Why Beginner and Advanced Riders Love Blue Trails (And Intermediates Don't) 

I started riding mtb in 1987 and did a bit of racing for about 10 years. I'm 72 years old now and I ride 3 or 4 times a week on mostly singletrack. It keeps me in pretty good shape and definitely improves my mood. I have found that my reactions have slowed a little and when I do have a crash healing takes longer so I have modified my approach, try for smooth not fast and it's blue or green for me! Great video, you ride well.

I think intermediate riders have yet to develop the skills to make full use of easier features. Flow trails often have lots of intentional hidden opportunities to combine features if you're quick enough and have an eye for those.

Not everyone wants to ride down world cup DH courses. I've been mountain biking since the mid 90's and have never had a desire to fly (jump) or race. I have no desire to compare myself to other riders, nor do I feel the need to constantly ride down more and more dangerous trails. I just want to have fun riding my bike.

i'm an intermediate rider who enjoys both blues and black trails. some days i wanna push myself (and my bike) to its limit on technical steep terrain, other days i like to just chill and ride flowier stuff. nice to have options

After riding for 10+ years, making full use of blue trails and finding little Easter eggs here and there is just the most fun you can have sometimes.

I love ridong any trails, blue, black, whatever. Just enjoy what you ride. And as a kiwi (and Wellingtonian),its great to see Tom back.

Wow! Great video format, great style and visually appealing. I love how it felt like we were really out there with you riding the blues and seeing their value.

I'm a newer rider in late 50s (we exist!) who is barely intermediate, and blue trails are the most challenge I ever want. I live in an area where rocky trails far outnumber smooth, flowy trails and I'd love more green trails, TBH

No one is discussing how awesome it was to see Tom Bradshaw drop in for the video? Come on! Wicked to see ya Tom!

Just nice to see people having a grand old time on the trail. No 'how;s the suspension working' or 'do these tires have cornering grip,' just smiles and laughs

Being in the low country my local “black diamonds” are the north’s greens. I would say, as someone who loves a rush and also wants to actually improve, I’m always trying to do stuff out of my comfort zone.

I am stoked to ride there next month! Love seeing the details of trails!

Actually love riding blue graded trails, especially as most are just flat out flow trails. Brilliant for a fun full on blast, the climbs aren’t usually too technical and you always get a good reward for your efforts.

The blue hatred I have heard was reasoned thusly: Blues get hammered by beginners moving up but still blowing out corners, spreading ruts and braking bumps like an infection. I've heard more than one rider suggest just going straight to single black at populous bike parks because ridden carefully, they are less sketchy than the wrecked blues.

I just want to have fun without risking serious injury. Got nothing to prove. I love the water slide/roller coaster sensation!🤙

I pretty comfortably ride blacks but find that blue is where I have the most fun. When I don't have to worry so much or focus so hard on my technique and can just relax and enjoy

I'm definitely intermediate: just learning to jump and handle drops big enough that you can't roll them. I ride advanced trails almost exclusively right now though because I see my skills getting a smidgen better with each and every ride and for me that's where the fun is! What's wrong with that? I love the adrenaline rush of almost crashing.

Always enjoy your video's, you have a great way of connecting with the camera!

tom showing up on a hard tail with no gloves is my spirit animal

Intermediate rider here, lover a good blue trail. BUT! Blacks and Double-Blacks are perfect to push my comfort zone. Of course, I walk everything that needs to be walked first and analyzing my lines before doing big features. Life depends on it and we're no kids and work awaits on Monday hehe

I’m an intermediate rider and love all trails. I leave my ego at home when I ride, I can crash anywhere…😬

I’d say I’m an Intermediate and probably ride 95% Blue, haha! - often just can’t accept the risk that a Black+ might lead to, and the Blues are plenty challenging, fun, and often have techy bits off-line to spice them up when I’m feeling it. My ride buddies are similar so it’s good to have a crew without ego and just happy to ride what the consensus is feeling.

Pink bike has the Best videos of mtb and bike sturs

Great video Christina...I love BLUE TRAILS over a lot of BLACK TRAILS. When you're riding with friends, it's funner riding as a group. No one cares what level you can ride when you're having fun together. It's all about the VIBE and STOKENESS.

