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Now we have a good amount of supporters for the BMX track and dirt jumps, I now need to find out who is interested in helping ----DESIGN--- some layouts and ideas to present to the council at our debut meeting!

This is YOUR chance to be one of the designers; keeping the facility rider designed, rider made.

Experience is required for this- I need three people ideally who have ridden a BMX track or dirt jumps at a known location regularly within the last 6 months ideally.

We will also need you to be able to visit the site yourself and probably meet up with us to discuss a plan.

Age doesn't matter, BMX or MTB doesn't matter, but enthusiasm and a willingness to get involved does!

Please post your offers on this post, so all our other members can see who's doing what and keep things clear and friendly!

Thanks everyone!!!!!!



Cheers Karve for letting me post about this on here

Sorry Dude... I'm still a Noob in matters like that. But thought I'd reply to correspond to my 'view' count.

I've ride Woburn Sands DJ's along with Chicksands and Gate 23 in Sudbourne!! I also regularly ride Pump Tracks and BMX Tracks. If that's any help???

If you want my advice, if they are going to be council made, council run trails don't fly in with an idea of loads of transfer lines, keep it simple so they can see your not going to try and kill people. An initial basic layout is a good start. Have 3 six packs, one set of small tables, a medium six pack and a big six pack.

With council stuff its about making it accessible and "for the kids". You want to make sure people can give it a go and try and also safe for nippers that want to get into extreme sports!

/\This.
Id be all game for 20ft doubles. But the council wont like that.

Go check out Teddington Loch. These are allowed trails and range from 2-3ft right up to 15ft doubles.

Get out and visit a many counci/allowed trails as possible. Infact not just allowed trails You need as many ideas/influences from other trails as possible.

The trouble with 'allowed' places is that you have to try and to please everyone. If its your own private trails, you can dig them for yourself and your mates of similar skill level. But when you have peole of various skills coming, you need to be able to host them all. If thats numerous lines or whatever. Tabletops are another answer, but that encourages people who cant ride then, to ride them. And ends up with litte Ruperts mum moaning.
Chicksands is an ok example. 3 lines of varying sizes. The jumps are shit and lines far too short to attract people from far, but if space was there and there was a good maintainence team, potentially, they could be good.
Dont forget, nowadays, people dont like straight trails.

On a side note, what are you using to dig them? Are you just using the soil dug from the ground? So Im assuming youve dug down to check the soil quality?
Ive been involved in trailcentres, council trails, indoor skateparks and countless private trails over the years.
My advice, plan, plan and plan again. Be prepared for every eventuality.

Here's a prime example:
We were digging a set of trails in a bit of wasteland on a farm once and halfway accross the field (and halfway thru the line) we hit the bedrock a foot or so down.. Had to then flatten what we'd dug,, dig the soil from there to then make the jumps. Totally ruined what we'd planned and the trails we no-where near what we wanted.

Another example. Dorking West as its now known.
We'd been digging trails there for a while when the council got involved and said theyd flatten them.
A club was formed, the field given to the club to make into a riding venue. Even membership was sold. Everything was planned. Numerous dj lines- some doubles, some tables, some long (10 jumps in the line), some short, hip lines, straight lines. There was a massive 4x type track planned (although it wasnt called 4x then). All was good. The plans were given to the council to build
And they did.
Using hardcore.

Was the biggest fail ever. It was literally demolision rubble. Bits of glass sticking out, jagged rocks, bits of metal etc etc. Supprisingly it never took off. It still stands now and is well worth going to to have a look at for inspiration(infact Id highly reccommend it) as that kind of set up would work amazingly well if dug properly. If you do, Im only down the road, so holler me. But whatever you do dont even bother taking your bike.

Its hard work and lots of allowed places fail, but do enough resaerch and it pays off well.

Thanks for everyones comments.

Fortunately I have ridden dirt jumps and 4x before, so know roughly what makes a good line and jump.

I am keen for more views, as I want to use this opportunity to create the best possible facility I can.

I shall now reply to the questions raised........

Please feel free to join the facebook page- that's the numbers that count.

Its under " South Woodham BMX and dirt jumps " group.

Thanks for your support

This is the line of thought that I have. Thanks

There is a fair bit of soil mounded from a previous professional bmx track in the 80's.

We will most likely use the existing mud mounds, and there are local farms that will most likely give us soil.

I certainly shall plan, plan, plan. The only certain plan is that 2012 will be the year of planning and organisation and 2013 will be the year of the riding.