Why the MTN Bike park is NOT World Class...

[vaulter1]

First of all let me say that I have been there 4 times so far, including the "pre-opening" hubber invite, and will definitely be going back again in the future.  I have also been to Logwood, Giba Gorge, Whistler, Seymour and Cyprus, and many smaller local parks so while I am by no means a worldly travelled pro, I think I can objectively comment.  Listed below, in no particular order or sentence structure are my "points".

 

It rains in Summer on the highveld.  Did nobody remember this when building the trails or BMX track?  If the rain has done so much damage this early in the season what's it going to look like by March?

 

I'm not sure you could build a smaller pump-track if you tried.  While fun for a few moments, the L shape definetly doesn't lend itself to picking up much speed (unless your a midget on a circus bike).

 

Did anybody think to get advice on what type of wood to use for bridges?  I did mention using scrap wood in another forum but that was for FREE areas indoors, not ones I'm paying R50 to get into that sit in the rain.  Whoever made that choice would be laughed off the Shore and should pay personally for the next lawsuit when a plank splits in half.

 

Why the uphill?  I know there's not too much vertical to work with but why can't there be just one trail that has a trailhead at the top and ends at the bottom WITHOUT doubling back uphill?  Granted it's not as bad as Logwood but there's something about railing a berm only to turn the corner and look up another hill that's just no fun.

 

I don't trust the signs.  The pre-ride night there were no trail signs - now they're everywhere - I'm not sure you could put many more ONE-WAY signs out there.  Many of them are just pointless - like the ones at drop-zone.  Warn me that there's a drop, what's the size, and move on.

 

The Black trails DON'T beserve the rating.  Space Junk, Black 4 - you must be joking!  other than having switchbacks that are absurdly steep that most people seem to walk up, I don't really see why it gets the rating.

 

I would go thru each trail and mention the little things that annoy me but that's more personal preference - oh and I don't have a MAP so I can't remember which trail is which.  How the hell can you open a park and not at least put up a map of the trails?

 

What exactly is the point of the big ladder bridge?  It's wide enough to drive a Mini up it and there's no trail on the other side?  More for show from the highway maybe?

 

When I passed the park prior to opening, there seemed to be tons of progress being made but now that it's open and clients are "paying the bills" nothing seems to be happening except repairing the BMX course again and again, the additional trails on the other side of the highway...

 

NO Shore stuff? put some bridges, tetter totters, and ramp jumps near the coffee shop and you'll have a great spectator section.

 

I know this is SA and security is important but what IDIOT decided to line the perimiter trails with razor-wire fencing and not put a buffer of chainlink or something?  That's an accident waiting to happen.

 

The kind of park that MTN is does not exist many places overseas and that's the problem for me.  It is not World Class because we are paying someone for a location that, in many parts of the US and Canada, is provided by the local parks service and local associations (think IMBA, NSMBA, etc) for free with a little labor.  I was hoping the park would actually be a "Free-ride" park but with less vertical.  So I guess what I'm saying is that while I am sorely dissapointed in the build-quality and what the park has provided for a rider like me, it has perfectly catered to the XC weekend warrior and possibly the family crowd (though I won't be bringing my daughter till the razor fences are covered).

 

If you've read this far thank you, if you skipped to the bottom you're just lazy.

 

So let the flaming begin

 

 

 

[Mudsimus]

FFS....Why do cyclist also have to bitch and moan. Be thankful that you have a F*cking bike park. Some of us dont have such facilities. Why dont you rather thank the persons involved for doing all cyclists a favour by building the park? If you really feel that the park is not up to standard...dont go there. Go ride in your own back yard.

[vaulter1]

@Mud Dee:  unfortunately that's the response I thought I would get.  If you actually READ my post you'll see that I "will definitely be going back again in the future" and all I'm trying to say is that it's not World Class - It's a step in the right direction but I'm not the kind of guy who says thank you for letting me PAY you for a facility- it's business and right now in SA business is good for mountain biking.  See it as bitching and moaning if you want but I prefer constructive criticism.  Make a bigger pump track, add some Shore and my opinion might just change.

[Mudsimus]

but I prefer constructive criticism.\

 

And so would the owners of the park. Nothing about your post is constructive. You shoot their effort down from the start. Rather thank them for what they did and give them some pointers where they can improve. When there wernt such facilities everybody moaned. Now that someone made the effort some still moan.....

[KDEE]

Agree Vaulter, with much of what you said.. And I too will be back, I like it for a a quick 2 hours out of my day..

 

My concerns are more focussed on whether there will be a smaller kids BMX track and/or small kids riding area. Currently they all use the pump track.. Kids on small bikes will soon be using the coffee shop boardwalk to ride....

 

I have sent my feedback to Geoff and the lab, it would help if you sent yours as well, perhaps in a slightly diff format, with suggestions on how to improve/help?

 

[DawieO]

Agree with the fence comment.  Especially at and after the little bridge across the spruit, that is just plain dangerous.

