Tuesday Coffee Talk - Are you a Double Track Hater?

Submitted by Kris Thompson on Tue, 04/24/2012 - 06:42

Coffee talk Tuesday heads over to our dirtier cousins of cycling, the MTB community. Tuesday Coffee Talk allows all of use to engage in community related topics and share your 2 cents worth

First off, I'll make this clear from the very beginning, I don't mind single track and if it's there I'll gladly ride it, but why do so many hate double track?

Many mountain bike purist share a mantra of "more single track" and that mantra seems fine but when you mention adding some additional double track they sometimes look at you like you said you wanted to build an interstate where they dream of single track. Shouldn't this mantra be "more off-road trails"? Some of my favorite rides takes place on double track, Switzerland trail, Boulder rez trails, White Rocks and Rollins pass. For myself, I'm just glad to be off of the paved road so whether the trail is 1 foot wide, or 3 or 6 doesn't matter to me at all. And adding more double track shouldn't be that difficult since much of our mountains are already filled with double tracks of the old mining days. Take for example the old road from Boulder Canyon (near Red Lion Inn) this trail would connect Boulder Canyon to Flagstaff or the soon to be Boulder Erie trail that will make for possible 40+ miles of nearly uninterrupted double track trail. So what am I missing here, why is double track so terrible?

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8 Comments

It's about the flow

Submitted by Chris Echelmeier (not verified) on Tue, 04/24/2012 - 08:05

Singletrack trails typically take you way further off the beaten path. Double track roads are typically boring compared to a twisty, flowy, well designed singletrack (like Picture Rock).

Riding a fun singletrack is the difference between sitting on top of your bike and pedaling, vs RIDING your bike. If you don't get that difference, then these two types of trails won't be too different.

Picture Rock?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/24/2012 - 09:47

While singletrack is the pinnacle of the mountain bike experience, the Picture Rock trail is a bad example. Picture Rock is a fine connector trail between Hall & Heil, but I wouldn't center any ride around it. And I think my definition of flow is different than yours.

First there are the

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/24/2012 - 09:26

First there are the aesthetics.

Narrow trails look more at home in the wild. Like a deer trail that has seen a little more use. When you are riding down one you feel like you are in a more wild and natural setting.

Double track looks like a wide scar man has carved into the forest/open space and does not belong there.

Then there is the practical.

Single track is a more fun to ride because you have to be on your toes and keep your bike moving with the trail to stay on it.

Double track is like driving down a highway where Cosmo Kramer has painted over half the lines. Sure it can be a luxurious cruise you can sit back and enjoy but it can also be boring.

Interesting topic, and one

Submitted by Chris Baddick (not verified) on Tue, 04/24/2012 - 09:41

Interesting topic, and one worth talking about especially in Boulder where any Mountain Bike access needs to be cherished.

Double track serves a purpose - that purpose is to get to Singletrack!

I agree that switzerland trail is fantastic, but the reason I ride it is to access Todd Gulch, Gordan Gulch or Sourdough - all amazing pieces of singletrack.

Like others mentioned below, Singletrack requires more than just pedaling a bike, it requires handling skills and evokes the 'star-wars' feeling that most of us strive towards.

But, I do think we should value our Double Track more; they are the essential connectors which allow Riders who want to ride a more than a couple miles to link up the best trails. CR68j is maybe the best example of this.

Great comments on Double track vs. Single track

Submitted by Kris Thompson on Tue, 04/24/2012 - 16:34

These are so far some of the best comments I've seen on 303 for a while so first off, thanks for the comments!

Am I eluding to another religion of cycling and that is "dirt cyclists". If that is true than I'm deep in that religion which is loving being OFF of the paved road and on dirt. That dirt could be gravel, double track, jeep road or single track. As mentioned before on 303 my favorite ride in Boulder County BY FAR is WallStreet-> Switzerland Trail (http://303cycling.com/Super-wallstreet-the-ultimate-gravel-grumble).

It is my opinion that this group I speak of is either small or lacking representation.

Dirt cyclists speak up! Am I alone?

dirt-ish

Submitted by 8art8 (not verified) on Wed, 04/25/2012 - 06:40

started racing dirt years ago. Got a cannondale road bike to "train" and pretty much quit mountain biking.

recent situations have me "retiring" from most road endeavors. I have rediscovered my previous joy for riding. However, previously I craved single track only, now I grumble @ the technical stuff and often carry my bike @ a slow trot, LOL @ me!... but I am having a blast.

That comment reads almost like I wrote it

Submitted by Kris Thompson on Wed, 04/25/2012 - 07:11

You and I must have been twins separated at birth. That explains me almost completely.

But I will throw my hat in on the Wednesday crit series tonight, I think...

Kris

They're just different

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 05/06/2012 - 23:34

That's it; they're just different. I spend a lot of time riding both. I got into cycling because of beautiful flowing singletrack. When it's grand it does have a very different feel than any double track could. I also have dedicated dirt road bike that use for ultra distance dirt and gravel rides.

Case in point = Monument Gulch Road. Monument Gulch Road sits far above Fort Collins near the top of Buckhorn Rd. I rode this 4 mile stretch for the first time 5/5/12 on a CX-ish bike. It was incredibly fun and probably the best part of the 140 miles I rode. For me, on this bike, this was a blast! On the MTB it would have seemed fun but a bit bland. Similarly, there are certain apparent MTB races which I won't enter because they have a lot of gravel - if I'm riding the MTB I'd rather spend my time on singletrack.

It all depends on the tool, the rider, and the experience you're looking for. You may want something mellow and fast, steep and technical, or flowing and wild. Fortunately, here we have great singletrack, doubletrack, gravel and pavement. There will always be haters of every ilk complaining about what is or isn't and their voices will seem louder than those who are simply out riding.
Cheers