Video: The Six Flavors of Trail Builder

Oct 16, 2018
by Transition Bikes  
the 6 Flavors of PNW Trail Builders

by TransitionBikeCompany
Views: 33,046    Faves: 213    Comments: 15


The Pacific Northwest is known for its massive trail building community. This video pokes fun at the stereotypes and characters who spend countless hours creating the amazing trails we are lucky to have in our backyard. To all trail builders, we love you.

Created by Skye Schillhammer and Oliver Parish for the Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition Shoot the Trails fundraiser event

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119 Comments
  • 99 0
 having gone from loner builder to dealing with club micromanager, i gotta say this was a hoot! props to transition bikes for nailing it. it was like an SNL version of trailbuilder types.
  • 1 0
 YUP agree SNL version of the real life of Mnt Bike Trail Building ..... cheers on the Video
  • 68 0
 Loner.... without the anger. Just like my forest time.... bro!
  • 4 0
 Yeah man me too. Magical kind of therapy.
  • 9 0
 @Dally666: Right,, I consider it my version of gardening. "Hey look, I grew a trail!"
  • 49 0
 Ha, the BMX one hit close to home. I would like to add "The Shovelprop" - The shovelprop is the dude who shows up every once in a while to "dig" and just ends up talking at you while holding a spade/flat and doing no work.
  • 4 0
 sick username, Knoxville
  • 6 0
 We call them shovel dicks
  • 1 0
 @vatosteve: you see that Instagram account (@shoveldick)? It's glorious.
  • 1 0
 @Urethra-Franklin: oh yea!
  • 49 0
 I like to think of myself as a "first responder". I like to be first one out after a storm so I have an opportunity to use my saw whenever possible.
  • 6 3
 i wish i had a saw... Frown
  • 27 0
 I always pack a saw when I ride a few days after strong winds. It is not a big effort or time investment to clear a trail from a fallen tree, but I like to think about all the riders that will not have their flow ruined by it.
  • 4 2
 @AProulx: PLUS, there's the opportunity to create an option line-over or around
  • 13 0
 Only time I don't carry my fold out hand saw is when I'm racing.

Comes with me on every other ride, and gets used about every other ride.

Best £5 I ever spent.
  • 9 1
 Folding Silky Saws for the win. Those things are brilliant.
  • 3 0
 @mrtoodles: Felco for me.
  • 1 0
 @codypup: They look nice. I have always used Bahco saws. Judging by the price, the Felco are probably higher quality.
  • 2 0
 @AProulx: After destroying/losing 20 or so Corona saws, i got a Felco. They'll cut a six inch log in a minute and weigh very little.
  • 3 0
 @kjjohnson: We have nice rocky terrain, so it takes but a few minutes to stack rocks to get over some downed trees. There is one on my regular ride right now and I like the extra little challenge to get over it.
  • 2 0
 @mrtoodles: bought one about a month back. Just amazing. I don't even notice it in my pack and I can clear out anything up to 8" diameter or so without issue.
  • 40 1
 Remember when Lopes was in the "Builder" movie? Lol

