What Is 'Singletrack'?

johnnyrotten
johnnyrotten Posts: 216
edited January 2009 in MTB beginners
Proper noob question, but how would you define Singletrack? :oops:
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Comments

  • mellex
    mellex Posts: 214
    Well, my definition of singletrack would be a trail which was tight and narrow so as to allow only one route of decent or accent.
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  • GHill
    GHill Posts: 2,402
    Off road track that you can only get one bike (or a "single" bike) down at a time.

    I know that covers some downhill courses etc. too, but I don't think there's any hard or fast rule. It's all just mountain biking...
  • Bobhellen
    Bobhellen Posts: 154
    some of the best fun in the world but still not better than sex and if any one tells you other wise they are lieing :P
    "we're a forum of pointless upgraders, depreciation maximisers, and diminishing returns addicts"
  • johnnyrotten
    johnnyrotten Posts: 216
    :lol: Bob, that view depends on what you are better at out of the two pursuits. My biking's not that great :lol:
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  • Banned!
    Banned! Posts: 34
    i would say sheep tracks and hill/wood paths less than 18 inches wide. you know, little single tracks.
  • Bobhellen
    Bobhellen Posts: 154
    lol it had to be said at some stage thought i would get in there first.
    "we're a forum of pointless upgraders, depreciation maximisers, and diminishing returns addicts"
  • belugabob
    belugabob Posts: 158
    mellex wrote:
    Well, my definition of singletrack would be a trail which was tight and narrow so as to allow only one route of decent or accent.

    The pedant in me feels compelled to point out that you probably meant...

    "...only one route of descent or ascent."

    But don't worry about it too much - these are very common mistakes in the MTB world
    If you didn't learn anything today, you weren't paying attention!
  • singlespeedexplosif
    singlespeedexplosif Posts: 1,564
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  • stumpyjon
    stumpyjon Posts: 3,983
    ^^ :lol:

    I think of singletrack being footpaths, double track being vehicle tracks with grass down the middle and fireroads as being boring.
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  • MattHarper
    MattHarper Posts: 489
    anything which looks like this

    IMG_1909.jpg

    as people above have said, anything which is narrow, off road and with only one way to go
    Yorkshire Man living in Somerset
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  • johnnyrotten
    johnnyrotten Posts: 216
    Thanks folks, my MTB knowledge has increased by around 78% today.

    J.C, I can't help thinking I've seen your avatar somewhere before. It's awesome! :wink:
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  • Stoo61
    Stoo61 Posts: 1,394
    Come on then lets hear the width that a path should be to be labled single track, i want numbers!! :x
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  • llamafarmer
    llamafarmer Posts: 1,848
    MattHarper wrote:
    anything which looks like this

    IMG_1909.jpg

    as people above have said, anything which is narrow, off road and with only one way to go

    No, that's just pornography.
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  • Banned!
    Banned! Posts: 34
    Stoo61 wrote:
    Come on then lets hear the width that a path should be to be labled single track, i want numbers!! :x


    no more than 18" wide with a bank of less than 4" either side, although for those on a hillside this rule may be waived for a distance of no more than 12 meteres.

    any track more than 18" inches wide shall be classified as a path and riding it makes you an old woman.
  • MattHarper
    MattHarper Posts: 489
    llamafarmer wrote:
    MattHarper wrote:
    anything which looks like this

    IMG_1909.jpg

    as people above have said, anything which is narrow, off road and with only one way to go

    No, that's just pornography.

    lol, nicey put! Its actually Dalby forest (red route) in North Yorkshire
    Yorkshire Man living in Somerset
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  • Mark_K
    Mark_K Posts: 666
    A poster i did for my lad from our boys holiday last year :)

    pbpic2893189.jpg
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  • singlespeedexplosif
    singlespeedexplosif Posts: 1,564
    that pic of Dalby is far too wide to be singletrack. Could get a bus down that.
  • BorisSpencer
    BorisSpencer Posts: 786
    singlespeedexplosif wrote:
    that pic of Dalby is far too wide to be singletrack. Could get a bus down that.

    But you couldn't get two buses down side by side, hence it's singletrack.
    Northwind wrote: It's like I covered it in superglue and rode it through ebay.
  • singlespeedexplosif
    singlespeedexplosif Posts: 1,564
    I bet you could.
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  • GT Destroyer
    GT Destroyer Posts: 1,719
    I was actually going to mention Dalby in my response to this question so I still will.

    I'm not exactly sure where it is but we refer to it as "at the back end" of the red route. We start from Dixons hollow car park.

    There is a small section which I absolutely love, its narrow, no room for walkers or dogs, or anyone coming the other way. It has green ferns either side of the trail, its fast and zippy (not like george Zippy). I had a strange experience here which I can only describe as "flow", I was in control, but out of control at the same time, the riding was so fast, and you are so close to the edge of the trail. The singletrack there is the best I have ridden on, lovely.
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  • Bikerbaboon
    Bikerbaboon Posts: 1,017
    dalby does make me smile every time i ride that place
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  • MattHarper
    MattHarper Posts: 489
    GT Destroyer wrote:
    I was actually going to mention Dalby in my response to this question so I still will.

    I'm not exactly sure where it is but we refer to it as "at the back end" of the red route. We start from Dixons hollow car park.

    There is a small section which I absolutely love, its narrow, no room for walkers or dogs, or anyone coming the other way. It has green ferns either side of the trail, its fast and zippy (not like george Zippy). I had a strange experience here which I can only describe as "flow", I was in control, but out of control at the same time, the riding was so fast, and you are so close to the edge of the trail. The singletrack there is the best I have ridden on, lovely.

    mhm, the red bit from Dixons hallow is some of the best bits to be honest, i usually do that and then head onto the NS bit and do the black to Dixons hallow. My photo was taken just of the fireroad at the start of the red section from Dixons Hallow.

    It worth paying £35 for a years pass!
    Yorkshire Man living in Somerset
    http://twitter.com/Mattharperbikin

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