Trail Building Advice

[turbosnail]

I am looking for some insightful advice to building and optimizing an MTB Trail.

 

..... small 500m worth of trail located on the Sandspruit (river joining the Braamfontein Spruit in Sunninghill).

 

The trail is also shared by people walking, trail-running and also horses......oh, and some riders have also come to play in my backyard (would be great to hear their feedback).

 

My specific request for advice is along the following:

- Ideas to further develop the trail... noting: I am only using a spade, wheel-barrow and weed-eater. No money to plough into the project - only some time & energy.

- How to build solid ramps. I have built 3 ramps. Mostly out of sand (probably the bulk of the problem). Although the sand is hardening now, the horses also use the ramps as part of the rider training and they naturally step a few holes into the ramp - especially on the sides. Perhaps a selection of rocks

- How to smooth the course surface. I have moved a lot of the loose-sand with a spade and also made the course fairly bumpy... the horses also add a stack of holes in the trail at soft-sections. I seem to be making some progress - perhaps a combination of riding the trail, more people riding the trail, the horses compacting the trail etc,.... usage and patience will probably deliver the result. AND, the moles - I reckon they think it's real cute to pop-up their mounds at strategic locations on the path.

- How to get rid of the loose river sand. I am guessing that this is the 'holy-grail' of MTB trail builders. Essentially, the river overflows from time to time and deposits a stack of river sand on the open area... I have dug the trail down to the hard-pack soil. However, the riversand seems to fall back from the sides back into the trail....even after widening to 1m. Any bright ideas in this regard would be great. We have a long time until the next flood.

- Long Term project - how to cross the river without building a bridge or weir. Sounds a little strange. I do not want to build a bridge too much pedestrian traffic and building a weir sounds like a huge mission (not too mention a contravention of environmental / municipal laws. The river is less than knee deep during usual conditions - but, the riversand is too soft to ride over - you can hardly walk through it. Any ideas?

[turbosnail]

Any Civil Engineers?

Any Environmental advisors?

Any Trail Builders?

[leet22]

Pm Pain and Shine. he does trail building in Tokai

[The Drongo]

I am looking for some insightful advice to building and optimizing an MTB Trail.

 

..... small 500m worth of trail - Run parallel trails = 1000m

 

The trail is also shared by people walking, trail-running and also horses......oh, and some riders have also come to play in my backyard (would be great to hear their feedback).

Uh - NO. NO. Shoot those. You are building trail for MTB, right?

 

My specific request for advice is along the following:

 

- How to build solid ramps. Cut down INVASIVE Gum Trees, Willows. Stack logs to shape. Dress with soil + water (mud), compact, allow to set. Shoot any horses. I have built 3 ramps. Mostly out of sand (probably the bulk of the problem). Although the sand is hardening now, the horses also use the ramps as part of the rider training and they naturally step a few holes into the ramp - especially on the sides. Perhaps a selection of rocks - Stack rocks for easy access to throw at horses.

- How to smooth the course surface. I have moved a lot of the loose-sand with a spade and also made the course fairly bumpy... the horses also add a stack of holes in the trail at soft-sections. I seem to be making some progress - perhaps a combination of riding the trail, more people riding the trail, the horses compacting??? the trail etc,.... usage and patience will probably deliver the result. AND, the moles - I reckon they think it's real cute to pop-up their mounds at strategic locations on the path. - Are you beginning to get the picture?

- How to get rid of the loose river sand. SHOOT THE HORSES. I am guessing that this is the 'holy-grail' of MTB trail builders. Essentially, the river overflows from time to time and deposits a stack of river sand on the open area... I have dug the trail down to the hard-pack soil. However, the riversand seems to fall back from the sides back into the trail....even after widening to 1m. Any bright ideas in this regard would be great. We have a long time until the next flood.

- Long Term project - how to cross the river without building a bridge or weir. Sounds a little strange. I do not want to build a bridge too much pedestrian traffic and building a weir sounds like a huge mission (not too mention a contravention of environmental / municipal laws. The river is less than knee deep during usual conditions - but, the riversand is too soft to ride over - you can hardly walk through it. Any ideas? Get old tyres. Wire together. Wire pallets on top. Place across swampy, muddy, sandy, shallowish water bits. Ride

 

And shoot the horses. Did I mention that?

[turbosnail]

Excellent Leet22 - Thanks for referral - will contact via PM.

 

Drongo.... thanks (I think) for some of the advice. The horses make the trail more interesting and add more feet to a great environmental area.

I have used some rocks and logs - I just get the idea that I should be using more stone to make the ramp harder and last longer.

[(Deon)]

Excellent Leet22 - Thanks for referral - will contact via PM.

 

Drongo.... thanks (I think) for some of the advice. The horses make the trail more interesting and add more feet to a great environmental area.

I have used some rocks and logs - I just get the idea that I should be using more stone to make the ramp harder and last longer.

 

Actually, horses are cool to have around, but Drongo is right (in a way), they need to be off the bike trail. Any blind corner at speed has the potential to launch the horse rider into 1. oblivion and 2. when they recover, a moaning frenzy.. you want to avoid the headache of a trail clash.

 

There are other reasons to relegate horses to a different trail; longevity of your track and the constant widening of repeated use. Hooves break the wheel or foot compacted surface, turning your many hours labour into beach sand. You may not be bothered with it now, your wheel will naturally aim for the solid bits on the side of the trail.. but so will the horses, and the start of trail widening begins.

 

Speak to the horse riders.. respect them, they are looking for the same satisfaction of being outdoors, but get them to understand the need for separate trails, safety is always a winner. It is zero effort for them to carve a new trail around the dedicated MTB course.. and offer to help with their obstacles..