Word on the intertubes is that Pinkbikers are building stuff. No clue about specifics. Word on the street is that there are random incredibly poorly built and placed jumps showing up in the DJ area. I'm tentatively putting 2 and 2 together....anyways. Anyone here want to speak up and say that they're building shit, it's all part of a bigger plan or, they've seen those jumps and want to speak to whoever's responsible or what have you?

that's what i'm saying in a wierd way nwd_26

people will forever build in the woods...some nice and some shitty builds.
some are on pinkbike, some on dm and maybe 1/3 are internet free
and never waste time on the net cause they are building....doing what makes them happy.
the shitty builds deteriorate and fall apart in a few seasons and the nice ones last years...like VOTLR*


as far as the D/J's....there is no building as of a few days ago...just rough mud everywhere...some dry
with a ton of deep tyre tracks. While I was there the other day having lunch I observed various idiots trying
to have an instant gradifying jump to start the season? or whatever...they were ripping up the ground.

I suggest anyone wanting to scout out the dj's should drive down and park by the tracks and walk the 2 minutes and hang there.
bring shovels...someone was allready raking the pump track and Bill was hanging garbage bags everywhere.


valley of the log rides

As you've found out Brian, kids on Pinkbike think they own the Don and listen to no-one.

When really it's Dropmachine that owns the Don.

The way I see it is if you have put in some time helping in there (the good help) then you do own a piece of the don.
But seniority rules. And the city has us beat on that.


Then after them its me
Then Dropmachine


I rock!!!!

think back to the time of the original patio, and all the peeps who made it happen. good ol multiplex. step up, stem down, gap huck. bowl. damn, good times!

Oh those were the good days!!
When people went to ride and see friends. I think the jumps ended up becoming a stop off shortly after that. The drama never helped either.

Hey Guys,

I know this is supposed to be a short post thread: Just wanted to clear the air a bit and sort out some confusion. The following is probably all I'll ever post on this issue. My name is Peter Miller. I'm 21. I have been riding for the past 15 years or so, and raced BMX around Canada and the U.S from childhood to my mid teens teens, representing team canada at the Worlds in 14 expert at the peak of my racing. I broke my back snowboarding about 5 years ago, and that stopped my riding and pretty much everything else fun for a few years. Enough backstory.
I started riding a bit last fall and remembered how much fun it was and why I used to do it 4 hours a day after school for my whole life. I was inspired to build some decent dirt jumps this year, and was anxious to get started early while the dirt was still sticky and packable. The new dirt jumps that have been showing up in the Don are the result of a lot of work by myself and my friend Liam Cohl, who I've known and been riding with most of my life. You guys might know him from Wednesday rides way back in the day. He also produced the Superfest mtb ramp contest with Ryan Senechal about 5 or 6 years ago at the Brickyard.
I assure you we mean no harm to the trails that everyone has put a lot of work into. We walk in and out with our bikes to avoid damaging the single track, and have nothing but respect for all of the work that everyone has put in over the years. I remember riding down there when it was just one single track line with a single jump (10 or 11 years ago?). The tight line of doubles we've been working on is currently 4 jumps deep and as of today, were all rideable and fun. They are a departure from what is currently down there, but I don't see why a little variety and difficulty is a bad thing. To explain the brief plan for that section moving forward, I was planning on building some rollers after those 4 jumps into the berm, and some rollers out of the berm on the way back to a hip beside the 4th jump that is almost done (i've been hitting it, its unpacked right now though).
I, like many of you would love some trails were you can pedal once at the beginning and then just flow and pump the rest of the time. That is the reasoning behind some nice tight smooth doubles there. Everything down there is and always will be a work in progress, so harshing on people's efforts and works-in-progress is a waste of time. Dirt jumps areas always evolve, change and grow. As long as everyone respects everyone else's work and effort, and doesn't tear anyone's stuff down to make a point, I don't see why there should be any problems or negativity. The past month has been a lot of fun building and riding the few jumps in the section we've been building, and I have experienced nothing but encouragement and positive vibes from everyone down there. I believe Tim is the name of the Torba guy that has been down there a bunch, and he is a super cool guy who seems totally supportive of our efforts. I have been building and riding dirt jumps for over a decade, competed for years, have travelled to many different mtb and bmx trails in the U.S. and would say I know what I am doing when it comes to building.
Bottom line, we all have lives outside of riding and the Don dirt jumps, whether that be jobs or school, and riding should be a fun escape from that as well as a great opportunity for exercise and physical challenge. I have a full time job and am just down there to have fun. We're not littering, drinking, smoking or doing anything else unsavoury. Just riding small bikes and building jumps.
This was long winded, but I wanted to explain who I am, what Liam and I have been doing down there, and to maybe take the heat off of the "Pinkbike guys who think they own the don" that are being blamed for putting in hours of hard work down at the trails. I hope the tone of this post didn't seem aggressive or negative. It isn't. Can't wait to see and ride with all of you in the coming months. I'm the guy on the white BMX with the big curly hair. Liam is the guy with the serial killer beard and long black hair, charging at anything in front of him.