We need more Christina on PB.

As an intermediate-advanced rider, as long as it's downhill and not just a flat pedal, it can be tons of fun. Greens however I pass on; to me just not worth the time spent getting things together to go out for a ride. But man, I need to make a Squamish trip happen sometime soon in my life! Would just need several days to a week and a local guide or group.

Don't care what the trail rating is as long as I have a smile riding it 😂

A trail can be ridden for relaxation. You can step up your focus, if you want. An intermediate trail can require more focus but you get a reward potential. You can focus to the point where you get in the zone.

Love me some blue trails. Some technical blues built recently are easily as hard or have side features rivaling plenty of blacks I have been on. If they are not challenging enough, just need to go faster. Don't get me wrong, I love me some blacks and double blacks as well, but often I have the most FUN on blues and get beat up less, so I feel I can ride longer

I have a job and I have kids. I need to keep myself safe and take care of them. Not going to prove anything myself and will continue ride on blue trails. Black trails are sketchy and more of: will the bike pass that gap or those rocks which doesn't make sense for me. While blue trails are very fluid and I have plenty of fun on them.

My only gripe with blue trails, is that like any other rate trail, sometimes it's a bit too groomed and doesn't really challenge your balance or suspension and the climbs are often a chore. What i love about them is you will always be able to see features ahead instead in retrospect

Finally somebody show some blues. I didn’t think that existed there 😂

Despite having been riding MTB since 1992 (and BMX before that), I still consider myself on the upper end of intermediate and I love blues! What I don't like about them is that they often get snarled up with complete beginners who are going too slow for me to really enjoy the flow, but I don't want to put pressure on them to get out of my way. After all, we all had to start somewhere. For that reason I tend to seek out techy reds on busy weekends and easy blues on quiet trails during mid week rides.

Blues are great for fun and a bit of challenge without risking to much for those of us who cant get hurt.

Warp speed on blue to make it red 🤘

Excellent cameo - miss you Tom!

This topic can go in many different directions. Anyway, if I'm going to a trail center I start small. Then work my way up IF I need more challenge. If I'm going to one long trail, I research the hardest features and practice until I feel comfortable. Keep it simple, the biking will keep you smiling.

There are definitely a lot of old timers in the shop that I work in that are blue skill levels that ride black to try and prove something haha. I am more black skill level that is always on the lookout for blue flow trails.

My favourite trail is a gravelly flowy blue square trail. I can actually apparently do black diamonds and even some double blacks when my friends dragged me. But I really don't like doing stuff like that. I just really like going fast without worry and just focus on having fun. I'm more of a beginner though, I rarely go to trails, to the point that my MTBs both have more street orientated tires like the Schwalbe Hurricane on since they're my main bikes I use for getting around.

I think there are only two types of mtb riding : flow or tech. Both types have a difficulty spectrum... For me the dark fest, for example, is a super black flow trail. there are plenty of tech natural trails that are easier than those you ridden on this video. Tech is not always harder than flow. And one can always improve their skills on both flow and tech. Bored? Pop a manual, roost a corner, ride faster.

You said it...Ego. I've seen trails made up with small gaps vs tabletops The only difference between small gaps and tabletops is the bragging rights...and tabletops allow beginners and intermediate riders a chance to safely improve their jumping skills. Pros will always be pros, but a lot of us don't have the time, money, and natural skills to perform at that level. I've heard experienced riders tell how much they love the fast flowy blues trails just to relax and have a fun day...injury free.

I'd consider myself an intermediate rider. And for most of my rides I tend to ride mostly Blue/easier Black trails (to work on technique and flow) and will then throw in a trail that is more challenging or has a feature I'm a bit nervous about just to help myself progress (mentally more than anything tbh)

