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Hot Topic (More than 10 Replies) Fisher and Allison = Beech Spring 2.0! (Read 788 times)
bdotson
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Fisher and Allison = Beech Spring 2.0!
04/04/18 at 2:03pm
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So back in the proverbial day, I rode Beech Spring ("Poplar Tent") all the time. It was super close to work and home and always a blast. Well yesterday I drove up to Fisher Farm/Allison and got the shock that Beech Spring is not dead and gone after all!

When people ask me about the "mythical Beech Spring", I talk about Gravity Cavity, the Jungle and Jungle 2, about Round Rock and the great twisty tight singletrack. I'm sure I romanticize it a bit now that it's gone, but I could never quite put my finger on why Beech Spring was different from Sherman, Steves, LNSP etc. But riding at Fisher/Allison yesterday I finally got it nailed down:  It's all about the lack of long straight stretches! Sherman has the Runway and plenty of long high speed runs. Steve's has what I refer to as "The Intestines" (that long section after the first long gradual climb and before the first steep climb - the Gorge?) but you go back and forth and back and forth - which I like. LNSP has so much long fast flowy stuff. BUT, the thing I loved about Beech that Fisher/Allison absolutely nails is the 25-50 yard stretches that turn right back around in insanely tight turns. It's not necessarily a big high-speed trail but instead is twisty and feature rich. I'm more into the twisty than the speedtrap so this is prime for me!

I had heard all these horror stories about it being a root-fest. Still have seen nothing to compare to the roots that Beech had (RRT has bigger, bit sections of Beech had more if memory serves). Fisher has great roots - interesting angles, lots of nice logs (the one with the two-foot drop and rocks on the other side is a walker for my 29+ single speed self, thank you very much!) The roots are great at Fisher - challenging but not impossible.

I developed a mechanical near the end so the reservoir loop is still unknown to me - going back today though.

Have to say that Fisher is my new favorite ride! Great job THTB on an awesome trail!
« Last Edit: 04/04/18 at 2:07pm by bdotson »  
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BJE
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Re: Fisher and Allison = Beech Spring 2.0!
Reply #1 - 04/04/18 at 4:06pm
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If over Belmont way, give Rocky Branch a try.
  
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Re: Fisher and Allison = Beech Spring 2.0!
Reply #2 - 04/04/18 at 4:38pm
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My top 3 go to trails:
WWC
Rocky Branch 
Fisher Farm

I haven't ridden the new Allison side yet but look forward to doing so this spring.
  
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Re: Fisher and Allison = Beech Spring 2.0!
Reply #3 - 04/04/18 at 4:52pm
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Fisher is my go to as well. Nothing will replace Poplar for me, but it's a nice band aid on the wound!

And my single speed 29" riding self agrees with you on a couple of walking sections. No shame
  
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Re: Fisher and Allison = Beech Spring 2.0!
Reply #4 - 04/04/18 at 5:50pm
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Are you talking about the drop right after the "log pyramid" on the main loop? I agree there's no shame in walking (anything remotely sketchy, I scope out on foot or on the alternate/chicken line a few times first), but figured I'd let you know that drop is definitely doable on a 29, and (like most things) looks much worse than it is. Drops are my least favorite thing in all of mountain biking, so I get it. 

Try walking the bike down over it and you get a glimpse of worst case scenario as far as angles go. Usually makes me feel better about it. 

Even the tech/TTF section with the warning sign at Fisher isn't bad at all. It's actually a lot of fun (though I never got over that initial pile of logs). 

The only place out there that seems really rooty and tough (IMO) is Wild Hare. 

And, oddly enough, so far most of my absolute worst crashes have been on really dull, routine stretches of trail where I would never expect to crash. So far. Had 2 in 1 trip at FF actually.
  
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bdotson
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Re: Fisher and Allison = Beech Spring 2.0!
Reply #5 - 04/05/18 at 2:01pm
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There are a couple places where I am stopping and walking (those BIG rocks as you reenter Fisher after completing Allison - sorry guys, I am riding off the trail here!) but overall I really like the flow of this place.

Yesterday I had a day off work so I went and did Fisher/Allison, came home and refilled the water bottles and then went and did a lap of Sherman Main loop. RRT is 4 miles from my front door and Sherman is only 10mi so these will always be my quick go-to rides but Fisher/Allison are SO different! Much different in terms of surface, twisty stuff, types of climbs, overall speed etc.

In particular, Allison is crazy tight and twisty! I'm not sure if I will EVER be able to do the big climbs at RRT (Stairway is no problem but No Name? Not sure that will ever be something I can pull off at my age/fitness + riding SS!) so the shorter twisty layout of Allison is much more enjoyable for me. I can see how riders that like mashing a big gear and flying at >25mph might find Fisher/Allison less exciting but for me it is like a Monaco on a bike - few places to run flat out but in general it's the cool back-n-forth rhythm and precision necessary that I find appealing.

I hope that THTB can make the proposed Concord city trail flow like FF/A - lots of experience in lower mileage!
  
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Re: Fisher and Allison = Beech Spring 2.0!
Reply #6 - 04/05/18 at 4:15pm
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Glad you enjoyed my creation!  BTW if there is something you cannot or do not want to ride, please walk over it and not go off trail, please. Smiley  Seems too many people are making alternate lines through Rock Rumble. Smiley
  
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Re: Fisher and Allison = Beech Spring 2.0!
Reply #7 - 04/05/18 at 9:33pm
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"BTW if there is something you cannot or do not want to ride, please walk over it and not go off trail, please. Smiley  Seems too many people are making alternate lines through Rock Rumble." 

Yes - that would be me. Apologies - I'll make that a point next time, promise!
  
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Re: Fisher and Allison = Beech Spring 2.0!
Reply #8 - 04/10/18 at 2:48pm
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I had been away from Fisher for a good three years and went back this past week.  Forgot how fun it was (especially on a FS bike).  I really enjoy the tight/technical sections that make you use your balance/bike handling skills.  I agree there are a fair amount of roots, but nothing terrible and certainly nothing impassable.   

I would like to follow someone through the little bridge to log drop-off section and see the "right" way through it.  I can't figure out a smooth way through it.  It's a total momentum stopper...  I'm sure there's a good way through it though and next time I go I'm going to stop and walk through it to see if I can figure out "the line".
 
Overall it was a blast and it will now be another trail I keep in my rotation.
  
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Re: Fisher and Allison = Beech Spring 2.0!
Reply #9 - 04/10/18 at 3:00pm
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flynbryan19 wrote on 04/10/18 at 2:48pm:


I would like to follow someone through the little bridge to log drop-off section and see the "right" way through it.  I can't figure out a smooth way through it.  It's a total momentum stopper... 


I'm trying to visualize where this is?  Is this enchanted forest or...

I would like to follow someone down rock rumble again.  The biggest rock near the bottom used to be a blast to ride but after not going there for a while, I can't tell if it can still be rolled or not.  Looks a little sketchy now and I can't see being able to drop it due to the approach. 
  
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Re: Fisher and Allison = Beech Spring 2.0!
Reply #10 - 04/10/18 at 5:30pm
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Quote:


I'm trying to visualize where this is?  Is this enchanted forest or...



Correct, I believe.  I'm bad about knowing where I am relative to the trail when I ride... lol

It has a decent sized root right on the lip of a drop off, then after that the trail is littered with a few roots at an angle and some rocks.  I'll pay more attention next time I ride it.
  
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