BIKE PARKS, THE PLAYGROUNDS FOR CYCLING HEROES

You’ve probably heard that a new bike park has opened near Schwäbisch Hall – near Sulzbach. More and more parks of this kind are springing up, to the delight of all those who like their leisure time action-packed and don’t shy away from falls or thick layers of mud and sludge on their clothes.

Even a spectator gets the adrenalin pumping when he or she can admire the tricks of the bikers in a bike park. Breakneck descents and overcoming tricky obstacles guarantee feelings of happiness. Everyone who reaches the finish line without any major injuries can look forward to this. And contrary to a spectator who, in some situations, may well eye a mountain biker’s ride with concern, this is exactly what the biker needs: only with adrenaline in his blood and at a speed that really challenges him does he begin to enjoy his bumpy ride.

Bike parks are ideal for indulging this passion. The operators have long specialised in various preferences, so that everyone can find and enjoy their own trail. We would like to go into detail about the various possibilities, which include downhill, pump tracks, flow trails, freeride, bikercross, slopestyle and single trails.

In our opinion, there are still far too few trails of this kind in Germany. Sometimes it is advisable to go abroad (Italy, Switzerland), as not every trail in your immediate vicinity is really sophisticated or even challenging. However, you can always find a good alternative, as long as you are prepared – especially if you like special challenges – to travel far. 08/15 is available almost everywhere, but especially during the holiday season it can be a bit more.

Contrary to many a holidaymaker who prefers to return tanned and deeply relaxed from his cosy beach holiday, for a wild MTB biker there is only one true way to relax: riding in a bike park, preferably every day, of course also during his holiday time, until the last holiday day has been “spent” mountain biking. When the muscles hurt like hell, the bruises bear witness to relentless descents and bruises can be shown off like medals, then it was a really good adventure.

Whether on holiday or not, bike parks are and will remain in. They are declared to be the destination of choice for leisure time. Even a weekend offers enough time to prepare a trip to a bike park and then enjoy it to the full. But there are also unpleasant things to report:

The run – also by “MTB freshmen” – is steadily increasing, and with it the accidents, which according to the statistics are not infrequently violent. We therefore want to draw more attention to responsibility and safety.

In addition, there have been frequent reports lately of trappers who create life-threatening obstacles on many a route. If you are a biker at high speed, which is always the case on the descents, you can hardly avoid such a dangerous trap.

Where it is already known that trappers are up to mischief, you should at least check the route before setting off to avoid more serious accidents. Anyone who discovers something should inform the police immediately, because such manipulations are serious offences and will be prosecuted vigorously. After all, trappers are deliberately putting human lives at risk. It is sad that a mountain biker has to deal with such things at all.

We recommend that you only use the specially designed trails in bike parks, which keeps the likelihood of encountering a nasty obstacle low. Also, on hiking trails, hikers understandably find mountain bikers whizzing by annoying, or even provocative.

Surely you know by now what goes into a great ride: Not only preparation and a suitable choice of route, but also a suitable MTB with optimal protective equipment. Some routes offer chairlifts with bike suspension or shuttle services to experience the next descent without a sweaty climb, and you will also be able to choose between difficulty levels.

Are you ready to conquer the next trail?

Bike parks mean a lot to any mountain biker: they are the epitome of an action-packed leisure activity – a truly wild sport. In a bike park you can unload your inner self, simply get rid of all the frustration, anger and stress you have built up in the days and weeks before. Even if not all cyclists like it that wild, every doctor will confirm one thing: The best way to relieve stress is through exercise! The more you power up, the freer you will feel afterwards. After a long shower and a tasty snack, you will have reached your peak of satisfaction again and can face new challenges of everyday life emotionally refreshed and full of energy.

Not all bike parks are the same, but each park has its own character and is sometimes more and sometimes less suitable for you and your preferences. Some may seem boring to you, but for others they are pure fulfilment. The parks and their possibilities are as individual as your style.

On the internet you will find photos and often video recordings that will help you quickly separate the wheat from the chaff. But you may have already discovered the park of your dreams. For all those who are still at the beginning, we would like to describe the details and finally also address the point of “safety”.

Flow Trail (Flow Country Trail)

As the name suggests, flow plays the decisive role here. Just as a torrent flows downhill, your descent should be smooth and, above all, fast.

