Interesting comments coming in on track marking - now there's something I have had a bit to do with . .
No one method is going to please everyone but you can get very close! How much are those blue markers I wonder, $4, $6, more? When you need 2000 they could be exxy.
Over the years we have tried most methods, and found out a few things . . it all depends on the type of event and what you want out of it and how much you can afford.
Non competitive events don't need the "full works" bunting all way round but they sure look good. One method I have been considering for a while and one which John O mentioned is painting lines on the edges of the track. This would look trick, saves a whole lot of pegs and no clean up afterwards! Only need to dress up the corners (parawebbing, hay bales, cones, even some blue markers
and you have a good track that would feel pretty good to ride. If you want to be a bit slack, paint one line down the middle and tell the riders to follow it - the track will then mark itself in.
For competition events we find the riders like to "invent" good lines without physical barriers. Bunting (tape) the whole track is a good thing (looks good but loads of work) and seems to be the accepted norm, but wont fully prevent the 'inventive' riders. All you can do is setting up the corner entry and corners well with physical barriers like mentioned above.
There are a bunch of things to consider that CAN and DO go wrong with track marking methods - wind, riders constantly taking out tape, access for officials vehicles / medics / water trucks etc. Having the tape any distance off the ground creates lots of problems, and so do the pegs that hold it there!
We tried very cheap 19mm garden grade poly tubing (soft stuff) - easy to cut with scissors, light to carry, very flexible if hit. We used battery drills with old wood augers in them to drill holes odd1.
I can tell you now I will not be bending over to to drill holes in the ground to put conduit in for hours on end its bad enough swinging a sledge hammer
You can weld extensions to the augers if you like. I can tell you it IS easier than banging in stakes, each hole takes about 10 secs and you work with a mate who pokes them in the holes. Just need plenty of drills / batteries!
The tape in these photos is held by poly pipe.
It works really well when you keep the tape close to the ground, they dont pull out if hit by a bike.
Of course if you feel the need to go over the top and spend $25,000 on sponsors roller banners you could do this . .
Sorry 'bout all the photos but thought people might like to see them. Oh, and the photos only show the soft stuff, but 90% of our ground is hard as a goats forehead!
