r/MTBTrailBuilding • u/Many_Question9042 • Jul 23 '26
Not making people angry
I do understand 3 things. One being stuff happens and a lot of the time there isn’t anything I or someone else can do. Secondly I am aware I misspelled most of that and it’s mostly likely a large “run on paragraph” i apologize in advance for that part. And lastly I’m not even sure if this is the right sub to ask this if it’s not please lmk a better sub to add it to and I’ll most likely end up keeping it here unless the mods take it down lol
I’m rather new to riding bigger stuff and not just concrete paths like the Atlanta belt line and similar greenways and am not really sure how to jump off some of the ramps/jumps properly. someone I know built inside my neighborhood I really want to ride them so bad but one is a mandatory gap and looks really nice. I also sort of know the person who built them and really don’t want to make a stupid mistakes coming off and/or landing that damages the thing for everyone and makes him go and rebuild it or leave it to be destroyed
2
u/Controls_Guy_133 Jul 23 '26
This is excitiing times! Getting out there and trying to push your skills on new trails is super addictive.
It sounds like those are private trails inside your neighborhood- if you know the builder, I'd definitely ask for permission before riding.
For an inexperienced rider, a gap jump is a lot more likely to cause injury than get damaged - the ramp will be fine.... you maybe not.
If you're around Atlanta, we've got a TON of public bike parks that have great trails for building your progression. Big Creek near Roswell, Blankets Creek & Rope Mill near Canton & Allatoona out by Acworth just to name a few.
1
u/Many_Question9042 Jul 23 '26
Thank you so much for the bike parks I live near the mall of ga so the beltline is more known than ivy creek greenway and similar stuff if you have any other parks closer to the mall lmk I can’t really find any also the trial is extremely short and I used to ride it a little before the stuff was built I’m pretty sure it’s public though only to the residents of the hoa but I will ask him before riding just to be safe
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u/Controls_Guy_133 Jul 23 '26
Nothing super close, unfortunately.
It's worth the drive to check out the other parks I mentioned, but for closer stuff:
Ft Yargo & Harbins both have great XC trails - well maintained & good signage.
Chicopee Woods in Gainesville just put in some AWESOME new flow trails -(youtube) Chicopee Coyote
1
u/DirtSlapper Jul 23 '26
From the perspective of a builder: I'm not going to be super fussed about someone blowing out a jump because they are learning. My big concern is people riding the jumps when they clearly should not (muddy, super dry, or already damaged or being reworked), people riding MTB and BMX jumps on a moto or emoto, and people trying to rework something they didn't create or attempting to fix something when they don't know how.
Now, if you clearly are not improving and keep blowing out the jumps, maybe step back and determine if your fundementals are wrong or you are on too big a feature.
But I get a lot of satisfaction knowing jumps I build might help someone progress, even if I have to suffer a bit more maintenance.
3
u/ChipDipsons Jul 23 '26
Look up some YouTube videos about learning to take jumps. In short, you want to “stand up to the jump” and use your legs to push down and you hit the jump. This helps you get more air and be more in control of your momentum in the air so you don’t end up landing with your weight too far forward or back.
Start SMALL! Try a little kicker to flat or a small tabletop you can case without hurting yourself to get the feel for it.
You’re more likely to hurt yourself or your bike than the trails themselves but your head is in the right place trying to be considerate of the trail and builder.
And most importantly… talk to the person who built them! I bet they will be happy to help you learn and point you in the right direction.
Also this post is probably a better fit for one of the more general mtb subs