I can't be the only person who thinks we need more colours in the trail rating system?
The problem, as I see it, is that as what has qualified as a 'black' trail has gotten relatively easier there has been pressure on the network, or at least discussion, to re-badge some more aggressive Black trails as Double-Blacks. Then there becomes the issue that, with no actual change in sports surface, a trail network can end up appearing (on a map) as unbalanced compared to its previous state.
Where our local trail network used to have a number of trails signed as 'Blue-Black' they were then converted to black trails based on the standard of rating a trail to its hardest mandatory feature. Now there are some Black trails that are exponentially easier than others, and some folks argue - rightfully - that this can create dangerous situations or at least really degrade the user experience, and I think it leads to a lot of braiding from riders who can ride a certain level of trail in their mind and are unwilling to walk mandatory features that are too difficult for them.
I think Purple is an important answer to this issue. 7th Secret - Purple. Expresso - Purple. Crinkum-to-Kirkford - Purple. Forever After - Purple.
Anyways, obviously surrounded this post in a big bubble with IMHO flashing on repeat.
April 4, 2022, 6:52 p.m. - Andrew Major
I can't be the only person who thinks we need more colours in the trail rating system? The problem, as I see it, is that as what has qualified as a 'black' trail has gotten relatively easier there has been pressure on the network, or at least discussion, to re-badge some more aggressive Black trails as Double-Blacks. Then there becomes the issue that, with no actual change in sports surface, a trail network can end up appearing (on a map) as unbalanced compared to its previous state. Where our local trail network used to have a number of trails signed as 'Blue-Black' they were then converted to black trails based on the standard of rating a trail to its hardest mandatory feature. Now there are some Black trails that are exponentially easier than others, and some folks argue - rightfully - that this can create dangerous situations or at least really degrade the user experience, and I think it leads to a lot of braiding from riders who can ride a certain level of trail in their mind and are unwilling to walk mandatory features that are too difficult for them. I think Purple is an important answer to this issue. 7th Secret - Purple. Expresso - Purple. Crinkum-to-Kirkford - Purple. Forever After - Purple. Anyways, obviously surrounded this post in a big bubble with IMHO flashing on repeat.