Trails are always a product of their surroundings. A good trail builder will take into account geography, geology, flora and fauna to build a trail that complements the location, taking on elements of its character and becoming something that could only exist in that place.
Trail centres and bike parks can be accused of being samey, the result of being built in often similar surroundings, but even with a similar canvas there are always differences in terrain, features and feel, and it’s these variations that a creative trail builder can use to help define the trail and the place.
Revolution Bike Park in North Wales has become one of the UK’s best-loved riding spots. Its creative, beautifully executed trails entertain everyone from uplift newbies to freeride pros – as proven by its winning mbr Trail of the Year in 2018. So while this block of forest above Llangynog might look similar to others in the area, it has become something special. Now, one of the things that marks it out as different, is forcing the park to close.
Larch trees themselves aren’t particularly special, but at Revolution they form a part of the park’s identity, adding colour to an otherwise monochrome treescape. In autumn, some of the trails in the park look like they have been covered in an orange carpet thanks to the larch needles that
