How to build memorable mountain bike trails with Aaron Rogers, CEO of Rock Solid

Aaron Roger is the founder and CEO of Rock Solid Trail Contracting which provides planning, consulting, design, and build services for projects mostly around the US. Rock Solid has built thousands of miles of trails in the US since 2014, in iconic destinations like Bentonville and Copper Harbor.What was the first mountain bike trail you ever built?Before starting Rock Solid, you were the president of the Copper Harbor Trails Club. What was the vision for the trails in Copper Harbor at that time?What makes for a quality mountain bike trail? How do trail builders create memorable trails? Do riders want to ride difficult trails, or just trails that appear to be difficult?When it comes to tourism, are high-quality trails alone enough to bring visitors?How has trail building changed since your time as a Trail Specialist at IMBA?Why do you think so many riders prefer hand-built trails over machine-built ones? Is it possible to make a machine-built trail feel like a hand-built one?What are some of the projects you are most proud of? Who is your primary client for a trail build: riders or the land manager? How do you balance the desires of both groups?Tell us about some of the custom trail-building tools Rock Solid has developed over the years. What are some projects Rock Solid is working on now?Visit rocksolidtrails.com to learn more about the trail-building company.This episode of the podcast is brought to you by Feedback Sports. If you love your bike, you know that regular maintenance is the key to a smoother, faster, and safer ride. But a good wrenching session starts with the right setup. Enter the Feedback Sports Pro Mechanic and Sprint repair stands. Trusted by World Tour mechanics and home hobbyists alike, these lightweight, anodized aluminum stands are ultra-stable, highly portable, and fold down in seconds. Whether you're chasing down a tricky drivetrain click in your garage or dialing in your shifting at the trailhead, Feedback Sports gives you shop-quality precision wherever you are. Pair their award-winning stands with their professional-grade tool kits—like the Reflex Fixed Torque Ratchet Kit—and you have everything you need to keep your rig running flawlessly. Stop wrestling with your bike upside down on the grass. Elevate your maintenance game and give your bike the care it deserves. Head over to ⁠feedbacksports.com⁠ today to check out their full lineup of repair stands and precision tools.An automated transcript will be available at Singletracks.com later today.