Peter

Welcome Peter. I saw you two guys down there yesterday. Good to see the progress. You are right this is the best time to be building dirt jumps. Also good to see someone that has a concept of a set of trails and not just a trick jump here or there developing that area. I think that the 2 areas in the DJs really compliment each other, you have the tables to warm up on and now something to progress too. It's great to see. Your post was well done and I hope the current stewards of the area accept your work and efforts as a positive contribution, I certainly see it that way. Next time I'm in town I'm definitely coming by for a session.

Hey Peter,
Welcome to Dropmachine,
your jump building skills are top-shelf and a welcome addition to the Don.

Hey Peter,

Great post, well written, and totally welcome. More of that kind of language is needed.
I was the XC guy at the Bayview trail head the other day. Thanks for saying "hey!"

I'll only be a killjoy for a moment. I have invested way too much of my own money, sweat, tears, and sanity, helping bring the toronto MTB community together to not respond to your post. And not just MTB; cycling in general is on the upswing here in Tdot, and growing.

The bottom line is that there are some serious laws and policies in place that make it really illegal, and cause some serious grief, when builders build in parks and Ravine areas. All the authorities see is "kids" disturbing the "natural environment", and creating "liability" and "safety hazards".

The authorities don't get the knowledge, planning, artistry, and skill that go into building DJs. They don't recognize your qualifications, accomplishments, or good work already done. And they dont' realise the value and benefits DJs and good trails deliver. It's unfair, one sided, and due to change, soon. Trust that a handful of us are working tirelessly to change that.
But we need the help of the builders, all builders and maintainers, to "cease" until we convince the authorities that the community is willing to cooperate and work together.

Bottom bottom line is : please stop building in the Don; and please, channel your efforts with others, because hundreds - nay- thousands in the community want DJs, want a sanctioned skills park, and want a social hub they can "hang" at. And believe me, work is underway to do exactly that.

End of story goes : I'm not in charge. I'm not "the Man". I don't "own" the Don; (TRCA does) I'm just a guy who cares really deeply, for the trails and the riders, and don't want to see the door slammed shut. So please, give the building a break, get in touch with the folks working on legit builds, and keep up the positive conversation. it helps, and it's needed.

cheers,
brian

ps. it's a mire in there today. just got back from a wet dash down and back up Redway road.
forget riding this weekend.

Just so i understand, the building these guys are doing is at the DJs?

So, they are building more jumps...at the jumps?


I don't quite understand the problem.

As a builder myself,I would be totally pissed if I showed up at my Djs and somebody was carving away in my area.I am the only person who ever digs or rides there.It is MY happy place.
Since this is going on in the Don,I could care less.It not in my area and if everybody in the Don community is cool than that is awsome.Personally,I dont understand why there are even jumps in that specific area anyway.It is truely a shitty location.The space is limited by the pond,tracks and the river and there is absolutly no gravity assistance and the ground in a pain to dig in.I guess the community riders and builders have a sentimental attachment to this area.

Jer - They aren't in anyway changing the current area where the tables are, which is by far the area that is a community effort by those in the don. The stewardship for the doubles has really been left to anyone willing to throw dirt there from what I have read/observed over the past while. They are definitely making an improvement to the doubles area. I've also seen MTB'ers working on the doubles (i was down there tues/thurs this week) along side these BMX'ers which would suggest that there is more than these 2 people involved and excited by the new additions.

I'm with Jeff. People have been building illegal jumps in that area for 10+ years. Another summer is not going to ruin any work done by people with the city to get a legitimate spot... It may just strengthen the argument for it.

Man, I'm even more excited to get down to those DJ's!
I've been building in Oshawa at a new site for about 2 weeks now and I
feel lucky to be able to get a headstart on the building season.
Sounds like these guys are doing the same. Kudos.

Well then. I have yet to go to the jumps myself, just going on what I have heard from better jumpers than myself. I have been told that one jump in particular being built is unsafe and poorly built, hence the thread. Thought I'd let people know, and holy shit, I got results! Just seems like what you're describing and what I have heard are two completely different animals.


Not like I jump anyways.