ATT: Trail Park Builders

[The Ouzo]

My experience is limited to Rietvlei and BRB, so just keep that in mind reading the below.

 

If you're going to have a trail that you put forward as a kiddies trail, please dont share any part of it with any of the main trails.

 

Its now happened a few times were I've worked hard as a dad to get my youngest ones confidence up to ride certain sections of trail, only to have to get her to pull over breaking momentum to let other riders through, and then get her going again.

 

Nothing against the other riders, and just about all of them have been super friendly and patient with us, but when you're barely trundling along at 4km/h nobody is going to be patient for very long.

 

I just feel if you're going to have a trail like this it should not interfere with others. I get that there are often space and costs constraints, but it should'nt be to difficult to do.

 

[Steady Spin]

BRB is guilty of this... Trails 3 & 4 should not be shared with 1 & 2. 

1 & 2 are intermediate to expert level.

3 & 4 are the beginner trails with 3 moving towards intermediate because of the longer distance. 

 

On the last 10km you have 1 & 2 shared with 3 (I think there is an overlap with 4 somewhere) and you encounter a lot of families on that portion around the same time as you finish your 1 or 2 loop at 9:00 in the morning. 

 

I've seen many riders tip over and fall (for example) next to the trail when they get a fright with fast riders coming up behind them to pass. This is not the fault of the faster riders either as many will be cautious and slow down. 

 

This is a trail build issue and I understand that Red Barn has limited space but still. Make it family & beginner friendly. 

[fanievb]

I would rather suggest the fellow riders learn some trail etiquette

[RoddieJ]

I think this thread deserves a much wider audience, so my suggestion is to get in touch with the journal who is covering the cycling content on News24.

It’s a very important aspect of riding safely and should include the cyclists outside this forum as well.

[Steady Spin]

I would rather suggest the fellow riders learn some trail etiquette

 

I don't agree with you. You can be as "etiquetted" as you want, even walk past someone that has pulled over, and still break their confidence as Ouzo said. 

 

It is not a "trail etiquette" issue alone and this thread is not about that either. It's about trail builders not having dedicated beginner trails. 

[Kuys]

My experience is limited to Rietvlei and BRB, so just keep that in mind reading the below.

 

If you're going to have a trail that you put forward as a kiddies trail, please dont share any part of it with any of the main trails.

 

Its now happened a few times were I've worked hard as a dad to get my youngest ones confidence up to ride certain sections of trail, only to have to get her to pull over breaking momentum to let other riders through, and then get her going again.

 

Nothing against the other riders, and just about all of them have been super friendly and patient with us, but when you're barely trundling along at 4km/h nobody is going to be patient for very long.

 

I just feel if you're going to have a trail like this it should not interfere with others. I get that there are often space and costs constraints, but it should'nt be to difficult to do.

 

Im in the same situation as you, getting the little one's riding. We normally go late afternoons on weekends then the trails are very quite. I wouldnt get near any trail park in the mornings with the kids. 

 

We have had only good experiences at BRB and Wolwespruit on late afternoons. I stick to the flat trails close to the start finish, Halleluja etc.

[The Ouzo]

I don't agree with you. You can be as "etiquetted" as you want, even walk past someone that has pulled over, and still break their confidence as Ouzo said. 

 

It is not a "trail etiquette" issue alone and this thread is not about that either. It's about trail builders not having dedicated beginner trails. 

100%, not once at either BRB or Rietvlei has it been any of the other riders faults.

Nothing to do with riding etiquette. 

[The Ouzo]

I think this thread deserves a much wider audience, so my suggestion is to get in touch with the journal who is covering the cycling content on News24.

It’s a very important aspect of riding safely and should include the cyclists outside this forum as well.

 i dont think it warrants that. Its just something I wanted to get off my chest. 

[Rolf Hansen]

At BRB trail #4 is mostly on its own but it is very short and probably fine for a 4 or 5 year old. The moment your child moves up and can manage longer distances I think there will always be somebody either faster or slower. 

 

My 12 and 8 year old sons do the 12km #3 trail on their BMXs without issue and has done several times. We don't often but sometimes pass slower riders. They can do the trail much easier than for instance my mother would be able so how are they supposed to classify the trail?

 

I find Wolwespruit much more of a problem where some quite fast sections of the trail crosses/shares the path of the runners/hikers.

[Red Robin]

I totally understand what OP is saying but have not experienced it the same. I  have taken my children on most of the trails since the youngest was 4  and taught them from young to pull over to the left when an adult is behind them  and then go again and it has never been a problem. The only problem initially  was confusion between left and right so we changed it to same side as the bell until they got left and right correct. 

 

Obviously they couldn't do that if they were doing an obstacle that you can't stop at but then I would check behind as far as possible for other riders, if clear then tell them to go as fast as they could over the obstacle. If there were other riders we would pull over till they had past and then go for it. 

 

edit spelling

Edited April 6, 2021 by Red Robin

[The Ouzo]

I totally understand what OP is saying but have not experienced it the same. I  have taken my children on most of the trails since the youngest was 4  and taught them from young to pull over to the left when an adult is behind them  and then go again and it has never been a problem. The only problem initially  was confusion between left and right so we changed it to same side as the bell until they got left and right correct. 

 

Obviously they couldn't do that if they were doing an obstacle that you can't stop at but then I would check behind as far as possible for other riders, if clear then tell them to go as fast as they could over the obstacle. If there were other riders we would pull over till they had passed and then go for it. 

Its about the confidence of the child. We dont go all that often so it takes a while to build up that confidence. They were better on the second loop though.

[Rolf Hansen]

Its about the confidence of the child. We dont go all that often so it takes a while to build up that confidence. They were better on the second loop though.

Surely just pulling to the side and letting someone pass should not affect their confidence all that much? They should be able to handle that if you want them to do proper trails?

[The Ouzo]

Surely just pulling to the side and letting someone pass should not affect their confidence all that much? They should be able to handle that if you want them to do proper trails?

youngest is 5 and gets a little flustered (because of lack of experience) when things are not smooth. i.e. rocks or roots that need to be navigated. Although I think in a few months when she progresses to a bigger bike with bigger wheels it will make things easier, right now those tiny little wheels on her 16" bike dont roll over obstacles that easily.

 

Like I said, she did get more confident second loop around.

[Rolf Hansen]

youngest is 5 and gets a little flustered (because of lack of experience) when things are not smooth. i.e. rocks or roots that need to be navigated. Although I think in a few months when she progresses to a bigger bike with bigger wheels it will make things easier, right now those tiny little wheels on her 16" bike dont roll over obstacles that easily.

 

Like I said, she did get more confident second loop around.

I understand. Trail #4 at BRB should be fine though. 

 

For the little ones they suggest riding the hiking trail with a adult hiking alongside. They don't go fast enough to endanger the runners/hikers and nobody passes them with a bicycle. It sucks as you cannot join with the bike but might be a solution? My kids started like that at BRB.

[The Ouzo]

I understand. Trail #4 at BRB should be fine though. 

 

For the little ones they suggest riding the hiking trail with a adult hiking alongside. They don't go fast enough to endanger the runners/hikers and nobody passes them with a bicycle. It sucks as you cannot join with the bike but might be a solution? My kids started like that at BRB.

that is route #4 that you are describing

[Rolf Hansen]

that is route #4 that you are describing

No, the little ones are allowed to ride with a hiking/running adult on the hiking trail - 5km, 10km, etc.