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Home / MTB Tips / Survey

Do you Enjoy Riding Technical MTB Trails?

When it comes to mountain biking, some like it technical.

By Jeff Barber
October 15, 2023 Last Updated: November 7, 2024

28 comments

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The word technical can mean different things to different riders. Rocks, roots, skinnies, off-camber, and steep slabs all pose unique challenges on the trail. For some, technical challenges are what make mountain biking fun. For others, tech features are just plain annoying.

Tell us why you do or don’t enjoy riding technical mountain bike trails in the comments below!

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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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28 Comments

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bikejoy Georgia // 2023
Oct 16, 2023

Technical trails are awesome, providing new challenges. For instance, rather than trying to be faster, your goal might be to clear a section without a dab. Really technical sections provide a different type of workout: more full body use than less technical trails. In the end, the variety of mountain biking is a key piece, so mixing technical, flow, jumps, etc is the best recipe. Yes, and that even includes skinnies!

6 reply

Dr Sweets Georgia // 2016
Oct 16, 2023

Trails that flow, but not flow trails.

6 reply

drcarter62 North Carolina // 2020
Oct 20, 2023

I'm nearly 62, and ride a hard tail, so I tend to avoid roots, rocks, or pretty much anything technical. I really don't want to fall as I don't recover nearly as well as I used to.

5 reply

Hap Proctor Florida // 2014
Oct 20, 2023

I’m 70 and it seems my crashes happen on the easier trails. Maybe I don’t focus or relax too much. The tough trails get my full attention and I’m not ashamed to walk around stuff that is too rowdy. Falling hurts more and as you said, recovery is longer as you age.

4 reply

EarthyBiker28 British Columbia // 2023
Oct 21, 2023

I hear that! (55)

0 reply

moctav Texas // 2014
Oct 15, 2023

I enjoy technical trails unless it's wet. Wet rocks and wet roots are no good for riding as far as I'm concerned. I've had the front wheel wash out from under me too many times.

2 reply

EarthyBiker28 British Columbia // 2023
Oct 21, 2023

Wet rocks still have grip; wet roots suck!

0 reply

streighty Oregon // 2015
Oct 26, 2023

Sometimes this is true, but not always. Most rocks with any form of algae on them are slick when wet. It really depends on the type of rock.

1 reply

EarthyBiker28 British Columbia // 2023
Sep 15, 2024

Yes, of course green does NOT mean go, when it comes to rocks! ;)

0 reply

EarthyBiker28 British Columbia // 2023
Oct 26, 2023

Fair enough, but if I had to choose: rocks over roots in the wet, every time - I mean, many of our Lower Mainland trails are heavily armoured to protect them from being damaged in the wet, so there isn't much choice in the matter of riding rocks in the wet.

1 reply

Sunspot Colorado // 2019
Oct 15, 2023

Trials. throws mic into the crowd...

I love to get trialsy but a mix of terrain that allows for wide open throttle as well as trials elements is my jam. Just ask Sunspot...

2 reply

RemyMac Colorado // 2022
Oct 28, 2023

"Technical" means different things to different people. Colorado is pretty rocky, and many trails have technical sections - rock gardens, a big rock roll, or drops here and there - but I don't really consider them to be technical trails just because they aren't a smooth stream of dirt from point A to point B. They are just trails, and that is what I like to ride. Some truly technical stuff around here like Ore Chute is slow moving and quite a workout throughout the whole run with high penalty for failure. I don't really enjoy that so much.

1 reply

Growlinbear Oregon // 2016
Oct 22, 2023

At 62 years old I enjoy flow trails more and technical less after 40 years of mountain biking. Physically easier and less crashes ! I want to ride into my 90s !!!

1 reply

baillie2 2016
Jul 18, 2024

Difficulty ratings need to start with OBJECTIVE descriptors........but, unfortunately tend to get bogged down in personal egos ("I'm so good I find BD to be merely INT") or disordered thinking (lack of definite terms).
To start, "difficulty" usefully separates into various KINDS off trail and riding skills: the first distinction is the sheer danger of a feature (in the USA sometimes depicted with a red triangle), then there are FLOW trails (involving drops and jumping) and TECHNICAL trails with rocky, log and constructed features, needing the traditional skills of route selection, flat dropping, front tire lofting, wheel unweighting etc etc. A BD on a "Jump" (or North Slope) trail needs very different skills to the crux (eroded) section of Cape. Ahab!
Difficulty ratings are critical for the rider to know if they have the required skills to manage that trail, or kind of trail.
And.......the "difficulty" of a feature may be sustained (Many places you need a certain skill) vs just needing an advanced skill on one crux spot..........like in a lot of the Moab slabs.
Another whole different situation is where you ride a trail that has not been built or tweaked for MTB use........like an old hiking trail..........which may have a lot of, frankly unpleasant , aspects (loose rock, sudden turns, sharp edges, bungee sticks etc).
It would be possible to make a checklist of clear technical terms and standards so that riders get good, safe, useful information but human frailties like beurocratic isolation and ineptitude have prevented anyone from doing this.
If it WAS done however, most recreational, non-neurotic, riders would probably be grateful........with only a few sad cases crying "Dumbing Down"!
Meanwhile, as a survival matter, we just have to survey every challenging feature we find..........and let our Old Wounds tell us whether to take the ride-around,,,,,,,,

