Easy difficulty level doesn’t have to be boring! Flow trails are often dismissed as space-consuming and monotonous marble runs. In our opinion, flow trails have the great potential to serve many very different target groups and riding levels if they are designed and built to meet their needs.
Versatility vs. safety
The big challenge when building a flow trail is to master the balancing act between versatility and safety. It is therefore important to embed geometric shapes such as curves, waves, hollows and jumps into the terrain in such a way that they are safe and intuitive for beginners, but at the same time can be playfully interpreted by advanced riders. Useful means of making flow trails appealing include, for example, the integration of jumpable roller combos, optional features on the side of the trail such as side hits, or alternative lines for short sections. This trail style is therefore particularly suitable if only one trail can be built in a perimeter and as many target groups as possible need to be taken into account.
Acceleration and deceleration in balance
The central feature of flow trails is the average gradient, which averages between 6-9%. The gradient can sometimes be steeper, but the speed must be regulated by a sophisticated interplay between acceleration and deceleration. In the best case scenario, you never use the brakes and don’t have to pedal either. In the spirit of “Plug & Play”: Drop in and feel good! This credo is also central to the economical side of a trail: the less braking is required, the less maintenance is needed.
Construction effort that pays off!
Building a flow trail according to our requirements involves an effort that should not be underestimated. Extensive testing is just as much a part of the development process as the building itself – not everything always fits right from the start. New ideas often emerge during the building process, and sometimes you are faced with almost unsolvable problems. Building a good flow trail takes time. Time that pays off when you see the countless smiling faces afterwards.
