Brand new trail built right next to me! (and some stories!)
cammyb96
Posts: 107
So a few months ago there was a project started to build a downhill trail at some local forestry in Dundee Scotland. Just had a go for the first time today and I must say its a great track for something built locally.
Built with two tracks, red and blue. The blue consists of lots of drop off's, berms, jumps and table tops. The red contains some really crazy jumps and drop off's that I wouldn't dare to do with out the proper gear!.
Whilst heading down the trail a few deer, came right across the track and through the forestry; they're really common. There also the small matter of a flash flood... in a matter of seconds there was lightning striking a water tower about 30 feet from where I was and hail stones!
Long awaited video of the track, video jumps and skips a bit but its watchable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y18oCsrZ6ks&feature=youtu.be
Built with two tracks, red and blue. The blue consists of lots of drop off's, berms, jumps and table tops. The red contains some really crazy jumps and drop off's that I wouldn't dare to do with out the proper gear!.
Whilst heading down the trail a few deer, came right across the track and through the forestry; they're really common. There also the small matter of a flash flood... in a matter of seconds there was lightning striking a water tower about 30 feet from where I was and hail stones!
Long awaited video of the track, video jumps and skips a bit but its watchable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y18oCsrZ6ks&feature=youtu.be
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Comments
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haven't got any pics of them atm, I'll head up some time over the next few days and upload a bunch here; glad to hear you're quite close.0
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Looks like a road.I don't do smileys.
There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda
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Parktools0 -
Yeah, its built for amateurs.0
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Is it tarmac'd? I would rather use my road bike than my downhill bike on that.
It doesn't exactly blend in to the forest does it?Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=130702350 -
Its packed gravel0
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Yeah, but the berms do look quite fun anywayRockmonkeySC wrote:Is it tarmac'd? I would rather use my road bike than...
Most man made trails stand out a lot0 -
Well, it is new. It ain't going to look like that in a year's time.RockmonkeySC wrote:It doesn't exactly blend in to the forest does it?All the gear, no idea and loving the smell of jealousy in the morning.
Kona Process 134 viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=129946070 -
Who built it?
Looks like the work of "Back on Track Mountain Bike Solutions" - they like gravel... a lot.0 -
Angus Young wrote:
Well, it is new. It ain't going to look like that in a year's time.RockmonkeySC wrote:It doesn't exactly blend in to the forest does it?
Several years on it still won't blend in. Just take a look at Ashton Court.Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=130702350 -
The notorious Rowan Sorrell, killer of roots.The Northern Monkey wrote:Who built it?
Looks like the work of "Back on Track Mountain Bike Solutions" - they like gravel... a lot.
He does like smooth and berms. Built them all over Swinley unfortunately.I don't do smileys.
There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda
London Calling on Facebook
Parktools0 -
RockmonkeySC wrote:Angus Young wrote:
Well, it is new. It ain't going to look like that in a year's time.RockmonkeySC wrote:It doesn't exactly blend in to the forest does it?
Several years on it still won't blend in. Just take a look at Ashton Court.
Sure, it's never going to be wild and interesting, but it's not going to be quite the eyesore that it is now forever.All the gear, no idea and loving the smell of jealousy in the morning.
Kona Process 134 viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=129946070 -
Nice feedback guys, I think it is a bit of an eyesore but they built it under some dense forestry and you can't really see it unless you are heading directly for it.0
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They serve a purpose - lots of people enjoy them.
And keep the tourists off the sneaky trails.I don't do smileys.
There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda
London Calling on Facebook
Parktools0 -
The trail in Sandwell Valley in Brum looked the same last year but it's blended in well this year and turned a brown colour from the tarmac blue/grey it was when new!0
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Does the bloke do driveways as well
"Arran, you are like the Tony Benn of smut. You have never diluted your depravity and always stand by your beliefs. You have my respect sir and your wife my pity"
seanoconn0 -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uD2RBqRBinY
looks good for newbies
surprised by the negative comments in the thread - anything that gets people out there onto their bikes is to be commended. not everyone wants to ride rough natural trails when they start off MTBing.0 -
Speak of the devilcooldad wrote:
The notorious Rowan Sorrell, killer of roots.The Northern Monkey wrote:Who built it?
