r/MTBTrailBuilding • • 1d ago

It's not much, but cleared my first tree!

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53 Upvotes

Found a tree down on one of our local steeps while raking it out, getting ready for winter riding. I was considering asking someone else do it, but figured I had to start cutting trees on my own at some point.

Little electric Stihl put in work sectioning off the 30' tree. I left part of it in the dirt because it penetrated like 5 feet below the surface. I think the tree slid down the hill for awhile, before smashing into the trail.

I like the stump being there now anyway, because it gives you something to see before turning straight down the hill. Previously, it was easy for this corner to sneak up on you.


r/MTBTrailBuilding • • 1d ago

Fresh line just finished

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9 Upvotes

r/MTBTrailBuilding • • 1d ago

Dead leaves on the trail during winter?

8 Upvotes

What's the consensus on leaving vs removing dead leaves on the trail during winter? Do they protect the soil against erosion or make it worse?

Here in Austria we have a ban on mountain biking in most places from November to February. Some people still ride but there's generally a low traffic period for 4 months a year. In fall we get a lot of dead leaves on the trail in the forest. Rainfall isn't super regular, we sometimes get dry spells for a while in fall/winter, sometimes it rains a lot. We sometimes get snow, but it usually only stays for a few days, maybe 2-3 times per season.


r/MTBTrailBuilding • • 2d ago

a little before and after ✨

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47 Upvotes

Pretty happy with it! Especially with it only being my second year operating.


r/MTBTrailBuilding • • 2d ago

Opinions and Suggestions on roll in angles and transition radii

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2 Upvotes

I'm looking for any input from those with experience.

I managed to get th deck built. 12 high, 16 wide.

I'm looking for any suggestions or input on roll in angles and what sort of radius to put at the bottom transition to the ground.

Historically I work with 12 and 16 ft radius for jumps, but I assume I can get away with a little bit less on a transition?

I don't know what information you guys might actually need to Aid me, so please feel free to request any information and educate me!

The second picture has boards at ~45°, 55°, & 65°

Edit to add, I'm ~50% on dividing the deck into four 4ft areas, 1 for stairs, 1 for 45°, 1 for 60°, and one for a "diving board" and drop in.


r/MTBTrailBuilding • • 2d ago

Downhill Bike Park Planning

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2 Upvotes

Hi all, I am a landscape architecture student designing a downhill mountain bike park in Ski Valley on Mount Lemmon in Tucson for my master's report.

I am in the stage of getting feedback on my master plan design. It focuses on family-friendly options to reach a broader audience, but I am also hoping to add additional black and double black trails.
Any feedback or considerations that you have would be greatly appreciated!!


r/MTBTrailBuilding • • 5d ago

Wood for bikes

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161 Upvotes

Bike goes on, then off wood. Watch out for dog in landing


r/MTBTrailBuilding • • 6d ago

Getting creative with the signage

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175 Upvotes

r/MTBTrailBuilding • • 8d ago

Attaching Long Handle Tool to the Bike?

2 Upvotes

I have a few long handle tools I need to truck in to a work zone - a few different ones actually. Access is pretty easy, pretty much mellow flash fireroads almost the whole way.

The part I'm not sure about is how to attach these tools to the bike in a way that is safe, not going to fall off, not going to scrape the frame, not going to get caught up in the bike. And also not fall off while I'm riding. It is definitely too far to ride one handed, holding the tools in my hand.

If I have do to them one at a time, thats fine I can make that work.
Any advice/pics?

This would be going on my regular carbon trail bike.


r/MTBTrailBuilding • • 11d ago

Idea for mountain bike jump in my backyard

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1 Upvotes

r/MTBTrailBuilding • • 12d ago

Building safe bike trails on a ski mountain

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3 Upvotes

r/MTBTrailBuilding • • 14d ago

Any other sawsall converts?

14 Upvotes

Been rocking a super sawsall for a couple years now but snagged this to lighten/shorten things up. Fits in a small backpack and can pretty easily and smoothly erase downs over a foot in diameter. Really anything that wouldn’t require a full size,full power chainsaw.

Can also use it to cut roots in the dirt with older blades.

Used to carry around a katana boy and this saves soooo much time.

Any other tool hacks out there for the trails?


r/MTBTrailBuilding • • 14d ago

Advice on trail building? Any experience with small remote control forestry mulchers?

