Superbowl Bridge

[heiferboy]

I had a nice ride last Saturday around Coondoo and Superbowl but it included my riding buddy having a nasty crash at the narrow bridge over the creek at Superbowl. We started off at the singletrack off, I think, Butterfy Rd just up the top of the short hill from the Tallowood Rd/Forest Rd area. The bridge is about 1km or so in after all the switchbacks.

It always been a pretty complex sequence of challenges even for an experience rider like he is but this time it all came unstuck. He rolled into the entry creek bank ok but got knocked offline by the tree root before the bridge. He was off balance on the bridge and when spotting the exit bank and the tree root there, he just rode off narrow bridge on the right hand side all at speed. He let go of the bars and tried to grab the big fallen tree that's there but just hit it with his chest and fell about 2m into the bottom of the creek bed. Luckily he landed in an upright position up against the far bank but I think if he didn't try to grab the tree he would have flipped on his head and dived 2m to the bottom. It could have been a whole lot worse. He was shaken but got away with badly bruised chest and his knees took a hit on his bike.

This has always been a scary bridge being so narrow and having to hit it quite fast to get up the other side. I think the recent rain has made it much worse due to erosion around both the tree roots on the entry and exit banks meaning a big bump on the way in and more speed needed to get over the on on the exit. I've never been that confident on it because it's so narrow and it was scary to watch the crash so I'm not sure I'm comfortable riding this bridge next time.

Maybe a work day is needed on this section to smooth the transitions out a bit? Let me know and I'll be there if I can.

HB

[oka]

Trail conditions can and will change due to mother nature and/or unknown others altering things.(sometimes overnight)
When having not riden a trail for some time or you are an unlocal it is always best to ride a slower lap to check on any trail obsticals that may present a technical challenge beyond your ability or one that may prevent the trail being riden at all ie. fallen tree.
The bridge in question does have a 'B' line around and it was signed posted last time I was there, although it is probably covered in leaf litter and hard to see.
The bridge is a test of ones skills and has been included in many State XC rounds and Marathon events for many years. It may have been the a contributing factor to the odd crash at times but no more than many other technical parts of the trail.
At the moment the tree roots on the entry and exit are preventing erosion. This is not to say that they shouldn't be removed but something must be put back there to prevent a V rut forming.
I am sure when the trail crew are done at Butterfly (signage etc) and Coondoo they will embark on resurecting Superbowl. Until then it is an unmaintained trail. Officially that is but reread my first sentence.

Ride carefully and within your limits at all times.

[heiferboy]

Not unlocal, ride it regularly, not beyond our abilities. But it has changed recently and for the worse. I totally understand the corporate response but I thought you should know in case someone breaks their neck.

HB

PS - love the work being done elsewhere and very much appreciate all the trail elves do :0)

[deano128]

I rode it a few times since the rain and thought it was alright

[pharcyde]

You probably gapped the whole thing, hucker!

Jokes aside, that tree root on the bridge exit has always been a trap for young players, nearly caught me out several times in the past!

[locky]

I managed to catch a shot of a young guy hitting that exit tree in a state round. It was interesting being in the gully watching all the back wheels get airborn coming off that root you are all talking about.
I haven't ridden it for a while but that exit root was getting more exposed.
I have always liked riding the bridge though.

[locky]

I rode the bridge this morning and the exit root is much more exposed. It is dangerous because you want to back off but can't because you need speed to carry you up over the far bank.
Down the track (when we get back to working on Superbowl) something needs to be done before we race there again.

[TC]

Bridge is fixed, I think. Didn't ride it so take it easy first time over it.

[heiferboy]

Nov 7, 2014 5:59:05 GMT 10 TC said:

Bridge is fixed, I think. Didn't ride it so take it easy first time over it.

That's magic. Thanks Tony.

I'm away at the moment riding some epic Alpine trails around Bright and Thredbo but just happened to check in for the for the first time in ages. Good timing. I'll be back on the local trails soon.

Thanks.

HB

[pharcyde]

Rode SB last night. The bridge has a blind entry (more than before!) now. It rides fine and the exit is NOW very manageable.