Cataract Bike Trail
A place to learn the love of mountain biking.
Brief
Cataract Activity Centre is Sydney’s premier outdoor recreation and education centre and Scout NSW’s largest. It strives to offer adventure for everyone young and old. To expand and evolve it’s offering of activities, a new bike trail is proposed.
Feedback from children and youth activity groups who currently use site is that many children haven’t even ridden a bike before or not regularly. So the purpose of this development is to cater for the lower levels of riders, but still provide fun and enjoyment to those guests who are capable riders.
Design
This inclusive design caters to a wide range of riders, offering a safe place for beginners to develop skills and features to excite more experienced riders. Loops can be sectioned off for targeted practice or connected for longer, more varied rides.
While the original brief had a different site identified for the project, a site visit proved this alternate, where trails have been previously built, a more suitable location. Good tree cover will reduce maintenance requirements by preventing invasive grass growth. It will also maintain good soil moisture content, preventing it from drying out. The sandy nature of the local soil necessitates the need for an imported clay based one, which will hold up better to use.
The 3D design, shaped using a 1m resolution LiDAR ground model, blends seamlessly with the landscape and employs grade reversals, trail out slope, and moderate gradients to minimize erosion and protect the surrounding environment.
EXPLORE IN 3D
Beginner TRAIL
This loop encourages skills development for new and young riders. Sets of rollers approximately 300mm high provide a fun, non-intimidating challenge. Gentle, banked turns help riders learn cornering techniques and build confidence. The short length offers a manageable distance for repeated practice. The loop can be ridden both directions to develop both right and left hand turning.
Rating: Easy (green)
Length: 88m
Width: 2m
Suitable for most bike types, including mountain, BMX & balance bikes.
Intermediate Trail
This loop offers a progression in challenge for riders looking to develop their skills. Sets of rollers and jumps up to 1m high, while still rollable, provide a safe environment to practice airtime and control. High banked turns allow riders to practice cornering at speed. The longer length provides ample space for repeated skill development. Built in the corridor of an old bike trail on site.
Rating: Intermediate (blue)
Length: 207m
Width: 2m
Suits durable off road bikes, including mountain, bmx & dirt jumpers.
