Technical Trail Features Reference Thread

[mr_opjones]

ohhh new stuff

[Di_bear]

I thought it would be nice if there was one place where we could to show off what you've built/ridden or for those looking for ideas.

Let's see your pics and hear your ideas on TTF's. Whether it's at the local trail or in your backyard. From the simplest skinny to the gnarliest drop.

I mean, that is what the thread was originally about, features you've built.

Nope... Not just stuff you've built.

It's generally about features you've built or ridden, or just to talk about them.

You're correct. I kinda skimmed the first post, it had been a while since i read it.



Di_bear, I understand why the stairway needed to be built, and I can do my best to appreciate the logic. But to call it technical is laughable in my eyes. We're often on the same page in the style of trail we enjoy.

I agree. Stairway isn't technical. What makes it challenging is that is has lots of exposure, which simply is not technical. If you don't like exposure, then it's going to be a huge challenge. I could not ride it down for the first few attempts of the year. I'd always have to get used to it again. I've never ridden it up very far because I could see through the boards, and that really messed with my acrophobic mind.

[kyleRIG29er]

Can anyone contact Jimmi and go ride there?

[mr_opjones]

If you have to refine a technique to be able to ride something, then it is technical.

[mr_opjones]

Can anyone contact Jimmi and go ride there?

There is not a more inviting person than uncle jimmi

[kyleRIG29er]

Good to know! I just picked up a 26 DJer.

[deezler]

I hope he doesn't mind me sharing some of his pics.

Um, whoa. So you rip up over the creek, 15 feet into the air, and then... park on the platform?

Jimmi must have many thousands of dollars into treated lumber at this point. That's a crazy amount of building.

[jfactor!]

Um, whoa. So you rip up over the creek, 15 feet into the air, and then... park on the platform?

Jimmi must have many thousands of dollars into treated lumber at this point. That's a crazy amount of building.

I think the intention was to have this landing platform tie into some more skinnies, but I don't remember exactly.


He used landscape timbers for the new skinnies. Ripped 'em in half for the rungs. Treated and cheap

[monkeyevil]

I agree. Stairway isn't technical. What makes it challenging is that is has lots of exposure, which simply is not technical. If you don't like exposure, then it's going to be a huge challenge. I could not ride it down for the first few attempts of the year. I'd always have to get used to it again. I've never ridden it up very far because I could see through the boards, and that really messed with my acrophobic mind.

I agree to a point... going up stairway is a little scary just because falling of elevated stuff is scary to me. But riding up it requires no more skill than holding your line and climbing. That said how many other famous "features" are just hard because a mistake has the potential to hurt?

I'd say the same for the corkscrew at Copper Harbor. I pussed out and didn't ride up it, even though I have plenty of skill to make it. I looked up, weighed the enjoyment I'd get from making it up to the potential for injury of falling off; then I walked my bike up it

[monkeyevil]

MTB features should not have railing. The penalty for failure on a stunt like that should be certain death, not splinters.

Soon they'll be placing padding on stunts to prevent bruising.

I disagree.

[dirt]

Pretty much agree with Tim. If it's something built and added to the trail, it's a technical feature.

Just because it's a technical feature, doesn't mean it's hard to the average rider. Stuff that difficult when you are a beginner isn't when you are more experienced, but that doesn't mean the level of challenge on the feature changed. You just got better. Log piles used to be a challenge for me, but I don't even think about them anymore.

Technical feature <> really difficult.

[mattmtb]

I'll jump on board with Jimmi.

You want Tech in lower Michigan?

Pay a visit to James Lee ("Uncle Jimmi").

That man does NOT waste time.



I might not ride like I used to but I love pointing a camera and capturing some sick riding.

[Mack]

I think if we're going to be talking about technical trail features, we have to include Uncle Jimmi and his compound:
And here's a link to an old thread about Jimmi and his jumps/tech features:
Uncle Jimmi's Shred and Breakfast

I live about 5 minutes from Jimmi's place.

I hope he doesn't mind me sharing some of his pics.





This thing is low risk and really fun. Starts out 6" wide and gets skinnier the further you go ending up right about 2" wide.I like this what a great idea to get riders used to riding skinnies. I will be building
this in the near future at CRPT. Thanks for the idea.

[iamkickstand]

Watching uncle jimmy get down on a dirtjumper is a real treat. I suggest anyone who likes that type of riding to witness it at least once.

[jfactor!]

I like this what a great idea to get riders used to riding skinnies. I will be building
this in the near future at CRPT. Thanks for the idea.