I bought it for information and ideas to use for trail building on my own property,with similar forest conditions but still enjoyed reading the parts of the book intended for public trail acquisition. Imba europe is a collective of mtb advocacy groups, trail associations, trail builders, mtb regions and bicycle industry partners learn imba is the goto resource for mtb access and management issues. Guidelines for trail planning, design and management. Together, the two books provide a complete resource for better trail recreation. International mountain bicycling association home facebook.
The book also covers wear and erosion from different trail user groups. Authorizing recreational mountain bike trails on provincial crown land updated may 20 5 3. Ive found the imba stuff to be a good start but sydney soilsand doesnt seem to agree exactly with how imba describe to do things. You cant just make one and then neglect it, expecting that everything will be okay. The bmx class bike is a strong, quick handling, lightweight bike with a standard 20inch 510 mm or 24 610 mm wheel. How to work with government officials, trail groups, and volunteers to create and support great trails. Imba standards park superintendent russ behlings gave an overview of the imba international mountain biking association trail standards and passed around the imba trail building book. This 272page book combines cuttingedge trail design and construction techniques with proven.
Trail solutions is complimented by managing mountain biking imbas guide to providing great riding, a new 256page book that focuses on solutions to mountain biking management issues. Jan 18, 2008 imba s trailbuilding techniques for sustainable multiuse trails for mountain biking, hiking and equestrian use. Trail maintenance is important for both environmental sustainability and for safety. Imba is an association of local volunteer chapters with members dedicated to mountain bike advocacy, education, access and. Riding injuries put unnecessary stress on medical systems that need all available resources to fight the virus, and group rides increase your. When you are building, think flow its the key to an enjoyable trail. Running the ridges of a narrow swath of woods through cot city of toronto land, the trails were and continue to be the subject of a.
Loose, sandy soils erode more easily than clay based trails, so youll be able to create steeper, less cambered trails if you are working with clay soil. Over the years pamba has developed trail building and maintenance agreements with the army corps of engineers, metamora park district, wildlife prairie park, and pekin park district. Follow the guidelines from imba, and other experienced trail builders and you will create a good mountain bike trail. Research by the imba shows that the most effective way to minimize the environmental effects of trail recreation is through good design. Imbas gudie to building sweet singletrack as want to read. Authorizing recreational mountain bike trails on provincial. Seeing a need, the international mountain bicycling association imba was formed in 1988 to help advocate for trails, promote volunteer trail building, and liaise between landowners and managers and the mountain bikers and their destructive trail builders, as the perception can tend to go. Professional and volunteer trail builders, clubs and land management agencies often have resources and equipment that make the task of constructing and maintaining trails and collecting trail usage data a whole lot easier handy trail tools are available on the trail resources webpage. The complete guide to trail building and maintenance, 3rd. Trail solutions imbas guide to building sweet singletrack.
Amcs classic manual for trail building, used by both forest and park services, has been updated and expanded to finetune the skills of professionals and beginners alike. It didnt matter that dpr sacramento had it listed in their trail managers toolbox. Trail building and maintenance peoria area mountain bike. A good overview of the principles described in the book trail solutions.
New trail construction basic construction standards once the trail is marked and approved, construction can begin. Published by the international mountain bicycling association. I have a decent understanding of trailbuilding from doing workdays on my local downhill trails, but i was recently given the opportunity to build on 600 acres and am a little overwhelmed by the initial layout phase. Add to that your own personal passion and desire, and you will make the best mountain bike trail your riding community has ever had. The international mountain bicycling association conducts trail building schools all over the world.
Two trail design books cover how to think and how to do it. Join experts in the field of sustainable trail design, development, construction and maintenance for an upcoming training. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. That said, many chapters have wisely established their own strong brands. This 272page book combines cuttingedge trail design and construction techniques with proven fundamentals in a colorful, easytoread format. Sep 25, 2018 imbas online resources on trail building emphasize the importance of wellplanned trail systems, and offer advice for how to create a trail system plan that can create good experiences for diverse visitors, minimize user conflict and environmental damage, and hold up in the future. Upcoming trainings professional trailbuilders association. The imba trail care crew will be teaching the most current standards for design, construction and maintenance of multi and single use recreational trails. Apr 18, 2017 imba wrote the book on sustainable trail design, mountain bike advocacy, and education. Of course this maximum grade isnt always possible and will increase or decrease depending on the type of trail youre building and the soil type.
