Thinking of starting a kids only track - feedback wanted

[motorbyclist]

Whilst in the shower today, bemoaning my unemployment, I had a brilliant idea:

Why not host a kids only trail ride (bike park format) on my family farm?

I live on a 12 acre block on the henderson valley end of candia rd, and have been annoying my neighbours for almost a decade now with my bikes (to be fair most of them ride here anyway), and have always thought it would be fun to run a ride around the area, possibly for the local school. It's 20 minutes from here to spaghetti junction so it's hardly a long drive. The farm is a failing macadamia orchard but a successful family home and bike park (so far we've produced more bikes than nuts, by weight ) in a valley with mostly grass with the small trees and a reasonable amount of bush.

Now obviously I haven't looked into the legal side of things yet, but I'm not stupid and noise is a problem for any bike park/ride (especially when I'm there), so we've always dropped the idea of having more than friends/family over....

I've also noticed there isn't ever really a decent kids track at most rides, and the one at woodhill doesn't offer any view of the littlies on their way around... and then you see some munter (me) on his 400 go gunning in for a warm up lap after them.

There's even a bike shop 5 minutes away if you forgot your spare levers! A&E is about 7 minutes away if the unthinkable should happen, and maybe the local school would like to run BBQ if there's enough patrons.

So, before I go any further, what do you guys reckon?

Who would be keen? How many kids and how often?
this would dicate if I do it saturday every week or every fortnight etc

What rules would work?
I'm thinking NO adults as the tracks should all be within sight anyway, kids up to 13 or 15 years old, a cc limit around 125cc 4stoke and 85 2stroke small wheel (speed safety reasons), a noise restriction (done by ear, I'll give ya money back), and perhaps request we keep to the tracks for safety and security reasons

What's a reasonable rate?
remember I'm trying to earn at least minimum wage here and will have expenses, but $10 a bike or maybe per kid could cover it if I get atleast ten kids turn up

Hours?
I'm thinking from 10am to 4pm to placate neighbours and give me time to pull down track markers etc

Tracks?
I'm thinking I mow them into the grass, and then use some caution tape for visibility as this allows me to chop and change them around a bit - reckon I could get some bike branded stuff like what you see at many rides?

First aid?
I should probably re-do my first aid training and keep the tractor handy with trailer, but we've had ambulances turn up before and they traverse the paddocks fine so hopefully that isn't an issue


Your feedback is much appreciated

[blossomsowner]

sounds like you have given it at least some thought...........

I think its a great idea as a lot of people would probably struggle to find somewhere suitable for their kids on a regular basis.
good luck

[motorbyclist]

Might include some bush bits too..... here's a 180 degree panorama, I was thinking parking on the far right (I'm standing on a mound of dirt by the gate)

[BM-GS]

I reckon you might have something, the downsides being whatever happens with insurance/liability, etc, the second you start taking money for your services and that dads can't go off for a ride while the mums watch the kids! Some of us only get to ride along after the kids anyway...

Suggest limit to 65cc 2stroke - those 85s can shift a bit, and LT50s/CRF50s tend not to. Anyone on an 85 would be bored on any track safe enough for an LT50 (crossing slopes a no-no). Those bigger & less committed will probably be on 4strokes.

Every 2nd Sunday of the month is North Harbour Mini MX club day, so that may be more/less popular. People with kids in NHMMX may not come along as the kids already get their own ride weekend every month.

I reckon you might get enough support for a couple of events a year, but not every weekend, to be honest. All the best anyway!

[motorbyclist]

I reckon you might have something, the downsides being whatever happens with insurance/liability, etc, the second you start taking money for your services and that dads can't go off for a ride while the mums watch the kids! Some of us only get to ride along after the kids anyway...

yeah i'll need to look into that, and I do realise that dads might want to hit the track and there's no reason they can't, provided they behave.... and ride little tiny bikes. Honestly considering the location/tracks I don't think it's entirely worth the bother

Suggest limit to 65cc 2stroke - those 85s can shift a bit, and LT50s/CRF50s tend not to. Anyone on an 85 would be bored on any track safe enough for an LT50 (crossing slopes a no-no). Those bigger & less committed will probably be on 4strokes.

lol I've see a kid on a sx65 going pretty quick too - little bugger had a top speed about 5kph less than mine on my 400! yeah might revise the 85cc bikes down, or just keep them off the peewee track and go for a blat through the bush... and move the 4-stroke up to 150cc to include that honda crf150.... yeah maybe cut it down to 65cc.... hrmmmmm...

