Contemporary trail building rant

[jrewing]

The Georgetown trails, perfect example, had the potential for so much more, but they keep building these soulless boring blue (green really) trails that dominate the networks they do. World trail trails have rested on their laurels.
Their hump jumps signify it all.

 

[Mattyp]

Build your own tracks

 

[jrewing]

Build your own tracks

Mate id do better if i had that funding. Most trail fairy track is multitudes better.

My tracks way better btw thanks

 

[Flow-Rider]

Most likely local govt is pandering to its biggest client, that's all you pretty much get in SE QLD. They tend to build trails for masses and not minorities, like concrete highways, and then wonder why people try to make them challenging by using strava.

 

[oldcorollas]

Mate id do better if i had that funding. Most trail fairy track is multitudes better.

My tracks way better btw thanks

career change! start a pro trail building company.. for the money they currently get

 

[pink poodle]

I hear you...my local has continually been destroyed by gentrification, jerrys, breaching the no dig no ride rule, bans on bikes, bans on trail building, and of course eeeeeebs. Funded trails can eat a dick. It's a guarantee that if something is built so that everyone can ride it without consequence, then it will be funked up by swarms of fuckwits rolling it or skidding it within weeks.




Not that I would ever build a trail, especially not in an area where the authorities have asked us not to. Fuck no! I follow the rules.

 

[rowdyflat]

The Georgetown trails, perfect example, had the potential for so much more, but they keep building these soulless boring blue (green really) trails that dominate the networks they do. World trail trails have rested on their laurels.
Their hump jumps signify it all.

Yeah the berms are good but unless there are heaps of rocks they build the same stuff everywhere u can get tired of it fairly quickly the humps r Pathetic and peoples skills never improve

 

[slimjim1]

Love how all these trails also seem to need maintenance every month.

 

[jrewing]

career change! start a pro trail building company.. for the money they currently get

Not a bad idea. “That green trail flows if you have 200mm of dual crowned goodness up front…”

 

[rowdyflat]

It depends on soil type our red clay from shale etc is extremely durable our main work is fallen trees

 

[downunderdallas]

Have any government-funded sanctioned trails ever been predominately gnarly? It's just that now we have some trails that are govt funded so is it a surprise these are more sanitised than hand-built enthusiast trails?

 

[jrewing]

Have any government-funded sanctioned trails ever been predominately gnarly? It's just that now we have some trails that are govt funded so is it a surprise these are more sanitised than hand-built enthusiast trails?

Good point. Maybe one needs to sprinkle fairy dust on the canvas’.
The muscle does the bulk, the artist the finishing touches.

 

[downunderdallas]

Some of the trails that have been built in WA in the last few years have really surprised me as to what the state government has funded in terms of how challenging it has been. Nannup is probably the main example that has a good number of genuine black trails. Still a good number of blues but even some of those have some serious spice especially on A lines.

 

[Ackland]

While I don't disagree with sentiments expressed here, you've gotta realise that the few members who post here with any regularity are not really representative of the greater demand at large.
That being said, what the big builders deliver is all based on the brief from the land manager and/or whichever consultative process was undertaken.
For the riding community to get challenging trails built, there needs to be rational, and intelligent engagement between riding groups and the land manager.
I've been on both sides and can tell you that dealing with a bunch of bros who want gnar is just such a pain that it gets put into the too hard basket.

 

[oldcorollas]

so.. what is the fairy dust?

There are general "difficulty" classifications (like below), but is there (or could there be) like a visual guide of features you could pick and choose from to make these desirable trails? eg, size/spacing of rocks/roots, gradients etc.. like a virtual Lego of trail building?

Would help to be able to design from scratch (using natural contours and features) and better describe what is missing. How can the commercial builders understand the specifics of what you are after?

There's jump design stuff like this https://trailism.com/jump-design/
and at least one CAD simulator like this https://www.advancedcad.com.au/

But what features/design is missing? What is required to make trails non-boring?

https://assets.auscycling.org.au/s3fs-public/2021-12/ccj18482-revisions-to-tdrsguidelines-october-2020-fa-web-section-10-singles.pdf?fGmUNGzVkht3_y7JNp8VXNfuaNszFJ13=

 

[fjohn860]

Seems as good a thread as any for this...


Check out this job on SEEK: Omeo Mountain Bike Trail Maintenance Officer from East Gippsland Shire Council - https://www.seek.com.au/job/73079508?tracking=SHR-AND-SharedJob-anz-1

 

[oldcorollas]

DirtArt Georgetown design from 2019 https://georgetownmtbtrails.com.au/...esign-Plan-George-Town-MTB-Trails-Reduced.pdf
supposed to be a different experience to "Blue Derby"

World Trail chosen https://georgetownmtbtrails.com.au/news/media-release-world-trail-to-build-george-town-mtb-trails

World Trail - A global leader in mountain bike trail design

Since establishing in 2003, World Trail has paved the way for sustainable solutions and innovative mountain bike and walking trail design.

world-trail.com

George Town - World Trail

George Town, Tasmania is blossoming into a mountain biking utopia, where diverse, dynamic trails intertwine with rich culture, vibrant local life, and the untamed beauty of serene landscapes, offering riders an unparalleled journey through adventure and natural allure.

world-trail.com

Blue Derby - World Trail

With over 120km of purpose-built mountain bike trails completed, Blue Derby is now synonymous around Australia as the premier mountain bike tourism destination...

world-trail.com

 

[oldcorollas]

Seems as good a thread as any for this...


Check out this job on SEEK: Omeo Mountain Bike Trail Maintenance Officer from East Gippsland Shire Council - https://www.seek.com.au/job/73079508?tracking=SHR-AND-SharedJob-anz-1

or

SEEK - Australia's no. 1 jobs, employment, career and recruitment site

SEEK is Australia’s number one employment marketplace. Find jobs and career related information or recruit the ideal candidate. Why settle? SEEK

www.seek.com.au

Project Manager - Mountain Bike Trails & Pump Track Construction (common ground trails)
https://www.commongroundtrails.com/
https://www.commongroundtrails.com/projects

 

[leitch]

I suspect the sheer fact of it being professional trail building plays a large part. The best legal trails around Melbourne for variety/features/challenge are at Red Hill and Silvan, both community hand-built networks that have been (or are still being in the case of Silvan) sanctioned over time.

Once you pay a contractor to build trails to a local gov budget and to comply with IMBA or other standards etc and so do it with heavy machinery to a deadline instead of organically over time with shovels, things are always going to end up pretty similar.

 

[fjohn860]

or

SEEK - Australia's no. 1 jobs, employment, career and recruitment site

SEEK is Australia’s number one employment marketplace. Find jobs and career related information or recruit the ideal candidate. Why settle? SEEK

www.seek.com.au

Project Manager - Mountain Bike Trails & Pump Track Construction (common ground trails)
https://www.commongroundtrails.com/
https://www.commongroundtrails.com/projects

That one I posted mentions surveying the trails by both walking and sometimes riding, which I assume means ebike to cover trail quicker, so that job is definitely out