Personally stuff that is "technical" in terms of rocky ascents etc I am not a fan of. Frankly do my head in. Probably because I am useless at them and need to be more proficient. I seem to happy on flowier stuff.
So who likes and who doesnt? I always have a thought that riding an MTB I should have some deep rooted love of technical tight trails but not me sir. Crawling up some steep rocky incline just doesnt float my boat. Be interested to hear what you go for/avoid like the plague.
The faster it is the happier I am.
Love 'em, but when they're pointing downwards.
Love the challenge of them up, and the fun of them down.
Climbing fine, descending I'd much rather something fast and flowing though.
Love it. Steeper the better. But I wouldn't want to ride it exclusively. Variety is where it's at.
Love both. But really really enjoy super slow tech stuff too.
Something like La Varda is a giggle.
Faster (down) = better + more exciting + cannot see all the sharp pointy rocks trying to kill you
Slower (down) = sharp pointy rocks will try to kill you
Encountered quite a lot of these climbs over Dartmoor a few weeks back. Initially I was quite enjoying the challenge, but the novelty soon wore off as my legs started getting weary. If I had Olympic levels of fitness I think I would enjoy them all the time. To summarise - I like them when I feel fresh and full of energy.
Up and down I like a bit of nadgery twisty tech best (even on a 29er!!!). Fast and flowy is good too though...
I tend to enjoy both slow technical stuff and fast flowy stuff, variety is good!
I find technical trails are best when they are undulating - the cheeky over the top of burbage for example.
Not sure about the technical bit, I just hate slow flat trails. When riding on Pitch Hill in Surrey Hills, I often warm up on T0 (I think) which is flat, simple trail. 8/10 I will fall off on a wet root or something simple. It gets me every time. Some warm up!!!!
Case in point is today. nipped out for a lunch ride and took a new track I had seen but wondered where it went. Quickly ended up being a rocky grind up a gloopy narrow track. In the end it was foot down and push job. Through a gate and it got steeper still with more of the same.
It dawned on me that I just was not enjoying myself at all and wished I hadn't bothered.
Now the flagged bit over ilkley moor from Cowpur Cross and then down to Burley Moor...I enjoyed riding that last weekend loads.
depends on the mood i'm in and my fitness levels at any given time. yes and no is the answer.
I love 'em. Better value, you climb for the same length of time and it takes longer to get back down 😉
Not really on the main climbing - but then who wants to ride a 400m gain up singletrack? But I like a few short sharp techie uphill bits here and there on the downhills. There is one undulating ridge line that I ride which has 4 short techie climbs and people seem to really dig the challenge.
My favourite types of trails are ones with a mix of both flowy faster sections and slower techie bits (i.e like a bunch of tight switchbacks or boulder shicains) all mixed together. Not big into trialesque riding but sections that require a bit of trackstanding, wheelie hops and tornadoes are also a lot of fun too.
Variety is what I like.
Fast and Flowy for me!
Absolutely love difficult technical tiring uphills. Even prefer them to downhills. Something that's right at the limit of what you can do. Maybe something that takes a few attempts before you crack it.
Case in point is the sandstone slabs between Hollins Cross and Mam Tor. They start off easy and flat, get steeper, get stepped, get steeper and more stepped. Then a little switchback to really kill you.
* strictly speaking it's no longer bridleway at this point, since the BW sneaks off right, but anyway.
Or the hill at CyB just after the huge waterfalls. You know, you go over the humpback bridge, up a steep short road climb, turn left then immediately right up this diagonal path.
Years ago (12+?) that hill used to be excellent. There were a few rocky tricky sections, which combined with the length of it was quite a challenge. Now it's just a tedious slog after they've removed the difficult bits.
I like a challenge, needs to be something every so often to break up the trail otherwise it's a bit one dimensional.
fast and flowy - but you have to accept that to get that you have to do the long climbs, but even those are can be good albeit harder work
if I wanted to go fast I'd be on a road bike, technical and nadgery is where its at. Add a bit of thrutch if it's uphill
Add a bit of thrutch if it's uphill
You know, you can get a cream, or pessary for that?
I love flow but steep techy slo-mo DH stuff is great. I watched the first 2 Kranked films far too many times. When we started out on cheap Raleighs etc we used to ride steep slopes in the bomb holes or other steep lines locally. Stuff with chainset-scraper roll-ins and tight sandy corners etc. The 'pussy of the week' game - if you bottled a steep roll-in that the rest cleared, you were it. Going OTB was fine, you tried. Techy climbing challenges were good but less funny. It's all just skills+fitness tests.
We've spent time sessioning techy rocky climbs at 2000m+ in the Alps. Daft but fun once you start. Too much of it when you're tired is frustrating tho - there's a limit.
Absolutely love them, as much as fast rolling stuff, although it wrings the skills out of you to make it flow. It's not everyone's idea of mountain biking.
