Anyone been out to the whitewater center in the past few weeks?  I ride there a good bit and they have been doing a lot of trail maintenance lately which is a good thing.  Lots of drainage fixes that really help the trail dry out quickly.   

However, I'm a bit annoyed by some of the trail changes.  There has been a ton of removal and/or covering up of roots and rocks that really didn't seem necessary.  Some of which was on the more difficult trails (Carpet, Goat Hill, etc.).  There has been some extensive reshaping of the main trail between goat hill and the climb before weigh station also.  They covered up some of the more fun features that make the trail more than just a boring connector trail.

Just wanted to see what other folks thought of the changes.  I don't like them, but I'm also in the camp that prefers folks to elevate their riding abilities over the neutering of a trail.  Is this a case of trying to keep the masses happy or does the new trail maintenance crew have too much freedom?

A terrible tragedy has befallen South Main.  What was once a beautiful mountain bike trail has been turned into a paved greenway.  A toll lane is scheduled to be added in 2018 to pay for future projects.

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Far and away you were the best trail feature.  I remember the thrilling day I unraveled the mystery of your roots and I was never stuck again.  But now, no riders will experience that joy.  Instead the masses will ride over, oblivious to the challenge that you presented.  Missed will be the opportunities for riders to improve their skill.  Cries of anguish will be replaced by the gentle hum of e-bikes merrily making their way.  #brappppp

I cried out in anguish tonight when I saw that it had been neutered.  So many great memories of making that left hand turn and making my way up that beautiful mass of roots. 

You will be missed my friends
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Go ride FJB if you are looking for gnarcore.  No shortage of roots there.   

The difference with this root was it served as a technical feature which added value to the trail vs other roots and no value.  And the position that having to walk it at first detracted from your riding experience eliminates an entire experience which is essential to mountain biking; the joy of learning, practicing, and experiencing new skills. It’s not about looking for Gnar because this feature is definitively not gnarlly. And removing rocks and roots around which bring no value it to add flow to the trail is cool. 

But what you and many others will now miss out on is learning how to bump hop or step up with speed, and the realization that this root and many other trail features were not as i intimidaing as you thought. 

So when a feature like this removed and the response se to go ride fisher if you want gnar, my retort is go ride a greenway if you want to be assured you won’t have to get off your bike to walk.

I haven't seen it yet.  But if it is what I think was done, this was done to that same section about 6 or 7 years ago.  It had to be done to keep the erosion from taking that tree on the right out.
I suspect it will be back to it's old form in a year or two.
Until then ride it or don't... that's your choice.


My question is have they done anything w/ that tower trail?  I stopped riding it on the regular because it is so eroded.  Such a cool section of trail that has received very little attention in recent years.  So much potential there if they would commit to dealing with the water flow on that hillside.   

Keep up the GREAT work WWC trail gnomes.   

DK wrote on 11/15/17 at 1:32pm:



I don't think it has anything to do w/ making the trails easier for the green hats... it is simply time to put some maintenance into some of the long standing sections that have had little to none.

I probably shouldn't add my 2 cents in here being I don't live in the Charlotte area anymore, but it looks to me like they should have put dirt over the roots to protect that large tree on the right side of the trail. If they keep taking out the roots, that tree will fall one day. If you like rocky and rooty trails, come up to Snowshoe and ride.

A lot of south main was getting pretty eroded and ragged, especially the downhills.  Hopefully they just covered the exposed roots with dirt instead of cutting them out.

If they did just cover them up, the dirt will be gone in a while.  At least there is maintenance being done, which is, hopefully in the long run, a good thing.

StevenA wrote on 11/15/17 at 3:30am:



I finally figured out to go straight for the tree and at the last second steer just left and wheelie up over the roots. 

I'm fine with leaving a few TTF's like this but I also like the Trailblazers established precedent of having ride around options.  I don't think these changes in any way make it a boring connector trail.  That's pure blasphemy.   Also stoked to see Tower 93