don
Well-Known Member
Any pics or a video link to the area?
Who wants to build a Bike Park?
- Thread starter pooriggy
- Start date
Soundguy
#SenditGuy
Literally just loaded up the car to head to Glen in a few. I’ve never been, and didn’t realize it’s only 45 min from me. I’m going to pre ride for the race next weekend but sure it will probably become my new favorite spot.
Ian F
Well-Known Member
It's a fun place - one climbing trail up; multiple trails going down. You generally only see hikers on the double-track next to the river.
While I'm in PA, it's almost a 2 hr drive for me. Oddly enough, the fastest route is through NJ via nearly the entire length of Rt 31. I'm hoping to get up there with my teammates this Fall/Winter, but Covid has made our team rides sporadic this year.
While I'm in PA, it's almost a 2 hr drive for me. Oddly enough, the fastest route is through NJ via nearly the entire length of Rt 31. I'm hoping to get up there with my teammates this Fall/Winter, but Covid has made our team rides sporadic this year.
Allaire would be the closest to towns that rely upon tourism dollars to survive and that's not nearly close enough to matter for beach towns.
Have you been to Port Jervis yet?
This is the correct answer. A not so terrible climb with 5 or 6 proper downs . Some cool hip jumps on the side of the ball field and just enough fun sprinkled in the downs to keep it interesting. One of my favorite places to ride
Ashcor
Well-Known Member
Fun place but def need an enduro rig to really enjoy it. My 5010 was maxing out my suspension travel too easily.
Xler8
Well-Known Member
As amazing as the idea sounds, it doesn’t seem very obtainable here in NJ. If there was a land owner who would be willing to open up a section for MTB use, it would have to be more like a MTB club, I would assume. Then the question becomes, are there any individuals in NJ that own this type of land?
To approach it from a town/county level, the obstacles become overwhelming and the antiestablishment kicks off which has a bigger support base.
To approach it from a town/county level, the obstacles become overwhelming and the antiestablishment kicks off which has a bigger support base.
I was thinking this the whole time reading this thread. Now, this coming from someone that has lived 35 mins away for the last 12 years and just went the first time this past weekend. Why, have, I, NOT, done, THIS, before??? The funny thing is, I ran into a few people that said they haven't seen me there in a while???
I think we can get carried away with what "we" are looking for. Coming from BMX, we would go to a track and ride it for hours; practice berms and flat corners, clear that double, scrub those tabletops. My goto was in Pequannock because I could ride there. It wasn't big, but it had everything you needed. Gallons of sweat remain in that soil.
I think people hear "Bike Park" and expect Whistler Light or Ray's mini. But it can be really be mini, mini. There are a few secret jump lines in the area. The most comprehensive that I've seen has 3 jump lines that go from "oh that looks fun" to "fuck that, maybe next time." All hand-built in a very small area.
The point here is, start small. Going for it and developing the whole side of a mountain, well that's called MCBP. Somewhere between 50' and 100' of elevation is plenty.
I would say almost any park could handle this. An active MTB scene, the proper approvals and people willing to swing a shovel could get something done pretty swiftly.
Lot of good thoughts here. This thread started with Iggy texting me, asking if I was serious about making my backyard stuff legit. I gave him a few reasons why that won't work but I said if he can find a plot of land, I'll make it happen. This thread is the result.
What I am thinking is the session aspect of it. Honestly, High Bridge has it, but if Jeff Lenosky can't figure it out then I won't bother trying. The ideal is Moose Haven at KT - the Black Bear Extension they did this year. Segment here:
.66 miles long
244 feet of elevation loss
Roughly 3.5 minute run
Takes about 10 minutes to climb up to the top. This is the sort of thing you can just session over and over. It is an excellent run. Not as well-made as Flo in Stowe. But the maintenance is about 1/10 of Flo also. I would love to have Flo (Bill, you should go there just for that 1 trail) but as @Captain Brainstorm suggests, it would fall into disrepair in about a week.
