[Closed] Trail Building - Chicken Lines

I guess it depends on the lie of the land both in terms of what suits the feature and where it's possible to situate the chicken line once the feature is placed.

Chicken lines form when chickens ride bike trails...don't build them, they will form naturally

Dan has it.

If you make a chicken line try to make it slower than the feature line, otherwise people will just default to the chicken route and the feature will become overgrown/fall down.

If you let one form naturally it will most likely be a short cut

My 2p...

1) if it's a well established trail run by all levels of riders, don't slap big gaps in the middle of the trail. It's established as an all level trail, not a gnar jump line. Build another trail or line off it and stick them in. Else it's like finding a green or blue run in a trail centre and digging a whopping gap in the middle of it then sitting back watching the ambulances arrive 😉

2) however if you are building a trail with features and need a chicken line, make the feature option quicker and the chicken take longer by winding away from the feature and join back where it's safe. That way all can enjoy and those up for the feature will be quicker.

3) if you don't want chicken lines, put a qualifier at the start. Something equal to the size of the features (not bigger than them, *cough* BPW 😉 ).

4) yes, chicken lines will establish themselves anyway. Ask yourself why though.

pigyn - Member

If you make a chicken line try to make it slower than the feature line, otherwise people will just default to the chicken route and the feature will become overgrown/fall down.

I'd like to agree but recently that just seems to lead to a cut line also forming, we've ended up with the worst of all worlds. I think we're going to default to "feature and shortcut" with maybe "smaller feature" when the opportunity allows. These days we're planning everything around shortcut damage because it's so pervasive, the only way to stop cut lines is to build them first as far as I can tell, except when they're physically impossible. But even then people will move fallen trees etc to unblock "their" line

The correct way is to make the chicken run the 'on' or 'natural line' with the obstacle/trail feature 'off line' so that the rider has to deliberately opt in to riding the obstacle.

There is an important reason behind this in protecting yourself and the landowner from liability claims, its important that the rider had to choose to ride the obstacle knowingly - if a rider of a lower skill level can be 'tricked' into something beyond their skill level, then there is an unacceptable risk and its clear poor design.

ninfan, agreed. Make it easier for the most limited riders.

I think its more 'make it safe' than make it easier - its vital that the rider can 'fail-safe'

Short cut lines can be made impossible with a little digging and moving a whole lot of forest material.

I usually make the feature the quickest way by planning it carefully around the land. My trails don't currently have any quicker short cuts but there are chicken lines. One mega trick corner doesn't ; it's a trail qualifier and helps keep noobs from skidding down a whole load of steep berma.

glasgowdan - Member
Chicken lines form when chickens ride bike trails...don't build them, they will form naturally

ninfan has it that build harder features off line so you have to seek out your fun, if signs are out try some tape in the tree's
Sight lines are important so that you can see it's the booter/gap/drop too.

Not so...You're welcome to visit my lines any time. Granted, not many beginners ride them at all.

yes but you already said you don't build chicken lines, do they just magically pop up in a sound & solid form that is erosion proof and drains well?

I don't think there's a universal rule for chicken line placement - where ever they fit best i suppose.

ninfan, agreed. Make it easier for the most limited riders.

Sorry, disagree with this. The most limited riders should build their own trails! If i'm building a trail i'll make it something [b]i[/b] want to ride. I do make concessions for other riders by making any larger gap jumps semi-rollable (not smooth but unlikey to cause death if you case 😉 ) but i'm the one doing the digging so i get to decide what and how 'gnar' the features are. I've only built/helped build a couple of chicken lines and although they look less intimidating, they are more challenging to ride.

If you build to accommodate the lowest common denominator all you'll end up with are wide smooth and straight trails!

Sorry, disagree with this

And the litigation thing is overblown too, How often has this happened?.

We built a chicken run on the corkscrew at Swinley Forest. We had a problem with the last sharp clime and left turn into a drop off. Riders kept stalling at the top of the short clime remounting the bike at the top and going straight over the bars when they hit the drop. We made a slop around the drop so riders could avoid the problem if they didn't make the turn. Never seen the slope used by better riders but seen it save a few less experienced people. Made it safer not easer.

Disagree with the suggestion that difficult features should get built off the main line (unless it's an already established trail, then I agree). Difficult features are often easier at high speed and they reward riders competent enough to hit them fast, so don't punish them by taking them off the line.

Give less experienced or skilled riders incentive to progress by putting them at a disadvantage with the chicken run. A slight turn or climb to slow them down.

The trick is to make it as hard as the original line, but just look less intimidating.

Example: The stone staircase on Homebaked at Gisburn...

martinhutch - Member
The trick is to make it as hard as the original line, but just look less intimidating

Good point. It's all in the mind. I have bucket loads of issues with drops, but one thing especially is sighting the landing. One where I can't see until I'm at the lip and I'll freak out and bail, exact same height drop but easy run in, clear run out I can see, and I may give it a go. Well small drops 😀

Cheers for the opinions.
Think I am going to stick with left-lane is slow lane - seems intuative

Semi-land owner (nelson-esque) approved so everything gets an off-line chicken from new.

Still seeing a fair few broken collarbones, so we must be doing something right.

Thanks