May 02, 2023

Glen Jacobs of World Trail – Building the future of Mountain Bike Trail Towns #125

1 hour 43 minutes

Glen Jacobs – World Trail – Building the future of Mountain Bike Trail Towns #125

Topics:

How Glen got into Mountain Biking

And how he nearly quit and sold his mountain bike

Doing what they were doing in Australia

The Importance of Trails to Glen

How Glen got connected with the UCI

Bringing World Cup Mountain Biking Cairns Australia

The importance of 1996 for Downhill Mountain Bike Racing

How Shaun Palmer nearly won World Championships and changed how people stopped racing Downhill in Lycra

How Glen saw tracks changing in 1997 and beyond

2001 and how sponsorship funding was drying up and the sport was changing

Pivoting from Building Tracks for Racing to Building Trails for the masses

Ego Trails…

The Rating System for Mountain Bike Trails and how it was started in the 90’s

Green Trails according to Glen and the two types of beginner riders

Starting Word Trail with Dylan Jeffries

The importance of the Rating System Standards matching worldwide

Air Flow Trails and what these trails are

Blended Earth Trail

Three Points / Pillars for a Trail

Safety

Drainage

Predictability

Blue Derby Tasmania

The Six Boxes that need to be checked to be a Trail Center/ Trail Town

Connectivity – to an Airport / City (1.5 hours)

Connectivity – Compared to the accommodations (Lodging, Food)

Natural Features / Beauty (Lakes, Escarpments, Waterfalls, ect)

Quality Trails – for repeat visitation and something for every level of rider and diversity of trail types from gravity to cross country and variations of these types – and at least 85k of trails

Start with a Coffee & Finish with a Smile – Something for everyone

Room for Growth / Progressive Expansion (Trails, Businesses, overall Community)

The Ability to host a world class event (drop a circus on top)

Why Mountain Biking has taken off for Australia

Building a Trail Town in Høgevarde in Hallingdal, Norway

Trails and Summer Ops come first, then Winter Ops are built around the Summer Ops

The Trajectory of Alpine Ski Resorts and Mountain Biking

How Bikes are helping the Trajectory of Mountain Biking

Glen and Ebikes

Changes in bike technology – 29er’s…

Designing Trails for 1,000 riders a week

Directional Trails…

Words of Wisdom and Closing Comments by Glen

Links:

World Trail: https://world-trail.com/

Gypsy Tails Podcast Episode: https://youtu.be/THCQpKnKzMM

Blue Derby: https://www.ridebluederby.com.au/

Building a Dream Destination at Høgevarde in Hallingdal, Norway: https://youtu.be/btQdhNliPfM

Soil Searching Featuring Glen: https://youtu.be/juxlm5dorLU

Episode Sponsor - Coulee Creative: www.dudejustsendit.com https://www.couleecreative.com/

Trail EAffect Show Links:

Discount Code (20%) for both KETL Mtn Apparel and Trail One Components: TrailPod

Trail Effect Podcast Website: www.traileaffectpodcast.com

KETL Mtn Apparel Affiliate Link: https://ketlmtn.com/josh

Trail One Components: https://trailone.bike/

Worldwide Cyclery Affiliate Link: https://www.worldwidecyclery.com/?aff=559

...more

View all episodes

By Josh Blum

4747 ratings