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As has been said it’s a joint project for the chairlift and the innovation centre, which is seen as the bigger factor that would secure funding. It’s a joint package.
Trail access stays open for those wanting to ride up. The chairlift would take you to the very top of the hill (above New York, New York).
With a couple options for proposed base station.
A zip line for non bikers.
Builders who have made most of the tracks up there are keen for it.
There is a pic (on Facebook) from ridelines feed with one of the initial proposals.
As for the current golf course and access, by all accounts they have dwindling membership. And put in an application of their own for a new parking area/cafe that would be open to bikers (looking to capitalise on the popularity of the hill) but it’s doubted they’ll get the funding from sport Scotland.
There are options for this, including flood control measures such as levees or buying and rebuilding the car park and raise the height of it. Both options wouldn’t be cheap, but then neither is a chairlift…
There was talk of closing the current car park and using the one at Traquiar house as a base. It would probably work quite well now that they have built the new path there.
On DH side rider numbers, they will probably go down a bit now that Ae has an uplift again. As for rider numbers on the Golfie, that genie is surely well and truly out the bottle now? Trailforks and forums make it easy to find so anyone that is going to want to ride there already can. With funding in place you could argue the trails can be maintained without relying on volunteers.
On DH side rider numbers, they will probably go down a bit now that Ae has an uplift again. As for rider numbers on the Golfie, that genie is surely well and truly out the bottle now? Trailforks and forums make it easy to find so anyone that is going to want to ride there already can. With funding in place you could argue the trails can be maintained without relying on volunteers.
I doubt that there will be any significant drop in numbers tbh. If anything they are constantly rising. The only thing thats going to affect numbers is the weather. Jan/feb are usually the months where snow and ice close the road.
Just to correct the OP from something he/she wrote on the first page: New York, New York was completely closed after the thinning work done by the Forestry Commission; it was the race organisers who reinstated the trail (with the full approval of the original builder!) otherwise it would still be unridable.
Just to correct the OP from something he/she wrote on the first page: New York, New York was completely closed after the thinning work done by the Forestry Commission; it was the race organisers who reinstated the trail (with the full approval of the original builder!) otherwise it would still be unridable.
It wasnt completely closed by the felling. only the last 200m was trashed but there was an alternative exit ridden in. The trail was rebuilt because it didn't flow very well at certain points. The changes the guys made were a significant improvement but AFAIK the rebuild was never completely finished. Being used in the races didn't leave it trashed. It still runs well except when its wet, as the top section has some drainage issues.
Just to correct the OP from something he/she wrote on the first page: New York, New York was completely closed after the thinning work done by the Forestry Commission; it was the race organisers who reinstated the trail (with the full approval of the original builder!) otherwise it would still be unridable.
Probably should have made myself clearer. Yes I was aware of the work done to New York New York and I agree it was a huge improvement compared to the previous version, but that is missing the point I was trying to raise.
The trail was riding great at the start of last season, but after heavy traffic from the enduro races (ESPECIALLY the King and Queen), I rode the trail with a few friends 2 weeks after the race and was treated to axle deep ruts on the 1st half, must have went OTB 5 times due to the ruts, and that was that. Not ridden the trail since then, and have heard mixed things from other riders whenever I ask them about the condition of it.
Anyway, my point was that some of the trails may struggle from a sustainability perspective with the additional traffic occurring if there was to be a bike park at golfie.
Anyway, my point was that some of the trails may struggle from a sustainability perspective with the additional traffic occurring if there was to be a bike park at golfie.
I think most people see that one, not sure if some of the trails can live with it's growing popularity. Seen it in places all over with the steep trails, they either get dug right in or evolve to the right or the left
Bike Park = Trail centre. Same thing, the first one is just a different name to make the likes of “Park rats” pony up for trails like the rest of the population while still managing to maintain the level of internalised smug that their ego demands
Sounds like you're the one with the ego issue.
"The proposed trails in the Hermitage also came to nothing."
Yep, got nimbied by the "friends of the hermitage", and pretty much kneecapped the whole project. Friends of the hermitage, but not so bothered about autistic kids...
I personally thought the most important suggestion from a mtb POV was the intention to actually manage the off-piste trails to cope with more riders. There was the sense that these would actually be a key aspect of the project with the flow park allowing "progression" for riders. They would probably became way-marker trails but the soil is seemingly perfect for sustainable natural trails. If only Waterworld could just be a little drier when it rains...
Lots more information here, a few more details, very interesting.
http://www.dmbins.com/riders/news/key-facts-consultation-evening
Lots more information here, a few more details, very interesting.
http://www.dmbins.com/riders/news/key-facts-consultation-evening/blockquote >
Interesting read, really ambitious. I was a bit skeptical as first but it seems to be very well thought through. It’s a shame to loose some of the trails at the Golfie but if it’s bigger and better and many of the natural trails seem to remain then hey what’s not to like. There’s been a few times we have ridden up there when we have wished for a chairlift, 3rd or 4th time up that climb starts to break you will. If there was ever an area in the uk that could handle it, it’s the tweed valley. Good luck to them.
On a delivery point of view is it privately or community funded? And how reliant is a project of this size on uk / eu grant funding?
They were saying essentially almost fully privately funded. There would have to be deals done on land agreements etc. They hope to have the backers in a similar way to other bike parks they have constructed with a smaller amount of local funding to help things along.
I've been critical of DMBiS, but if they pull this off, hats off to them.