Does anyone have tips on building an amazing bike trail?
Does anyone have tips on building an amazing bike trail? I live on a mountain with around 150 Acres of wooded land at my desposal. One problem is that because it is on a mountain (literally) it has a fairly steep grade. Also unfortunatly I don't have a GPS device 
So any tips on marking out paths would be greatly appreciated.
Wow…that's an awesome opportunity you have!!!
I'm not a super-expert on trailbuilding but I've done my fair share and have ridden tons of trails. I think the best advice I could give you is to spend a lot of time reading the IMBA website. Look in their "resources" section….there's literally tons of info there to help with design, building, and sustainability, as well as advice on liability and smart planning. http://www.imba.com
Also, you can get a free dvd from the US Forestry Service about trail building/sustainability. You can find it on their site, and I think IMBA has a link to it as well (might have to search for it).
Building on steep grades is a real challenge because you have to do it right in order to make a nice flowy trail, and to prevent rains from destroying all of the work you put into it. You'll have to do the switchbacks properly and probably do a lot of bench cuts/build-ups…..major pain in the back!
There are lots of other places for info out there….if you ask this question on some of these sites and forums you may get a motherlode of resources and advice. Good luck…hope it turns out great! :o)
http://www.leelikesbikes.com
http://www.forums.mtbr.com (forums)
http://www.ridemonkey.com (forums)
http://www.dirtragmag.com
http://www.declinemagazine.com
http://www.konaworld.com (manufacturer, but they may be helpful if you ask them!)
I got curious, so I seached google and found this site, too. http://www.americantrails.org/resources/trailbuilding/
Start with a fwew ramps, build them up by using logs at the bottom followed by dirt. Shape them and size them for your liking.
After you make a few jups, simply use them alot. This will creat a natural path. If you find it too sttep, try snaking your jumpes don the hill, you can't have 150 acres of all hill can you? There might be some place where it is less steep?
Look on this site for help on making jumps:
http://www.wikihow.com/Build-Dirt-Jumps
OR
http://www.genesbmx.com/build-dirt-jumps.html
HOPE THIS HELPS
References :
Wow…that's an awesome opportunity you have!!!
I'm not a super-expert on trailbuilding but I've done my fair share and have ridden tons of trails. I think the best advice I could give you is to spend a lot of time reading the IMBA website. Look in their "resources" section….there's literally tons of info there to help with design, building, and sustainability, as well as advice on liability and smart planning. http://www.imba.com
Also, you can get a free dvd from the US Forestry Service about trail building/sustainability. You can find it on their site, and I think IMBA has a link to it as well (might have to search for it).
Building on steep grades is a real challenge because you have to do it right in order to make a nice flowy trail, and to prevent rains from destroying all of the work you put into it. You'll have to do the switchbacks properly and probably do a lot of bench cuts/build-ups…..major pain in the back!
There are lots of other places for info out there….if you ask this question on some of these sites and forums you may get a motherlode of resources and advice. Good luck…hope it turns out great! :o)
http://www.leelikesbikes.com
http://www.forums.mtbr.com (forums)
http://www.ridemonkey.com (forums)
http://www.dirtragmag.com
http://www.declinemagazine.com
http://www.konaworld.com (manufacturer, but they may be helpful if you ask them!)
I got curious, so I seached google and found this site, too. http://www.americantrails.org/resources/trailbuilding/
References :