BikeBiz Column: Trail Pot. Let’s Have a Chat

Here, Chris  Maloney, Founder of new charity, The Trail Pot: National Mountain Biking Development Fund, talks to us in detail about what Trail Pot is and what he hopes to achieve. 

A veteran of pushing for improved mountain biking as former Chair of Peak District MTB and Founder of Keeper of the Peak, Chris knows the challenge better than many. 

I truly believe in the good mountain biking can deliver. Because I’ve seen what this inclusive, intelligent community is capable of – Chris  Maloney

As we (my fellow Trustees and I) are about to embark on our first year of fundraising and ultimately, reinvestment in mountain biking at the grassroots level. 

It’s not a crowdfunding campaign. It’s not a charity in the usual sense, with tin rattles and short-term appeals. It’s the UK’s first national charity solely focused on grassroots mountain biking development — and it’s built to work in partnership with our supporters in the industry; an almost unnoticeable, slow burn growth, but at scale.

I started this because after 20 years in the thick of advocacy — trying to get trail access, negotiating with landowners, unlocking funding for projects that make a real difference — it became clear: what we’re missing isn’t passion. It’s a system.

So what Is The Trail Pot?

It’s a charity, yes. But more than that, it’s a funding model — one that redistributes support to trail groups, community efforts, and local development based on where that support comes from. If 10% of the fund comes from support in the South West, 10% goes back there from the overall fund. Simple.

We’re building a model where retailers, riders, and brands can contribute small, regular amounts — a drip-feed of backing that doesn’t break the bank or demand constant attention — and see it pooled into a national fund that directly supports real, on-the-ground projects.

That supporter fund would be boosted with funding from partnerships and investment, support we are currently working hard to establish.

Not pie-in-the-sky dreams. And certainly achievable.

Why Should the Industry Care?

Without grassroots mountain biking, there is no sport. Without beginners getting a safe and welcoming start, there are no lifelong riders. Without people seeing trail improvements or new routes being built in their local areas, they don’t stay in the ecosystem. That ecosystem — your customers — is what keeps your business alive.

The Trail Pot is a way to say, “We believe in the future of this sport, and we’re not waiting around for someone else to fund it.”

And for those asking, “What’s in it for me?” — fair question. Here’s what:

• You’re investing in your own future market. More riders, more trails, more customers.
• You get to see where your support goes. It’s region-based, with transparent allocation.
• You gain goodwill. Supporting The Trail Pot isn’t just a tax-deductible gesture — it tells your community that you care, and they notice.
• You become part of something bigger. Imagine in a few years looking back and saying, “Yeah, we were one of the first to get behind that. Look at it now.”

But… why hasn’t it caught on (yet)?

I think part of the answer is this: when people hear “charity” or “donation,” they brace themselves for the ask. They expect a pitch, or a guilt trip. That’s not what this is. Trail Pot isn’t begging for scraps (though we’d never say no to donations). It’s inviting the people who care about this sport — and benefit from its growth — to be part of building its future. And it’s still very early days.

It also asks for imagination. Not just a quick hit of support, but a steady commitment to something that grows over time. And let’s be honest — in a time when everyone’s watching margins and tightening belts, it’s easy to file this under “maybe later.”

But here’s the thing: the early supporters are already showing it works. Shops like Big on Bikes in Derbyshire have jumped in. Investors and industry voices have backed it. The groundwork is laid — now it needs a few more people to believe in the idea, to see the vision, and help scale it up.

So… can we talk?

If you’re a retailer, coach, café – whatever – this is your moment to say: “Yes, I want to be part of something meaningful in this sport.”

Not just because it’s a line on your website or a badge for your window. But because you know what trails mean to people. You’ve seen the look on a new rider’s face when they come back from their first loop. You’ve watched a local dig crew rebuild a washed-out section because they care. You’ve probably done a bit of that work yourself.

The Trail Pot is for you, too.

And the ask? It’s not huge. It’s not flashy. It’s not “give us five grand and we’ll put your logo on a fence.” It’s a small, consistent contribution. It’s having a chat about how you make this fit your business. It’s shaping a future you get to be proud of.

Let’s make it work together. One conversation at a time.