|   Building BC type trails and Built Stunts - In the real world | Fergie
Jan 8, 2002 1:50 PM | | Note: This was originally posted in the 'Save the Trails Forum' in response to a question about building BC type trails in Indiana, and another post saying that IMBA is against built stunts, and therefore against freeriding in general. IMBA officially responded by stating, "IMBA is not against [stunts and free riding]. We are against unauthorized trail building because it hurts mountain biker's relationship with land managers and leads to access restrictions. For more on IMBA's position, check that forum, or www.imba.com.
The following is my personal position on built stunts in a real world public environment, based on my experiences here in NY. I re-posted it here because no one reads the 'Save the Trails' forum. Please also note that I love to ride on well constructed built stunts, and dream of a world where we can all ride them without fear of lawsuits and poor construction.
Since when did "Freeriding" become built stunts???
Before you jump on the built stunts bandwagon, there are probably better options.
First of all, each geographical area of the country has it's own unique pros and cons. In BC they have an abundance of natural building materials, seemingly loads of free time, less lawyers, and universal health care when they screw up. You, (fortunately, I might add) are not from the land of Bryan Adams and Celeine Dion. Your neck of the woods probably lacks many aspects that make BC trails appropriate, but probably has it's own perks.
Before you even start thinking about what to build, find out what the rules are for the land you will be working on. Chances are, they won't allow you to build what you have in mind. In NY (land of 10,000 lawyers) any built object on the trail must be at least 36 inches wide, and if it is more then a foot or two off the ground, it must have a hand rail. Pretty much eliminates building anything worth riding, eh? But screw em right? Build it anyway... Don't even think about it! Even a few small stunts will attract a LOT of attention, and even though it took weeks to build, any bozo with a chainsaw can rip it down in about five minutes. If you want to know how much that truly sucks, just ask the BC guys, thousands of hours of their hard work was destroyed in a day by chainsaw swinging osiffers. If you want it to last, get permission!
OK, so you have permission, and it doesn't have to be three feet wide with a hand rail. First make sure that it doesn't have to meet any other building codes, such as concrete footings or inspection requirements. The next question is what materials to use. In BC they have a limitless supply of very slow rotting, clean splitting wood. I don't know what is growing in your back yard, but chances are it's not going to be as ideal for construction. If you use the wrong kind of wood, it will rot away before you know it. People will start falling through your bridges, supports start breaking, and nails end up sticking out everywhere - not good for access relations. Chances are you will have to use a good amount of pressure treated lumber. In addition to being expensive, pressure treated lumber is very heavy to carry miles out into the woods, and a toxic bitch (arsenic) to work with.
The last problem with built stunts is what they will attract. As bad as the hordes of unwashed freeriders begging to break collarbones, wrists, legs and skulls are, they are the least of your worries. Bored kids, drunken yokels, and displaced trail users all know how to play with matches, chainsaws, crowbars, and pickup trucks (well, the kids might not). If you are lucky, they will just knock everything over, or cut it to bits. If you are unlucky, they will sabotage it to break when it is the most dangerous, or perhaps put a few well placed nails, or fishing line where you least expect it. The further in you build it, the less likely it is to be messed with, but that means carrying hundreds of pounds of lumber miles into the woods - which sucks, believe me! Also, the further in it is, the harder it will be to maintain (stunts require much more maintenance then regular trail) and the further they will have to drag out your mangled body, after you cut your hand off with a saw or fall off a teeter-totter.
So what is a young, impressionable, aspiring little freerider to do? Well, since you are probably pretty lazy, but cunning and crafty, use your wits. That is to say, use your imagination to make the best use of the conditions you have. In Moab, they have an ocean of crappy sand fields, but they also have some of the best and most unique slickrock in the world - thus dirtbikers there made the world famous Slickrock Trail. Down south they have that great packing red clay, and build sick jumps and berms, that can be ridden year round. Out west they have huge scenic mountains and aspen groves, and have some of the best fast downhills around. Here on the East Coast we have loads of roots, sick weathered rocks, and plenty of moderately dense forests. We are able to build tight, twisty, and technical singletrack trails.
[Note: Before everyone writes about what a technical trial they have in the West, or great fast downhill in the East, these are just examples used to prove a point based on general geography. I'm simply saying that the land should dictate the type of trial and iit should strengthen the "sense of place". If you are in a dense forest, enjoy twisting through the tight trees, if you are on a great plain, enjoy the view, and the fact that you can dig a big jump without hitting tons of tree roots.]
What I'm getting at here is that every area has it's own specialties. If the folks out in BC had tried to build fast wide track, with long bombing descents, and great views, like Crested Butte, they would have had to work their asses off, and would have ended up with mediocre trails. Instead, they used what they have to the fullest, and now have trials that are the envy of the riding world.
Now don't get me wrong, I love stunts, but you don't have to build them out of lumber, and often you don't have to "build" them at all. If a tree falls, use the loose dirt by the exposed roots to form a little ramp up to it, and ride it BC style. Find sloped rocks to ride down, or up. Often a narrow line along a small ledge, or tight line between trees will be just as fun, and much less work. Natural dips form great jumps with a little smoothing. If some bitch ass wanker sues, and the lawyers ask, the truth is it just occurred that way in nature, and they will have to sue God about it. (Lawyers never sue the devil for some reason...)
If you simply MUST build some stunts, start in your backyard. It's close, and a good controlled environment. Just be aware of "attractive nuisance" laws. Or if you don't have a backyard, or your wife, neighbor, etc doesn't want it filled with homemade obstacles there are a few other options. In my neck of the woods, I was approached by the police, for a different reason then usual. They wanted to create a small training area for their bike police. What better way to train then on BC type obstacles? They could supply the materials, provide protection, and even help prevent lawsuits.
In terms of the actual construction, it is more like building a deck on a house then a trail. Anyone with common sense and a little understanding of construction can do a good job. Just remember to build for the heaviest rider, and that people will always find new ways to ride/ fall off of the obstacles, so build them strong and sturdy in general. Remember to be extra careful when designing things that move. It's one thing to fall off a teeter-totter, it's another to get whacked in the jaw by it as the rider in front of you goes over it. To find out more, skip the freeride sites, and go straight to the guys who have been doing better for years now, trials riders! and . Also look for information about a guy nicknamed 'Digger' - I have heard that he is one of the key builders in BC.
HAPPY RIDING! |
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