Map of Sylvan Island

[dgw2jr]

I managed to map out, at least partially, the trails on Sylvan Island! Huzzah! :rockon:

http://g.co/maps/hgaaz

[Takophiliac]

This is good, but we all know it's not hardly the half of it. We need to add some more and then get someone to put some of the features on it or something. Good job!

[dgw2jr]

This is good, but we all know it's not hardly the half of it. We need to add some more and then get someone to put some of the features on it or something. Good job!

Definitely need to mark the location of the death bridge!

[Bexter]

Definitely need to mark the location of the death bridge!

What the heck is the "death bridge???" I'm chuckling.

[speedjunkie]

I can't remember a place on the island high enough for there to be a "death bridge" on. I do however have a picture of a death bridge on my phone from fdr park.

[dgw2jr]

What the heck is the "death bridge???" I'm chuckling.

There's a short bridge about 8 feet long, 2 feet wide near the center of the island. My gf rode across it yesterday and her back wheel slid out sending the bike to the muddy depths below. She managed to catch the edge and pull herself back up with just a few bruises to show for it. So for the lulz we just call it death bridge now. =P

[Bexter]

The RR tie bridge (with 3 foot drop on either side)?? That one is easier to travel from North to South. I call the little hill on the Northwest corner of the island "Nemesis" because it took me forever to manage to get up that hill without stalling! I can do the hill fine now but I still call it Nemesis.

Does your girlfriend have riding experience? If not, we have one last "No Chick Left Behind" skills session Thursday night at Sunderbruch Park (or Sylvan Island if the trail steward dees the trails at Sunderbruch too wet). Here's the post:

http://www.qcforc.org/showthread.php?2624-LAST-ONE!-No-Chick-Left-Behind-Thursday-9-29-11-5-30-Sunderbruch-Park&p=11669#post11669

See you on the trails!!!!

[dgw2jr]

The RR tie bridge (with 3 foot drop on either side)?? That one is easier to travel from North to South. I call the little hill on the Northwest corner of the island "Nemesis" because it took me forever to manage to get up that hill without stalling! I can do the hill fine now but I still call it Nemesis.

Does your girlfriend have riding experience? If not, we have one last "No Chick Left Behind" skills session Thursday night at Sunderbruch Park (or Sylvan Island if the trail steward dees the trails at Sunderbruch too wet). Here's the post:

http://www.qcforc.org/showthread.php?2624-LAST-ONE!-No-Chick-Left-Behind-Thursday-9-29-11-5-30-Sunderbruch-Park&p=11669#post11669

See you on the trails!!!!

yea the bridge made of RR ties! shes fairly experienced. the bontrager connection trail tires on her bike barely hook up on dry hardpack let alone wet RR ties. i swapped her tires for some kenda klaws last night so she should have some grip now. also lowered the pressure a bit

[Chief Illiniwek]

What the heck is the "death bridge???" I'm chuckling.
Ahhh the Death Bridge! Never heard it called that before, hell never thought it was that bad! We used it more than once as part of the Stampede race course and everyone loved it. Remember some pretty cool pictures of that area during the races we used it in.
JB

[dgw2jr]

Ahhh the Death Bridge! Never heard it called that before, hell never thought it was that bad! We used it more than once as part of the Stampede race course and everyone loved it. Remember some pretty cool pictures of that area during the races we used it in.
JB

Death bridge isnt bad really, at least not compared to DEATH PIPE! :eek5:

[DH001]

I have a map of sylvan we have been using for race planning purposes that encompasses probably 95% of the trail out there. Ill throw come flare on it and post it. It would be nice to get some responses from people (the builders) on the names of some of the trails out there. I know Brickyard and Stonehenge, but that is about all.

[Takophiliac]

Where's this map!? We all want to see it. (well, i do anyway).

[Takophiliac]

Death bridge isnt bad really, at least not compared to DEATH PIPE! :eek5:

You never posted your photos. You can't just start naming stuff without us being able to relate.

[speedjunkie]

Ohh ya that bridge, I think I have only been over it once. Had a girl I was seeing go off the shingle bridge and from then on she wasn't really a fan of going over planks of wood. Where is this death pipe you speak of?

[dgw2jr]

You never posted your photos. You can't just start naming stuff without us being able to relate.

Death Bridge! Flesh found here probably belongs to Kyla, not Russhole'72
307

Death Pipe! Now with 50% more Shards O' Glass™!
308

[Chief Illiniwek]

That bridge is the best bridge on the island! As for the death pipe, never seen it before. Key thing to remember when riding the island, look at the trail ahead of you not what you just ran over:eek5:!

JB

[Takophiliac]

Ohh ya that bridge, I think I have only been over it once. Had a girl I was seeing go off the shingle bridge and from then on she wasn't really a fan of going over planks of wood. Where is this death pipe you speak of?

Where's this shingle bridge you speak of?

