Trail Difficulty Rating Systems

An excerpt from Mountain Biking In Australia  (An Economic And Participation Analysis, 2021)

Trail Difficulty Rating Systems

General Difficulty Rating Requirements

As highlighted in the Sustainability Chapter, mountain bike riders seek a range of experiences, difficulty levels and challenges to satisfy their own specific riding expectations.

To cater for this variety of expectations, trail features and trail difficulty can be increased or decreased to meet the desired rider experience. As a result, not all trails will be suited to the experience and skills of all riders.

A trail difficulty rating system allows trails to be graded according to their relative technical difficulty. Trail are classified based on the physical attributes presented and the technical challenge of the trail, not the exertion and fitness that may be required by the user.  Read More

The classification of a trail must reflect the most difficult section of that trail for visitor risk management purposes.

Mountain Biking in Australia

Mountain Biking In Australia
An Economic And Participation Analysis (2021)

An estimated 341,900 mountain bike participants across Australia directly spend $630.8 million per annum and support 6,095 full time employees annually through riding at their local trails.

The findings, revealed in the newly released Mountain Biking In Australia – An Economic And Participation Analysis report, highlights the social value benefits, the personal and community benefits and economic benefits generated from a rider’s participation in mountain biking.

Its other key findings include:

• The estimated health benefit (the personal and health system benefits due to healthier, active individuals) of mountain biking is $1.58 per kilometre ridden.
• The positive association between sport and physical recreation, and educational outcomes, (the human capital uplift), is estimated at $252 annually per rider or $2.50 per ride.
• The satisfaction people derive from participating in sport and active recreation (consumer surplus) is estimated at $2,624 per annum per person or $25.98 per ride.
• The civic and volunteering benefit, which is defined as the value people place on volunteering and enjoying sport and recreation activities is estimated at $3,214 per annum per person.

Funded by Mountain Bike Australia (MTBA) and the Australian Government’s Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources through the Building Better Region Fund, AusCycling (of which MTBA is now part) along with consultants GHD, the report establishes a baseline of the current levels of participation in mountain biking at a national level, and where possible quantifies the value, of the economic, social and environmental benefits of mountain biking.

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Developing Mountain Biking in Queensland

Regional Solutions

Since 2006 Mountain Bike (MTB) riders, land managers and other stakeholders have met to discuss issues, opportunities and development for mountain bike riding throughout Queensland. The Qld MTB Forum has recognised that whilst the activity has grown organically, supply does not match demand; and nor does it cater for community, event, sport or tourism growth. As a group the members of the MTB Forum has realised the relevance of a coordinated approach to MTB development; and the opportunities that can be accessed through investment in key regional mountain bike developments.

On 12th May 2015, at the most recent Qld MTB Forum, the Developing Mountain Biking in Queensland: Regional Solutions report was presented to the Queensland Mountain Biking community. This document is the result of the efforts of the State Wide MTB Regional Solution and Advocacy Working Group and the Qld MTB Forum who have consulted with their networks to identify pre-eminent MTB development opportunities on the Protected Area Estate, managed by QPWS.

The aim of the Regional Solutions document is to present a selection of MTB trail development priorities in Queensland that are viable community assets and are economically and environmentally sustainable. QORF Executive Officer, Murray Stewart commented that “It is our intention to reinforce that not only can MTB trails contribute to healthy and active communities; but that well designed, constructed and supported trails also contribute to regional development and the enrichment of people’s lives as they move through nature and interact with our diverse landscapes”.

Special thanks need to be extended to Dr Donna Little, from Way to Be, who as lead author developed the report and the countless volunteer hours the working group members contributed to the analysis and development of the proposed opportunities.

Queensland Mountain Bike User Survey 2013

An interim report of findings

Coordinated and facilitated by QORF, the MTB user survey was distributed to Qld MTB Riders in April 2013. There were 2076 respondents who participated in the survey. Almost 90% of the respondents were male and the majority of respondents lived in South East Queensland.

Read or Download the SURVEY here:  Queensland Mountain Bike User Survey 2013

Research coordinated and prepared by QORF on behalf on behalf of the Queensland State Wide Mountain Bike Forum (27/6/2013)

How To Set Up a Successful Bike Fleet: A Toolkit

The purpose of this Toolkit is to effectively and efficiently assist organisations that may be considering the implementation of a bike fleet. It can also be used by organisations that have decided to implement a bike fleet, or by individuals who are trying to convince management of the benefits of a fleet.

Read or Download: How To Set Up a Successful Bike Fleet

Gap Creek Circuit Mountain Bike Trail

Long Term Environmental and Use Impacts

This report is of a year-long study to monitor and assess Gap Creek Circuit mountain bike trail to look for significant changes under measured use and rainfall conditions. The study ran from April 2009 to April 2010.

Gap Creek Circuit is situated in Mt Coot-tha Forest, in Brisbane, Queensland and was opened in August 2008. Mt Coot-tha Forest possesses grassed recreational areas, 31 km of shared-use trails and 18.5 km of walking trails that pass through a variety of types of vegetation. The Circuit is part of a 12 km network of purpose-built, mountain bike only trails, designed and built in accordance with internationally – recognised trail construction guidelines.

Read or Download: Gap Creek Circuit Mountain Bike Trail Report and Appendices

Prepared for the Gap Creek Trails Alliance by Stuart Clement Solutions (26/10/ 2010)