Another dimension that could be added to trail ratings besides the color code, which typically indicates a skill level requirement, is "skill ceiling". A wide blue trail with spaced apart features, and broad long berms isn't going to have a very high skill ceiling, so an advanced rider may not find it very engaging, and an intermediate won't find much progression. However a different blue trail that has the same skill floor as that trail, but is maybe narrower, has features that are more closely spaced, and turns that function as banked transitions at higher speeds will offer more to both categories of riders due to having a higher skill ceiling at the same skill floor. The 2nd trail is just as easy to ride down, but as you go faster a rhythmic element comes into play because there isn't dead space between features like the 1st trail. Trail 1 was left 8 feet wide after it was built, trail 2 was narrowed back in after construction, creating a sensation of higher speed at the same speed as trail 1, and requiring more accuracy as actual speed increases. Mountain bike trails aren't as simple as ski slopes, and if more trail builders start thinking in skill progression range, rather than just static skill level requirement, when they design, build and sign trails, then this one dimensional attitude many intermediate riders have that "gnarlier = better, every ride" will change. In many cases they aren't wrong, there are blue trails similar to what I'm describing, but a lot are much more limited than they could be.

I looove a blue trail because you can flow down it as fast as you want and it'll still be great!

Lots of fun. Love it. Great trails for sure.

Great Video! I live in the SF Bay Area and probably ride mostly Blue trails and some bordeline Black. Do another video on Black Trails please! Btw, I know a bike mechanic from my LBS who drives from here to Canada just to ride!....LOL. He said it's the Disneyland for MTB - so many riding options! I'd love to make it out there some day!!

More advanced riders can shred any level of trail and have fun. We know how to gap things that probably were not intended to gap. I also use the phrase, "Speed determines skill" a lot. A green or blue trail becomes much harder at higher speeds.

I think it depends on the blue, there are some awesome blue jump trails in Scotland that opened up recently, and there are some boring flat pedal "flow" trails as well.

I think I would consider my self as an intermediate rider (I can get down most trails just fine) but I love blue trails... A I love the flow and the opportunity of linking up corners and features and B I have had a few crashes in my time and blue trail are great for building my confidence and finally they are awesome for working on my riding the nice and basic stuff like letting the bike run (keeping of the brakes in corners) where I look when I'm riding body position so on and so forth... And big thx to Christina for and other great video!!! Greeting from Germany!!!

If you are lucky to live in a place that offers several different trails with different challenges, it would make sense to ride most of those. Maybe not Green but i would probably ride Blue a lot and then mix in harder ones when needed.

I thought a blue trail a tour local bike park was crap first time down it. Then one wet day it was the only one ride-able. Then I found I was crap and couldn't corner properly as I went again and again getting faster and faster as I learnt how to corner better. My fave natural trail in the area is very much a blue.

I couldn't agree more.

If your shuttling using pedal power - I definitely enjoy blues cos you burn off the elevation slower and get a bit more trail time in

Blue trails are like blue belts in jiu jitsu. White belts can have a good time rolling with blue belts because they can see what that next level looks/feels like without getting completely smashed and black belts like to roll with blue belts because they can try out new material on someone who really cannot threaten them (so they can focus on what they are working on) but who also knows enough defense to make them really work to refine their technique. Anyway, I like blue trails.

When is the best time of year to ride Squamish, Whistler, etc. Its a long way from Québec so one must get it right! Great video

Awesome video

as a beginner, the blue are the best ballance between fun and skill level, i find it a good place to learn speeds and gears. Jumps however are a different story

At a quick glance from behind, those saddle bags made it look like Tom was riding the entire trail in a superman position!!! 😂

Make the point, keep the fun alive, nice helmet Christina, cheers

Крутяк 🎉🎉🎉. А где презентация нового байка trek fuel ex gen 6.?)

Blue trails provide a variety of terrain, climbs, features, and usually some miles in the saddle. They are also not so mentally and physically demanding. That allows yo to regain your composure between features. Black trails are relentless and demand high skill and full attention. To me, the best trails are long blue trails with black features mixed in. These are daily the driver trails to practice on and keep progressing.

What is the music at 4:06 ? shazam and soundhound cant figure it out and i really would love to know!

what kind of bike/travel do you need for these blue trails? I know you can ride all of these on a hardtail, but just for an average guy, how much travel is recommended for these types of trail?

Demo flow trail is my fave trail ever!

Im intermediate and as much as i like blue, i keep all my crashes in them , im still figuring out the high speed stuff, im more of a road car racing person so i always try to get everything out of my tires until i slide and crash.. tech double diamond are ok, i take it like rock climbing..