Every 2nd Sunday of the month is North Harbour Mini MX club day, so that may be more/less popular. People with kids in NHMMX may not come along as the kids already get their own ride weekend every month.

aha hadn't considered that... how many kids turn up for that? That being monthly might be an indicator for me too...

I reckon you might get enough support for a couple of events a year, but not every weekend, to be honest. All the best anyway!

less time managing them means more time riding for me so not a total loss there

I remember waay back when I started on my XL125 (brothers on a xr100 and 70cc trike) we were out almost every day!

[tommorth]

all legal issues aside it sounds like a great idea we would probably come evey fornight for a few hours maybe a seperation between trail and mx bikes would be good there is a big difference between a pw80/ds80 and a cr85

[SpikedPunch]

I think if you call the $ a 'donation' you can bypass a bit of the legal stuff? Not sure.

[BM-GS]

Not sure how many usually turn up to the NHMMX gigs, probably 10-12 LT50 thingies, a few 100cc quads, 15-20 air-cooled 50cc, and about the same KTM SX50s, a dozen-20 in the trail class, 15ish 65cc and the same 85cc. What's that, 90-100? One class per kid, so no double-counting, but 1 or 2 are from as far afield as Whangarei. I know I'd quite like to get Jr a bit more time on his bike, especially in the school holidays, but I wanna go out too!!! That's the trouble with living in darkest suburbia... Still, now that he's on a 70, I might be able to get some decent tyres & get him around the sandpit. Duff-duffing after his bro on the LT50 is no fun at all in that deep sand!

[L Rider]

Its a great idea - not sure if you'd get enough interest to make it worthwhile every weekend but even once a month may pull in the numbers. My 2 kids ride with NHMMX and also AATV over summer. My son (6) rides a LT50 and a JR50 and daughter (4) a LT50.
At mo husband is away & i'm injured anyway, so its just been the kids riding so i will take them up to the sandpit for a day. Otherwise one of us stay with the kids whilst the other rides then switch over.
As for limiting size of bikes etc - if you could have 2 tracks one for say 50cc & very novice (like a pee wee track) then another track for others say up to 65cc 2 stroke.
I have no problems my kids riding with bikes alot bigger than theirs but i have seen time & time again kids who just don't seem to think & you can see an accident waiting to happen - that however i blame on the parents not really educating the kids or keeping a close eye on them.
If you're having a place just for kids least the adults will be around watching there kids rather than leaving the kids at the track whilst they bugger off riding.
Kids need to get use to bigger faster bikes around them but also the kids on those bikes need to apply common sense.

[Reckless]

Bloody hard one mate, you can get the really fast mx kid on a 65 or 85 thats faster than your average rider, or a learner 18 year old young girl/boy on a CRF150F or 230F that can hardly ride???

It depends on if its going to be an organized meeting type place or a casual place like the one Frosty just lost out your way ( pm him mate I haven't met him but he seems like a very nice bloke with experience in this and in your area).My suggestion is to get together with him and see what sort of guys ventured out to the place where he used to go, in by the factory he was talking about.
He can then tell you what where the popular type of riders? I think you may be thinking of a place for the kids to learn not for the young Mxer to practice his high speed cornering tech?
Hard line to maintain, your bound to piss someone off at sometime or other!! LOL!!!

My suggestion would be to keep it personal and private not a public venue (by invitation/permission only) with a donation to track upkeep that way you can choose who does and doesn't ride your land!!
Ie they don't come and sign in they come and ask your permission. That way if you already have 20 kids there you can say sorry mate I'll give you a call tomorrow to many here today?

Talking about up keep I think you will be also very surprised on the equipment and work you need to keep the place ridable after a coupe of wet weekends even with just learners on it?
Tracks get rutted and corrugated so learners find it to hard to ride quite quickly especially if its getting hammered every weekend.
Then there's the neighbors once you have 20 kids going there every sat and sunday???

Look I'm not trying to rain on your parade but you have to be real about this! Its a bloody good idea I seriously wish you all the good luck I can.
I went and greased up the excavation company out East Tamaki to let me teach the kids in the weekends on their land but that commercial subdivision is all complete now, so that's all over.
So I do see an incredible need for somewhere like this. for a complete beginner Sandpits deep dry sand is a bit hard (don't wanna put them off), Thunder X to far way for an hours riding till their to tired or sick of it! We do need somewhere to teach the absolute beginner that's close, easy and fun! I know I'm gonna get flamed for the sandpit comment but you get my general drift. My daughter still finds it to hard and shy's away from going yet I bloody love the place the more whooped out the better! And I know she will come to like it once her speed and skill come up a little bit!