So if you're reading this, live close to Warren, NJ, and have a plot of land that would work for this, let me know. The really sad thing is that Warren has exactly this in town, and I could easily see it working for this. It's about 2 miles from my house. Actually, Somerset County has property also that would work for this that's even closer. But the reality of either of those happening is about 0.0000001.
Soundguy
#SenditGuy
Poor some fireball on your shoulder and meet me out there in an hour.
don
Well-Known Member
This exactly.
I've joked with some of my riding friends that if we had 1 acre to do what we wanted with a slight pitch we could build something that would satisfy us 80-90% and then use the last 10-20% to travel to different spots.
Like your last sentence says: "almost any park could handle this." And it's scalable - more people that want to help the bigger the area, smaller dedicated group a smaller line.
What would be rad about this is each park would have it's own flavor and a lot like how BMX trails are made. Some places I've been to and thought "I would certainly change that section" and at the same spot I'll leave thinking "I'll drive a couple hours just to hit that hip again."
Ian F
Well-Known Member
My ex's parents have an old farm property on the north side of the Blue Mtn ridge in PA near Rt 309. The property goes up the mtn for probably 200 or maybe 300 feet of elevation through the woods, ending at private game land. I had dreams of building DH lines there, but I was never really there long enough to scope it out. And my ex- detested my cycling habit, so resistance would have been fierce. And like Blue Mtn Ski area, the terrain is very rocky, so any kind of jump/flow line would be tough to build.
I had an old rich great uncle with many acres just north of Brewster, NY with a nice slope and several water sources. Not a day goes by that i don't fantasize about what i woulda done with that property had it been willed to my family. Not to mention all the sentimental value that property has to me going there so often as a kid. Unfortunately it was sold instead of willed. If i ever win the lottery, i am buying it back and you're all invited to help me build a bike park.
don
Well-Known Member
What can't Lenosky figure out at High Bridge?
The 800 lb Gorilla is the potential liability issue on personal property. I had a neighbor sue us because their kid fell off a zip line in our yard; he broke his arm. I had to use Lloyds of London for homeowner's insurance for 3 years before anyone would take us again, plus the depositions, stress and now I just ignore those people we WERE friends with. Of course, making a release form and having people who participate sign such would reduce the exposure.
@pooriggy should have started this thread 15 years ago before I sold that 50-acre piece of land in PA, with a little over 225 ft... Man, that would have been perfect; I even had the switchback climb already made.
@pooriggy should have started this thread 15 years ago before I sold that 50-acre piece of land in PA, with a little over 225 ft... Man, that would have been perfect; I even had the switchback climb already made.
Damn, that sucks. I think anyone who knows you should sign some kinda of waiver. Bob Talbot always tells me about the bike ramp out of house into lake story. 🤪
Sevenz
Well-Known Member
Just rode this little gem of a trail system, in MD on the Potomac ,that is exactly what you are looking to do. Rivers Edge Trails Its maintained and built by MORE (Mid Atlantic Off Road Enthusiasts) it has about 5 or so directional downhill flow / jump trails that end at a common easy climbing trail back to the top. Super small location and easy to maintain. Nothing super huge but many safe fun tables, berms and hips that people can progress on. Runs are only like 20 to 30 seconds long... Down this way for work and a friend recommended it as a fun local place to hit. Really enjoyed it and nothing like I've ever come across. Ride log from yesterday evening
If you have time, hit up Frederick Watershed. Major riding destination type place. Never been but have heard and seen great things and it looks close to where you are.
You know how that stuff goes, the time you ask that is the last time you talk to those parents. Most likely they weren't real friends anyways. Pretty much the exact reason I don't let the kid two doors down ride my pump track. He is on my NICA team too. Liability sucks.
Also, I suggest anyone thinking of advancing jumps attempts to build one yourself so you know the real level of maintenance.