Let me just take this opportunity to blame the cheaters, sissy-pants riders, people that ride without helmets and roadies (ok fine, a few of you are cool) for the cheater lines at BYT/PRP.  that crap is getting old, fast.  Perhaps focus on your fitness level and technical skills on the bike instead of ruining what other people build and maintain on their own time.  You're never gonna beat Pennypacker anyways, why cheat to try?

Harry Balsagna wrote on 06/22/18 at 1:21pm:


Agreed. I noticed they started popping up a lot after the greenway construction was finished. I'm all for more people getting into the sport and have no problem sharing the trail with newer riders, I was one just a few years ago. I just don't understand the thinking behind modifying the trail to suit one's abilities... I remember BYT kicked my ass the first few times I rode it, but i had no desire to make the trail easier. It just gave me something to strive for. 


Harry Balsagna wrote on 06/22/18 at 1:21pm:
 

He is some of what I've learned after doing trailwork for 20 years at different places.

Most cut thrus are made or started by walkers. 
People will ride around the smallest root or rock for no reason.
If it is a full on obstacle, provide a ride around, but make it it longer, not shorter. 
Dig a big hole in a short cut if you want it to stop.
Most really fast guys stay on the path, they've  learned it is faster than trying to run in a new line. 
Reverse trail directions does not help with wear. It just moves it to a different spot.
80% of all trail wear comes from water management. Yes, even the so called "breaking bumps"
Bikers will get off and go to great lengths to drag their bike around a limb or a stick or broken tree, even though it could be easily pulled off trail.
Hard rains are better than long extended rains,
Most rain erosion comes in the spring. After the ground gets baked in during the summer, it gets as hard as concrete. 
Dear Park water bottles grow like wild flowers, THey just pop up everywhere.
Bikers rarely pic up trash off trail. 

Erosion grows where water and people flow.
This is self evident.

A lot of rain this spring.

Ha ha ha poo poo as deterrent!  That is rich! 

Most cheater lines can be covered effectively within about 5-10 minutes.  Whereas Jerry is correct, digging a hole can be a real deterrent, most folks aren't riding with a shovel.  If everyone who disapproves of a cheater line stops for a minute to throw sticks on it whenever we see one, then they will not grow to be so prevalent.   
I've covered a couple lately (mostly at BYT, but also did one on Lake Loop at usnwc yesterday) and it's been my experience that other riders will come along, see what you're doing, and gleefully join in the fun.

Enoch wrote on 06/22/18 at 2:26pm:

All of Jerry's statements are 100% true!!!!!
Doug S.

I 100% agree with Enoch as well.  I've been building trail for 17 years locally and can say trail care is nothing more than water and user management.  If you put water and riders straight down the fall line, you will get an eroded mess quickly. If you get water off the trail quickly and undulate the trail up/down and left/right then you create a better trail experience and give the feeling of greater speed than is actually being ridden.

While roots are a subjective matter and depend on the intended trail rating and experience, typically removing roots does stop some cut throughs.  But so does a sh*t ton of debris and big heavy rocks!!

BigBikeMike wrote on 06/25/18 at 10:41pm:


I like roots until they steer me off the trail! But I keep trying to figure out how to navigate them... especially at BYT.

I did cut a root out at the Tamale loop at SWDP, but it was out of anger and resentment. 

PS: To the OP... I have not actually noticed any erosion difference where I ride (mostly west side).

The root
The challenge
The opportunity 
The video evidence

Your trail building & maintenance contribution rule, all is forgiven 

Come ride Mulberry Gap