Pros and Cons so far

[seenvic]

Step up and tell us if you like the FATS or hate it. What do you like about it? What don't you like? What can we do to improve it for you?

[tryin]

Rode for the first time Sunday.

Pros-- Toughest trail around. You have to be in shape to fully enjoy all the different characteristics. Rocks and logs are do-able.

Cons-Toughest trail around.

Don't change anything. I'll come to it or walk.

[M]

Rode the trail for the first time this past Monday and I've been back out every day since. That's how much I LOVE this trail. It's only 20 minutes from the house. The only gripe(if that's what you want to call it) is the speed around blind turns. Is there going to be a suggested route of travel? It would really suck if you ran into someone head first going around a turn. I also feel like there will be a lot of hikers on this trail. Any thoughts?

[seenvic]

Suggested route of travel - no. Give a "whoddie - who" yell as you round those corners! Or perhaps get a bell for your bike and give it a "ding ding" in these spots. But I think for the number of miles out there, and the number of users, it should be fine.

Hikers. I hope you are right. They should use this trail for many reasons. When you see them, slow down and make sure it's all good before you pass. If they are not yielding the trail while you are slowly riding, then stop, dismount and walk by. But most of the time, I find simply slowing down, making verbal communication and riding slowly past them makes everyone happy.

Glad to hear you like it.

[seenvic]

M said:

Rode the trail for the first time this past Monday and I've been back out every day since. That's how much I LOVE this trail. It's only 20 minutes from the house.

M - Love it enough to join SORBA if you aren't already a member?

Afterall, it took SORBA 10 years to get it approved and 1900 volunteer hours to help actually build it.

I hear we will need 250 members before the powers that be will open any more of the trails out there. I think we can get to this figure. Can you help us by joining?

[JIMMYC]

if parts don't dry up some of that bridge design from the freeride chapter of the I.M.B.A. book looked cool. I think it would be interesting to have a section like that. I must say I've only ridden only a small part and that was the grand opening.
How many more members do we need to make 250 and how do family memberships affect that number?

[seenvic]

The sections closed have only been rained on a time or two. They need a few rains on them to "season" better. If we turn people loose on them, then we will probably have to armor them. I am tired of armoring trail. We are better off just letting it get rained on a couple times, pack in, dry out and then open it.

I'd guess we have 150 members. Family count as 2.

The other day 6 of us worked 4 hours on the trail. Nearly 40 people rode past us. Only about 10 were members. I don't see any reason we can't get to 250 in three months if that's what it takes to open more trails out there.

[timwinters]

I'm from Atlanta and I liked the trail so much at the Grand Opening that I came back this week and rode it again Monday.

I think the general design and layout as it relates to the terrain is fantastic. There are lots of trails that go up, down, up, down...(boring) Pumping or climbing through those banked rollers give the trail a fluidity that I've only experienced while actually riding a surfboard. You get out what you put in! I don't know if this is what you had in mind when you named the Brown Wave, but you really nailed it. ;D

My only thought is that I did notice sandy spots starting to form in some of the dips that coincide with turns that are aggressively outsloped (does that make sense?) Another way to explain; these turns are "negatively" banked and encourage a rider's tire to slide out of the turn - it seems that you might consider trying to minimize the outslope at the bottoms of the dips.

I'm really scraping here for criticism of any kind - please don't take this as a complaint or shortcoming!! Congratulations on the construction of one of the freshest designs for a trail system I've come across in years and thanks for sharing!!!

[chileanrastabilly]

Yesterday I had the most fun any human can have with their clothes on. I finally rode the complete(at least the open ones)loop at the Fats including "The Brown Wave". It is hands down the "funnest" trail I've ever been on. Man, this thing was a blast with a nice view of the river to boot. Awesome job in designing and building the trail. Look forward to many more miles in the saddle out there. Definitely a good workout, too.
I'm suddenly starting to like riding my bike more than I like drinking beer. Nah, who am I kidding? It's a tie! ;D


P.S. Another "dips ahead" sign might be in order at the start of the "Brown Wave". I was carrying a lot of speed going through there and freaked myself out
a couple of times. IMHO.

[seenvic]

Rastaman - keep your clothes on! ;D

Tim Winters - The Brown Wave is named for the feeling one gets riding it compared to that of a surfboard. Actually, The Brown Wave was pinned on the section that starts at the black chair (poor man's deer stand?) and ends at the river. For lack of a name for the loop, we just called the whole loop "The Brown Wave". The section of big hits just after the powerlines is called "Junior Brown" - although one could argue there is nothing junior about it. Of course to appreciate these names, you'd better be riding counter clockwise.

Thanks for the comments. We'll keep our eye on the sandy outslope. I made this same observation myself.

[Guest]

How does one go about joining SORBA?

[seenvic]

Guest said:

How does one go about joining SORBA?

www.sorba.org/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=3

[estapleton]

I am finally back in town after Grand Opening and got to ride it this weekend. It was excellent. I had big grin on my face going down Skinny and Great Wall. Nice climbs back out. Everybody has done a great job and still can't believe how lucky we are in the Augusta area with the trails we have.