The Ins and Out of MTB Trail Building, with Mike Repyak at IMBA Trail Solutions
Singletracks Mountain Bike Podcast
Singletracks.com
4.7 • 574 Ratings
🗓️ 7 February 2023
⏱️ 55 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Mike Repyak is the Director of Planning and Design at Trail Solutions, the trail development arm of the International Mountain Biking Association. He’s been involved in recreation planning and trail network design for many years and is currently based in Madison, Wisconsin.
In this episode we ask:
- How is Trail Solutions related to IMBA, and what does it do?
- What are some ways designers can influence trail riders' experience?
- Would you say we generally have the right mix of green, blue, and black trails in most places in the US?
- How does the cost to build a new trail today compare to 10 years ago?
- Are there enough experienced, quality MTB trail builders in the US?
- How do maintenance considerations play into trail planning?
- Is chipseal something that is helpful in building low-maintenance trails?
- What are some current mountain bike trail projects you’re stoked about?
- From your perspective, is there a connection between the growth of MTB participation with the growth in trail building? Does a growing sport make it easier to get projects approved and funded?
Find out more about Trail Solutions at imba.com, and for information about current, open positions at IMBA, visit ride.imba.com/explore-imba/meet-imba/careers.
--Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hi, just leave from work now. Sorry, it's a bit loud. Um, basically, so I was thinking we could get Macies tonight. Had a big Mac on my mind all day and delivery fee on the app is now from 99P. So you win? Of course you are. Love you. Bye. |
| 0:13.2 | Exclusively on the McDonald's app. |
| 0:16.0 | 18 plus service fee and small order fee may apply. Participating restaurants. Serving times and teas and sees apply. |
| 0:20.0 | Hey everybody, welcome to the single tracks podcast. My name is Jeff and today Service fee and small order fee may apply. Participating restaurants. Serving times and teas and seas apply. Hey, everybody. |
| 0:22.2 | Welcome to the Single Tracks podcast. |
| 0:26.7 | My name is Jeff, and today my guest is Mike Repiak. |
| 0:32.6 | Mike is the director of planning and design at Trail Solutions, which is the trail development arm of the International Mountain Bike Association. |
| 0:35.8 | He's been involved in recreation planning and trail network design for many years and is currently |
| 0:41.5 | based in Madison, Wisconsin. |
| 0:43.9 | Thanks for joining us, Mike. |
| 0:45.9 | Yeah, thanks for having me, Jeff. |
| 0:47.4 | Really excited to be connecting with you. |
| 0:49.6 | Yeah. |
| 0:50.1 | So tell us how did you get interested in trail planning? |
| 0:53.6 | A lengthy story, but it's a good, it's a fun story. |
| 0:56.2 | Yeah. |
| 0:56.6 | You know, like a lot of us out riding bikes, we've been, you know, outdoor recreation enthusiasts all our lives. |
| 1:01.7 | And that's definitely the case with me. |
| 1:03.6 | It was out of my, you know, BMX bike as a kid playing around on trails that built with cousins and friends and stuff. |
| 1:10.2 | And then also got into snow skiing |
| 1:12.6 | with my parents and through that just became an enthusiast of trails and when I went to college |
| 1:20.3 | I started out as a mechanical engineer and changed my major after a few years here at University |
... |
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