 

 

[bustthesickness]

 

FFS....Why do cyclist also have to bitch and moan. Be thankful that you have a F*cking bike park. Some of us dont have such facilities. Why dont you rather thank the persons involved for doing all cyclists a favour by building the park? If you really feel that the park is not up to standard...dont go there. Go ride in your own back yard.

jees, just because his feedback isnt all positive, doesnt mean you must flame him. Swearing, imposing suggestions etc.

 

Vaulter has ridden at many parks before. Have you Mud dee? Do you MTB? Freeride? I found Vaulter's criticism to be very constructive in fact, and he raised many good points. Perhaps if the MTN park guys had done a bit more trail designing, they'd have built a better park, one that would be fun for intermediate/advanced riders as well.

 

 

[bustthesickness]

 

but I prefer constructive criticism.\

 

And so would the owners of the park. Nothing about your post is constructive. You shoot their effort down from the start. Rather thank them for what they did and give them some pointers where they can improve. When there wernt such facilities everybody moaned. Now that someone made the effort some still moan.....

He did thank them, and give them pointers. Are you high?

 

[Mudsimus]

I might still be high. But he also calls them idiots...very constructive.

[bustthesickness]

 

I might still be high. But he also calls them idiots...very constructive.

Except that whoever put razor wire next to a trail IS an idiot maybe? this is VERY dangerous to say the least....

 

Anyway, what OPINION do you have Mud dee? Are you a free/am rider?

 

[Mudsimus]

I might still be high. But he also calls them idiots...very constructive.

Except that whoever put razor wire next to a trail IS an idiot maybe? this is VERY dangerous to say the least....

Anyway' date=' what OPINION do you have Mud dee? Are you a free/am rider?
[/quote']

 

It might be dangerous. But why not bring this to their attention in a civilized manner? Wtf has my opinion and being a free rider got to do with the matter on hand? Am I only entitled to an opinion if I'm a free rider? Then the OP should remove this topic and go post it on freerider.com.

[101SCC]

Sorry MD, but you are going to get nailed on your comments. V1's comments are valid, he is a paying customer, R50 per ride. The Bike Park is a business, not a charity. If I bought a BMW and things weren't up to my liking then...fortunately I can test drive a BMW first!

If his comments were about riding up and down the spruit I would agree with you flaming him. Free open riding space, but a Park build by people to make a return on Investment, needs to take opinions of the customer and try to improve the facilty.

These guys didn't build the park because they love all us mtbers, they built it to market their Brands, Toyota, MTN and CycleLab and make some money.

 

V1 I thought your comments were valid and reasonable, now just send them to Ali Mclean and see if your comments are taken seriously.

 

[bustthesickness]

Please refrain from swearing at people so much.

 

If you are not familiar with bike parks, trail riding, obstacles, tricks and features, then your input on this thread is not needed. All you have done is attacked someone with a VALID point. Someone who actually should have an opinion [seeing he's been to many parks], has made a comment on the various things that bring the park down.

 

I'll tell you what though, wait until your kid ets his/her face lashed open on the razor wire, and we'll see who gets treated in a 'civilized manner'. Especially when you see that the little 'waiver' you signed takes ALL of the responsibility for the safety of riders out of their hands.

 

To build stunts out of cheap timber is just greedy. Park building is about sustainability. This comes from things like excellent drainage, good trail planning [chokes before bends, berms, careful erosion management]. Cheap bridges and crossing will rot and decay very fast. Trails that wash away or become rutted from parallel drainage issues have not been designed and built correctly.

 

[turtlek]

Ok guys to be honest i can agree that the bike park still has a lot of work to do and the guys that are running it (Geoff and CO) are working on it all the time

 

 

 

if you can give me one time that you have been to logwood and all the trails have been open for riding and have been in brilliant riding form then it would be a miracle

 

 

 

not only do they have to work everyday to keep the trails up to standard but the bike park will never be finished and not all the trails will be open everyday

 

 

 

i can agree with mud dee though why do we always complain???? why not just go to them and tell them about your issues instead of posting them here where Geoff will never read them because he does not have time because he is working on the trails that he would like you to enjoy!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

i can understand your frustration about there not being any northshore stuff or hectic drops and freeriding stuff but why must they put all of that there if they are going to spend more time maintaining the stuff for the minority

 

 

 

about the bridge well yes i can agree one hundred percent there i dont know what they were thinking BUT we might all be surprised in the future you never know till it happens!!!

 

 

 

also Geoff has been building trails for longer than most of us have been riding bikes so i think he has more than enough experience where the trailbuilding is concerned!!!!

 

 

 

ok cheers people see you later

[Mudsimus]

i can agree with mud dee though why do we always complain???? why not just go to them and tell them about your issues instead of posting them here where Geoff will never read them because he does not have time because he is working on the trails that he would like you to enjoy!!!!!!!!

 

Exactely. Go to them with your issues. E mail them. Posting it on the hub and trying to degrade the park is not going to make it better. I'm sure building and maintaining that park is a huge job. They tried to make it as safe as possible. Calling them idiots for doing something to protect you is just silly. Yes its dangerous, but bring this to their attention in a civilized way.

[paulvs]

dude...

 

go to www.hellopeter.com and post your complain there!