Nov
21

Trail Width

Wednesday, 21-Nov 2012 @ 10:57pm

How do you like your singletrack?  A skinny ribbon?  Wide and flowing?  How do you build a trail that is the correct width?  Good questions.

The answer may be as simple as the gap between trees, or the needs of first-time riders. It may also be as complicated as the requirements imposed by difficult terrain, the desires of riders of various standards and the availability of trailbuilding materials.

We have heard many riders express their love for the narrow and technical trails typical of Nerang NP.  Making narrow trail is usually pretty easy; just scratch out a line, toss any debris away and ride it in.  Get it right and you have a good Nerang trail.  Get it wrong and you commit riders to hitting pedals on the upslope, riding unnecessary exposure, obscured line of sight, the risk of colliding with hidden trailside hazards and in time you also increase the risk of trail widening and short-cuts past the bits other riders dislike.  In fact, that is the single biggest issue with making narrow trail; you make your line, not the line everyone else wants to ride.  

Here are some pics from Pete's Trail below the North Street Fire road.  The before and after pics were taken exactly two weeks apart.  This section of trail was built an average of 1.5m wide.  Some parts were over 2m wide.  With a little use, the wide trail has already narrowed.  In most places it is becoming a 30cm line:  the line chosen by all riders.  It is cear of pedal snags, free of apprehension and takes advantage of the trail layout, rather than being constrained by it.  The result is flowing trail, reduced braking ruts and a feeling of riding freedom regardless of rider skill.

2 versions of the before pic next and one of the after looking the other way

Remember, 2 weeks only separate thes pics.  In our opinion, good singletrack, whether wide, or narrow, is best made wide allowing for the effects of time.  Wider trail instills confidence in all riders.  Confident riders don't need all that width, but confidently choose which bit they do want to ride.  Problem solved!  

 


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