|   trail builders (bridge question)..... | namaSSte
Feb 21, 2003 9:58 AM | | my friend and I have been improving a local trail system that is used by hikers and a few bikers. We have put in some foot/bike bridges but with the snow and wet weather, I'd like to put some kind of grippy surface on them. What is the best material for this? |
| Two ideas | PR
Feb 21, 2003 10:13 AM | | Two of the ideas that I've heard are 1. To mix sand in with a weather proof varnish type finish for the bridge and then paint it on. 2. Something along the lines of skateboard grip tape, or even chicken wire tacked down. Hope it helps, and congrats for getting out there and working on your local trails!!! |
| I was thinking grip tape too but we'd need a bunch.... | namaSSte
Feb 21, 2003 10:26 AM | | the paint/sand idea you and nate suggested is interesting though. Chicken wire....now thats a brand new one for me. Thanks for the nice words too, it's really a different experience when you ride on trails you have built and maintained yourself. What's even better is that you get very little flack from the local hikers when they see that it's you out there working on the trails they also share. There aren't but a handful of us mtb'ers who ride there so as long as it stays our little secret, I think all will be well. |
| Sand in the varnish is the way to go. | Fast Eddy
Feb 21, 2003 11:29 AM | | I know you can get epoxy varnish, which would be the longest lasting, but I don't know if it would be appropriate for the wood you're using. Ask at the paint store.
And use a very coarse grit sand, and not too much. Maybe try a couple experimental pieces to get it right before you do the bridge. |
| grippy surfaces for bridges | NateHawk
Feb 21, 2003 10:14 AM | | I've heard of all sorts of things being used on bridges to improve traction. Wrapping the boards in chicken wire is a popular one that seems to last awhile. At John Bryan, we've been using shingles. They'll probably fall apart pretty quickly once it gets hot out, but we'll see. One idea I've heard of that sounds really cool is mixing latex based house paint with sand until it's REALLY thick and then slathering that stuff on the surfaces. I hear it's quite durable, but the cost is a bit higher than some of the other options. |
| you use roof shingles/ tar type. break pieces to fit- nail down | BobN
Feb 21, 2003 10:51 AM | | |
| Amen. Drive the nail through a bottle cap, too. (more) | gonzostrike
Feb 21, 2003 11:33 AM | | my friends and I build a fair amount of wooden stunts. we have found that tar/asphalt shingles work best, they don't cut you or give you gangrene like chicken wire or other wire mesh, and they always have traction, even when wet, sometimes even if icy/snowy.
To keep the nail head from ripping through the shingle itself, put a bottlecap ("teeth" side down on shingle) under each nail. The bottlecap will spread the force to a bigger area and will resist nail tear-through.
Chicken wire or other wire mesh works fairly well, but it can be a source of injury & greater infection than the shingles would cause. It's also harder to attach and keep held.
Don't space the rungs too far apart.
Use mid-stringer vertical or cantilevered supports.
Don't build it too high until you have built a few and know what it takes to make them sturdy after repeat use. Nothing worse than falling from 4 feet or higher merely because your ladder bridge wasn't sturdy enough! |
| great advice thanks (and to everyone - thanks!) | namaSSte
Feb 21, 2003 12:14 PM | | We haev done some trial and error (emphasis on the error) so far and have some fund stunts in but most of them have used "natural" support systems in the form of downed trees which we built off of. I am anxious to get some stuff in this weekend. Just something so fun about trying a stunt for the first time and working it into a logical place within a trails system. The area I am talking about is really fun. We have some great bermed downhills, some steep downhills with huge roots, some ultra tight twisty techy stuff with large rock rollovers and log crossings, and some really fun jumps. Better yet, its all within .25 miles of my house. We literally walk there to do maintenance. Its fun. Thanks for the help in making it moreso. |
| Amen. what the hell are talking about... | JAK
Feb 21, 2003 1:52 PM | | actually, I know you know exactly what you are talking about...
don't forget, the meek shall inherit NOTHING........ |
| adhesive bathtub "flowers" | KL
Feb 21, 2003 11:02 AM | | just kidding. how about chicken wire? it's easy to bend and cut, conforms to surfaces. i'm not sure how you'd attach it to the logs, staples?
