council, CAAN is working on a project to deliver approximately 11.5kms of multi purpose trails within Davagh Forest.
A concept plan was completed by Dafydd Davis in 2009 and this will form the basis of the new trail system.
Funding has been secured and it is hoped that the new trails will be in place by end of September 2012.
More details HERE
This is excellent news for the development of MTB in the region, thanks to all who have made this possible and especially Carn Wheelers whose very successful round of the XC NPS in 2011 proved that this is an excellent venue for both racing and casual mountainbiking, and riders from all parts of the country will again be eager to head north in 2012 to race once again at this scenic and exciting venue.
Following feekback from trail-users, repair work and modifications will be carried out on Ticknock. The outward section of the Ticknock MTB loop (“Metro 2″) will be temporarily closed for maintenance from 19th-23rd September. Please obey signage and stay off this section of trail during the duration of the works.
You can see a map of this section here.
A new trail construction project is underway in Moycullen, Co. Galway. It’s a collaboration between Connemara MTB, Moycullen Community Development Association, Galway County Council Community Support Scheme and Moycullen Bike Works. The goal is to have the trail complete by National Trails Day on October 2nd.
Vounteers will be needed for upcoming trail-building days, keep an eye on the Connemara MTB website for details.
Dublin’s first official mountainbiking trail was officially opened yesterday. Minister for Sport, Leo Varadkar; Coillte Head of Recreation, Bill Murphy and Cathaoirleach of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Lettie McCarthy conducted the ceremony at Ticknock. Over 200 riders of all ages were in attendance for the inaugural Dublin Biking Blitz event.
Photos from the day:
Ticknock Trail Opening from Morgan O'Connell on Vimeo.
