Topic: Alafia ramp problem - HELP

[Jeff White]

 Need your help. North Creek has a descending wooden ramp. When that ramp is wet (dew, rain, fog, ice ) your bike wheels may slip right off the edge, producing a nasty tumble – as a few riders can attest to. Many intermediates tell me they walk down that ramp (notice the well worn side path).
 
I want to hear from the experts: “what is the best non-slip product/solution for this ramp?” All options are considered.
Thanks much for all input. Jeff White (trail boss)

[Murf :]

Maybe cover it with chainlink fencing ?

[Vander$hred]

shingles, indoor/outdoor shag?

[chisel]

shingles.

[Ejreyes6]

How about metal lath. This is the backing used when putting stucco on a wood frame house. I see the stuff at Carter on a lot of their bridges.

[Ejreyes6]

This stuff
http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=11811-46086-LAM&langId=-1&storeId=10151&productId=3374312&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=req&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1

[Jeff White]

Thanks for the suggestions - all good solutions. I'm still worried about intermediate riders with knobby tires dragging their rear brake down the ramp and catching the knobs on any kind of "mesh" material. And shingles wear out quickly. Come on you builders... these are the obvious suggestions - think out-of-the-box. HELP

[Ejreyes6]

This mesh is very tight. Not sure if anything (knobbies) could really get caught in there.

[chisel]

riders skill classes...

[chisel]

what about some kind of grainy paint.paint with sand in it or a rhino liner type application.

[Garry]

Take the boards in and have the Rhino-Liner (truckbed coating) applied to each board then nail or screw them back on the stringers.
You may have to have them add a little bit of some sort of grit or gravel to the mix before it is applied.

[Garry]

This mesh is very tight. Not sure if anything (knobbies) could really get caught in there.

This would wear out over time and puncture tires eventually or really scrape someone up if they made a mistake. LIABILITY!

[Garry]

Could always go the route of a good rock path with no wheel stoppers.  The one Wes and I built in N. Abyss is still holding up well after 5 or 6 years?

[Darrinw2001]

pave the whole trail...

[bruceS]

I agree with chisel, paint with fine sand mixed in works great. We have used that method many times throughout the years.You mix the sand in yourself, It's easy to apply and when it starts to wear out it's easy to reapply and it's pretty cheap.
Shingles work great but are costly and are high maintenance since they tear easy and on high use trails like at Alafia I wouldn't think they would last long.
Stucco mesh works pretty good but it is sharp so skidding of any type would shred you tires and if you were to fall on it for any reason a cheese grader comes to mind