MTBrider
March 30-2005, 10:51 PM
Local DH personalities, businesses and Forestry Commission Scotland are all working together to create a downhill centre in the Scotish borders, and they've all acknowledge that the MTB playgrounds don't just benefit the local riders and bike businesses.
http://www.bikebiz.co.uk/articlepics/emmaredbull.jpg
The MTB projects bring in a lot of bikers, tourists who are not short of a bob or two (MTBing is not a cheap hobby) and more importantly are not afraid to spend it with local businesses.
Forestry Commission Scotland's recreation manager for the Borders, Alex MacLennan is keen to build on the growing reputation that the Tweed Valley has for its mountain biking: "The whole project has been a real partnership affair. Our overall aim is to create a centre that will draw many more riders to the area and this in turn will have positive spin offs for the Borders economy."
All of these recent developments in the Scottish, Welsh and English MTB projects, many of which are being driven by local forestry agencies, contrast sharply with Northern Ireland: Our forest agency (Forest Service NI) (http://www.forestserviceni.gov.uk/home.htm) is presently attempting to wash it's hand entirely of recreation in our forests by handing that responsibility to local councils, more here (http://www.pcgamesonline.com/mtbr/showthread.php?t=946).
When questioned "off the record" after recent forestry meetings senior Forest Service staff voiced support for mountain biking in NI, however after several requests for an official update to their position, no such responce has been forthcoming. It's up to each person to draw their own conculsions to this silence.
The full article, taken from www.bikebiz.co.uk regarding the DH centre in scotland is as follows:
On 9-10th April, Red Bull riders Gee Atherton of the UK and Swiss downhill champion Claudio Caluori will take the official first ride down the Red Bull Project Downhill at Innerleithen in the Scottish Borders.
The new black-graded downhill track was built by local trail builder Richard Hamilton. He previous worked on the trails at Glentress, where Hub in The Forest is based.
Former mountain bike pros Emma Guy and Tracy Brunger from The Hub In the Forest have put together plans for five new downhill tracks at the venue. The new routes will be graded from blue, taster downhill trails through to competition black-graded trails.
A revamped transport system to shuttle bikers up to the top of the tracks is also in preparation and in the interim The Hub will be using lorries to transport the DHers to the top of the course.
Guy said: "The long term plan for development of the Red Bull Project Downhill site is to bring the tracks and services up to a world class level. We believe there is the potential here to create one of the best downhill and freeride locations in the world."
The plans not only include the development of a new trail network, but also permanent timing systems, Freeride areas, as well as improved services at the site including bike rental, spares and catering.
http://www.bikebiz.co.uk/articlepics/emmaredbull.jpg
The MTB projects bring in a lot of bikers, tourists who are not short of a bob or two (MTBing is not a cheap hobby) and more importantly are not afraid to spend it with local businesses.
Forestry Commission Scotland's recreation manager for the Borders, Alex MacLennan is keen to build on the growing reputation that the Tweed Valley has for its mountain biking: "The whole project has been a real partnership affair. Our overall aim is to create a centre that will draw many more riders to the area and this in turn will have positive spin offs for the Borders economy."
All of these recent developments in the Scottish, Welsh and English MTB projects, many of which are being driven by local forestry agencies, contrast sharply with Northern Ireland: Our forest agency (Forest Service NI) (http://www.forestserviceni.gov.uk/home.htm) is presently attempting to wash it's hand entirely of recreation in our forests by handing that responsibility to local councils, more here (http://www.pcgamesonline.com/mtbr/showthread.php?t=946).
When questioned "off the record" after recent forestry meetings senior Forest Service staff voiced support for mountain biking in NI, however after several requests for an official update to their position, no such responce has been forthcoming. It's up to each person to draw their own conculsions to this silence.
The full article, taken from www.bikebiz.co.uk regarding the DH centre in scotland is as follows:
On 9-10th April, Red Bull riders Gee Atherton of the UK and Swiss downhill champion Claudio Caluori will take the official first ride down the Red Bull Project Downhill at Innerleithen in the Scottish Borders.
The new black-graded downhill track was built by local trail builder Richard Hamilton. He previous worked on the trails at Glentress, where Hub in The Forest is based.
Former mountain bike pros Emma Guy and Tracy Brunger from The Hub In the Forest have put together plans for five new downhill tracks at the venue. The new routes will be graded from blue, taster downhill trails through to competition black-graded trails.
A revamped transport system to shuttle bikers up to the top of the tracks is also in preparation and in the interim The Hub will be using lorries to transport the DHers to the top of the course.
Guy said: "The long term plan for development of the Red Bull Project Downhill site is to bring the tracks and services up to a world class level. We believe there is the potential here to create one of the best downhill and freeride locations in the world."
The plans not only include the development of a new trail network, but also permanent timing systems, Freeride areas, as well as improved services at the site including bike rental, spares and catering.