The original Bikini Line trail at Swinley Forest has now been removed and replaced with a redesigned red graded line that is currently bedding in and not yet open to riders.  Seb Lammas from the Trail builders Earthworx Trail Co has shared a first look on his Instagram at how the new trail has been set up and how riders will be asked to use it once it opens. For clarity it is NOT yet open, so keep off until announced.

The new line is described as a meandering trail with features spread along its full length rather than clustered into a few sections. There are fewer table top jumps than before, no long straights set up purely for sessioning, and the speed you carry from one feature is intended to feed into the next.

This design is intended to reduce mid trail pull outs and cut ins by encouraging riders to ride the full trail from top to bottom. There is now a single official push up from the very bottom back to the top, and riders are being asked not to create any new push ups, pull outs or joining spots.

The team has set the line up so that it can work for a wide range of abilities. There are options and different lines to find all the way down, and it remains possible to roll the trail from top to bottom if you end up on it without knowing. At the same time, riders who want more challenge will be able to make use of the features and find more technical options as they learn the layout.

To support this, The Crown Estate has installed trail cameras to monitor antisocial and unwanted behaviour, including any new unofficial cut lines that might appear. Riders who want to session jumps are being encouraged to use Babymaker next door rather than trying to stop and repeat single features on the new line.

The builder emphasises that a lot of work has gone into creating something that is fun, in keeping with the red grade and workable for as many riders as possible, and is asking people to respect the trails, the land and other forest users. The trail is still setting in and remains closed for now. Riding the line early or using closed sections elsewhere in the forest is likely to slow down the final opening. The earlier closure followed a review that highlighted incidents linked with irresponsible riding, antisocial behaviour and high levels of littering around Bikini Line, so behaviour on and around the new trail will be central to keeping it open.

What we know

• The original version of Bikini Line has been removed following the Crown Estate review and closure.
• A new red graded trail has been built in its place by Earthworx Trail Co, led by trail builder Seb Lammas.
• The Crown Estate has installed trail cameras to monitor antisocial and unwanted behaviour on and around the line.
• The trail is expected to be graded red when it opens, and it is currently closed while it beds in.

What we do not know

• The final opening date. An opening day update is still to be announced once the trail has fully settled.
• The final trail name. A couple of names are being considered but nothing has yet been confirmed.
• Whether any further tweaks will be made after the bedding in period or following early rider feedback once it opens.

Background

This redesign follows the earlier decision by The Crown Estate to close the original Bikini Line after a review of incidents, rider behaviour and littering around the trail. At that point, The Crown Estate said it would work with its trail builder to remove the existing features and redesign the route in line with Swinley’s other red graded trails. You can read that earlier update here: Bikini Line Trail At Swinley Closed Following Crown Estate Review.

Find out more

For an overview of the wider network, facilities and recent rider reviews, see the main Swinley Forest trail listing.

If you have updates on the new trail or spot further changes on the ground, you can share them in the comments or get in touch directly via the iBikeRide contact page: ibikeride.com/contact.