I've missed all this as usual because I can't get on the forum at work, but just to clarify a few points:
- The trail at the moment has terrible problems with drainage and soil type in particular, and has had needed regular work over the past 4-5 years to keep it running. This has all been undertaken by volunteers, as ADH says - a situation that can't really continue indefinitely.
- The trails are going to be a mix of blue, red and skills area. To be honest I think all the current official trails would be graded as blue if they weren't in such an awful state for the wetter months of the year.
- There are some other projects in the works that will complement the main trails, such as the pump and jump track on the way to the trails, and it also looks likely (although not definite) that Still is going to reopen as a DH venue. Also the trail in 50 Acre is going to stay natural and there may be scope to develop other places as riding spots too.
- Even if you don't think the development plan is catering to most riders' needs, it makes much more sense to start with something accessible and build on it, rather than risk creating a white elephant which only a few riders will use.
- Leigh Woods is really crying out for an official trail. It has a reputation as a great place to ride, but the number of completely knackered trails there has grown over the past few years as it becomes a victim of its own popularity. The ones in the worst state (which are almost certainly the ones that get the most use) are the gentle flowy trails across the top of the wood, not the scary steep stuff.
- When you're consulting for a project like this, it's nigh-on impossible to involve everyone.
- The design for the trail isn't planned out to the last detail, and there is plenty of scope for tweaking as the builders figure out what works where.
If anyone's got any specific questions, feel free to drop me an email. I'm not on the design team, I just co-ordinate the volunteer repair efforts, but to his credit the designer has tried to actively involve the volunteers in the design process as much as possible, so I feel pretty clued up (not to mention optimistic) about the project.
Cheers
Antony
