What do you love about Singletracks?

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    • #234927

      What do you love about Singletracks?  I mean the website & online community, not the trail type.  I was thinking this morning (morning here in Mongolia) about Maureen’s article, and thankful that she shared her pain with us.  How cool and important it is that she so openly shared such a truly personal moment of her life.  IMO, Singletracks is that way, and that’s one of the many many things I appreciate about the site.   There are lots of personal experiences shared — in the context of mountain biking of course — but still, there is a personal, human side to Singletracks that I don’t see on other bike sites.

      So what elements of Singletracks do you love?  It could be community oriented or a technical feature … anything.  Jeff, Greg and the team do such a great job.  Let’s take a moment, give them some Kuddos, and let them know that we don’t take them for granted.  And no, neither Jeff nor Greg, put me up to this. =)

    • #234937

      I’d have to say the people. I could ask just about any mountain bike-related question here and I would get an answer from somebody. I haven’t been here for very long but I’m impressed with how friendly people are here, and that’s a rare thing on the internet. I’ve seen nothing but positivity and encouragement to beginners, which is also something I’ve seen from mountain bikers in general; just about everyone I’ve talked to on the trail has been happy to be out riding.

      We all love mountain biking, and even though many of us like different aspects of it and enjoy it in different ways we’re all partaking in the same sport, which gives us some common ground, and I think that’s a good thing.

       

      Also the trail database is pretty darn useful.

    • #234939

      I find the SINGLETRACKS  Mtb trails section real useful when searching out new places to travel  to and ride , also  usually up to date trail conditions .

      I also like the fact it tracks where you’ve been, photos,etc…and posts  the info and pics you’ve added

      I guess also the quick stories and reviews

      I used to visit race car sites everyday ……things have changed

      Its now biking and  single tracks

    • #234940

      Like lhzawd, for me it has to be the trail listing section; fantastic resource.  ST has by far the best trail reviews and photos by users of any site on the net.  Plus, I love posting up new trails.  It’s been a blast, posting up all the trails I have had the privilege of exploring  in Mongolia.  I also like how no one slams other posters on ST.

    • #234941

      In my experience this is the best MTB forum I’ve found on the Internet. I’ve received good advice on many of the stupid questions I’ve asked. It’s usually to-the-point and isn’t infested with trolls. I’ve made a habit of checking the forum once a day at times.

    • #234942

      I found this site simply by doing web searches for trails in my area. At the time, I was getting back into the sport and eager to ride the best trails in my region. Having a site that has maps, reviews, photos, etc helped me find new trails and progress as a rider (and probably as human).

    • #234955

      For me it’s all about the articles.  I like the personal feel of the articles, where other sites feel much more commercialized and corporate.  This site is much more relatable.  As others have said, I like how everyone here seems to be congenial.  I’ll differ from the others, however, when it comes to the maps.  I’m a cheap-skate and have not shelled out the $25 per year to see the maps on this site.  I can see the trails that are in the database and can read the reviews and look at the pictures, but I don’t have access to the actual topo maps of each trail.  Honestly, I haven’t felt like I’ve been missing anything with other great resources freely available on the web, like mtbproject and trailforks.  Now granted, I’ve contributed a great deal to the mtbproject database, but I feel that its map is more complete at least in my area.

    • #235028

      The articles and the forum are a great resource for info and entertainment.  The database of trails are also one of my favorites.  Wish the app had a better mapping / navigation feature like mtb or trail forks.

    • #235032

      I like the podcast, articles, trail descriptions, videos and the weekly Roll Call.

    • #235093

      Like most others have commented I was drawn to the site when I first started MTB’ing several years ago and began looking for additional trails to ride.  Going through the trail reviews was very helpful and really enabled me to determine where I would ride especially when traveling.  That got me interested in the site and after that I pretty much accessed most of other content pretty routinely.  I love that fact that rides/races are listed. I find the videos, articles, podcasts and product reviews of interest (to varying degrees), and the forums can be a very valuable  resource.  With all that said, it would be nice to get input from other members as I thought I heard Jeff or Aaron say the 150th podcast was downloaded 1 million (???) times so there must be a sh!tload of MTB’ers out there that aren’t as active in these forums as they may be on other sites.  I would urge more users to post up trail reviews, trail conditions, product reviews and contribute to forum posts as it adds value for the entire community.

    • #235100

      For me, Singletracks has a nice balance of trail listing, reviews, articles, and forums.  Singletracks is my one stop shop for trail listing!

    • #235202

      Here’s the things I like:

      – the vibe that we’re all just digging the fact we get to go out and play in the dirt.

      – when every page greets me with a magnificent photo or rocking video, rather than a barrage of ads.

      – that it feels like a bunch of good folks sharing the big buzz they get riding.

      – that Greg didn’t mince words when TWO pairs of shoes fell apart on his feet during a product review.

      – knowing that no matter where I go, I can find some great riding!

       

       

    • #235203

      I forgot to add that through Singletracks I get a chance to meet amazing people from all over the world. Case in point –  Mongwolf, the originator of this thread.

