Time to put something back into the community – I'm going to build a jump

I’m always riding trails and jumps kindly built by others. Time to make a contribution. So I thought I’d build a jump. Nothing fancy, just an 18 inch launch pad on some fast down hill trail on Leith Hill.

Not too big so that most riders bypas it, but something most competent riders can handle. Want to be as inclusive as possible. Trying to encourage more people to jump.

Just wondering the best design. Dig out a tray, lay some logs, cover with soil and cement dust. Maybe stake the trailing edge to prevent movement. Am I on the right track? Suggestions welcome.

Is it your land to build on?

If not, you should know better.

Not sure if trolling, or…….

Cement is bad stuff, don’t be chucking that around.

I was hoping for constructive help… If I only rode on land I owned I’d never venture beyond my garden or the the public highway would I…

No way should you be using cement.

Well, yes, you would.

The Surrey Hills are a very contentious area, where there is a serious need to protect access. Unsanctioned and unauthorised building is just plain stupid in that area.

There are more accepted trails, bridleways etc around the area than you might realise. If you want to go jumping, check out some of the awesome jumps at the A3/M25 junction. Don’t screw up the access just because you feel like being all of teh radnezzz with some wikkkid jumpz.

This community you speak of wants to ride the Surrey Hills. Let them.

Just no. You want to give back, get involved on a trail maintenance day.

Round here theres a little bit of singletrack. Too regularly to be completely natural there are rocks that are perfectly shaped little kickers at the side of the path. No one is going to get offended by them cos, well theyre just rocks. If it looks like its there on purpose some bugger will get the hump.

Leith. No.

You’ll be making (local) headline news and it will be criminal damage, and yes you can be arrested for that.

Though I commend you for the community spirit, but dig where you have permission or otherwise is cheeky and quiet, non publicised and no one is going to kick up a fuss (even then it’s still illegal).

Digging is very different to just riding on land that you may not have permission to. The latter is not illegal, generally, subject to some bylaws. Digging without permission is. Worse when it’s in an AONB or SSSI, and in the case of Leith, open National Trust land with fussy horse riders and walkers.

Far better to get in contact with local dig groups. Chat with Nirvana Cycles for contacts, or Redlands Trails who did the original Summer Lightning, or Richard Kelly and his group behind the new SL. The fuss over part of the new one tells you how much hassle you’ll have in such a busy popular area.

Likewise, also check out the police involvement and fuss where sanctioned and old established trails over in Ranmore suddenly became an accusation of criminal damage and wrecking of local wildlife (badgers), when the ranger seemed to change attitude. Similarly I came across one that’s had more recent digging not far from there and the ranger has posted up about criminal damage, getting police invoked and saying cctv is in the area. Along with again mentioning those pesky badgers.

Regardless, even where you may be allowed, learn how to do trail digs properly. Well designed, maintainable, sustainable, good drainage, low natural impact, and sensible to ride. Features are better where they are progressive also. Way too many things dug with no thought by people just thinking wouldn’t it be cool to build a pile of earth, and next thing you know someone’s in hospital and the stuff is being flattened, or falls apart in no time and is neglected.

Badgers like to dig are you sure they are not getting revenge.

I’m not familiar with the area, but it sounds like you and everyone you know will be put in prison forever if you so much as lift a stone 🙄

I’d say go for it and have compiled a little do’s and don’t list. Feel free to completely ignore it though.

Do:
• Build a jump
• Make the take off at least a bike length long (preferably a bit longer – depending on height of jump)
• Try and make it look natural – like its been there for years
• Use nearby rocks/boulders for foundations – less work for you and a sturdier jump
• Try to finish it in one go – half built jumps will get destroyed
• Think about where you’ll land
• Consider drainage – this time of year it’s dryer that most other times
• Test it before going home. If it’s not right, fix it.
• Have fun jumping. Getting air is good for the soul

Don’t:
• Use cement
• Use sticks and the like – it’s a jump, not a campfire
• Dig holes everywhere
• Build it on the main line of an established trail (unless you built the trail) – make it an option. Lots of people don’t have a soul
• Skimp on the topsoil layer – 4″ packed on top of your rocky foundation should do it
• Try a backflip without a helmet
• Listen to people on the internet 😀

Something like this maybe…

This.

I’m not familiar with the area,

Anything you said after this was completely irrelevant.

Anything you said after this was completely irrelevant.

That’s why i put it first 😀

Doesn’t mean it isn’t useful to someone else thinking of building a jump – not that many on here would think of lifting a spade and creating something new. Singletrack is the land of buy not build.

Which is lucky, because in the main it’s a **** stupid thing to do.

Lots of good trails around the area have been damaged by people making poor, badly built jumps.
Like the little set of doubles that appeared on supernova, great at 15mph, at 25mph its like riding into a double kerb.
I’m not saying don’t do it, but think carefully.

‘Which is lucky, because in the main it’s a **** stupid thing to do. ‘

You see, that’s were we disagree completely. To me, building and riding jumps is one of the finest things in life.

