I'm not sure if anyone has come across these, it may be the same as a button lift. In Kalpis bike park in Finland (training area for Matti Lehikoinen) they use a lift similar to T bars, the only difference is the seat part is replaced by a hook that goes around your bars or the top of your stantion and you get pulled up a straight track with both your hands on the bars. Really simple. I think it would be ideal for the bike park as it's not a massive contraption of a machine and just keeps running itself all day. The only thing is you would need a relatively straight track to be pulled up.

Sounds good to me! I'll get my girlfriend to email the bike park, she speaks Finnish and will probably be able to find more out about these lifts.

Good idea! Shall we take our bikes?   

looking at flights now
thiking about a tour of prague, berlin, warsaw... any other venues?
they dont seem to mentiion ski lifts but I am sure there will be some research possibilities.  I hear moscow is worth a bash too - surely they must have a ski lift for sale ? they definitely score well on the extra curricular activities though.

Wren make sure you check out icelands " facilities"

COOL!!

I bet they've got a Berliet powering it at the top!! 

A drag lift has to be a winner, but one for the more distant future I guess… 

The DH runs are bob on at the minute and I don’t think too much maintenance needs doing as cut up rooty trails are best in my view, maybe the odd smooth run for blasting along, but really I prefer something that takes a bit more skill and line choice to get through…

As for Dirt jumps and XC loops, I say bring ‘em on, the more the merrier, the more types of riding that are catered for the more riders come along and day ticket are sold, meaning more funding, Yes DJ’s need looking after but you’ll definitely find willing jumpers especially if they know they won’t be getting bulldozed anytime soon…

XC loops are good training for DH riders too you know, and a decent enough course will attract XC riders, a marathon/Enduro/XC series could rustle up more money for the park maybe?

Why not open it up further:
-A café?
-A trials course?
-BBQ area?
-mini cabins or huts for the serious weekenders?
-Tech/shop area?
-Bike rental?
-Head cam rental?
-Built in Freelap poles/timer rental?
-Training courses to help riders improve?
-Maybe put together a small (Jerseys, petrol and race fees paid) NPS/Dragons team to race under the “UK bike park “, team name as a promotional exercise…
-Perhaps put together a regular video log (short DVD or downloadable movie/podcast) of local riders and racers at the park, as well as building work and events, again as a promotional exercise, to show off the park/facilities/atmosphere/etc?

Not all of those are achievable or useful necessarily but it is worth considering the possibilities beyond chairlifts and more courses, but if you are after more riders and better exposure for the park then it’s best to be ambitious, wider appeal and more facilities should bring in more revenue and bigger promotion of the park is possible and can only attract riders…

Cookeaa you're a mind reader! (just seen your post) all that sort of stuff ain't unrealistic and would contribute to a great venue.....imagine cabins! the view!! The park on tap!!!.........lookout for a park sponsored team (hopefully) too next year...

Site planning is the first hurdle (that we are sort of hurdling right now) then FUNDING!!! 

Had a go on the button at the top of Avoriaz this summer..........all the way up the fire road??...........BUNS OF STEEL!!!!     

Thanks for another awesome uplift yesterday... very speedy turnaround on the uplifts!

Whilst in the 5 hour traffic jam that was the journey home, I was thinking that perhaps a Freelap timing system is something you could put in on for uplift days. You could put in a few poles to cover the main start/finish areas and purchase some watches that you could rent out to folks to eventually cover costs. I believe they have a version that can actually be buried permanently.

I'm sure they'd do you a deal on them for the promo factor you could give them.


and just noticed that this was mentioned above.... but just shows what a good idea it is