Trail Update: Swinley Forest - Jump Gully Closed

 I have to disagree here. I'm as annoyed as anyone when they close trails (I ride Surrey), but in the end we do get a lot of freedom to build trails on both private and public land. Chatel's lines are usually well thought out with a clear indication of a) Where they go and b) How hard they are. Further, big jumps usually have warning signs. Not so in places like Swinley and Surrey where people build trails they want to ride themselves, often with features that are too big for many riders. In Surrey, quite a few gaps are blind and I've seen plenty of people get hurt. It looks as if in this case they are closing a trail that is particularly incident prone. More dedicated trail centers would indeed help, but then again, SE England doesn't have half as much terrain as for example Wales. And look at the options we have there.

 the very nature of most gaps and drops are blind.... its a shame its closed, i think the issue is the proximity to the go ape centre as many begginer cyclist go there and out into the forrest, the jump gulley is pretty easy to stumble across. Its not like it has big jumps just the range of cyclist going there is massive, maybe if they had gone in earlier to re-shape rather than destroy it would have been better

 They closed the gulley because of the accidents on it, not the accidents that happened elsewhere in the forest. I don't know if you ever rode the gulley but it was far from alpine riding and had basically no gaps. As for the rest of the official swinley trails, also tamer than a ride the shop and yet people still take themselves out somewhow. The problem we have is the blame culture. It's always someone else's fault and because of it, the more demanding and risky sports are going to suffer.

 I agree Walrus666, too many people try to ride beyond their capabilities too quickly. If someone has an accident then the consequences should be their responsibility. I've had a nasty accident at a bike park and who did I blame....? I blamed myself because it was my decision to ride what I did.

 Swinley is fairly tame , it caters for families who bring kids and spend money. It doesn't need adverse publicity. The gulley sucked anyway , Surrey Hills for Life !!! Cmon BRENDOG !!!!!

 its not surprising because a trail causing 40% of incidents on a site would always be modified or closed down. When I ran Esher Shore bike park we had to remove entire features or rebuild entire trails because we would spot accident patterns which indicated a design problem, build problem or access problem.

I've seen a fair number of riders properly spanner themselves in the jump gulley, normally kids and cross country riders. I've seen little kits on cheap bikes take a face plant only for their dad (standing up on the top) laugh "Better get you a helmet then!"

Perhaps if the estate had actually managed the jump gulley properly and had the trail crew rebuild with progressive features, the accident rate may not have been so high. From season to season the gulley used to change shape due to flooding and DIY rebuilding, at times some of the features had considerable 'punch' that could easily catch out a novice rider. There were also lots of tempting free drops into the gulley and gaps off the features up onto the top.

ep1.pinkbike.org/p4pb894132/p4pb894132.jpg

But bearing in mind the inexperienced riders that are attracted to Swinley (along with the experienced riders) you could expect a good number of incidents even with tamer features.

 p.s there are far better places to get 2 wheels off the ground in swinley anyway.

 So maintained trails are a bad thing? Are you aware that Swinley, as far as I know, is second busiest trails centre and is based in very populated area with easy access to it, there for it has lots of traffic going trough its trails. Just to make it clear, I'm not a fan of all that ginger foot path and staying on natural stuff.

 Unlikely, it was just another feature, the idea of making the trails was to bring in money, and the majority go there for them

 Thing is not everyone let loose with digging tools can build good lines.the guys at rogate can handle a spade & are real hard working. great little spot.

 Rogate is fun but a bit too concentrated,

 Rogate is a very different kettle of fish compared to Swinley, plus the accessibility of Swinley for kids living in nearby Bracknell makes it far easier for the masses to pedal over there to break their necks.

 Kids on bikes is supposed to be a good thing.

 I hit the jumps at the gulley with tubes in my wheels. Seems I've been doing it all wrong

 It was hardly a downhill spot. A few easy rollable small jumps in a row. I can't stand the "if you can't do XYZ, go away" attitude. People have to learn. It just needed some management and grading signage. Add in a small set of starter jumps nearby for people to start on, and a qualifier to the main line (though it hardly needs it really). Besides I've seen the ambulance out there for seemingly skilled jump kids who just made a mistake as well as the newbie rider. People have moaned about the culture of suing but who I wonder is doing it. I would have thought more likely the parent of a kid who's broken their arm/wrist/collarbone etc wanting to blame the estate rather than a mature adult who knows who's fault it is, i.e. the rider.