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Home / Mountain Bike Podcast / Trails

How Are MTB Trail Difficulties Rated? [Podcast #76]

We discuss both subjective and objective measures of trail difficulty, and explain the difference between technically and physically difficult trails.

By Jeff Barber
November 7, 2016 Last Updated: January 27, 2021

3 comments

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On this Episode

Ever wonder how mountain bike trail difficulties are rated? We discuss both subjective and objective measures of trail difficulty, and explain the difference between technically and physically difficult trails.

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Jeff Barber

Jeff Barber has been mountain biking since 1992 and has tested hundreds of mountain bikes and components. He is the co-founder of Singletracks and serves as Editor in Chief. Contact him at [email protected].

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3 Comments

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Joel DH North Carolina // 2016
Nov 8, 2016

This was very interesting podcast. I agree with the fact that there needs to be a standardization of trail ratings. However, I think that the reason the ratings are sometimes higher for length or cliffs etc, is because the builders are still going off of hiking criteria. Rating a trail a black diamond because of cliffs and distance and other such things, even though the trail is smooth wide singletrack is the way you rate a hiking trail. Not necessarily a biking trail. Just a thought. Anybody think I might be onto something?

0 reply

Hap Proctor Florida // 2014
Nov 9, 2016

Trail ratings in conjunction with rider reviews can be quite helpful in my trail research. I don't always agree with such ratings after riding, but they are helpful none the less.

0 reply

Bubblehead10MM Minnesota // 2012
Nov 9, 2016

good discussion. so many factors going on, which is one reason the reviews are so useful. I'd like to propose using movie ratings, pg13 etc, to talk about danger levels like exposure, and narrow bridge and so forth, which I've just stolen from rock climbing folks.

0 reply

Tagged: black diamond, intermediate, mountain bike beginners, mtb trails, podcast, trails, mountain bike podcast

First published November 7, 2016 @ 4:00:00