What’s your favorite old-school technical trail feature?

Water bars, flat turns, and narrow mountain bike trails are becoming harder to find. Tell us which, if any, old-school tech trail features you miss to most.
By Jeff Barber

  13 comments
Singletracks may earn commissions from affiliate links and/or receive products from manufacturers for review. Read our editorial guidelines here.
A mountain biker rides through a shallow stream, splashing water as he navigates the terrain. The surrounding area features lush greenery and sunlight filtering through the leaves. Another biker can be seen in the background.
File photo.

There was a time, before purpose-built mountain bike trails, when mountain bikers encountered much jank on their everyday rides. Berms weren’t a thing, so riders did their best to carry speed through flat corners. And instead of stacked-stone technical trail features, mountain bikers tested their mettle on washed-out, root-choked gullies. (If you know where to look, there are still places to find this stuff, but it’s becoming fewer and farther between.)

Sure, some of these obstacles were annoying, but others were (and are) kinda fun to ride.

What is your favorite old-school trail feature?

Bonus question for the comments: Tell us which old-school technical trail feature you DON’T miss.

 
A narrow forest trail winding between tall trees and large moss-covered rocks, surrounded by lush greenery and earthy soil. The scene captures the tranquility of nature, with textures of tree bark, rocky surfaces, and forest undergrowth.
Mountain Bike Trails
Technical is Mountain Bikers' Dirty Word
A warehouse setting with multiple stacked cardboard boxes on metal shelves, labeled with various green and yellow stickers. The lower section features additional boxes stacked on the ground, all with labels indicating their contents. The boxes appear to be organized for inventory or shipping purposes, with handwriting visible on some boxes.
Mountain Bikes and Gear
How soon until you buy your next mountain bike?
Close-up view of a mountain bike tire featuring the name "ARDENT" in bold green text, mounted on a silver rim. The tire size is marked as 26 x 2.40, with a recommended pressure range of 35-65 PSI. The background includes a textured wall.
Mountain Bikes and Gear
Which old-school MTB feature do you miss the most?
A group of four mountain bikers sitting on a rocky surface among lush greenery. They are taking a break, chatting, and adjusting their gear. Two bikes are visible in the background. The scene captures a sunny day with colorful foliage around them.
Community
What is the most annoying habit among your riding friends?