Back Issue | Days Like These – Trail Building Story
Bikes are the foundations of many friendships. Without them we wouldn’t have many of our biking mates, and there would be no buddies to share adventures with or strangers to have random tech-talk chats with. Biking undoubtedly connects people in a unique way. This is what makes it more than would first appear.
It starts with the excitement that we develop for the trails we ride. We review every jump, root, berm, and kilometre ridden with incredible enthusiasm, always underlining how “awesome” or “gnarly” each section was.
You could say trails are the holy grail of every mountainbiker. Respecting them (and nature!) is every rider’s job as well as supporting, maintaining, and valuing the work of the trailbuilder and locals. Or even better, build trails yourself where you’re allowed — for example, in a privately owned forest.
After a long night out we had a plan: we’d do something for our sport instead of doing something sporty. The plan: build some trails in our woods. In an early-morning trance we load bikes, chainsaws, shovels, axes, and (with great foresight) beer into the car. Now we can get started.
The Defender starts with a rattling motor. First we drive through the city-owned forest and then into ‘our’ one. Along for the ride: the feeling of freedom whilst the slipstream wafts through your hair and the knowledge that today, we’ll help create something that every biker wants — great trails!
Let’s be honest: you can build trails without a pickup and heavy duty tools, but is certainly more fun with them!
Jens, our man for the heavy duty work, puts his protective gear on and gets straight to work cutting with his Stihl chainsaw — quality tools are a must, after all.
After seemingly endless spade work the berm is there. With tenderness we get onto the detail work of improving and shaping.
After the actual work, the excitement. We know our construction is strong enough, but will it live up to our expectations in flow? A few pedal-powered tests follow: first Jens, then Chris ride the results. A few more corrections follow, then we are all agreed: mission accomplished!
Almost… we haven’t had a beer yet!
As the bottle tops open with a hiss it all becomes clear: you really need days like this. Freedom, nature, and the feeling of having accomplished something are just priceless. Just like days on the bike. But these can be combined, as we know. No work, no ride!
Biking lives from the engagement of individuals — so get out there!
The summary of the day: hard but amazing.
Tools of the Trade:
Text & Photos: Robin Schmitt
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