Elevations on the outer edges of curves and undulating tracks give you the feeling of enjoying a roller coaster without having to use your brakes much. The focus here is on your speed, which remains undisturbed by challenging sections and thus by roots, stones, etc. Level paths guarantee you a continuous flow ride.

A number of steep curves that are pulled outwards allow high speeds even in curves, and you will also find opportunities for jumps thanks to various wooden elements, which are, however, also easy to ride around, which will please the newcomers among us.

Flow trails are therefore ideal for beginners and bikes with little suspension travel. Obstacles, if any, are very sparse, and you will also find signs indicating the level of difficulty. Depending on your skills, you can either choose the blue route (no obstacles), the red route (easy to medium jumps) or the black route.

Artificially created flow trails are rather sparsely spread, as they require a lot of maintenance. You may only find naturally occurring enduro trails in your area that are designated as trails for bikers to use but have no obstacles or jumps.

Downhill

Time is of the essence here, because downhill is about completing the descent in the shortest possible time. The terrain is challenging and full of natural obstacles.

You can reach speeds of up to 70 km/h as an advanced or professional rider, which makes it clear how well you have to be able to rely on your bike. If you lose control, grossly overestimate your ability and haven’t yet figured out the very demanding riding technique, you will provoke serious crashes. It is precisely the demands on the rider that make downhill a recognised competitive sport. Full concentration is required! Rider and bike are demanded everything during the 20-minute descent.

If downhill is your thing, then you need a suitable bike:

It should be stable, yet light and manoeuvrable, and weigh a maximum of 25 kilos, which is why only aluminium or carbon are now used for downhill bikes.

We prefer to use hydraulic disc brakes for downhill. If in doubt, ask your dealer about brakes that are reliable in all weather conditions.

Also, your centre of gravity in relation to your riding position is crucial for smooth downhill riding.

Since it’s all downhill, the centre of gravity of downhill bikes is rear-heavy. By the way, saddles of downhill bikes are among the uncomfortable candidates, similar to road bike variants.

For the best grip, we recommend only well-tread and wide tyres, depending on the ground conditions. Your handlebars should take a lot of punishment and also be quite wide for the best control. As flat as possible is good, which is why more and more stems are screwed directly onto the upper fork crown. This prevents the handlebars from twisting in the event of a fall, but there are also disadvantages, such as damage to the bike in the event of a fall, which is usually more serious with this type of mounting.

On the Trail …

When “downhilling”, look forward to small and large stones in the middle of the trail, jumps and bumps, wildly growing roots, high steps, as well as different surfaces. As the speed increases, so does the overall challenge and the demands on your riding technique and fitness. Your entire body has to withstand enormous forces, which requires corresponding fitness. Your motor skills and your ability to react must also prove themselves every second. The smallest mistakes are punished, unless you are already so professional that you can iron them out in a fraction of a second.

So many never dare, but you do. It’s not fear but respect for the trail that wakes you up and is your preferred challenge. Only those who approach downhill sport with great mental strength will be able to master it. There is simply no time for hesitation or reflection during the descent. And overconfidence has no chance ..

A perfectly equipped bike needs a well-equipped rider.

Treat yourself to high-quality protectors, including the following components: Full face helmet, upper body armour, goggles, neck brace, gloves, elbow and knee/shin pads.

Our request to you: Only use designated downhill routes. This way you won’t get dangerously in the way of any hikers and you will be considerate of the wildlife.

PUMPTRACK

The special thing about these tracks is that you have to master the circuits without pedalling, but only by using your body, the so-called pumping up. By pumping you build up speed. This only works as long as you are out of the saddle, which is why you are only in a standing position while riding. Overall, this type of biking has a high fun factor due to the rather playful riding style. Good feeling is pre-programmed.

The trails are relatively narrow. The approximately one-metre-wide trail is laid out on generally flat terrain with waves and elements such as steep wall curves or jumps. The surface is usually earth or clay, but recently asphalt or concrete have become more common, which makes maintenance easier.

In order to be able to gain sufficient speed with a mountain bike by means of pumping pressure, the correct distances and radii of the individual waves are decisive. Professionals are increasingly turning to smaller MTBs for this purpose. And finally, it’s good to know that the quality requirements for your bike are much lower than for downhill bikes, for example.

FREERIDE

This variant of mountain biking describes technically demanding biking. It includes riding on tricky and sloping mountain passages, but also long jumps over ten metres and overcoming natural obstacles. You need good body control and full control over your bike.

