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Ok so what is the point of the OP...
Well except looking like a james martin obviously?
I don't know what rocks the OP is talking about, but I can see he may have a point.
I was at Ae recently and there were large sections of trail that were full of really big chunky loose rocks. Like what you see underneath a path before they hardpack it down. It was mostly on the climbs and the flats where it was annoying, on the downhill you'll just plough over it all the same.
Now natural rocks on the other hand tend to be different. Unless you're riding on a beach.
Laggan has loads of large natural slab which is what makes it so good, but it's a completely different kettle of fish.
Have to agree with some points that some surfaces at some trail centres make what could be a fun section into a tedious drag, never noticed these bits being built on purpose though.
Plenty of fun, loose rocky descents in the Lakes though that are mint and you can really feel the back end skipping out as you hold your line, gotta love the old hardtail for that bunking bronco feeling.
I'd prefer it if one style - park (brechfa, llandegla etc) or trad (penmachno, marin etc) is picked for a route and its stuck with.
See I don't agree - I like a mixture of different stuff.
Ok so what is the point of the OP...Well except looking like a james martin obviously?
OK so what is the point of your post? Or for that matter half of the posts on stw? Idle banter about bikes for bored people?
Blimey - I'm amazed at how many people are sticking up for the "trail centres are too rocky" arguement. Maybe we should all go back to fully rigid/bmx bikes and keep it real on tarmac jumps?
The only trail centre this may slightly apply to is Ae - as others have mentioned, there are sections of very irregular "cobbled" singletrack flat/uphill sections that are hard to keep flowing on a 120mm FS bike, never mind a HT - that does smack of poor design.
As for DHs though - surely we need to have a least [i]some[/i] where you've got to think about lines and not just rail the berms and pump the doubles? MTBs are all about riding a variety of terrain - the fact they can cope with so many different types is the amazing thing about them. Fine, have some easy trail centre routes, but surely a challenge on a ride is a good thing?
As said above, a trip to any good Lake/Peak district/Scottish loop would show people what their bikes can actually do (rider willing 🙂 )
Blimey - I'm amazed at how many people are sticking up for the "trail centres are too rocky" arguement. Maybe we should all go back to fully rigid/bmx bikes and keep it real on tarmac jumps?
I'm not sure anyone's saying they're "too rocky", rather that there's nothing necessarily wrong with preferring ones that aren't quite so rocky sometimes.
Sad little man tag is bit harsh! Blimey - was only meant to be a light-hearted debate. Some people take these things far too seriously it seems. 🙄
SLABs on the opening sections are the rubbish bit
Why? I think they are fun. You have to get off the saddle and attack them or they attack you back.
dig braking bumps before every corner
I like scary braking bumps, they make it more technical. I like ragged, blown-out tracks too they are more like natural trails - random, skippy, slidey, scaryness. I almost crashed off a switchback on the Marin because of them - hilarious scare of the day!
Ultimately, if you don't like the character of a particular trail centre, go some somewhere that better suits your style. But I don't think its fair to moan at trail designers just because of your personal likes and dislikes*. Sorry.
*except perhaps about the "comedy" mud-slide section on The Raven at Brechfa.
This thread made me chuckle, bit like buying a mountain bike who's warranty is invalidated if you take it 'off road'
Warning to anyone who doesn't like more than 2 minutes of rock garden fun to avoid Porcupine Rim in Utah as its the best 2-3 miles of continuous rock garden I have ever ridden and had me grinning ear to ear just thinking about it again 2yrs on!
PS Avoid Cut Gate & Chapel Gate Descents in the Peaks too 😀