Technical Trail Features Reference Thread

[mr_opjones]

... the "stairway to heaven" at Copper Harbor is a very tasty technical feature. I don't have a picture or video of that though.

http://www.copperharbortrails.org/trails
Click on interactive trail map, and then stairway to heaven in the caption.

That's a great website

[iamkickstand]

And to stay on topic, the "stairway to heaven" at Copper Harbor is a very tasty technical feature. I don't have a picture or video of that though.

How in the world is the stair way to heaven "technical"?

It's a freekin' boardwalk on a hillside. And yes, I have ridden it.

[mtbfree]

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

[john_galt]

And to stay on topic, the "stairway to heaven" at Copper Harbor is a very tasty technical feature. I don't have a picture or video of that though.

How in the world is the stair way to heaven "technical"?

It's a freekin' boardwalk on a hillside. And yes, I have ridden it.

Is it a "tech feature"? I'd say so, if on the easier side. Yes, it's a boardwalk but a very long boardwalk and you ride down it instead of across it. It's a very popular feature at Copper Harbor; it's always brought up in conversations about the trail. What a great thread this is to mention such an enjoyable, man made feature. Perhaps some of our fellow riders were unaware of "the stairway to heaven" and may find it interesting.

[Loren]

I love the tiny little jump built into it near the end...

[john_galt]

... the "stairway to heaven" at Copper Harbor is a very tasty technical feature. I don't have a picture or video of that though.

http://www.copperharbortrails.org/trails
Click on interactive trail map, and then stairway to heaven in the caption.

Thanks, Loren! Cool maps!

[iamkickstand]

I forgot the length of the raised wooden sidewalk factors into the "technical" - meter.

Seriously, it's "neat" but If it were not for potential erosion issues (my guess as to why it had to be built) I'd much rather be riding the technical single track that resides beneath the stairway to heaven. THAT would be technical.

[john_galt]

I forgot the length of the raised wooden sidewalk factors into the "technical" - meter.

Seriously, it's "neat" but If it were not for potential erosion issues (my guess as to why it had to be built) I'd much rather be riding the technical single track that resides beneath the stairway to heaven. THAT would be technical.

Funny that the trail coordinator decided to place the "raised sidewalk" under the difficult section of the trail legend. Do you have anything to contribute to this thread or just trolling?

[mr_opjones]

When the trail is raised and there is a consequence for falling off its technical. Even if the raised trail is 3 times as wide as single track people can’t get the thought of falling off and crashing out of their mind, and that’s what makes it technical. Making it wider and bigger almost makes it more dangerous because beginners are more apt to ride it and get hurt, which is the result of half of the features being removed at Stony.

[iamkickstand]

I forgot the length of the raised wooden sidewalk factors into the "technical" - meter.

Seriously, it's "neat" but If it were not for potential erosion issues (my guess as to why it had to be built) I'd much rather be riding the technical single track that resides beneath the stairway to heaven. THAT would be technical.

Funny that the trail coordinator decided to place the "raised sidewalk" under the difficult section of the trail legend. Do you have anything to contribute to this thread or just trolling?

well, it's a *beep* of a climb, and that's difficult, mainly because the average persons legs will give out. But it could be ridden on a road bike.

Trolling? caught your attention....

I could post pictures of some trail features I built, but I don't currently have picture of them handy. I mean, that is what the thread was originally about, features you've built.

[c0nsumer]

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.

[Di_bear]

I forgot the length of the raised wooden sidewalk factors into the "technical" - meter.

Seriously, it's "neat" but If it were not for potential erosion issues (my guess as to why it had to be built) I'd much rather be riding the technical single track that resides beneath the stairway to heaven. THAT would be technical.

The downhills leading to the bottom part of Stairway were pretty sketchy. Clyde's Slide was the final part of that downhill section and was steep with loose rocks, which is why it was named as such. The part after the slide--the lower, flatter part of Stairway--was *awesome* to ride. It had bigger rocks and was great fun to bomb through. Quite a few of us were disappointed to see Stairway replace that particular section. Copper Harbor has certainly evolved into a more IMBA-friendly trail system with predominately intermediate trails, which is quite a good thing, but the trail characteristics that drew people like me there were replaced with bridges and intermediate reroutes or seriously crazy freeridey stuff, or taken away by land managers. That's why the Tech Trails slipped back into my number one spot. I could get my fun, technical rock gardens *and* quite a bit of variety there.

So, yeah, you're not alone.

[AllMountin']

This one was built back in early spring, when I was riding roads. It is at a county park 3.5 miles from my house. It wasn't exactly built, but rather altered to produce a rideable line. No proper singletrack here, but lots of rocks/boulders to ride, and a few other interesting items that helped add spice to my rides.



I've only cleaned it a handful of times, and had some spectacular failures in that span. The highest point is a chainring devouring monster, so a little momentum is required to ride it over. There is one smaller rock behind the large one to prevent an endo off the backside(assuming you actually hit it). The trickiest part is the entry, due to a large root just off the screen on bottom, which hits the back tire as the rock hits the front.

More advanced than any sanctioned low speed balance feature you're likely to find on a Michigan trail. It is a truly challenging feature. High degree of difficulty and moderate risk.

[iamkickstand]

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 have a teeter totter I built in the back yard for the kids, a small wooden table top and a little s-curve berm. Fun to fool around on for a few minutes, but not really all that challenging.

[jfactor!]

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.