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considered all the possibilities. The next step is to determine what resources you have to support each individual trail effort and what kind of commitment your club can make (including long-term maintenance). Be honest and realistic about what your club can accomplish now and later. Perhaps it would be to pick a “low-hanging fruit” project to energize your community and set the table for a bigger and better project. Once you’re moving forward, these are some things you should think about: •
Going Big
If you’re dealing with a property that already has a lot of trails, assess your current trail inventory. Are there trails that could be better? How will you incorporate what you already have into what you want?
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Don’t be afraid to close unsustainable trails.
Clubs shouldn’t settle for less than the best.
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If you’re going for “Epic,” superb flow is the goal.
In the beginning, any dirt we got was good dirt. We evolved, and our dirt had to be sustainable. Now we’re all grown up and we’re picky! The good news is that in many places, getting access for trails is no longer the battle it used to be. Land managers are agreeing to trail proposals, even being proactive about involving user groups in designing and building them.
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Quality is better than quantity.
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Train your volunteers in sustainable trail building and find good crew leaders.
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Focus on design, and even if you can’t afford to have a professional build your trails, at least consider hiring a professional to help you design them.
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Use a clinometer, and don’t forget pin flags.
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Find money to rent equipment. Money is out there, we promise.
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By saying no more often, you create value around what you offer.
Unfortunately, many mountain bikers are so busy saying yes, they’re spreading themselves too thin and missing the chance to build truly epic trails. And, by epic, we not only mean trails that people from outside your club will talk about, but also trails that add value to your community — trails that will have your land manager begging for more. Your work on the trails is the best advertisement for your club. Bad trails don’t speak well for your abilities, so be sure to measure your opportunities wisely. If you’re faced with too many opportunities, pause for a bit. The last thing you want is to jump at every opportunity and end up with mediocre or unsustainable trail. First, take stock of all your short-term and long-term opportunities and prioritize them based on the goals of your community. Would you rather develop a 50 kilometer IMBA Epic or a handful of 5 to 10 km neighborhood trails? There’s no wrong answer — as long as you’ve 10
Even a modest trail project can be demanding. Why not go big and build the trail you’ve always wanted to ride, right in your own backyard? Get more info like this at imbacanada.com/resources