A Trail of Two Cultures

Bede explains trail slope and adjustments to Baba.

For those who've ridden our trails, they will know what I mean when I say we have some of the nicest (not necessarily easiest) riding trails you'll find anywhere from the novice level to the advanced Tinker's Trail. They run through jungle, up and down hills, and by centuries old ruins into the past by way of the present.

Our trail research took us to the site of World Cup cross-country races and to well-respected recreational trails of varying skill levels throughout the US and Canada. We learned a lot about trails and how to get lost on them while at it. We quickly learned that we didn't like seemingly unnecessary trail hazards. We encountered vertically cut, sharply pointed roots in the middle of a narrow run poised to disembowel tire or rider. There were the low lying, head crunching 4 inch thick tree limbs lurking unseen around tight corners and trail signs at odds with trail maps and compass. We didn't care too much for the horse poop on the trails, either.

But we also learned what we do like. We like the varying terrain that paced itself or allowed you to pace yourself. We like trails put in places that combine the joy of riding with the scenic beauty of the area. And we like the variety of trail choices available in many areas. I'm not always up to riding 12 miles uphill for the sheer joy of gutting it out in the noon day sun while nimbly avoiding equestrian droppings. But on the days that I do feel like it, I'd like to have the option.

And we have learned that there is a lot of animosity directed towards bikers and their allegedly notorious, erosion spawning abandon while cavorting around the face of the earth on two wheels - 10 lane highways and millions of mechanized vehicles notwithstanding.

Tim, Phillipe and Harry carve out the rough cut.

Armed with this wealth of knowledge and a wobbly sense of balance between the past and present, we hacked the dense jungle bush left and right, the old fashioned way using cutlasses (machetes), picks, shovels, rakes and wheelbarrows while doing all we could to preserve and enhance the natural beauty and the historical integrity of the location. Nearly two years later, we have something with which we are very pleased.

Our trail cutting crews began as novices, but now seasoned, they have acquired a tremendous amount of skill overcoming terrain that was forbidding, but now, thanks to them, is rideable. Even Tinker Juarez looked at some of the raw mountain and shook his head saying, "I don't know how you guys are going to do it" comparing it to some of the worst of the professional courses before we started hacking. With the downhill portion of Tinker's Trail nearing completion, I must admit to sharing some of Tinker's initial feelings. While maintaining the excitement of the terrain, some of it steep, some of it tight, some of it between cactus and trees, Tinker will be, I feel, well impressed with his namesake. The accompanying photos show the crew at work on some of the lower mild portions of Tinker's Trail. Even here some of the slope angles are 50-60 degrees.

It usually takes three passes through to come up with a trail we are pleased with. First we feel our way along attempting to discern the best route for a trail. This is very much like trying to drive from Pittsburgh to Denver without a map and only being able to see two feet in front of the car. Like rats in a maze, we learn from our mistakes and keep on marking trail. Once the marking is complete, we rough cut the trail so we can see what we've done. Somehow we've managed to avoid "Oops" but must confess to a couple of "Uh, oh, now what do we do?" If you come to a part of the trail that gives you two options down, you know what we did.

We then analyze every root, every turn, every rock with the level of trail in mind. Then we implement the changes we want. Once this is done, we ride the trails over and over, again at the level of rider the trail is designed for, and make final adjustments or buff it out. Then the trail is open for riders. Still, a trail is open to change if we feel it is having a negative impact.

As a result of this process, we have some very beautiful trails that novices can enjoy for as long as they want to pedal. In fact, novices should not feel intimidated with the notion of off-road biking or Jungle Bikingª as we call it. And to welcome novices to the wonderful world of Jungle Bikingª we offer a Jungle Bikerª Skills Class in a dedicated area that teaches the fundamentals of riding off-road. Students leave having had a more enjoyable time out on the trails as well as a sense of accomplishment and, dare we say, love for the sport?

Not only are the trails scenic and historical, but, caveat emptor, they are mulched with droppings! Our droppings, however, come from coconut palms, mango, guava and cocoa trees. They smell much better than the equestrian offerings. And the local birds love it too. Nine out of ten nest building birds prefer our trail mulch as part of their construction material over the other leading brands.

The mulching was done intentionally to counteract what was the one overriding, no pun intended, complaint about our putting in off-road biking trails on the historical site of a plantation estate complete with ruins over 200 years old. But the mulch has done its job. It not only reduces the potential for ruts which lead to erosion, but as an added benefit by riding the trails, the bikers are helping to put nutrients back into the soil. When it wears out, we put more mulch down. The extra fiber-added diet we feed our trails has resulted in no erosion in a jungle environment that gets up to 150 inches of rain a year. The old axiom with a new spin is true. A well-fed trail is a happy trail.

It also makes the trail look pretty nice and it does cut down on the amount of mud and wear and tear on our bikes, too, as good as the Cannondales are. We kept a few mud holes for you purists. With our experience of putting in trails, we have lots of miles to go. Taking advantage of the natural terrain's offerings, using mulch on the trails, putting in trails of varying skill levels along with clearly marked and geographically oriented names like the Riverside Trail, which to no one's surprise runs along side the river, we feel as though we have succeeded in building a trail between two cultures.

One culture whose vanished past, including a 3 million gallon fresh water reservoir, still pays tribute in stone to their builders, and the current day high tech culture, whose aluminum wonders with 27 gears and front suspension, pay tribute to their builders. Cannondale doesn't warranty their frames for more than 200 years. However they are quick to point out their bikes do weigh less than the average stone ruin. Touché. Two different ways of life separated by hundreds of years find compatibility in an unlikely way. We kind of like that.

Custom Designed Trails: accommodate both the first time rider and experienced riders. The basic trails have been groomed to allow a novice to have a great first time experience. Yet the trails are wide enough that we've left naturally occurring challenges such as rocks and roots for the experienced rider so two people of differing levels can ride together. For the experienced riders, we have dedicated single track loops to challenge your skills. All the trails are marked for levels of expertise recommended to ride them. We also provide a location map with key features. When you need to refill your water bottle, you can easily find the nearest water station. If you want to find the shortest route to the swimming hole, it's all there.