Modern Track Design

[Manic_Schizo]

I am only recently back into the sport, but am having a blast riding again. Have been out riding several different tracks across Brisbane over the last few weeks, and noticed quite a few tracks really lipping up jump faces a lot more than they used to. Is this a common trend lately with the development of the Supercross style tracks and the Olympic spec tracks becoming more popular? I much prefer the tracks that have good rhythm and flow and allow different lines and combo's through sections. Some of these sections I have ridden lately only really allowed one line and if you got it wrong, expect to get bucked and squirelly. Is this current trend happening across Australia??

[Big Block]

Yes there are some lippy tracks, equally thankfully there are still a few in Brisbane that aren't, I believe we are very lucky to have so many to choose from so can avoid those that we don't fancy!

[Manic_Schizo]

Yeah that's true. One of the reasons I got back into the sport was because there are so many good tracks around to ride. I rode Pine Rivers yesterday for the first time in years, and remember how good that track used to be. Now it is gnarly and everything is peaked up. Any tips on which tracks are peaked up similar would be more than welcome. I might avoid them for the time being. I have ridden Beeleigh too, and that last straight is pretty sketchy as well.

[bmx4life97]

No matter how many times you have a go at Beenleigh's last straight there is no quick way to get through it without killing yourself.  I have spent hours trying to figure that last straight out.  I won't be doing the shootout round that Beenleigh has because of it.  All the other tracks in Brisbane are great to race on and have a play on to

[Big Block]

No matter how many times you have a go at Beenleigh's last straight there is no quick way to get through it without killing yourself.  I have spent hours trying to figure that last straight out.  I won't be doing the shootout round that Beenleigh has because of it.  All the other tracks in Brisbane are great to race on and have a play on to

.

I know many riders share your sentiments, and have voiced them to the club, likewise I have heard several riders are also talking about skipping the track during the shootout.

There are ways to build a track that can still be a challenge to pro's as much as it is for sprockets.

I would love for the clubs to see rider feedback positively, and not as complaints!

[Manic_Schizo]

No matter how many times you have a go at Beenleigh's last straight there is no quick way to get through it without killing yourself.  I have spent hours trying to figure that last straight out.  I won't be doing the shootout round that Beenleigh has because of it.  All the other tracks in Brisbane are great to race on and have a play on to

.

I know many riders share your sentiments, and have voiced them to the club, likewise I have heard several riders are also talking about skipping the track during the shootout.

There are ways to build a track that can still be a challenge to pro's as much as it is for sprockets.

I would love for the clubs to see rider feedback positively, and not as complaints!

Totally agree. Building tracks for 1% of riders isn't any good, and you are just gonna scare people away. That's not what the sport needs. Rode the Bayside track last night and damn, for a track that was very average for so many years, that track is awesome right now. The layout is great, the track flows, there are decent size jumps that still flow really well, and allow for good speed around the whole track. Other tracks should take notice. Their club membership is at an all time high and guys and girls drive from all over Brisbane to ride there. The track is always prepped perfectly, and from speaking with the guys running it, needs very little maintenance to keep it that way. Having a look at all the race tracks from all the big races in the USA, all their tracks have heaps of flow and rhythm. The big gnarly peaky jumps are all left for either the pro straights or purpose built Supercross tracks. We should be doing the same thing here. As for boycotting races, Beenleigh's last straight definitely is ordinary, and wouldn't be too upset missing that race, but would go out of my way to not race Pine Rivers. I am sure others also feel the same way. Dirt jump inspired bmx tracks are not the way track design should be going !!

[semipro74]

I am in agreement with the above posts. I think everyone is becoming over excited by the UCI supercross tracks and trying to replicate them at a club level. I quite enjoy riding beenleigh, exept for the last straight. I think you'll find most races will end at the last corner and everyone will coast through the last straight.
Maybe clubs need to remember we are racing BMX not SX. There is a big difference between a motocross track and a supercross track.
I hope the trend does not continue otherwise I shall be back in retirement watch the kids trying to kill themselves.

[Manic_Schizo]

I rode another practice night last night, and overheard and was involved in a couple of discussions regarding Beenleigh's last straight, as well as the Pine Rivers track. Not one person had a good word to say about either track, and this was from guys that can ride. When guys are telling other guys to not even bother riding there, something is majorly wrong with the track design. It will be interesting to see if anything changes on either of these tracks in the near future.

[Twintorque]

What will be interesting to see, is how the younger riders who are now regularly training on tracks like Beenleigh and Pine Rivers, or even Casino since their last overhaul, will compare against riders in their age group who are training on more traditional tracks in 12 months time.