1 reply

EarthyBiker28 British Columbia // 2023
Sep 11, 2024

In Canada, our trail rating system is based on specific criteria like slope angle, whether a feature has a ride-around, etc., and even at that, every trail network seems to be rated in a relative way to the "level" of trail difficulty in that micro-region. It's certainly not as consistent as it should be. For example, trails on the North Shore, (North Vancouver BC) are much more technical/difficult than anywhere else in the Lower Mainland, overall, even Whistler or Squamish. So, a black trail (◆, "advanced," but not "expert") OJ the Shore would be a ◆◆ most other places. A ◆ at, say, Galbraith in WA, would a blue/intermediate on the North Shore.

0 reply

jmgaustin 2016
Oct 21, 2023

Flow is fine if you don't want to try. Technical is actually mastering something.

1 reply

EarthyBiker28 British Columbia // 2023
Sep 11, 2024

That is a very judgy statement. Can you clear Dirt Merchant at Whistler?!

0 reply

jmgaustin 2016
Sep 11, 2024

Don't get yourself all
riled up. Yes, it was a blanket statement, but I thoroughly enjoy flow trails as well. I haven't been to, or ridden in BC in 15 years so other than videos I have no experience of dirt merchant, but it looks intimidating and requires a set of balls I no longer possess. Not sure I'd categorize it as a typical pedestrian flow trail. Still my opinion is that rding technical trails requires a greater amount of skill.I never said one was better than the other.

3 reply

jaster 2012
Oct 17, 2023

How about a photo credit. Looks like a great trail. Reminds me of a section of Mount Nebo in AK.

1 reply

AUTHOR

Jeff Barber Georgia // 1998
Oct 17, 2023

I took that photo at Coldwater Mountain. I believe this is at the start of a trail called Gazza.

1 reply

jaster 2012
Oct 18, 2023

Cool trail. I rode that last fall when it was buried in leaves.

0 reply

AUTHOR

Jeff Barber Georgia // 1998
Oct 18, 2023

Gazza in particular is an advanced trail that seems to get very little traffic. Every time I've ridden the trail it's been overgrown, especially at the top.

Based on the survey results so far, 80% of riders give or take say they love technical trails, but in my experience, it's clear the blue and green trails tend to get ridden by far more riders, and not just at Coldwater. Maybe all those blue/green riders just aren't Singletracks readers? :)

0 reply

jaster 2012
Oct 18, 2023

They probably are. I love tech trails, but I can't say I ride stuff like Gaza every day. People who love tech probably ride a more flow miles than tech. I'm in my 50's and riding all tech would be tough on the body.

Gaza was a cool trail. I'm definitely going back some time. I'm in Knoxville TN so it's a bit of a drive.

2 reply

EarthyBiker28 British Columbia // 2023
Oct 21, 2023

I used to be very apprehensive about steep(er) tech, but I am slowly learning to get through it. Once I can flow a section of tech (better yet, the whole trail) and am more confident on it, I do enjoy it. At 55, I must consider high-cinsequence features/trails seriously, as my recovery time from injury is longer than it used to be. I also have a titanium knee, lol. Oh, and I've only been riding fior 2 years.

1 reply

SKullman 2014
Oct 16, 2023

I'm pretty sure I've ridden up that trail in the photo. At 50 now, I'll ride up everything I can, don't care too much about down.

1 reply

Growlinbear Oregon // 2016
Sep 11, 2024

Technical trails and there varieties challenge me and my skills.I ride them 50% of the time. The rest long flowy single track !

1 reply

Hap Proctor Florida // 2014
Oct 20, 2023

Though at times they are infrequent, the days I’m inspired enough to tackle the local technical trails are some of my favorites. Something about clearing a group of rocks, making it up a rowdy climb or tough switchback to pump up one’s chest.

1 reply

plasticsguy California // 2016
Oct 23, 2023

To me mountain biking is all about challenges and improvement. I love the double blacks and ride them often. I love the signs warning that this trail is extremely dangerous and not for everyone. I'm almost 70 and ride with a lot of people who are younger than me by a wide margin. Some are faster/better but then again some are not. My feeling is if you're not challenging yourself, your not improving. About the only thing I'm not doing is jumps but other than that I will follow most anyone into the techy stuff.

1 reply

Tagged: survey, tips

First published October 15, 2023 @ 2:59:00