Dig stoke, who else likes to play in the dirt???

Printable View

Show 40 post(s) from this thread on one page

10-12-2022, 01:17 PM
Dantheman

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boissal

I just rode a brand new flow trail in UT where the grade reversals were located on the exit of every single corner instead of the entrance. The berms were also pretty short and ended about 3/4 into the turn. And to tie it all together the trail was incredibly soft (freshly built, no rain in a month, shouldn't have been opened until after the winter IMO). It made for interesting riding as you could haul ass into a corner then run out of support halfway through because of softness or berm disappearance. If you managed to make it out of the corner upright you'd have to hammer on the pedals to crest a little hump and get back into the flow. About 1.5 miles and 20 corners worth of that shit. Can't imagine how well it's going to age...

This perfectly describes the vast majority of flow trails I've ridden. People hate on them because most of the time it's just that they suck. When built right they are super fun though. The new 10 Gallon trail in Mt. Shasta is a great example of how to do it.
10-14-2022, 07:35 AM
jackstraw

I agree with Clownshoe.

Building trails, good trails, is extremely difficult. Critics who have never built annoy me.

This guy rips and builds pro sanctioned stuff. Rumors he may have built some rogue too. [emoji854] I like the perspective of changing up the trail after the fact. I do that constantly. So difficult to get it right the first go around and especially as it gets ridden in as speed changes.

https://santacruztrails.org/blog/mee...dairies-trails
10-14-2022, 07:54 AM
toast2266

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackstraw

I like the perspective of changing up the trail after the fact. I do that constantly. So difficult to get it right the first go around and especially as it gets ridden in as speed changes.

That's pretty much it right there. If a flow trail rides perfectly on the first try, that's a rare unicorn. I've ridden trails from some of the best builders in the business that were a bit wonky to start. As long as everyone's OK with going back in after a year or so and making some tweaks, it's not the end of the world.
10-14-2022, 08:52 AM
jackstraw

Quote:

Originally Posted by toast2266

That's pretty much it right there. If a flow trail rides perfectly on the first try, that's a rare unicorn. I've ridden trails from some of the best builders in the business that were a bit wonky to start. As long as everyone's OK with going back in after a year or so and making some tweaks, it's not the end of the world.

Funny, I may have mentioned this previously, but I have changed many sections or turns after the fact. One spot I changed some turns and when I returned a week or so later someone reverted it back to the original. I did get a chuckle out of it, switched it back and a couple weeks later they did it again. Then I flipped it again! Finally, someone reached out to me inquiring and I said it was me. It stuck then. :smile:
10-14-2022, 08:52 AM
Clownshoe

I agree with all of this. Building good trails is really hard. Being a critic is easy. Flow trails especially are magnets for criticism. An excavated green or blue trail is rarely what the Pinkbike or TGR commenters want. The reality is these low end trails (at commercial bike parks) are what pay for the gnarlier stuff. It's like the green and blue groomers at your ski resort. They have to be there to make the financial model work.

Building a fun, safe, entertaining flow trail can be really hard.

There's nothing worse than seeing the internet shit talk what you build. I know I make a specific point of never calling any builders or trails out publicly, unless it's to say something positive.

But sometimes it's warranted. I think it's important to be able to check your ego and go back and change things if they don't work. The "ride line" doesn't lie.
10-14-2022, 01:58 PM
Clownshoe

Also: here’s a trail building thing that happened to me 5 minutes ago: Pull starting your saw, ripping the pull handle off and punching yourself in the face.
10-14-2022, 02:44 PM
VTskibum

^^ LOL, sucks but funny

Just finished slapping some dirt after a bunch of torrential downpours yesterday on my pumptrack. After a frustrating work week that is pretty therapeutic. Was planning on cutting out a tree that fell last week on my local trails, but this will do for today.
10-20-2022, 10:48 AM
raisingarizona13

7 Attachment(s)

I had a really great week with ACE crews out in Kingman working on Phase 2 of the White Cliffs project.

https://www.cityofkingman.gov/Home/C...2Y-XCr2CwvSHms

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48ExSCS31zg

Attachment 430600

Attachment 430601

Attachment 430603

Attachment 430604

Attachment 430605

Attachment 430606

Attachment 430607
10-20-2022, 10:52 AM
raisingarizona13

And to reiterate what's already been said, trail building is hard, being a critic is not. There's often a lot of behind the scenes stuff that the GP doesn't even know about that create unfortunate circumstances or challenges for the builders that can have a substantial impact on the outcome of a project.
10-20-2022, 01:32 PM
skinipenem

Quote:

Originally Posted by raisingarizona13

I had a really great week with ACE crews out in Kingman working on Phase 2 of the White Cliffs project.

https://www.cityofkingman.gov/Home/C...2Y-XCr2CwvSHms

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48ExSCS31zg

Attachment 430600

Attachment 430601

Attachment 430603

Attachment 430604

Attachment 430605

Attachment 430606

Attachment 430607

Looks sweet!