There is a train of thought held by many, that unless you are being challenged you are not learning. Your home track should be your most technical track.

Personally, I would rather ride at Ipswich or bayside, where the track still flows well. It's more fun.

I see it that there are those clubs that are pushing the boundaries and giving their riders the best chance of international success, and there are those clubs who like BMX at the grass roots level still. I think you need both sorts of clubs.

I am a fan of Pro-straights for Pro riders, not Pro tracks for Pro riders.

[Manic_Schizo]

Look at it the other way. How many of those younger riders who ride those tracks will have had serious injuries, broken bones, concussions in 12 months time. Or, how many people will have left that club or how many newer riders to the sport have decided that the sport isn't for them because the "local" track is too advanced and dangerous. Claiming to be developing riders towards national and international success by building the local clubs bmx track into a gnarly, dangerous set of dirt jumps is narrow minded and delusional. The building blocks to success on an international level already exist and have done for years if you are good enough. Look at Willoughby. Trying to speed up the process by building up local tracks is not the way to go about it. 

Leave the big, peaky, gnarly stuff for pro straights, and pro straights only. Plenty of kids out there hitting them once they have the skills and confidence to do so. A lot of years up their sleeve also.

[Twintorque]

I can see both sides of the argument personally, and accept the justification offered each way. I also don't like to personally criticise how another club has chosen to build their track too much.

I have yet to see a club that has raised the bar like this, suffer in new membership and have increased injury rates. But what I have seen, is a lot of older riders choose not to ride these newer more technical tracks. I don't like them either, and have considered not riding some but I like a challenge myself, so I tend to suck it up and get out there even if I do come last, and keep my thoughts to myself.

I guess the increased injury rates will come from riders trying to go fast on a track when they have not built the skill the track requires. This wont be at a club level I don't reckon. I don't see any problems in club membership both new and existing either, rather there may be less nominations the from older riders on open days or series rounds because of people who don't want to get beaten on a more technical track.

Don't get me wrong, I like more traditional flowing tracks as well. I also think that clubs need to ensure there is enough of the track for new riders to learn basic skills on. Grafton recently just got rid of their pro straight, which polarised the club a bit, but the result was great. The track has something for everyone. Hawkesbury have a brilliant take on it, with a "Kids straight" to give new riders what they need. Beenleigh and Pine rivers have both pushed boundaries in their own directions, but they still have nothing on Sleeman. Nerang still has a formidable first jump for many riders, but thats not unique either, Maitland has one just like it. Lets not mention Hinterlands Mammoth sprocket destroying start hill, or Woodonga's flat first corner.

Im just trying to point out that variety is a good thing in BMX, so is clubs pushing boundaries. Too much of the same thing does no-one any favours, hence my take on it. If you are worried about all clubs turning into mini Sx tracks, I don't think that will happen any time soon. There is still to many people on both sides of the fence.

[race69]

i think i have said this before there are two types of BMX, SX and BMX some rider want to go down the road of SX and some want to do BMX. so clubs are catering for the two different styles.for those who know my baby son his direction is SX and is not really interested in following  the BMX or traditional type of tracks. so i guess riders need to make a decision  on what form of BMX they want to do before they pass criticism onto a track.

[the_merkin8r]

Look at a modern SX track and it’ll appear to have all the ingredients to make it brilliant – turns & jumps designed by science and inspired by, or borrowed from, the best race's mind's in the world, stunning aesthetics and magnificent facilities. But somehow they feel like something’s missing. a club/racetrack’s got to have soul.......

p.s. and lot's of table top's ! 

[Big Block]

i think i have said this before there are two types of BMX, SX and BMX some rider want to go down the road of SX and some want to do BMX. so clubs are catering for the two different styles.for those who know my baby son his direction is SX and is not really interested in following  the BMX or traditional type of tracks. so i guess riders need to make a decision  on what form of BMX they want to do before they pass criticism onto a track.

But to be a SX track they need to comprise of far more than just lippy jumps, I know of only 1 in Australia that comes reasonably close (Sleeman)

[lucifer45]

Up here in cairns they just built a new start hill which was all good but they decided to put in this rediculous first obstical right at the bottom of the ramp which no one in the club or zone could handle or jump there was that many crashes and injuries that there was a club meeting on the safety aspect of it and they had to change it .
 I know this is a high risk sport but you just have to start thinking about the the rest of the club members and not just one or two that maybe able to handle somthing like that because they were losing members over it .
But i give it to the commitie for trying somthing different but realise they failed and had to change it for the good of the club .