Kevin L. |
| believe it or not, we considered it..... | namaSSte
Feb 21, 2003 2:06 PM | | but the flowers just didn't seem to belnd in with the natural flora well enough. Oh well.... |
| Chicken Wire sounds like a good idea... | Blade
Feb 21, 2003 11:10 AM | | I've got a staple gun and could help out with that. I'm not sure, bit I think maybe some paint mixed with alot of playsand would be a grippy surface. Or, even some small dowel rods nailed accross the width at determined intervals and chicken wire over the whole thing. It's kinda hard to explain |
| Blade, you pull a staple gun out of your pack...... | namaSSte
Feb 21, 2003 2:08 PM | | and Im not sure if Ill be scared or impressed. I'll call you tonight.
Peace. |
| You forget... | Blade
Feb 21, 2003 2:19 PM | | I'm a hop, skip, and a jump from Lorain. I hang out there all the time, maybe it's starting to rub off on me...? |
| Gutter guard is cheap, | Pup
Feb 21, 2003 12:38 PM | | and comes in nice long rolls that are about 8" wide or so. Comes in finished edges, you'd want that.
Cheaper than shingles, doesnt grow as much moss and wears better.
Also shreds you more if it tears and then you fall on it... I like shingles, but around here Ive seen both used.
P |
| good idea there, thanks..... | namaSSte
Feb 21, 2003 2:10 PM | | I especially like the added adrenaline feature you get by making it dangerous to fall on. Anything for a cheap thrill right? |
| re: trail builders (bridge question)..... | uofabill
Feb 21, 2003 12:58 PM | | Chicken wire or something similar would be the most durable and least work. I just saw some aluminum expanded metal (very small pattern) attached to a bridge in a very consistantly wet area. Like somebody said get a heavy duty stapler and some heavy staples and tack it down.
You can go farther and put down some kind of shallow cleats across the bridge and then put the wire over it. I'm using the term "chicken wire" somewhat generically, go to Home Depot or someplace similar and see what they have. It is better to use something heavier rather than something flimsey. |
| Vinyl coated chicken wire | Michael Dart
Feb 21, 2003 3:02 PM | | Attached with U shaped nails and 1x4 nailed over the edges. We've used it here and it has held up fine since '98. Good and grippy for tires. Not so hot for horse paths as the hooves rip it up.
Mike |
| re: trail builders (bridge question)..... | smilycook
Feb 21, 2003 3:57 PM | | Chicken wire is dangerous when it breaks and shingles are brittle and can detoriate fast. What kind of wood is it? What is your climate? You could cross hatch if you live is a dry climate or don't care as much about rotting.
A good solution is aluminum grates intergated into the bridge, a little expensive but last long and is not slippery. |
| cross hatch the rungs | Brodiegrrl
Feb 21, 2003 6:01 PM | | anything you put on the wood will probably break off or fall off or wear away. Cross hatching will last forever. |
| Ditto on this | Pat T.®
Feb 22, 2003 1:40 PM | | And if it starts to wear down you can just touch it up with a saw real fast. DO NOT use chemicals like mentioned below...sheesh what idiot came up with that idea. |
| re: trail builders (bridge question)..... | Wishing the trails were dry!!
Feb 22, 2003 12:01 PM | | Recommended in Crew leader Certification Class: Mix a pint of Rustoleum Anti Skid material with a gallon of flat latex enamel. This gives the consistensy of about 100 grit sandpaper. Coating is extreamely durable and has the added benefit of sealing wood against moisture. It can also be tinted to just about any color to blend in with the surroundings.
Good Luck. |
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