buildin trails, any tips please?

[mtbabuser]

ok so heres the dealio, me and a few mates have just started to build our secoond proper trail, the 1st was chav infested and in a random field.

the new one is actually in a forest but the problems are: its owned by the forestry gimps, the trees are all planted in perfect straight lines so its hard to choose a good route with corners and the like.. and well the dirt is more compost and humus as the geographers would call it (yanoe the really black wet claylike mud which is crap for buildin.and well its not what youd call steep or a big hill...

Weve got all the tools n all up there,but was just wonderin should we maybe cut way one or two live trees to get a bit of roots n well corners goin or just weave.. and any other tips would be ace.. thanks :-)

[Conor]

Don't be an idiot, leave the trees alone.


*wonders off to hug a tree*


Also, soil conditions are the most important, pick areas that have light, stony soil and are well drained. Avoid dips, gullys and holes. Look for gentle slopes and follow contours rather than going straight down the slope.

[jimjam]

I dont know what to say about cutting down trees, only that I probably would if I thought no one would notice. If I thought it would draw attention then I'd leave it alone.

Try not to build crap, think about what your gonna build. And if it doesnt work make sure your not left in a situation where you have a trail littered with holes and half built jumps that cant be hit.

Just use a bit of common sense, put the work in and you'll get the rewards out.

Oh, and be sure to put any jumps or north shore obstacles either on a walkers path or an xc trail. That way you will become instantly popular.

[mtbabuser]

edited.

Read the posts below for why!

[Conor]

one thing you should know about is the the FS regularly read this site and will be on the look out for any building in that forest. Best to keep talk about trail building to a minimum and never mention forest names or even descriptions of what you are building.

The FS also know their land way better than you do, and will find the trail eventually. So it's best to keep things sensible, don't damage trees, don't block ditches or build any structures that are attached to trees, don't expect any NS or jumps etc to last long unless they are well hidden.

[jimjam]

Probably best you dont advertise where your building. Just edit your post.

[Steveb]

Don't cut down trees. Don't put nails in trees. Don't use trees as part of structures. Trees are your friend, don't harm them.

Build well, go read up on the imba site for how to build trails properly. Don't build straight down the side of the hill, use the contours, you'll get much more trail for a given elevation drop.

Build stuff that is fun to ride, but safe, if your building TTF's (go read IMBA for what that means) stick to the IMBA rules, and keep it sensible, then if a ranger finds it he's more likely to ingore it then pull it down.

Avoid anything even remotely close to walking paths, horse tracks and general civilsation. Keep it out of the way in the trees.

Don't even hint at where the trail is on here if you want the trail to last.

[mtbabuser]

i see, thanks for the tips, n sorry for still bein a failure or forums, damn gcse dont teach you any useful stuff these days, im tellin you they should teach about forums and videos rather than inkjet printers and cylinders... but yeah ive experienced the pshyco fs with their vans, n will take the tips to heart, think i might move the trail buildin to a firegap thats nice n big n probably better soil, and yes il leave the trees alone, only dead ones that aint rotted? and will do bout imba rules! thanks guys use are geniuses, this is sorta my first proper trail so its trial n error n your tips are like gold to me!

[AndyL]

no nails in trees is very important. Chainsaws + Nails = some poor bloke losing a bit that used to be attached to the rest of him.

[thetrailbuilder]

ive gone from silly big ns structures to pure dirt trails, dirt trails are much more fun, require more skill and dont get dull as you can constantly adapt them, NS gets boring and takes an age to build properly.

[keyserni]

I wouldn't cut down a tree, it just turns other users against us.

[Farry]

big tip - be prepared for it to be demolished but dont let that put you off as you can always build it bigger and better than before.

[Darran@BOMB]

I'd have to agree with thetrailbuilder and avoid north shore, it is time consuming to build properly and unless built with treated timber and chicken wire it will be break neck slippy in a season

Also build the trail line without jumps first then ride down it and see where jumps and berms fit in. A trial almost always rides different than you first imagine, i have built some amazing jumps that turned out to be totally useless when anyone tried to ride them.

[Speedfreak]

Cut down all trees that stand in your path, make sure you ruin as much natural habitat as possible! Build berms no less than 10 feet high, and every jump should ideally be about 20feet+ in length (just to make sure the beginners wreck themselves and don't go there ruining your runs). Cross as many fireroads as possible too, and make sure they are used regularly so that you annoy people a lot. Also, build when people are about, using hammers or saws and alot of noise to scare them away...this way they know it is your territory and they should stay away.

Last, but not least, do the opposite to everything I have said above! :D

[Darran@BOMB]

I generally pee on trees to mark my trail territory!!! That could prove dangerous in our local forest though so be careful.

[marko]

take a shot gun with you and shoot anyone who comes near the track.

also golden brown soil is excellent stuff.

[thetrailbuilder]

not golden brown!!! just gold, we love striking gold

[skidz]

rain is good as it helps to harden jumps and berms!

[OllyMac]

Yeah never talk about fit club! here (AKA trails and were abouts)

FS favourite site ( HELLO! John Joe!, Noel! David! Ian! )

Have a look in U tube for IMBA trail building videos

IMBA are in parntership with most world wide forestry departments (less NI)

So the backgound in building is there just not in NI for years to come.

KIT

Grubing mattock a useful tool £20-12 Sliverline make is fine.

Trench shovel handy tapers in rather than out so heaps of busting power. (bulldog make fine)

Decent wheel barrow,

Wood is hard work and easy to damage

Stone never rots

Try AGM hardware just towards the Albert Bridge the keep contractors grade hand tools.

Trench digging 10cm deep by 50cm wide, is fine,

geotextile the base(save the stone sinking)

Type 3 stone is fine. (£7 / tonne ) 2.4 tonne per meter cube

Hand held tamper plate, 8 passess each spot (tighten up stone)

IMBA now do grants for trail tools for reg'd club/groups

Insurance for builders, trails, power plant.

Training for builders (hand tools power plant, trail inspection, techniques)

IMBA books are good, great reads.

PM your email ill pass on the IMBA links

Olly

IMBA UK NI Cordinator
IMBA UK Exec Board Member

[OllyMac]

Yeah never talk about fit club! here (AKA trails and were abouts)

FS favourite site ( HELLO! John Joe!, Noel! David! Ian! )

Have a look in U tube for IMBA trail building videos

IMBA are in parntership with most world wide forestry departments (less NI)

So the backgound in building is there just not in NI for years to come.

KIT

Grubing mattock a useful tool £20-12 Sliverline make is fine.

Trench shovel handy tapers in rather than out so heaps of busting power. (bulldog make fine)

Decent wheel barrow,

Wood is hard work and easy to damage

Stone never rots

Try AGM hardware just towards the Albert Bridge the keep contractors grade hand tools.

Near bike dock.

Trench digging 10cm deep by 50cm wide, is fine,

geotextile the base(save the stone sinking)

Type 3 stone is fine. (£7 / tonne ) 2.4 tonne per meter cube

Hand held tamper plate, 8 passess each spot (tighten up stone)

IMBA now do grants for trail tools for reg'd club/groups

Insurance for builders, trails, power plant.

Training for builders (hand tools power plant, trail inspection, techniques)

IMBA books are good, great reads.

PM your email ill pass on the IMBA links

Olly

IMBA UK NI Cordinator
IMBA UK Exec Board Member