[b]honourablegeorge[/b] - Member
Love it. Steeper the better. But I wouldn't want to ride it exclusively. Variety is where it's at.
this
As a matter of fact I don't like going fast, I don't even like medium 😳
Love that kind of stuff. Better at the DH end than the climbing side (my trials skills and ultimate power output aren't really good enough), but stuff like LaVarda or some of the cheeky Peaks stuff is when I end up riding my best. You just have to commit so hard mentally and physically to make it come together - when you get it right it does flow.
Bloody hard on both me and the bike though. Gritstone just shaves skin, ally, plastic, carbon off like it's butter.
Variation is best but if I HAD to choose, downwards and flow would rule.
The Watendlath climb from Keswick has never been cleaned, but I think its possible,a few locals have done it with a few dabs, I absolutely love the challenge of techy trails and up here in the lakes theres miles of it.
Slow technical climbs are ok but too many are NFM [ Not for Mortals] and just a oush IME.
Down I do enjoy a technical ricky descent as it pits your skills rather than your nerve/balls - I am old and take too long to recover these days
Did 5 hours once with 2000m climbing and an average of 3.5 mph!!
It's pretty much all there is around me, unless you like fireroads. I've learned to love it and appreciate the challenge of making it flow, or just plain 'making it'. The few occasions I get out to smoother, flowier stuff it just doesn't me giggle in a "did I really just do that?" kind of way.
Thrutchcore rocks!
As satisfying as flowy fast trails are, its all a bit too easy. I prefer nadgery stuff that barely flows - up and down maximum effort of lungs legs and skills, right up to when I fall off 
Stuff that is actually downhill but you still have to pedal and throw yourself at step ups, water bars, becks and preferably some random bog action. Angle Tarn, Ullswater Shore and the lower part of Nan Bield all only flow if you can join the dots.
Oh and if its pure tech climbs then yes the challenge of rocks roots and muck are what separates mountain bikers from roadies.
Not a big fan. I prefer my descents to be fast and swoopy with big berms and proper sized jumps. Dirt Merchant, Black/Blue Velvet and Crank It Up are the perfect trails for my tastes! Don't mind a bit of tech every now and then but its not the funnest for me. I dont mind a good technical climb though! Although saying that there is some fun to be had with battering through a rough as **** section of roots or rocks.
I enjoy a good technical rocky climb. On a good day when I've got plenty of energy, I love clearing a rocky climb as much as I enjoy descending.
Yep, La Varda was one of the best descents I've ever done.
Thrutchcore, superb. Silly steep, fixed rock, pick a line is some of my favourite riding. Very technical climbing, if I'm in the mood yeah
I like a bit of tech up and down. But idea of tech is probably someone else's flowing. A mixture is best though.
I like all of it and used to be pretty good at picky technical stuff, but my balance has gone off over the last year so I spend more time stalling and falling than hopping skipping and jumping.
Obviously I need a new bike.
Fast technical for me, maybe with a bit of flow mixed in.
No idea how I found this thread, but did PinDale clean at the weekend and was very chuffed with myself. Perfect example of slow technical gnadgery trail that needs a reasonable amount of skill and technique to do.
Lots of fun.
Going up? Steady singletrack with the odd tech bit thrown in.
Going down? All is good, even those really wide BMX style sections that most trail centres have these days. If its going down super steep stuff I prefer it to be tree lined and loamy - more stuff to grab hold of and its softer if I miss.
I like them. There's a sheep track on the Malvern's that is about 12" wide and goes up, down, over roots, rocks. I see it as a real challenge to get round without a foot down..not done it very often tho 😳
I like 'em, up and down, a perfectly acceptable part of the mix.
I prefer trails which come alive
Much prefer downhill to be technical.. for me I just don't like doing fast speeds on a flow trail with trees cm's from the bars. I'd much prefer more technical and with the slower associated speeds.
Epic thread resurection!No idea how I found this thread, but did PinDale clean at the weekend and was very chuffed with myself. Perfect example of slow technical gnadgery trail that needs a reasonable amount of skill and technique to do.
Pindales hardly technical though, it's (almost) a road! Cavedale next door is a much better challenge. That, stanage plantation, cut gate, blacka moor (especialy blacka moor) and Bradwell clough are probbaly my favourite trails in the Peak, if not the country!
I like a nice mix.
Love fast open trails with drifty turns, followed by huge bermed corners and easy jumps (not nececeraly small, but I've a fear of failure and would much rather do a step-up than a similar sized drop/gap). Then having to slam the anchors on to get round a tight corner, down a rocky chute or negotiate some steps before letting the brakes off as soon into the feature as I dare and zooming out of it into the next section.
When im fresh i quite enjoy a technical, slow up.
DH, i like the challenge of making stuff that does not obviously flow, flow, well even on smoother stuff, im always looking for different ways of getting more free speed and flow.
Plus if something is too simple/just doesn't have any other options than the obvious, im not into pointlessly going flat out, spending all that hard earned gradient on mind numbing stuff on the way back down, this is a big reason why i'm not the biggest fan of your traditional peak district riding, a lot of work for something no that demanding back down. If it's lift assisted, i dont mind too much if im wasting my height gain.