Since publication of the first edition of the trail construction and maintenance notebook in 1996, several excellent books about trail construction and maintenance have been published by the international mountain bicycling association imba, the student conservation association sca, and the appalachian mountain club, among others. Sep 25, 2018 when you are building, think flow its the key to an enjoyable trail. The following is the official list of mountain biking rules of the trail from imba, otherwise known as the international mountain bicycling association. These mountain bike rules are designed to minimize our impact on our environment as well as promote friendly relationships between all trail users by creating a safe environment for us all. The format of bmx was derived from motocross racing. I serve as an expert in many trail related lawsuits imba does not allow staff to do that and it is important for me to stay abreast to what others feel are best practices. Imba usfs building mountain bike trails 1 of 9 youtube. Imba does amazing things, but im just not on board with the type of trails their building and promoting the construction of across the country. I cut my mountainbike teeth riding the don valley trails in toronto, canada.
Imba trail care crew member jason wells riding in a fresh berm in oregons imbasupported sandy ridge trail system. Guidelines for a quality trail experience bureau of land. Jan 11, 2011 ive found the imba stuff to be a good start but sydney soilsand doesnt seem to agree exactly with how imba describe to do things. The classroom portion of the imba advanced trail building school gave us the tools we need as leaders of volunteers to begin to create trail plans that take into account standards of sustainability as set forth in imbas trail solutions book, trail solutions. Imba recommends a maximum trail grade of 15 degrees.
Following the success of imbas first two books, trail solutions and managing mountain biking, bob allen teamed up with imba as managing editor for a new book titled bike park guide. Click on the links below to explore the educational opportunity that is. Pamba also demonstrated to the land managers that most mountain bikers are willing to put sweat equity into the creation and maintenance of the trails. I find it hard to believe that given the amount of soil research done over the past century such information doesnt exist somewhere. Since publication of the first edition of the trail construction and maintenance notebook in 1996, several excellent books about trail construction and maintenance have been published by the international mountain bicycling association imba, the student conservation association sca, and the appalachian mountain. Imba guidelines for a quality trail experience part ii. Like this page to keep up with where weve been and where. Jun 24, 2011 imba does amazing things, but im just not on board with the type of trails their building and promoting the construction of across the country. Trail grades have, but of course grades alone dont tell the story as a gentle grade at 5% and no reversals wont last as long a steeper trail, at say 15%, as long as it has frequent grade reversals. This book is worth the money for the many ideas and pictures even for those thinking about designing andor maintaining mountain bike trails. This 272page book combines cuttingedge trailbuilding techniques with proven fundamentals in a colorful, easytoread format. Imba developed two books based on more than 25 years of trail building and trail planning experience. Imbas online resources on trail building emphasize the importance of wellplanned trail systems, and offer advice for how to create a trail system plan that can create good experiences for diverse visitors, minimize user conflict and environmental damage, and hold up in.
Imbas guide to building sweet singletrack presents these concepts in a clear, easytofollow format rich with instructive diagrams and photos. The guideline and text base for the course is the imbas trail solutions text book, this 272page book combines cuttingedge trailbuilding techniques with proven fundamentals. Trail and greenway designers rely upon several comprehensive and authoritative resources to provide guidelines and standards. Foremost among these is the guide for the development of bicycle facilities, which is produced by the american association of state highway and transportation officials aashto and is now in its fourth edition. Bmx bicycle races are sprint races on purposebuilt offroad singlelap race tracks. Trail solutions imbas guide to building sweet singletrack book. Both very comprehensive reference books on trail building and management practices for mountain biking.
