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Trailbuilding advice

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cozzey
Posts: 1353 - Karma: 1,814
Looking for some mountain bike trailbuilding advice. Planning on tossing some trails together this summer at our cabin and trying to get ideas of what all needs to happen.

Let me know if there are any aspects things we really need, good tools to have, or...?

Thanks!
Feb 21 2018 2:26PM
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iFlip
Posts: 4541 - Karma: 19,088
Don't forget to bring a towel.
Feb 21 2018 2:33PM
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TrickyDick470
Posts: 443 - Karma: 2,346
I haven't done a whole lot of long trail building but I've built a few jumps and berms for my DH bike.

Check out the Pinkbike trail building forum for some good ideas and tips. https://www.pinkbike.com/forum/trail-building/

Depending on where you live, you will need a minimum of a pick mattock, a flathead shovel, and possibly a rake. If you have access to water that helps a lot too, it's possible to compact the soil somewhat without water but having water makes it so much better.
Feb 21 2018 2:48PM
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cozzey
Posts: 1353 - Karma: 1,814
TrickyDick470I haven't done a whole lot of long trail building but I've built a few jumps and berms for my DH bike.

Check out the Pinkbike trail building forum for some good ideas and tips. https://www.pinkbike.com/forum/trail-building/

Depending on where you live, you will need a minimum of a pick mattock, a flathead shovel, and possibly a rake. If you have access to water that helps a lot too, it's possible to compact the soil somewhat without water but having water makes it so much better.


Got all of that 👍🏽 Probably get a few more of those cause we’ve got 125 acres we can track.
Feb 21 2018 3:05PM
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souljaboyfan2006
Posts: 218 - Karma: 1,891
I've built some dirt jumps before with my friends, biggest thing is just to put in lots of time with them, water them, pack them well, etc. Not so sure about building singletrack and stuff but for jumps, drops, landings, etc., you will either want to just use pure dirt (may not be an option depending on the soil type) for the takeoff/landing, or if the dirt isn't super good you can stack rocks, branches, etc., then pile on dirt, then water, shape, pack, etc. As far as tools go, definitely get some shovels, spades, wheelbarrows, rakes, if you're really serious get some watering cans, brooms, etc. Good luck man!
Feb 21 2018 11:06PM
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nxtyrsfulltilts
Posts: 430 - Karma: 1,533
Anytime it rains be prepared to reshape everything
Feb 21 2018 11:11PM
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chrispyminis
Posts: 99 - Karma: 216
If you live somewhere with tons of roots and rocks a long pry-bar and a mattock will save tons of time. Plastic buckets are helpful too.
Feb 21 2018 11:20PM
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cozzey
Posts: 1353 - Karma: 1,814
Thanks guys! Luckily it doesn’t rain a bunch up there. If anyone is looking to build trails outside of kremmling in June let me know... we will definitely need some help.
Feb 21 2018 11:20PM
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corporatelobyist
Posts: 69 - Karma: 114
buckets are always good to carry dirt, and water
Feb 22 2018 12:27PM
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HypeBeast
Posts: 9774 - Karma: 72,202
Don't forget an ax and saw for any trees you may need to remove. If someone's got one, a bobcat wouldn't hurt. A rake to clear debris. Could even use a mulcher to mulch the trees you cut down and lay some of that on parts of the track.

God I wish I had land to build a track on. Would be so sick
Feb 22 2018 12:50PM
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TrickyDick470
Posts: 443 - Karma: 2,346
If you were a bit closer I would probably join in, but to drive to Kremmling I'd rather just hit up Trestle on the way.

I also wish I had land to build on, if I did I would totally rent a mini-excavator or bobcat for a day or two. I know I couldn't make a whole trail in a day or two with my lack of operating skills, but I could at least "harvest" enough soil to make some large doubles.
Feb 22 2018 1:00PM
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cozzey
Posts: 1353 - Karma: 1,814
TrickyDick470If you were a bit closer I would probably join in, but to drive to Kremmling I'd rather just hit up Trestle on the way.

I also wish I had land to build on, if I did I would totally rent a mini-excavator or bobcat for a day or two. I know I couldn't make a whole trail in a day or two with my lack of operating skills, but I could at least "harvest" enough soil to make some large doubles.


Weve got one tractor and possibly another one we can use to get some big dirt jumps in and a few banks. Not an excavator but they will work for moving land.

The nice thing about building is that you dont have to buy a ticket haha... I get that though.
Feb 22 2018 1:46PM
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iced
Posts: 3070 - Karma: 17,940
If you are new to building don't build big features, they will take adjusting
use the natural landscape
think of water flow and drainage
Feb 22 2018 5:32PM
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ForeverYung
Posts: 8385 - Karma: 2,060
fucking broom it!
Feb 22 2018 8:21PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51263 - Karma: 157,455
I've only built dirt jumps. We had whoops and berms though. Just build them well, even if they need more dirt than you want to shovel. We always had tarps around for bad weather, used to tarp them for the winter too.

Drainage is a big thing for mtn biking. My buddy would run some pipes under berms to help them drain when he was building singletrack stuff.

Pretty much just put in the time and make it legit. Take it section by section and do it right.
Feb 23 2018 2:47AM
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