I love it- it's just better value isn't it, sometimes you spend half an hour climbing and 30 seconds descending at warp speed, give me a nice slow hard trail that'll take 20 times longer to reach the bottom.
Pindales hardly technical though, it's (almost) a road! Cavedale next door is a much better challenge.
Hmph. There is no way whatsoever I could get up Cavedale clean. Chapeau to you sir if you can.
Just to be awkward, I like flowing, technical stuff.
Steep, rocky, switchbacks, keeps on coming at ya' but without becoming a trials-fest either. Since we seem to be talking about la Varda, I like the middle better than the end. Although the end is good too.
Not been to many trail centres but it seems that tight and twisty is their holy grail.
Not for me , I like fast and swoopy.
Just to be awkward, I like flowing, technical stuff.
Steep, rocky, switchbacks, keeps on coming at ya' but
without becoming a trials-fest either. Since we seem to be
talking about la Varda, I like the middle better than the
end. Although the end is good too.
Pretty much that.
The ending to La Varda is where I'm most likely to spanner myself. Fast with the occasional bit of tech I'm going way too quick into.
I love slow techy stuff - both upwards and downwards.... I do like faster stuff as well especially if it is very flowy!
Congrats if you got up pindale in a oner - that is a real bstard climb.thegeneralist - MemberPindales hardly technical though, it's (almost) a road! Cavedale next door is a much better challenge.
Hmph. There is no way whatsoever I could get up Cavedale clean. Chapeau to you sir if you can.
Put a decent dent in the cavedale descent recently, still miles away from cleaning it though. It's a slippery customer - can't mince down it, need to carry some speed.
Love e`m! 😉
Burchy1 - MemberThe ending to La Varda is where I'm most likely to spanner myself. Fast with the occasional bit of tech I'm going way too quick into.
Might be where I crashed... "Phew, that's the hard stuff done with, so I'll just ride into this rock at a kabillion miles an hour..."
I've been developing a penchant for technical, either up or down. The challenge and fun is to extract the flow from the trail, using your skills and experience.
As Buzz said here 12 months ago, its not everyone's cup of tea though.
This weekend I had the joy of the lake district, descending Nethermost pike down to Wythburn via Comb Crags. Simply brilliant.
I love the challenge of steep rocky climbs which take your skills and lungs to the limit, unfortunately there aren't any really techy ones local to us just fitness slogs up slippery hillsides to keep it interesting (still challenging in certain weathers). I've ridden some great climbs in places like the Peaks and Lake District though. No better way to earn your downhill in my opinion.
Nadge-core. Love it. Except the offs, which are hurty.
Hate wide/open fast trails. Love tight/tech slow steep.
It's where it's at for me.
For "fast", "flowy", "jumpy", "wide" insert..."easy" 😛
Not a fan of technical rocky climbs, don't mind a good climb with switchbacks to break it up though. Much prefer technical downs though, although it has taken me a while to get the confidence back on them this year. Can't beat a good fast flows descent every once in a while too.
The technical riding I do has helped for when I'm riding the flowing stuff too, it's all about balance, utilising the technical lines as a route across rather than a route around.
Can't wait to go back to the Lakes again.
You can keep your flowing swoopy berms and groomed jumps. I'll take stuttering rock steps roots drops and awkward jutting rocks that eat side wall please. Off to Patterdale tomorrow where it isn't flowy.
Yep, La Varda was one of the best descents I've ever done.
hmm I must be the exception in here, thought it was a bit average compared to some of the other stuff I did out there.
I enjoy the technical challenge (descending) when I'm riding well, it then flows like any other trail just in a different technical way where you have to position the bike for every single part and to know where and when it will flow out of a particular situation. Just knowing/feeling where to roll/pump/pause/adjust is a very rewarding feeling. Watching some of the guys in rampage threading the eye of a needle then just dropping in is very impressive to watch.
On the ups if fitness is on my side I'll give anything a go.
whilst i find them fun i'm not too bothered about groomed 'flowy' bmx-track style trails like at most trail centres. they tend to be so formulaic you can predict exactly whats coming up 3 or 4 corners ahead. sometimes when at glentress or hamsterley i have a little co-pilot in my head going 'crest to right hand berm to piddly rock garden to easy table top to (insert another IMBA approved trail feature here) etc....', and tbh when i was riding mainly at trail centres a few years ago i felt like i was stuck in a bit of a MTB Groundhog Day
give me off camber rooty rocky trails with steep switchbacks and with zero space for error/guaranteed death any day 😈
Hmph. There is no way whatsoever I could get up Cavedale clean. Chapeau to you sir if you can.
I assumed we were talking about decending it, chapeau for climbing it!
Can't do slow I just topple over below 5-6 mph
Yes I like steep slow technical trails, the challenge of going slow enough to be in control but fast enough to not get stuck and anyway variety is the name of the game.
I enjoy challenging myself to ride slowly, neatly and in total control. It often results in me walking.