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Based on the past few years, trail building has consisted of:
1. owner occasionally and randomly decided to re-design something / burn a wooden drop that customers had built him. It usually makes the run worse.
2. Letting some teenagers use a digger to build their own new lines.
3. Customers organising their own dig days
Comparing it to Rogate, twisted, windhill etc there is no building.
If they are doing maintainance, no-one can see it.
but double seems a bit much
Do you get twice as many runs in on an ebike? If yes, twice the price seems about right.
I don't get why you care so much about riding there when it's apparently terrible.
I wouldn't characterise it as terrible at all. Convenient, fun, 'agricultural', amateur, good spirit of helping out between riders, erratic speed needed, un-rideable in bad weather.
I'm feel positive about the place, just not this new business model. If he's really comparing himself to other pro-run parks, I might as well spend less and go to rogate.
At the end of the day it’s all highly subjective. One man’s (or woman’s) bargain is another’s rip-off innit.
its a bit like the debates about whether people who use this website a lot should pay the equivalent of 10pence per day to use it. I’m of the view that it’s such an incredible resource that people who aren’t willing to cough that up should be ashamed of themselves. But it’s just my opinion. The freeloaders just have to suck up all the crappy ads.
Percentage type arguments at this level of expenditure are a bit misleading. After all an increase from £1 a year to £2 a year is a 100%!!!! increase. I’d also counsel that being sure of your facts won’t do your credibility any harm before you get called out for being wrong about a basic aspect of the charging regime that you’re having a pop at.
I do subscribe a bit to the headshaking around people who are willing to spend many, many thousands on bikes etc who then complain about being asked to spend a few quid comparatively (see also threads about car park charges at free trail centres and singletrack subscriptions) on associated services. Reeks a bit of 1st world problems.
The bit about the owner getting tetchy is another so what, and not relevant to your original question. Anyway, running a business is hard work and the people who are willing to risk it all to roll the dice aren’t necessarily the most tolerant or diplomatic. Doesn’t mean we don’t have to do business with them per se. I know from personal experience that the aged bearded fella who used to spend a lot of time in hot air balloons is a heavy drinking misogynist who thinks nothing of dragging a young woman into his limo for a quick grope. But I’ve still procured services related to online entertainment from his enterprise.
Anyway, as much as I’ve enjoyed writing this rather than fixing my bike, the nub of it is you pays your money (or not) and makes your choice. Going on a forum such as this will merely demonstrate to you that some people agree with you and some don’t.
Do pop back and let us know what you decide in due course, I for one will hardly sleep until I know..
Grifters
I do subscribe a bit to the headshaking around people who are willing to spend many, many thousands on bikes etc who then complain about being asked to spend a few quid comparatively
Phones are the poster child here. Folk will pay a four-figure sum for a Samsung Ultra Pro GTi Turbo or an Apple Near-Infinity what have you, then baulk at paying 69p for an app.
Sorry for the late reply Raify - I was out digging.
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Building new stuff is early spring and autumn when the ground is moist enough but not just wet mud. Last weekend, this weekend, probably next weekend for 2 - 4 hours a day with as many volunteers as you can find. Maintenance is a couple of hours a week during the riding season. I use Council land so they have basic insurance. It is not a commercial park so there is no commercial liability for those involved providing the Council have okayed the work.
What Cougar says about maintenance is right. A few little braking bumps left untended grow into an unrideable corner with lots of alternative lines around them and general trail destruction. This is the couple of hours a week. plus litter picking whenever you are up there of course.
Based on the past few years, trail building has consisted of:
1. owner occasionally and randomly decided to re-design something / burn a wooden drop that customers had built him. It usually makes the run worse.
2. Letting some teenagers use a digger to build their own new lines.
3. Customers organising their own dig days
If they are doing maintainance, no-one can see it.
Really don't know why you even want to go? On roots and rain the first race was 2007 so they must be doing some thing ok it not easy running venue for 18 years with no maintenance and just burning stuff. I know our little secret spot doesn't run its self. I respect any one who put a spade in the ground and moaning about a spot is just poor if you don't like it don't go why keep slagging it. Besides normal day ticket are £8 that's very reasonable?
Yeah factoring in insurance premiums would be my guess.
As well as paying for insurance, doing maintenance, paying volunteers in donuts etc the guy might actually want to pay his own mortgage and feed his family. He is running a business and needs it to work. It sounds as if it is working. It also sounds like he is not a big fan of ebikes but is happy to take their money or let them ride elsewhere.
The fairness or rightness of it all really is don't to how he runs his business.
For the record, I think double the price is a bit of a big difference and thought that 50% mark up on eBikes would be my choice if I was trying to get money from cyclists rather than building and maintaining everything for free
Back on page 1 daveylad said:
I visit the b1ke bikeparks and do 2 hours worth of riding on my ebike.
Others on motorless bikes stay all day and do a similar amount of runs.
is this because youve got other commitments, you've gone through the battery or your body can't take any more descending?
I can see how being able to fly back to the top, and straight back into the next downhill in a minute or two can be fatiguing even if not working hard on the climb due ot the motor.
Being able to break up the hard effort bits with more of a break of a gentle uphill ride or push - especially rogate which is about half and half might be better overall for those who are able to go out and play all day.
Personally, BPW I can go all day, the inherent ineffiency of a van uplift provides enough of a rest. Lift served alpine riding though, where the lifts are quicker and the runs longer, I need a lunch break and I'll often stop before the end of the day.