See, if the op had shut up about where he wanted to build and just asked ‘how do I build a jump?’ this thread could have gone fine but its too late and I’m with what njee20 said.

You see, that’s were we disagree completely. To me, building and riding jumps is one of the finest things in life.

Except in a place which is likely to piss off enough people who are already pissed off to get riding banned.

Suggestions welcome.

Pressure trigger at the lip of the jump that plays a recording of Basil Brush shouting “Boom, boom!” through hidden speakers. All jumps need this.

Except in a place which is likely to piss off enough people who are already pissed off to get riding banned.

I thought that goes without say, but obviously not

PLEASE DON’T BUILD JUMPS IN PLACES THAT ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR JUMPS

I’m not familiar with the area…

To give you some perspective, in terms of how much building jumps will get noticed and cause trouble, your local disused quarry is more like a forgotten mine track in Siberia whilst Leith Hill is akin to the cycle paths of Central London.

the cycle paths of Central London

Which are crying out for jumps. Commuters always look miserable, how much happier would they be with a few kickers to gnar-up their journey to work? Seriously, anybody who wants to do their bit for the community by building jumps on land they don’t own without consulting the riders who have built and maintain existing trails, even if you are simply trolling, please go play in the traffic where you’re needed.

Boom boom.

Good man Euro – I share your sentiments. Thanks for the building tips – that’s what I was hoping for. Far too many arm chair mtb’ers on this forum. Too interested in the kit and not the riding experience. Conginitally averse to anything but a middle aged consensus. Now I’ve done it – the armchair warriors will will have their cross hairs on me in no time…

In a secret place, some where on Leith Hill, there will be a new jump. And you know what, it’ll add to the riding experience. IMHO anyway…

Best thing is to not publish on the Internet that you’re building illegal jumps. Don’t get me wrong, if you do it properly (and most ad hoc ones are badly built), and I stumble upon it, I may love it. Chances are I can’t jump it, but what the hell 😀 . I’m not going to kick up a fuss.

I’d just be disappointed if it gets flattened or a big fuss is made by others and it adds to the anti-bike feeling in the area.

Best stuff that isn’t quite legit is discrete, away from any heavily used trail, and built by magic pixies who don’t generally go shouting about their activities on public forums.

Maybe worth chatting with some of the local trail pixies. Should note people get a bit upset if some digging has been going on ‘their’ trail that they may not approve of. Sure, it’s not their trail, but it happens. Or worse someone who’s been riding along for years and now ends up heading to A&E after finding a jump there they weren’t prepared for and then has a rant about it on STW, and it all gets flattened as a result (*cough* Supernova *cough*) 😉

Pretty much what Njee said… someone in an earlier thread put it quite nicely as well that not every trail needs a kicker or a jump.

As much I love jumps…. I’ve seen people do stupid things by leaving big gaping holes right at the side of the trail where they’ve taken the earth to build the jump or build a jump right at the foot of a fire road. Just spells trouble.

Get involved in the FotH if you really want to put something back in to the community.

Some options…

Buy some land and build what you want.

Speak to the locals and get involved with trail building that is sustainable and not going to cause lots of issues.

Ignore all the good advice put some effort in and get loads of stick and see your work flattened and get more access issues.

Chat with Nirvana Cycles for contacts

Yeah the guys who build doubles and put a old door in the gap 😆

Thanks for the building tips – that’s what I was hoping for

Any time fella.

As i mentioned, i’m not familiar with the area or the local building scene but if there are already a few builders in the area, have a chat with them if you can – they may have plans for the area you’re thinking of building in and it’s not advisable to get on the wrong side of people handy with a keyboard shovel 😉

Happy building 😀

Or worse someone who’s been riding along for years and now ends up heading to A&E after finding a jump there they weren’t prepared for and then has a rant about it on STW, and it all gets flattened as a result (*cough* Supernova *cough*)

Trouble with that was that he did know the jump was there, someone went back and dug a pit on the far side and turned it from a kicker into a badly made double. That’s stupid. Now it’s been built properly it’s fine!

Just to add to this – as someone who’s been building stuff on an organised basis around the Leith area for over a decade, and in a disorganised fashion for about two: this time of year is the absolute worst time to build anything. The soil on Leith is very, very dry, and any jumps will likely blow away to dust at this time of year. the A-Level / GCSE crowd get let out of school to do revision about this time, and loads of stuff gets built that’s generally poorly planned, evenly more poorly executed and tends to blow away in about, oooh, a week or so. Really, seriously, now is the time to go and ride.

If you want to give something back, my advice would be to wait until the weather turns damp again, and sort out drainage on a trail somewhere. It’ll help the trail last longer, keep it nice and skinny, instead of wide, and keep the trail in question fun for everyone riding at any level.

There are a bunch of trail building peeps around the area who can show you the right technique and would, I’m sure, be happy to get you along on a trail building day.

Drop me a line – email in profile – if you want to talk. There is a bucketload of stuff you can do that would help mountain bikers in the area – but, right now, building a jump might not be hugely helpful to the cause.