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Some people would argue that the FC has a duty to provide facilities for mountain bikers without making them do the donkey work. In practice that's unlikely to happen unless people try and meet them half way.
Yes, I agree, and that's fair enough, but what's actually happening these days is we get cookie cutter trails from the pro trail builders, whilst locals are allowed minimal input, if any to the design, but expected to maintain it after the initial opening, for free, in perpetuity. Its really the same old story of 'the authorities' putting up something they think a community wants, rather than asking them and involving them.
Lets be honest, with few exceptions, you could be on any manufactured trail anywhere in the UK, and you would get the same experience. I guess this re-reproducibility is seen as a good thing and the reliability, all-weather robustness and facilities are always welcome, but the total lack of character or variety is depressing and can get demoralising.
Scienceofficer, my interactions with the trail developers currently doing their stuff in Bristol suggests that they are wising up a bit. Of course the proof will come further down the line, but I'd hope that they recognise the issues that have happened with "cookie cutter" trails and the benefits of having something with a more handbuilt feel than your Haldons and Sherwoods. And machine-built trails designed by contractors can be ace too, it depends on how ambitious and hands-on they are, or whether they just flag out a corridor and let some all-purpose landscape contractor get on with it.
Can't disagree with any of that! 🙂
In Thetford the FC spent a lot of money having pro trail designers put 2km of trails in. From what I understand, the designer wasn't actually on site very long, the contractors were given a brief and they went ahead and laid the trail. The results were interesting.... the surface is bedding in but for at least the first six months had the grip characteristics of marbles on glass (hence its' nickname the marble motorway). I can live with that but the rest of it leaves me with an empty feeling.... of an opportunity lost.
Design flaws abound... doubles and jumps on slow sections (slightly uphill) tight twisty sections for no reason (people have taken the fastest line which is off the trail), berms that don't work if you ride them slowly or fast. I haven't been able to nail any of the berms at full speed yet as you either get spat off the top or when you exit, the trail is going in completely the wrong direction. The choice of camber is strange in paces too. The whole thing rides terribly until you ride it backwards. If you go against the "proper" flow of traffic it suddenly comes alive (well only just) but the experience is much better except that it is then too tight in places.
Apparently the designer is a well renowned person with impeccable credentials but I bet you he never once rode a bike through the sections in question to find out which lines worked or not.
So... IME beware the "professionals"!
From what I understand, the designer wasn't actually on site very long, the contractors were given a brief and they went ahead and laid the trail.
Think this is a well-known problem with certain designers. 😐
Are you gonna name & shame?
I think the problem is the "turn up, tape the trail corridor, then bugger off" approach rather than the individuals concerned.