Transition wins.
  • 17 0
 Lone trail builders build the best stuff. One mans vision. You don't like the trail?
Meet my shovel!
Thanks for keeping the whole trail build thing light hearted.
To all trail builders: l luv ya!
  • 13 0
 This is pure class, we've seen them all and everything in between, one thing seems to thing true no matter where you are in the world, the harvest is plentiful, the workers few
  • 13 1
 Is there a "build anything you can especially crazy sketchy backyard stuff that probably shouldn't be ridden off, pieced together with anything you can carry/that isn't bolted down, requires careful balancing, makes your family think you're mentally disturbed, but is super fun" category? Big Grin
  • 28 0
 What about the "constantly thinks of things in terms of how they could be ridden... e.g. stump, live tree, boulder, roof, neighbor's downed tree, far-off mountain range, rock pile on the side of the interstate, quarry, etc."?
  • 12 0
 @mtbikeaddict: raises hand
  • 3 0
 FBMs ghetto jam is about as sketchy as it gets!
m.youtube.com/watch?v=P0mKj0RxLhk
  • 1 0
 @kermode: Dang! Looks like stuff I build, but I can't pretend to ride like that lol. Salute
  • 13 0
 I had to laugh. I have used a mag trowel to shape and smooth a lip many times
  • 2 0
 @satchscratch
  • 1 0
 @Jimmy0: I hear you're a minimalist. @motoboy36
  • 1 0
 @skatejunkie: I'm expanding my portfolio. You should come check it out
  • 1 0
 @skatejunkie: Can confirm. To be fair, I'm not sure if rakes have been introduced in that part of the world yet.
  • 1 0
 @gmcgurk:you mean These Hands?
  • 1 0
 @skatejunkie: The most important words I ever said to Jimmy0 were, "Needs very little work!" and "It's practically a freeway""
  • 14 0
 That Lopes jersey! Nailed the Laguna steez
  • 13 0
 Hug your local trail builder today!
  • 13 1
 That was some good pinkbike. Love that the complainer is in an Ellsworth jersey.
  • 8 0
 Thats the Truth.
  • 1 0
 @Boardlife69: I see wut u did thar
  • 1 0
 have you seen the back of the jersey?Wink
  • 2 0
 I want his waist/fanny pack for build time!
  • 9 0
 Could add 3 more sub-breeds of the noble builder.....the Crusty Old-schooler...the Woodfinger (cedar on everything -- I loooooove cedar!)....and the Noob.
  • 1 0
 I think I qualify as a Crusty Old Schooler. Am told I build trail with turns that are not corners.
  • 6 0
 I remember building in the woodlot and having people poaching new trails under construction asking if we can just move all the tools so they can ride thru. Can't tell you how many times I wanted to do what the last builder did
  • 10 0
 You forgot the secret builder...regardless, that was some good parody.
  • 10 0
 sssshhhhhh!!!!
  • 5 0
 Spot on
  • 29 0
 You could just imagine the scene: Lone secret trail builder in a ghillie suit hacking the back cut when two hollerin dudes barrel in. Ghillie suited builder jumps into the shrubbery to vanish before he is spotted. Dudes skid up to the end of the fresh cut trail and be all like "Wtf? It just ends".
Beer can rolls out of shrubs.
  • 4 7
 AKA: Locals only? I understand the desire and why, but if you ever ride trails others have built, it's kinda a dick move unless you also put into "public' trails.
  • 2 0
 @lostlunchbox: Not necessarily (though I am sure it happens)... There are a lot of examples of trails that were built in secrecy (and considered rogue) that ended up getting adopted into legitimate status by the associated land managers.
  • 2 2
 @lostlunchbox: ...? No body said that. You are taking it out of context trying to create a distorted view point.
  • 3 0
 @watermouse: when I was building a secret trail I would imagine myself like Arnold in Predator or some soldier out on patrol in Nam. Any odd sound I would hunker down behind a tree or bush under my camo wicker hat. Became a fun game but it also made me super paranoid. If I could have a super power it would be to instantly be able to sculpt awesome trails with my mind.
  • 2 0
 @Dally666: Funny, I would go the invisibility route - Hey, look, those tools, they are making a trail all by themselves!!!
  • 3 0
 transition nailed it once again. as a rogue 'lone builder', i have moved to a new town and have worked as a grunt on a ski hill park and also under the supervision of a club building in bc parks. i am about to crack. thank god ski season is imminent.
  • 2 0
 Gotta find your own zone.. and don’t tell nnnnybody!!
  • 1 0
 @edwardbear where'd you end up?
  • 2 0
 @leelau: Hey Lee. We moved to Vernon. Between the fires, evacuation, real estate insururance issues, we did a lot of couch surfing, and house sitting. My wife has sisters here, there is skiing, golf and mt biking within driving range. Not my norm, but I will figure it out. Cheers...
  • 1 0
 @edwardbear: jim we'll see you! Vernon trails are amazing
  • 4 0
 If you touch dirt around the Boise, ID area, you will be thrown in jail and they will place approximately 6 more slow zones, 4 more water bars, and designate 3 more hiking only trails.
  • 5 0
 Hahahaha..... “wiggle jiggle.....niiice!”
  • 5 0
 Does the part that EB was in Qualify as a documentary? Smile
  • 2 0
 No idea what you're talking about...but could you just move that pile of rocks from there to over here? It'll take like 10 minutes and I've already got tools and beers staged.
  • 3 0
 Hey @geephlow and @flyxaos, you two shut your mouths! Smile Ooh, btw, I've got a stash of tools behind that stump over there! Ha!
  • 2 1
 Very good, I'm part minimalist, part loner without the anger. ( only because no one else builds).. although someone built berms on one of my tracks that was only a few weeks old. That made me angry, and they didn't last long.
  • 1 0
 Great video almost spitted out my coffee at work the Loner I can relate to that ....locals only OMG that fool with like 10 Gopros lmao ... complainer I think we all have one in each riddin crew ours don't like to dig and talks plenty of shizznit huh prime Dawg
  • 1 0
 Lol... Minimalist! That was literally me and my friends last group ride.
Take them out to a forested hill I found
Me: So you see, you sort of shoot through this super narrow tree gap, then around this pit, weave the ferns, tight turns around these trees, over this other tree, and a sharp right hander between those big cedars, around the right one, over the creek, through the bushes...
My friends: At least let us bend back that bushy tree so we don't have to ride through/over it
Me: Naw man it's fine, just careful on your balance pedals and brakes, it's steep and loose...
*snap*crack* (They won on the bush tree argument)
Me: Um ok, I'll just grab my bike and meet you... guys? ... can I drop? You there? Hello?
Faint echoes: WOOOOO! We're already down!
Big Grin
Also not gonna lie, I had a little complainer in me once lol
  • 3 0
 It's like a Meyers - Briggs test for digging. Micromanager/Loner/Local for me
  • 2 0
 so good...thanks Transition Smile