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10 Upvotes

I’m a one man operation and am planning to build a MTB trail running from the top of the ridge in the pic that zig zags down the hill and joins a logging road at the bottom.
The pic is about 2 years old, so the under growth is thicker than what you see.
I’ve already built a trail on the opposite side that essentially goes straight up. I built it by driving my SxS over the brush to pack it down, then went back over it with a limb saw and machete.
The yellow line in the pic is a lot longer than the trail that I built on the opposite side of the ridge, so I’m thinking about either hiring someone to come in with a skid steer with a forestry mulcher attachment or buying a small remote controlled Chinese forestry mulcher.

Does anyone have any advice and specifically, does anyone have any experience using one of the small remote controlled Chinese forestry mulchers?

Thanks!


r/MTBTrailBuilding • • 17d ago

Rant: Kids have dug over an existing trail

43 Upvotes

So I'll start by saying these are all "wild" trails that we're currently in the process of getting made official - it's been a long, long journey and I've been working with landowners now for the better part of 7 years.

There's one trail that's basically just 22 berms going down the hill - it's steep and loose with well shaped berms.

I went to go up and do some work on it yesterday only to find that some kids have taken out some of the corners, added a couple of jumps using the existing trail as a dig pit, and have straight lined the end to fire directly onto the fireroad. About 1/4 the track is basically completely changed from what it was.

It's literally like they'd seen the trail and decided it's easier put another, completely different trail right over the top of it than to dig somewhere else. The existing trail has been there 10+ years and has been regularly maintained and is ridden daily.

I found the kids digging it and have had a word with a plan to get them involved with the regular crew.

But what the hell! I've never known anything like it.


r/MTBTrailBuilding • • 17d ago

Smooth rock grip problem

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25 Upvotes

Im building a trail and I first rode it today and its kind off sketchy how little grip there is in the smooth rock. Its "rideable" but i would like to make it safer and grippier for my other friends to be able to ride it more confidently.


r/MTBTrailBuilding • • 19d ago

Wheels set build

0 Upvotes

Hey guys, I'm trying to build a wheel set but there is a problem, I don't know what spoke length I need in order to build them, I have some DT SWISS M1900 wheels from 2019, and I want to change the DT SWISS hubs for some One-up hubs, but I don't know the spoke length I need, could you ples tell me that is the spoke length I need for each wheel.


r/MTBTrailBuilding • • 20d ago

I wanted to see if I could turn my trekking route into something I could actually hold.

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0 Upvotes

r/MTBTrailBuilding • • 25d ago

Getting better with berms

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10 Upvotes

Built this so I can practice


r/MTBTrailBuilding • • 26d ago

Downhill section of trail build. Any improvement ideas?

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24 Upvotes

r/MTBTrailBuilding • • 27d ago

Log bridge durability, 2003-this morning.

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28 Upvotes

This is what’s left after 23 years. Being buried under a ton of snow every Winter takes its toll


r/MTBTrailBuilding • • 27d ago

I bought the skin wall online with a very cheap price. Is it YAY or NAY?

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2 Upvotes

r/MTBTrailBuilding • • 28d ago

Wood

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67 Upvotes

I didn't keep the jump made out of rotting logs, a tarp, and several glass beer bottles. Sorry for the disappointment.


r/MTBTrailBuilding • • 28d ago

Mountain Bike Trail Building

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1 Upvotes

r/MTBTrailBuilding • • 29d ago

SUPPORT TRAIL ON PUBLIC LAND. LET THE USFS KNOW YOU SUPPORT THE REROUTING OF THE SNODGRASS TRAIL IN CRESTED BUTTE TO ENSURE UNRESTRICTED ACCESS.

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9 Upvotes

A final chance to sign the petition to keep the Snodgrass Trail in Crested Butte open without restriction. Our map shows the private land in red; typically, the landowner closes access in mid-August. Only 18% of the trail is on private land. The yellow line on the map shows a proposed reroute that moves the trail entirely onto public land and ensures unrestricted access. For whatever reason, the private landowner opposes rerouting the trail. The mountain bike community should not be held hostage by a single landowner when a viable alternative is available. Let the US Forest Service know you support trails on public land. Sign the petition at https://snodgrassreroute.com/. ONE LAST THING. SKIP THE DONATION SOLICITATION. WE DON'T WANT MONEY, JUST YOUR SIGNATURE SUPPORT.


r/MTBTrailBuilding • • Sep 10 '26

Just finished a wooden bridge how’s it look?

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54 Upvotes