[Bexter]

It is just off the middle lime path (that runs S-N). There is a single track offshoot on the North half that you veer West on and it curves around, then the bridge and a little hill. I'm out of town through Friday night but how about a ride at Sylvan on Saturday? Can show you the island.

[Russhole]

I'm down for that ride. I'll bring a hacksaw to kill death pipe. I've never seen it before. Death bridge is prolly aptly named 'cause it's rotting away and is gettin' scary, and if you screw up on it, you'll prolly be plantig your face on the corner of the other side. Riders beware.

[Gunchie]

I'll bring a hacksaw to kill death pipe.

Make sure to bring a good file to smooth out the edges after cutting it. Don't want to have a sharp piece of metal sticking out of the ground either.

[Bexter]

What time? 10 am?

[DH001]

I had some trouble getting the map file online, but it is up now: Sylvan Island MTB Trail Map (http://www.qcforc.org/trails/ifp/Sylvan_Island_MTB_Trail_Map_1.0.pdf)

If any of the trail builders have specific names for the trails they built, please reply and I will include the name on the map. Otherwise, the trails will be left unnamed.

The "Unnamed #" lapels are just temporary references and will be eliminated on the final map.

[onoffon]

Great job on the map. Thank you !

[Vibrato]

On "unnamed 8" the double bar catcher is lovingly refered to as "Poofy's Pass". I think unnamed 6 was "Your kinda" trail. Above unnamed 4 (but NOT unnamed 4) the black and the green was originally one trail without the little green bypass. (This was put in for a the novice racers to avoid the more challenging part.) The bypass is still ridden by riders seeking a lighter challenge, but the trail shown in black and the green without the bypass was originally "my Kinda" but was then changed to "The Ridge" to avoid confusion with "your kinda" trail. Unnamed 9 area was always refered to as the swamp when it was a straight shot through the middle, then after the zig zag was put in we called it "that zig zag area in the NW corner"- which is a sucky long name, so I suggest we call it "ZZ swamp". Unnamed 3 had a name, but I can't remember- it was something like Marquee or Center... Lile help folks?

This is by far the best map of sylvan I've ever seen, and it is a LOT better than I ever imagined could be done.

Sincerely, NICE JOB!

[Takophiliac]

Agreed, this map is amazing.
Any chance we can get it on the board at sylvan (and maybe a few junctions around the island)?

[Bexter]

this is by far the best map of sylvan i've ever seen.

Sincerely, nice job!

agreed!

[JARVAN]

Agreed, the map is awesome. It would be great to have it posted out there too, just so I don't miss any fun!

[mkh1972]

does anyone know the course they ride for the stamped ride they have in april

[Bexter]

We try and change the course every year. Granted, it's difficult to make it hugely different given space limitations. But yes, many of us know several of the past year's courses. Post something on the Let's Ride thread and see if you can get a group ride together. I'm out of town this weekend or I'd volunteer to guide you around the island.

[Russhole]

does anyone know the course they ride for the stamped ride they have in april
You're in luck. Tomorrow is group ride at Sylvan night. There is rain in the forecast, so keep an eye on the weather. If we get too much, we will have to cancel.

[dgw2jr]

I had some trouble getting the map file online, but it is up now: Sylvan Island MTB Trail Map (http://www.qcforc.org/trails/ifp/Sylvan_Island_MTB_Trail_Map_1.0.pdf)

If any of the trail builders have specific names for the trails they built, please reply and I will include the name on the map. Otherwise, the trails will be left unnamed.

The "Unnamed #" lapels are just temporary references and will be eliminated on the final map.

Map is now located here: http://www.qcforc.org/trails/si/si_map.pdf

[Chief Illiniwek]

Best map of Sylvan I've ever seen! Great Job Drew!!!!!!!!!!

JB

[Bexter]

Best map of Sylvan I've ever seen! Great Job Drew!!!!!!!!!!

JB

Ditto!

[Gringo]

This is amazing. Thank you so much.

[dl1030]

map looks great! this will really help me

scale might be off a little, lol. Wouldnt it be amazing if sylvan was 8 miles around tho...do want.

[SweetSVT99]

map looks great! this will really help me

scale might be off a little, lol. Wouldnt it be amazing if sylvan was 8 miles around tho...do want.

I thought that too at first, then I noticed that it actually says .1 mile. Awesome map!

[beerguitar69]

Just curious what you used to make the map. Im guessing a gps?

[SweetSVT99]

Just curious what you used to make the map. Im guessing a gps?

Yep, you usually take the GPS file and overlay it onto a satellite image.

[DH001]

The map is a combination of aerial imagery, GPS tracks, and on the ground observation data. The trails at sylvan, being very closely spaced and twisty, present some difficulties for many consumer GPS devices. Most of the trails in this map were drawn using my mental map of the island in coordination with GPS/aerial image data as reference.

The actual map artwork is drawn in vector based graphics software.