plus I must be honest with myself ==> loner micromanager who will bury you if you ride my trails when they are peanut butter
  • 3 0
 haha the minimalist is totally me - right down to the pre-descent beer chug...
  • 11 1
 As long as you aren't throwing the can trailside.
  • 2 0
 @sspiff: no im not throwing the can trailside mom - we young people use these things called "growlers" now - theyre refillable gosh
  • 3 0
 You're welcome you fu$%#& dead beats that always have an excuse for not working on trail!
  • 2 0
 @TransitionBikeCompany thanks for the laughs! I am a mix between the loner and locals only. Wish I come swing my shovel on some douchebags haha
  • 2 0
 Lol good stuff. "Complainer" sounds like Stan Halen from the Brociopath episode of Workaholics.
  • 4 0
 minimalist: loamers bro
  • 2 0
 Yes I know a few trail riders, I would like to bat with a spade, Brilliant!
  • 1 0
 What about "jumpf*ckers" the arch nemesis of the DJ/BMXer. Too gammin to hit the jumps so they shovel the lips off.
If I find them, no one else ever will.
  • 1 0
 Not gonna lie... I've done my fair share of being "The Complainer".
NO MORE! I'm off to be "The Loner", but less Grump, more Stoke.
  • 2 0
 What about the type for trail builder that is just there to swing a Mattock at tree stumps!? @samohtfritz
  • 4 1
 JP and Smoke burying the guy got a cackle out of me ngl
  • 1 0
 Awesome video! Great acting and funny crash! It seems like most mountain biking videos are overly dramatic and serious these days, this is refreshing!
  • 1 1
 maybe it's local issue, but over here we also have the strava-social media builder, they actually scout,discover, build , named and share perfectly shaped new trails from their phone lol
  • 1 0
 Haha love this, I'm totally the loner with all the beers, digging is the perfect way to maintain fitness while having 'off the bike' fun
  • 2 0
 gotta get it for my vlog mannn
  • 1 0
 Well done, i enjoyed that.
Based on this, I guess I am a hybrid of several (but not all).
  • 3 0
 Make this a poll!!
  • 2 0
 Hilarious! Definitely identify with the mumbling loner & his beers
  • 2 0
 Superb! hahaha. Loner every time without the agro
  • 2 0
 I know what one i am. . . LOL
  • 1 0
 Hell yeah Transition great video, proud to own a sentinel !! Transition show what a mountain bike company should be
  • 1 0
 NIcely done!! I am sure most can put faces to the scenarios and have a solid morning chuckle!!
  • 2 0
 "Ahhh Wiggle Jiggle...NICE" LOL
  • 1 0
 They forgot "Justin"! He always shows up in his gear "Just-In" time to ride a new feature or line somebody else built...
  • 1 0
 Damn i recognize myself on all 6 lol ????????
  • 1 0
 That was Fucking Awesome!
  • 1 0
 Look, it's me! Ha ha ha ha. Love that video.
  • 1 0
 So funny... glad to see this won. Got my vote!
  • 2 0
 QUALITY STUNTS.
  • 2 0
 Locals only! Haha
  • 1 0
 Hahaha, excellent. For my Vlog.
  • 2 0
 Guilty............
  • 1 0
 This is soooo good!!! *LOL*

I need this beer belt...
  • 1 0
 Great work really enjoyed that haha..
  • 1 0
 Micromanager, I'm calling you out Mark Kugel!
  • 1 0
 Guilty as charged. I'm at least a few of these
  • 1 0
 What goggles is the complainer wearing?
  • 1 0
 Polarized lenses bro! But check out BEER optics if you're curious
  • 1 0
 im a mix of loner / bmx / local
  • 1 0
 hahahahahahaha....Thank you Transition for putting a smile on my face!
  • 1 0
 Nice work!
  • 1 0
 Pure genius!
  • 1 0
 Outtakes ftw.







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