[Closed] Chicken Lines, a good or bad thing?

Good thing. I really like the set up on the climb at glentress for example - zigzags with rocky shortcuts. Most of the chickenruns there are longer / slower

If "chicken" runs weren't built in they would evolve over time anyway, so it's best to build them in from the start, at least some attempt at making them hardwearing and sustainable can be made then. They are of course a good thing, not everyone is a gnar-machine ultra rad bomber.

excellent idea means riders of different technical abilities can still ride together.

If a chicken line allows someone to ride the route continuously it's only a good thing isn't it, generally it'll be slower anyway.

Good example, for racing was the last jump on this weekends world cup track at La Bresse, only a few of the quick ladies actually went for it, and was probably worth a second or so quicker time.

Good though I hate it when they're more obvious than the 'proper' line and you just take it without thinking then realise too late what you've done (thouhg I'm rubbish so I usually take the Chicken line but on the odd occassion 🙂 )

Having them means that they're properly built and can cope with riders taking them which doesn't trash the trail in the way that naturally evolved ones usually seem to.

I like optional sections, especially since the alternative's really to build the entire trail down to a lower level. Most trails have standout, harder bits and making them optional makes sense.

I like a chicken line that's still interesting though- rather than just a simple bypass, an easier option. Spooky Woods at Glentress is a classic option of crap chicken runs, they're awkward, slow and just no fun. A smaller jump alongside a big jump makes more sense, everyone gets to ride something interesting and also there's some progression there, people can ride the little feature then work up.

What's bad is people just riding a non-line- cutting corners, riding down the side of a feature etc. Causes a lot of damage, looks awful, and sometimes even ends up bypassing the actual feature (there's a stony step bit on Glentress black that I rode past the first time, didn't even know it was there as the chicken run has become the more obvious line)

I dunno if they are good or bad, but they seem pretty natural. I imagine that trails use by people/animals natural evolve to follow the path of least resistance to some extent.

Personaly, I don't like the fact you have to opt into trail center features, I think the chicken run should carry a good few seconds of penalty by diverting you.

That mentality works for race courses (and I agree), but not for trail centres!

i prefer chicken 'sections' to chicken lines - whereby you have a whole run of trail that's tricky, and an alternative that's easier - that way there's a whole line of fun stuff for those that can ride it, rather than a individual feature which can be easy to miss if you're going quick

In a racing situation, clearly 'chicken lines' should carry a time penalty. At a trail centre, no one is timing you, so who cares if the chicken line is quicker or not?

I don't think 'chicken lines' are a bad thing, and will form naturally anyway.

A quick note on the "downhillers make it look easy because they make it easy" - a massive part of downhill racing is finding lines, and if the easier line is faster so be it!

there shouldn't be a 'chicken' run, (it makes us look like wusses - embarrassment - etc etc..), but i think there should be just another line rather than the jump line, that way you dont miss out, because then you can ride a bit of trail that is just as interesting, and all is well.

excellent idea means riders of different technical abilities can still ride together

+1
First time for me at Llandegla yesterday, The Boys, who had been before, were up for the Blacks...
Me, being 'Rad to the Jeycore' said 'ok then' and followed.
Found it very handy that a lot of trail features had built in options for an 'easier' run...
Only 'chicken run' I recall as being 'naturally evolving' was going right of that first big slab at the top of Parallel Universe..
I did not die but I've learned that core skills need work - what's not to like 😉

Chicken runs are inevitable so trailbuilders should probably build them into their designs in the first place.

The feature that Northwind referred to is the stone chute on the Goat Track on the Glentress black and it is a classic example of what happens if they don't. Lots of riders rode down the side of the feature. The rangers tried to stop this but even when they covered the chicken run with felled trees and large logs these were cleared by riders.

Now the chicken run is wide and rutted and far more obvious than the offical line and makes it hard to even see where that line is. If a chicken run had been built at the same time as the original line it could have been separate, had a gentler gradient and wouldn't line you up for the next corner as badly as the actual chicken run does.

I'd say they are going to happen so it would be good if trailbuilders allowed for it when designing. Out on natural trails I don't think there's much can be done.

Generally I'm for them. It allows people to challenge themselves on routes that maybe too hard in one or two places but otherwise pushy but OK.

FOr example I think it would be bad if the drops at Innerleithen near the top of Caddon bank were compulsary/had to be climbed if not ridden as that would prevent people from enjoying the other really good trail in that section.

Think there a good thing and good option some times for bail outs

The alternatives are:

It's too hard for most people (frustrating)
It's too easy for hard people (unchallenging)

So I'm in favour of a chicken and a tech line, so everyone can have fun.

Scruff always sets traps in chicken runs that emerge on trails which he built. Good thing too. Let evolution take its natural course

Seems like a good idea to me, common route with 'pyodifficulty' obstacles, lets mixed ability groups stick together, agree with 'designed in' comments.