Good video like always

Excellent Video 😎 Squamish Next Weekend 😁

& this be coming from the gal who hit the Cakewalk rock roll😂🤘🏻🤙🏻

If i aint puckering up, i aint having fun

Really take Tom for granted until he's gone off to see the world 😭😭😭

Half Nelson all day, everyday!!! Yeeewwwww.

I've always found, esp with my local parks, that blue trials tend to be the most inclusive of skills overs all. Sure, the featuresay not be as big as on a black trail, but biger doesn't always mean more fun. I also like how us trails always tend to, or more often than not, have ride arounds and bail outs for man made and natural feature. Where as black trails I find do not always take this into account. Also, I find a good blue trail, the builders properly incorporated the ride around so it does flow well and doe not inturpt the flow of the ride as much. I prefer more natural tech and features than the built ones, so I tend to stick to blue trails.

the problem for many intermediates is that blue trails are hard to ride at their speed. the go to fast to roll jumps but not enough to clear them. it just makes it awkward to ride. Blacks tend to be like how beginners like blue. its a challenge but they are not in that middle speed.

0:40. as a intermediate rider who is pushing the limits i think it might have to do with getting better. On blue trails i think i learn less or not as quick as on trails where i am at my limit. As a rider i need to get better something a good rider might not to deem necesarry. Also it might be the adrenalin. Also it might depend on the bike as i dont have a trail bike and an High Pivot enduro needs some trail to start to work and feel allive

I'm still a beginner. Trails like those are what I hope to ride in the near future. The trails around me in NE Kansas are pretty rough and rocky. But I'm also 4 hours from Bentonville and SW Missouri and KC has some decent trails. If not I can always drive to Colorado

I’m 29 just getting into riding, I believe the trails I’m doing in the city are about blue. I don’t think I would have that much fun doing anything harder.

I like when good riders bag on a easy (blue or green) trails. I'm more of that green trail is a blast if you go faster.

"Mexico"... 😂 is that a suburb in the lower north island, Tom? 🇳🇿

I prefer Black trails because the blues and greens are too easy and I’m not good enough to get creative on them. Black trails are straight to the point

the difference between blue and black is the number of smiles and whoaa vs oh shit I'm gonna die moments. I definitely prefer the first.

Having the biggest pickup truck on the mountain - drives with the half-lid on 😆 Bonus: Doesn't even come close to hitting the roof inside!

Y'all gotta get Tom back on once he's done with his trip. He's my favorite presenter.

As someone from Madeira, come check out our blue trails if you think you are advanced, be prepared for some big gaps as trail rating here is a bit dodgy

Blues in Canada are reds in the UK

As an intermediate rider, i do find some blue are fun but my goal is to improve. When i want to have a relaxing ride i just go slower.

Tom! When’s that guy going start his own channel?

My first ride was on a black😂Barely survived

You know what they say, its not about what the trail is like, it's about how you ride... most of the time

I do not think we have green trails on the north shore :(

Blue trails can be fun if they have good flow. IMBAfied "flow" trails that are just grade reversals, flat corners and super pedally are not good for flow. Blue tech is usually just moderate chunk and switchback central and is often not that interesting to ride. With intermediate riders they often find blue trails boring because they lack the speed to get into a flow state on a blue trail

I will tell you right now it is becuse the craze to turn Mountain Bike into BMX trick stuff off road by some who never progress enough to make use of the micro nuances that some blue trails offer and even sizing down to a 24 inch wheel mountain bike doing all these flips and crap that too me belong with a subgroup not on long rides or the like but on specific trick events that go downhill only. Sure they did some odd side moves but that was to keep on course and so on, it was just played up in movies were they are doing off road BMX racing almost like a skateboard grab move when it is not.

I like riding steep DH tech, and blue DH tech isnt typically that great. There are fun blue flow trails tho, but groomed flow and jumps arent my preference so there. I promise there's nothing to prove in that, stop worrying about egos :)

The Adrenaline Rush is a big incentive ...

Every advanced rider was once an intermediate and they became advanced by pushing their limits. Not necessarily because of ego

TOM!

How is that a blue trail, it’s wide as heck and super smooth, should be a green

A "Quebec blue" is definately a thing...

So your a gmc girl?

Does christina does cutties like bryn ? Love to see that ❤❤❤❤

Christina is sucha boss 💪🏽