Look I say give it a go and see if you can stand the hassle, I don't think you will have any trouble with riders even via word of mouth!
Make it $10 bucks per rider 1/2 day or $20 full day bring a picnic nd you will have more takers than you can handle I reckon!
Someone like cheese would come out to teach his kids to ride and have a fun day! perfect for that if its well controlled.
Best wishes and good luck Motorbycycilist!!! I hope you go for it and it all works out for you!!!

For what its worth just my 2c?? Now waiting for others to comment and see if my ideas have any merit?? LOL!!! To many bourbons already tonight LOL!!!

Far out did you read the above its a bloody Novel! I gotta get a life lOL!!

[cheese]

If you make it tight a twisty with no jumps the kids on 85s wanting to go fast will get bored so that solves that.

I think that you should set up 2 tracks though, a little loop for the wee fullas and something a bit more intermediate???

[L Rider]

If you make it tight a twisty with no jumps the kids on 85s wanting to go fast will get bored so that solves that.

I think that you should set up 2 tracks though, a little loop for the wee fullas and something a bit more intermediate???

Def the 2 tracks are needed i think. Otherwise there will easily be carnage or the very young ones too scared to go on the track because of the "big fast" bikes. We've had that problem with my girl although its never bothered the boy.

Reckless - re the sandpit & learners - totally know from experience what you're daughter means. First time i went out there i could hardly ride (not that i'm awesome now haha) but i went out on what John thought was an easy track. I got stuck in deep sand & then blew a crankseal - total nightmare & it put me off that place for a very long time. I ended up spending my time there hanging out with my son on the learners - which iwas getting sick of but too scared to go through the sand & struggle again.
Thunder gave me the most confidence - but as you say that is a long drive.

I've been to the track Frosty used. Good track but it was little. Perfect for the kids though. That one wasn't ran or controlled as such i think people just went & rode there. He did however run quite a few kids days there which he organised & supplied wee bikes for kids to come out & give it a go.
We attended one of those & it was great. Heaps of kids came & all had a ball.

[motorbyclist]

. I know I'd quite like to get Jr a bit more time on his bike, especially in the school holidays, but I wanna go out too!!! That's the trouble with living in darkest suburbia... Still, now that he's on a 70, I might be able to get some decent tyres & get him around the sandpit. Duff-duffing after his bro on the LT50 is no fun at all in that deep sand!

right I'll have to look at letting the adults on the track, but it will essentially be pottering around after them.....

oh, and my childhood-to-present experience with woodhill sand is it's the bike not the tyre - little bikes get swamped in the big-bike sized whoops and the sand saps all their power....

[motorbyclist]

Def the 2 tracks are needed i think. Otherwise there will easily be carnage or the very young ones too scared to go on the track because of the "big fast" bikes.

I've been to the track Frosty used. Good track but it was little. Perfect for the kids though. \

yes there'll need to be different tracks and yes frosty's is a good example (and I'm 5 minutes from frosty's place)

[motorbyclist]

Bloody hard one mate, you can get the really fast mx kid on a 65 or 85 thats faster than your average rider, or a learner 18 year old young girl/boy on a CRF150F or 230F that can hardly ride???

He can then tell you what where the popular type of riders? I think you may be thinking of a place for the kids to learn not for the young Mxer to practice his high speed cornering tech?

yep it's a hard one..... and while I wasn't thinking a mini mx track it could be catered for.... noise permitting....

My suggestion would be to keep it personal and private not a public venue (by invitation/permission only) with a donation to track upkeep that way you can choose who does and doesn't ride your land!!
Ie they don't come and sign in they come and ask your permission. That way if you already have 20 kids there you can say sorry mate I'll give you a call tomorrow to many here today?

good idea! like a booking system so I know who, how many, and what to expect. That's bloody brilliant! It also lets me muck around rules to allow the 18y/o learner!

that's actually how this place works for a lot of the friends/family that come round here to learn (ie we supply the bike, they supply a full can of petrol and $10 for a new lever)

Talking about up keep I think you will be also very surprised on the equipment and work you need to keep the place ridable after a coupe of wet weekends even with just learners on it?

we have a bulldozer (and a grader we can mount to the tractor)

Then there's the neighbors once you have 20 kids going there every sat and sunday???

Yep there will have to be a bike/noise limit.

that's my major concern for letting adults on the track, cause then it starts to look like a bike park rather than a learners/kids area, and a lot of those bigger bikes tend to be a lot louder than the likes of a pw50