Looks like the work of "Back on Track Mountain Bike Solutions" - they like gravel... a lot.
He does like smooth and berms. Built them all over Swinley unfortunately.
Rowan yesterday
https://www.facebook.com/#!/EyesdownFilms?fref=photoI don't do smileys.
There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda
London Calling on Facebook
Parktools0 -
POAH wrote:surprised by the negative comments in the thread...
You've been coming here long enough, negativity on this forum shouldn't surprise you at all.All the gear, no idea and loving the smell of jealousy in the morning.
Kona Process 134 viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=129946070 -
cooldad wrote:
The notorious Rowan Sorrell, killer of roots.The Northern Monkey wrote:Who built it?
Looks like the work of "Back on Track Mountain Bike Solutions" - they like gravel... a lot.
He does like smooth and berms. Built them all over Swinley unfortunately.
Not all his trails are perfectly surfaced. The black trails at Bike Park Wales have some nice natural features and the top of Dai Hard is pretty rooty.Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=130702350 -
Rowan does a fair mix of types.
But there are to many of the bermy things around, not really my bag.0 -
I'm not a fan of the bike park style flowing berms and big jumps. They're good fun for a while but don't give the challenges you get from a natural trail where you need to think about lines and techniques a lot more.
It is fun riding down flowy, jumpy trails with a big group though.Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=130702350 -
POAH wrote:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uD2RBqRBinY
looks good for newbies
surprised by the negative comments in the thread - anything that gets people out there onto their bikes is to be commended. not everyone wants to ride rough natural trails when they start off MTBing.
+1"Why have that extra tooth if you're not using it?" - Brian Lopes
Votec V.SX Enduro 'Alpine Thug' 2012/2013 build
Trek Session 80 -
POAH wrote:
A good blue trail should be as much fun for a beginner as a more experienced rider, nice flowing berms, rollers you can either pump, manual or double up depending on your skills and most importantly lots of variation. The trail in this video has none of that, just some rather flat berms and a couple randomly placed tables. It makes Ashton Court look good.
Some of the newer blue trails are excellent fun, a couple at BPW are hilarious to ride fast but beginners enjoy them just as much as well.Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=130702350 -
Yeah, but an experienced rider will still get bored very quickly eg Barry knows best is a fun trail, but my god thank God I don't ride there that often...RockmonkeySC wrote:POAH wrote:
A good blue trail should be as much fun for a beginner as a more experienced rider, nice flowing berms, rollers you can either pump, manual or double up depending on your skills and most importantly lots of variation. .0 -
There are some blue trails which are brilliant fun.
Sixtapod at BPW is a perfect example, when ridden fast there are doubles, step downs and hips everywhere. I can't think of any other trail that gives more air time and some of those jumps are a good size. A beginner could ride the same trail and keep both wheels firmly on the ground.
The first two minutes of this video are blue trail http://vimeo.com/m/95287406Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=130702350 -
Cool, an MTB trail I can ride with 23mm slicks on a road bike!I used to just ride my bike to work but now I find myself going out looking for bigger and bigger hills.0
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different terrain and cost I imagine comes it to it. However, that video still shows a trail that is pretty smooth what would be ridden on a ridged bike in comfort.RockmonkeySC wrote:There are some blue trails which are brilliant fun.
Sixtapod at BPW is a perfect example, when ridden fast there are doubles, step downs and hips everywhere. I can't think of any other trail that gives more air time and some of those jumps are a good size. A beginner could ride the same trail and keep both wheels firmly on the ground.
The first two minutes of this video are blue trail http://vimeo.com/m/952874060 -
I think RockmonkeySC was trying to say a trail can be smooth yet also fun for beginners and experts as shown by the trail at BPW unlike the trail shown by the OP.
If they thought about the placement of rollers and bumps a bit more it could've been a better track which wouldn't have cost more.0
