Thread: Tree Gates

Love'em, hate'em, or...meh,whatever?

Ok within reason.

As 30+ inch handlebar user...I'm not a fan. I do think they have their place though. They're useful when you want to control speed in a section, whether a blind corner or an otherwise heavily used area. And they're also fine on an older trail, or a newer trail which intentionally has an older character. But often I can't see the point. But if you are bench cutting, there is no way your trail corridor should be less than 48 inches.

Just one more thing to keep trails interesting. I dig em.

If you don't like them, there are hundreds of miles of trails without them in the area. They're called "roads."

Reminds me of this old thread: Bar Knockers are anti-Strava

Personally I don't mind them if they are <900mm wide and not at the bottom of a fast trail. I'm more upset about low-hanging concussion branches.

I love tight technical trails, the only gates I don't like are the true gates where bars physically will not fit or you have only a couple inches clearance. I think some would call any trail under 5' wide a tree gate.

It can depend on the situation though of course, variety is good.

i like gates when they are a natural part of the trail. i always have to remind myself to tuck my finders inside the brake levers.

it feels good when you slip through an opening smaller than your bar width.

most riders take the cheater line if you leave an opening adjacent to the gate.

uphill gate are beyond my skill set

I used to ride a trail called "Cut your bars" in the PNW (Not Whistler). Loved it, great technical stuff that taught you to move your weight around your bike and negotiate without smashing your hands. I also liked that there were other trails with ample clearance.

Fuck em. Fuck 'em all.......

I've yet to hear a compelling case for these flow-killas

Originally Posted by greenblur

Fuck em. Fuck 'em all.......

I've yet to hear a compelling case for these flow-killas

You sound like a dirt roadie. Skills or gtfo and go ride the Veloway.

Originally Posted by codysoyland

<900mm .

what the fuck language are you speaking?

Originally Posted by mack_turtle

You sound like a dirt roadie. Skills or gtfo and go ride the Veloway.

With the exception of an uphill tree gate, which I actually enjoy, I don't see where "skill" is involved in clearing a tree gate that is slightly larger than your handlebars. Sure, it takes a little skill to clear a gate smaller than your bars, but if the gate is at all larger than your bar width, the only skill one needs to master is to squeeze their brake lever.

Tree gates are poorly named. "Gates" are supposed to open. I cannot support such a blatant lie.

I have a ton of family up in the DFW area. I have a cousin who races XC and we tend to go for a casual ride when I'm up there. Dallas has so many fucking tree gates throughout the entire area that I tell him it's either Sansom Park in Ft Worth or we don't ride. I have heavy moto gloves I leave at my dad's house because of it. I hate that shit. There's a difference between having them be a trail feature and shitty trail design. And the bad design tends to win out more often than not up there.

Originally Posted by MrMentallo

I have a ton of family up in the DFW area. I have a cousin who races XC and we tend to go for a casual ride when I'm up there. Dallas has so many fucking tree gates throughout the entire area that I tell him it's either Sansom Park in Ft Worth or we don't ride. I have heavy moto gloves I leave at my dad's house because of it. I hate that shit. There's a difference between having them be a trail feature and shitty trail design. And the bad design tends to win out more often than not up there.

I lived in Plano for a couple of years and you’re not lying. That’s pretty much the only technical feature they have. The Northshore and Oakcliff were the exception and pretty much my most common rides. RCP did improve my cornering skills though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I love our deciduous trees and live oaks. They provide the shade that lets us ride in the summer. A lot of tree gates end up damaging exposed roots and the bark on the tree gets torn where handlebars hit. If one or both trees are oaks, any damage to the bark or exposed root creates a potential avenue for oak wilt infection to take over. Oak wilt has killed over a million trees in Central Texas alone.

If you are out at Flat Rock Ranch to race or volunteer next weekend, you can witness first hand the devastation that oak wilt can cause.

Here's how it spreads above ground:

HOW DOES OAK WILT SPREAD?

Oak wilt spreads long distances with the aid of sap-feeding (Nitidulid) beetles. These beetles are about the size of the ball on the end of a straight pin.

They are attracted to fungal mats that form underneath the bark of diseased red oaks. The fungal mats produce spores and have a ridge down the center that lifts the bark creating a tiny crack. Insects are attracted to this opening because the mat has a fruity smell.

These mats can be found all over the trunk and major branches. The Nitidulid beetles fly away after feeding on the mats. If a contaminated beetle lands on a fresh wound on a healthy oak, then that tree can become infected. It does not matter how the wound was made, whether with a chainsaw, by wind damage, or the bumper of the car.

Once established, the fungus moves from one tree to the next through common or grafted roots.

Pros:
-Sense of accomplishment when cleared
-On going challenge to do at higher and higher speeds
-Gives trail character with distinctive feature. "it's by that tight gate"
-Speed reducer for upcoming feature or trail intersection. But this is not a trail trail builders "choice," more of a necessary thing.


Any others?

Cons:
-Flow killing obstacle.
-Adds unnecessary danger
-Bad for trees
-Some idiot "helper" is going to end up cutting a trail builder designed one anyway

Any others?

Gates or no gates, I have yet to find a "flowy" trail in the area. Granted I've only ridden a portion of the trails here but I don't think tree gates are our problem...

Originally Posted by redrider3141

Gates or no gates, I have yet to find a "flowy" trail in the area. Granted I've only ridden a portion of the trails here but I don't think tree gates are our problem...

I've heard others say this. Can you define "flowy"?

I may have the term wrong, but for me flowy is more a matter of mindset and trail familiarity. If I know a trail well enough that I'm cruising through and anticipating everything as I come to it, that's a good flow day.