Journal

Hill or mountain biking? 100 metres in altitude is enough.

Mountain biking and local recreation is the topic of the moment. Trails right on the doorstep have been around for a long time, but trail associations and, fortunately, the public sector are increasingly taking on the implementation of official trails. However, users’ expectations of trail design are often very different, if not contradictory. The example of the ‘Trail Eldorado Rideplatz’ in Winterthur shows how the different requirements can be juggled within 100 metres of altitude in a concentrated space and how local recreation and tourism interact.

Authors: Claudio Schnurrenberger & Severin Schindler
Pictures: Dave Tschumi & Beat Hofmann
Video: Roland Ogg (Recognize Films)
Illustrations: Jan Zablonier

Limited space

High utilisation pressure in densely populated areas close to cities creates potential for conflict. On the one hand, the lack of trails creates illegal trails and mountain bikers can come into conflict with other user groups – i.e. hikers, horse riders and runners – on existing trails. On the other hand, the pressure on nature, habitats and forests and their management is increasing. Mountain biking is a reality in these areas and has a right to exist based on statistical surveys (see Sport Switzerland) and legal foundations (Cycle Route Act). This was also the impetus for the project in Winterthur. The local trail association IG Biketrails initiated together with the sports office of the city of Winterthur the project at the Reitplatz , where the existing sports facilities fit in perfectly. However, mountain bike traffic must be coordinated with other protection and utilisation interests, which often requires planning processes lasting several years.

Mountain biking or just hill biking?

In this context, the ‘slightly heretical’ question arises as to whether we are only ‘hillbiking’ instead of ‘mountainbiking’? Well, not quite, of course, but in the Central Plateau the trails are on hills, some of which have a difference in altitude of just 100 metres. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s not possible to create attractive trails in a small space with little difference in altitude. It is simply a somewhat more difficult task, especially at the conceptual level.

Complex expectations for trail design

Mountain bikers’ demands on trails are often completely different depending on their preferences and skills. We trail designers and builders are confronted with this on a daily basis. In trail building projects in local recreation areas, mountain bikers are closer to us than ever before. In contrast to a construction site at 2300 metres above sea level, you meet the future ‘trail consumers’ almost every day. Depending on their openness, these construction site visits generate a lot of input, tips, ideas and criticism, but also high expectations of the trail builders. Fulfilling these expectations is a big task with a lot of responsibility and requires a lot of creativity and trail building experience. The claim that a single trail can replace trails that have been established by bikers for years is also a fallacy. A diverse and holistic range of trails – uphill, downhill, sideways, sometimes more difficult, sometimes easier – must be created in order to achieve the desired guidance, as the example of the Rideplatz Trails Winterthur impressively shows. The three trails, which vary in terms of difficulty and style, can be combined as you like using the existing network of forest roads and an uphill trail. This means that you can quickly accumulate 500 metres on a 5 km trail network during an after-work ride. Complementary and challenging skills stations along the way round off the holistic trail network.

Machines versus craftsmanship

Some of the trails were built by machine due to the trail style (‘The Good’) as well as the soil conditions (lower area). The partially clayey and water-retaining soil was mixed with additional gravel to stabilise it for year-round, weatherproof and high usage. More demanding and near-natural sections were built by hand in order to preserve existing structures such as roots. These were partially supplemented and reinforced with stone groups. This combination of mechanical and manual work enabled us to ensure a high-quality and sustainable realisation that meets both sporting requirements and ecological aspects.

In a two-minute trail documentary, project manager ‘Schnurri’ shows how the trails were built. Locals Kevin and Rico talk about their first rides on the new Rideplatz trails at the end of the construction phase!

And what do attractive home trails have to do with tourism?

By creating trails like the ones in Winterthur, we bring the sport closer to its users and promote the local mountain bike community. Young children, older children, children at heart and, of course, adults of all levels can enjoy their favourite sport right on their doorstep, every day. Attractive home trails are also of central importance for tourist areas. The interaction between local recreation and tourism is more important than it appears at first glance. Attractive home trails do not compete with trails in tourism areas. No, they stimulate tourism demand and therefore also the economy in the mountain regions. If biking is done at home during the week, be it a lunch ride or a ride after work, it is all the more likely that other trails will be ridden at the weekend or on holiday. On the opening weekend of 5/6 April 2025, over 1000 rides were recorded in the Trail Eldorado Rideplatz.

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