Sent from my SM-S908U1 using Tapatalk
10-20-2022, 02:22 PM
evdog

Quote:

Originally Posted by skinipenem

Looks sweet!

For sure! I'll need to plan a detour into my next AZ trip.
10-20-2022, 04:11 PM
jackstraw

Quote:

Originally Posted by raisingarizona13

And to reiterate what's already been said, trail building is hard, being a critic is not. There's often a lot of behind the scenes stuff that the GP doesn't even know about that create unfortunate circumstances or challenges for the builders that can have a substantial impact on the outcome of a project.

We moved an original planned line because we discovered a spotted salamander living under a dead log. Didn't even know if it was his home or if they're nomads, so maybe we're fools, but f it, it's just a mtn bike trail.
10-20-2022, 05:19 PM
raisingarizona13

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackstraw

We moved an original planned line because we discovered a spotted salamander living under a dead log. Didn't even know if it was his home or if they're nomads, so maybe we're fools, but f it, it's just a mtn bike trail.

Anything with spots is suspect.
10-20-2022, 06:37 PM
jackstraw

Ha! They're pretty cool and good sized. I've come upon a few over the years. They don't move. Not sure if that's a play dead tactic or not. I just cover them back up and move on.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...72425b44e3.jpg
10-20-2022, 07:00 PM
raisingarizona13

Freaking cute lil critter. I guess there's some Gila monsters around where we are building right now. I don't think I should hold those though.
10-25-2022, 09:56 AM
LeeLau

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clownshoe

I agree with all of this. Building good trails is really hard. Being a critic is easy. Flow trails especially are magnets for criticism. An excavated green or blue trail is rarely what the Pinkbike or TGR commenters want. The reality is these low end trails (at commercial bike parks) are what pay for the gnarlier stuff. It's like the green and blue groomers at your ski resort. They have to be there to make the financial model work.

Building a fun, safe, entertaining flow trail can be really hard.

There's nothing worse than seeing the internet shit talk what you build. I know I make a specific point of never calling any builders or trails out publicly, unless it's to say something positive.

But sometimes it's warranted. I think it's important to be able to check your ego and go back and change things if they don't work. The "ride line" doesn't lie.

Well written. Midgard in particular is so well done
10-28-2022, 08:04 AM
Clownshoe

There’s parts of that trail that still bug me that I want to go back and change. But that ship has sailed lol
10-28-2022, 05:33 PM
jackstraw

This tree on my new trail had me a bit nervous, so my pro arborist and rippin biker took care of it for me. Ended up with beer holder too!https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...93b479d09a.jpg https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...5214d75072.jpg
10-30-2022, 06:08 AM
jackstraw

Turned this one into a log ride. Have to tweak the skinny end. Not sure what to do to get up on to it. Hard to tell from pic, but you're about 4' off the ground at one end and there's a boulder you do not want to fall on. I think I will try to move that out of the way. I like clean bail out areas. Getting hurt sucks.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...d92fd3c071.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...bb9c6ea157.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...8a1f94defa.jpg
Adder pic. The boulder isn't really movable, so I'm building up around it so it's not so protruding. I think dirt will be helpful. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...ef418a2ff7.jpg
11-06-2022, 11:21 AM
Clownshoe

Hopefully its OK that I post this here. If mags have a problem with it I'll delete it

If any of you machine operator types are looking for a job, we're hiring for next summer in the USA. Feel free to post up any questions here or PM me

https://www.whistlergravitylogic.com/careers
11-06-2022, 06:52 PM
jackstraw

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clownshoe

Hopefully its OK that I post this here. If mags have a problem with it I'll delete it

If any of you machine operator types are looking for a job, we're hiring for next summer in the USA. Feel free to post up any questions here or PM me

https://www.whistlergravitylogic.com/careers

Wow! GL appears to be quite the trail building company.
11-06-2022, 07:02 PM
SkiLyft

3 Attachment(s)

Last hero day of the year with Bourbon and NWSkier based on temp forecasts!

Attachment 432678
Attachment 432679
Attachment 432680

Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums
11-06-2022, 08:43 PM
toast2266

Not quite gravity logic, but we've been making one of our pseudo flow trails a bit flowier. Bigger berms (made out of dirt as opposed to mostly rotten logs), more jumps, drainage that actually exists, etc. The weather hasn't really been cooperating, but we'll tidy it up in the spring. Should ride well.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...0d9553f9e7.jpg
11-07-2022, 09:11 AM
raisingarizona13

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackstraw

Wow! GL appears to be quite the trail building company.

Ever hear about the bike park the Canadians have at that little ski area called Whistler?
11-07-2022, 09:12 AM
raisingarizona13

Quote:

Originally Posted by toast2266

Not quite gravity logic, but we've been making one of our pseudo flow trails a bit flowier. Bigger berms (made out of dirt as opposed to mostly rotten logs), more jumps, drainage that actually exists, etc. The weather hasn't really been cooperating, but we'll tidy it up in the spring. Should ride well.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...0d9553f9e7.jpg

Looks real nice Toast!

Show 40 post(s) from this thread on one page