A lot of freedom in manoeuvring makes up the fun factor. But here, too, the right protective equipment is relevant for comprehensive riding fun. As with downhill riding, we recommend that you equip yourself with high-quality protectors so that even long jumps never hurt your eyes. Especially the protection of the neck is too often neglected, but only a suitable helmet and neck protection can prevent the worst.

What a choice of routes ..

In freeride, for example, a distinction is made between enduro (all mountain), bike mountaineering, freeride extreme and urban freeride.

FOUR CROSS

Four Cross (also known as Bikercross or Mountain Cross) describes another racing discipline of mountain biking on courses up to 600 metres. As four riders usually compete against each other, the description of this MTB variant is obvious.

Since exceptional forms are also very popular, whereby deviating numbers of starters are permitted, umbrella terms such as Bikercross are often used.

These competitions are particularly exciting because the principle of a knockout system demands a lot from the riders. They have to overtake their competitors and master jumps, various curves, bumps, stone fields, stair-like obstacles, but also challenging forest passages with different surfaces. The fastest make it to the next round. The starting groups are divided according to their qualification, which was determined according to the result of the time trial or also according to a points race.

Unlike the aforementioned variants, in the Four Cross you will find starting gates and sometimes also traffic light systems, which alone makes the start of the “bike gladiators” very exciting. In the first few seconds you can win the next rank for yourself with ingenious overtaking manoeuvres and have to overcome obstacles quickly. Track strength and responsiveness are in demand.

Hardtails are usually ideal for Four-Cross, as the focus is more on speed than on agility. In addition, a certain smoothness of your bike is a good prerequisite for winning such a race. Go for easy acceleration and therefore little weight. Since crashes happen quite often, we also recommend that you take stability into account in addition to low bike weight.

Narrow tyres allow you to build up speed quickly. They are also lighter than wide, heavily treaded tyres. In four-cross, the tyre tread is often adapted to the respective ground conditions.

SLOPESSTYLE

In slope style, a judge plays the decisive role alongside the biker. Your stage is a course with different obstacles, which you master with your mountain bike in the best possible and most spectacular way.

Drops that rise up to ten metres into the air become breathtaking stunts with mastered dirt jumps and wall rides.

The bikers can freely combine the obstacles, whereby in particular how the obstacles are used and how impressively the tricks are performed are evaluated. A stable and manoeuvrable bike is required for this.

SINGLE TRAIL

Riding side by side is impossible on single trails, as these paths are only up to 60 centimetres wide. Differently designed and differently tricky, these trails are classified according to a scale (STS) and are simply specially designed trails for the demands of an adventurous mountain biker.

The smaller the number, the easier: starting with easy conditions (S0, S1) over medium difficult (S2) up to difficult challenges (S3, S4, S5), you can choose the right trail for you.

The trails are rated according to their ground conditions and obstacles, whereby the S5 routes are only to be mastered by real hardcore cracks.

And last but not least, we can also recommend indoor bike parks. In a relatively small space, you can develop your skills and simply pursue your passion even in the worst weather conditions.

SAFETY FIRST

Is everything on your bike? And is it well maintained? Is it really suitable for your project?

Depending on how many of these questions you can answer in the affirmative will show how you handle your responsibility. Come back healthy! That is the most important thing besides living and enjoying your passion.

Good preparation is the be-all and end-all

Protective equipment is of little use to you on a dusty shelf. Follow the rules and recommendations of those who mean well for you! Many parks have their own regulations. So don’t go there for nothing, but inform yourself in good time!

Does your full-face helmet fit perfectly? Do your knee and elbow pads fit properly or is it time to get new ones? Have you thought about back protection against splashing stones and protective goggles? A neck protector prevents overstretching and protects against worse. Good shoes and gloves complete your equipment.

Three really important points! – When you set off:

• Check tyre pressure and other relevant parts, such as the thru-axles.
• Warm up your muscles to be agile and really ready.
• The challenges must be adapted to your abilities and not the other way round. Even if your buddies are already a few steps ahead: Only dare to do what you really want and can handle. Overestimating yourself is a merciless brake on fun!

We wish every responsible mountain biker exciting experiences, fast-paced adventures and, above all, as injury-free an arrival as possible! And we hope that the selection of versatile routes will increase steadily.

In this sense: Treat yourself to the wild side of biker pleasures!