Where's JoB when you need him for a pointless argument like this?
Bike Forum
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Natural riding vs trail centre riding
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Posted 2 years ago #
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I've never been to a trail centre. But would bloody love to be a fat middle manager haul[ing] [my] overpriced full suspension bike round one.
Just to see what it's like.Posted 2 years ago # -
Raleigh Budgie
That sounds like a fun challenge in fact. Shoot out of the old classics... Budgie might be a bit small, so make it Chopper vs Grifter vs Burner vs Strika on a purpose built trail and a sheep-made singletrack.Posted 2 years ago # -
I like trail centres cos there's no walkers to shake their metal spears at me
Posted 2 years ago # -
Good to see that there are still plenty of people out there with chips on their shoulders.
Trail centers seem somewhat contrived!
- do you mean planned, manufactured, manipulated? Well of course they are. How could anything that has been designed and built NOT be?Trailcentres provide an important and some would say essential role in 21st century mountain biking........i.e they keep numpties offa the good stuff.
- Are you claiming that a group of elite amateur biking gods exists, and that they and only they should be able to ride "the good stuff"? Perhaps there should be an exam to pass and Bike Police to make sure the "good riders" don't have to mix it with the shitheads.Anything to get people riding is a good thing, but there is an element of 'you have provided facilities, and I now absolve myself of any thought or responsibility- ENTERTAIN ME' with some trail centre weekend warroirs.
Yeah, this is kind of the idea. People go biking to be entertained and enjoy themselves. Why is this a shock to you?I suppose the thing I dont like about trail centres is the mentality it produces- with Mountainbiking being 'something that entails a long drive to a purpose-made playpark' kind of thing.
Like it or not, this is the way it is. Only the very fringe sees biking as a lifestyle, most people see it as a fun hobby and they want the most bang for their buck. They want to park the car, ride, shower, eat then go home.I find that if you rock up in an M5 estate, cover everyone in gravel and then click your carbon santa cruz off the roof (careful not to get oil on your Rapha) then you are rad to the power of sick and everyone wants to be you.
You have self esteem issues. You feel threatened by those rich assholes with their nice cars and expensive bikes. Those rich assholes! They probably can't even ride! ARGH I AM SO ANGRYPosted 2 years ago # -
I like trail centres as there are no high horses!!!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Personally I like both. Love doing adventure races and rides out in the "natural" stuff, but also love the fun that can be had in the trail centres where you have a nicely defined trail that allows you to just enjoy riding and not having think about the navigation etc. Hopefully, like most things in life, the people who really get worked up about trail centres don't visit them.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Trail centres were created by man, man is a species of life found on earth created by evolution, life appears to have started from a random mixing of amino acids on earth sometime in the past, the earth is a planet probably formed from dust particles accumulating as they rotate round the sun, the sun is a star probably formed from regions of molecular density thrown out by an expansion of initial hot and dense conditions from a singularity that was the start of our universe that was known as the big bang.
Hence trail centers are natural.
Unless of course your a theist and you think that God is actively participating in the creation of trails centers for some higher cause.
Or alternatively you might think they are the Devils work, however in both cases they would be super-natural.
Im not really sure God is a MTBer myself though or why would there be so much mud round where I live ?
Posted 2 years ago # -
"Where's JoB when you need him for a pointless argument like this?"
my work here is done
Posted 2 years ago # -
Is 'natural' vs 'trail centre' going to be our equivalent of climbings 'trad' vs 'sport' debate??? If it is let's not even go there. Ride what you want, where you want, and enjoy it!
Posted 2 years ago # -
I like both AND football.
Posted 2 years ago # -
that allows you to just enjoy riding and not having think about the navigation etc.
hmmm I rarely give navigation any thought and have frequently gotten lost in trail centres so your argument doesn't hold water for me
Posted 2 years ago # -
Our local trails have every appearance of being very, very natural (e.g. this one: The Thin Red Line).
If you ever stop to have a look over the side of the trail, you find that the sweet, flowing, natural contour singletrack you're riding is acutally held on to the side of the mountain by substantial dry-stone walls in many places. They're actually old trans-humance trails, hand-built and used for moving people & cattle up and down the mountains for centuries. Not only does this mean they have a great, flowy gradient, they also drain fantastically well and never get muddy.
Natural vs man-made is a matter of degrees, it's not black and white.
I'd much rather ride twisty trails at Glentress, Kirroughtree, Laggan or Golspie than a lot of the straight-line, dull, dull, dull boulder fields that comprise many Lakes and Peak bridleways (not all, I know).
Posted 2 years ago # -
than a lot of the straight-line, dull, dull, dull boulder fields that comprise many Lakes and Peak bridleways (not all, I know).
examples ?? And how in hell can a boulder field be dull ? Scary perhaps...
dull:
Posted 2 years ago # -
examples ??
That boulder-filled ditch that runs along the ridge from the road-pass near the top of Mam Tor. Can't remember what you call it. Supposedly a classic of Peak district riding. Half a mile of baby-head rocks to rumble over.
Anyway, you call that a boulder field?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Half a mile of baby-head rocks to rumble over
Like a lot of Highland riding as well then.
Posted 2 years ago # -
fantastic fun
Meh. Straight-line, turn-off brain, no line-choice required dullness.
Have I put enough of these in yet?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Have I put enough of these in yet?
OK, ya got me
BTW, sometimes I find the ubiquitous wiggliness of trail centres rather contrived...
Posted 2 years ago # -
BTW, sometimes I find the ubiquitous wiggliness of trail centres rather contrived...
Agreed actually, there's nothing worse than a man-made corner which doesn't quite flow properly! Fine if it's natural, you gotta ride it as you find it, but when it's SUPPOSED to flow... Grrr!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Lenny - Member
Ride what you want, where you want, and enjoy it!
Took the words right out of my mouth.
Last Sun I got the map out.
Today(and last night)I am just setting off, biking to & back, to my nearest trail centre because I am short of time today, have to go to work @ 6pm.
Posted 2 years ago # -
>Natural vs man-made is a matter of degrees, it's not black and white. <
Agreed - I see the distinction more one of man made versus purpose built.
Scotland also a prime example. The vast majority of the so called natural trails the mags and individuals on here wax lyrical about were / are variously: drove roads, military roads, coffin roads & Stalkers paths
Posted 2 years ago # -
Trail centre kitty litter versus "man-made" other stuff?
Posted 2 years ago # -
DONT FEED THE TROLL
Posted 2 years ago # -
stevomcd - Member
I'd much rather ride twisty trails at Glentress, Kirroughtree, Laggan or Golspie than a lot of the straight-line, dull, dull, dull boulder fields that comprise many Lakes and Peak bridleways (not all, I know).Yes not all indeed,variation there is in them,loads of twisty old packhorse trails,Cut Gate for one, And boulder fields are super fun to ride and get down,
trail centres most of the time is too predictable imo,once you ride them all i think..Sfbarnes is that Chapel Gate in one of the pics?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Sfbarnes is that Chapel Gate in one of the pics?
no, the other side of the hill, from Rushup down to the turn towards The Roych
Posted 2 years ago # -
ahaa yeah other way,drop offs going down it...
Posted 2 years ago #
eTopic Closed
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