      Brother, I have to know: what the riding’s like in freakin’ Mongolia??!!  And I’m probably not the only one who’d like to hear how you ended up there!

    • #235244

      I came across this site when I started riding after getting a stern lecture from the doctor. It was part of a complete lifestyle overhaul. The mix of introductory materials, troll-free forums and trail descriptions were a perfect resource for this newbie. This site even helped me in a career decision. I ended up taking a job involving some travel and setting a personal goal to go exploring new trails. Knowing there were good trails all around the area I would travel took away some of the apprehension.

      The Singletracks trail lists are much more complete in the Midwest than some of the other resources. I use the maps sometimes, but the directions to the trailhead are the most important tool.

    • #237327

      Timm, I missed your post above asking about Mongolia.  So it’s probably far too late for you to see this, but I’ll post a reply anyway in hopes that you see this someday.  First, riding in Mongolia?  The short answer is “backcountry awesomeness”.  Now for the extended answer.  There is no trail made for bikes, nor any trail that was intentionally constructed.  No trail has a name or has been identified as an official trail.  It is basically just all unexplored backcountry.  All the trails were made by either herdsmen on horses, their cattle, wildlife game trails (from elk, deer, wolves, mountain goats, etc), or illegal woodcutters and others going into the forest in old Russian jeeps.  The trails are either singletrack or two track.  Most of the two track I ride is actually really cool.  It is often faint and digressing into singletrack.  Some of the singletrack is bare dirt (thin organic or light granite scree), but much of it has an organic layer of larch needles on top of it because so few people use them … and yet not overgrown because it is a dry climate.   In one word the conditions are pristine with absolutely gorgeous forests on mountain slopes and high ridges and open grassy slopes — much like Montana.  You can be just a mile or two from the edge of the capital (of 1.5 million people) and be in wilderness conditions.  Actually much of what I ride/explore on a weekly basis in and around the capital is gorgeous wilderness but still within the city limits.  Every trail I have ever ridden in Mongolia but one, I have discovered on my own or with a friend or two.  I usually find the trails by looking at Google Earth “sat” images and trying to make out what might be a trail and where it might be heading.  So whether you are near the capital or out in the “countryside”, the riding is huge on exploration.  Most everything I have ridden, my buddies and I have been the first and only to put a bike tire.  Most ascents and descents are a half mile to five miles long.  Some ascend and descend 1000′ or so in a mile.  So it can be quite steep and with extended hike-a-bike section.  In some mountain ranges it is not uncommon to have your bike on your shoulder for parts of the ascent.  Most often the descents are blazing fast and often with your bum hanging over the rear tire.  You definitely want some slack head tube angle and travel up front. =)  Well, I could go on and on, but I’m sure that’s more than enough.  Thanks for asking.  I am most definitely spoiled, and I am never bored having to ride the same trail over and over again.  Ride on !!!!!!!!!

      • #237350

        Mong, that sounds like some fantastic riding!! I would LOVE to ride trails that no one else has before. Wow – now I have to think about budget flights to Mongolia!

        Ride on, my friend. Ride on.

        Timm

         

         

    • #237354

      Hey Timm.  Soooooo glad you saw my message.  Very cool.  Well this is the time to fly to Mongolia.  For years the flights were $1400 – 2000 round trip during the offseason.  But the past couple of years, we’ve been flying back and forth to the US for $850 to $1000 (roundtrip).  It seems to be a little higher this year, but it’s still relatively low.  If you come, I have one suggestion.  Don’t go with a tour group who says they do mountain biking.  Two problems.  One, they just put you on dirt roads, and they have no idea what mountain biking really is and the amazing trail base that exists in the country.  Two, their bikes are really low end models.  I strongly suggest that you bring your own bike with you.  Or you can contact the Trek store in UB (Ulaanbaatar) and see what rental models they have for that year and what kind of deal they will give you.  But you should do that ahead of time.  If you get serious about the idea, please let me know.  I would be happy to help out any way I can.  I may not be living in Mongolia much longer, but I will be returning regularly.  So we could even do a trip together if you were game for that.  I think if we said we were going and gave enough lead time (maybe a year or so) Greg might even jump in on the trip.  I can’t speak for him of course, but there seemed to be some interest there in the past.  We could do an unofficial Singletracks.com MonGOlia trip.  The best times are May, June, later August, September, early October.  July is can be too hot and too many bugs.  Late September and early October are BEAUTIFUL with the fall colors.  The first measurable snow always occurs before the 10th of October (oftentimes in September), but you can usually keep riding with some fallen snow (way beautiful).  But be aware, over a 20 year period or so, I have been in blizzards (at camp) in my work and on family vacations as late as June 7th and as early as September 9th.  You just have to be prepare, and its no problem … just makes for more adventure. =)

    • #237450

      My favorite site. It keeps me in touch. I read everything by Greg Heil who is the best MTB writer that I have ever read. He is right on with almost every issue–thoughtful, informed, and possesses a keen insight that is unique. Keep it up.

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