There are casebycase exceptions, but every effort should be made to conform to the trail standards when building or rebuilding trail. Imba trail mountain biking trail in lysterfield park. Apr 24, 2020 imba europe is a collective of mtb advocacy groups, trail associations, trail builders, mtb regions and bicycle industry partners learn imba is the goto resource for mtb access and management issues. Behlings indicated this is a great resource and is favored over the u. There are few trail maintenance books around, just lots of little pamphlets such as those put out by imba. The trail solutions book makes almost no reference to dealing with sandy conditions, so while the basic principles can be applied a bit of creativity can be needed to slow erosion and reduce the need for frequent.
North country trail handbook for trail design, maintenance and construction. Authorizing recreational mountain bike trails on provincial crown land updated may 20 6 f district recreation officer the ministry of forests, lands and natural resource operations, district recreation officer. These trail systems must serve the needs of multiple user groups and take environmental and geographical factors into account. Definitions a authorization to construct, rehabilitate or maintain a recreation trail. Imbas trailbuilding techniques for sustainable multiuse trails for mountain biking, hiking and equestrian use. Handbook for trail design, construction and maintenance. Generally less than 1 mb each chapter 1 trail history and philosophy.
Apr 05, 2010 imba recommends a maximum trail grade of 15 degrees. Theres been a trend toward fixing sections of trail that. Trails are usually part of larger systems that are the result of careful and diligent planning and collaboration. Mountain biking irresponsibly during the covid19 pandemic puts you and others at risk. Trail solutions is imbas premier trailbuilding resource. The tenth and final way to make your mountain bike trail awesome is to follow through with the trails maintenance.
Formulate regulations this can occur only in the formal rulemaking process, with full. Contact po box 2055 south burlington, vt 05407 802. Imbas guide to building sweet singletrack check out the latest price on. International mountain bicycling association, boulder, colorado. Sustainable trail workshops the trust also runs sustainable trail workshops based on the international mountainbike association model to ensure all contractors and trail building teams are up to date with best practice, and able to meet design specification including to standards nz handbook 8630. I wasnt joking when i likened trail building to having a child. Half bench is half baked the only time you should ever skimp on a fully bench cut trail is 1 when the sideslope is so steep 80 percent or greater that the backslope exceeds six feet in height, or 2 when your trail design forces you to build close to the. When i tried to use imbas excellent trail solutions book for trail guidelines at henry w coe state park a few years back it was not just no but hell no. This section addresses basic construction standards, beginning with the clearing of trees, brush, and rocks, then establishing the trail foundation and basic trail tread, and continuing into standard methods for surface water control. Imbas guide to building sweet singletrack by international mountain bicycling association isbn. This 272page book combines cuttingedge trailbuilding techniques with proven fundamentals in a colourful, easytoread format. Two trail design books cover how to think and how to do. Book has guidelines in their reference section pertaining to ttf design and construction.
Imba books become standards though that is not the intent. Good use of photos and diagrams with an emphasis on the construction and use of public hiking trails in the northeast u. But 26 years down the road, some in our community say. Trail pittsburgh has traditionally used imba guidelines from the book trail solutions imbas guide to building sweet singletrack. This book will improve the design, construction, and management of. The international mountain bicycling association has written the definitive book on trail maintenance, management, and health. Trails are usually part of larger systems that are the result of careful and diligent planning and. Imba guidelines for a quality trail experience part i.
I understand some riders like that sort of trail, but i dont, and most of the guys i ride with dont. Although it is a natural process, trail erosion is the biggest threat to safety and environmental sustainability. Today, pamba has memorandum of understanding mou agreements with 4 governing bodies, allowing mountain bike access to 6 major trail systems. Since publication of the first edition of the trail construction and maintenance notebook in 1996, several excellent books about trail construction and maintenance have been published by the international mountain bicycling association imba, the student conservation association sca, and the. Imba trail solutions is the international leader in developing singletrack trails, with. Imba wrote the book on sustainable trail design, mountain bike advocacy, and education. For some time, our local scene has been dominated by one mountain bike club, with a tendancy to cite imba trail building standards and the s word with a near religious fervor. Theres more to building a trail than moving rocks and dirt.
It is an entity that remains a part of your life into the future. W hy write another trail construction and maintenance guide. Groveland trail stewardship summit groveland trail heads. Pamba showed the type of trail features and singletrack layouts that mountain bikers desired.