TrailForks App and Color-Coded Trails: What the Colors Mean for Your Ride
Here in Ontario, restrictions are beginning to ease, and things are returning to some level of 'normal.' With that, the opportunity to travel to new places and ride our mountain bikes is on the horizon!
An app called TrailForks is a great tool for checking out a new trail system. It has a free version and a paid version. It's highly recommended that you use the paid version to support such a great tool and keep improving its functionality.
When looking at this app and maps of various trail systems, you will see different colours on the map. What do all these mean, and how will they impact your ride?
Purple = double track or access road
Green = beginner
Blue = Intermediate
Black = Advanced
Red = Expert
Trails are rated based on their width, surface, average gradient, maximum gradient, natural obstacles, and technical features. Check out this awesome resource from IMBA (International Mountain Bike Association), which explains how trails are rated and what to expect.
If you've been to a ski resort before, you'll likely recognize this colour-rated system and its meaning - the same applies to mountain bike trails.
I also would like to point out that while trails in Ontario adhere to the ratings above, a black diamond trail in Ontario will not be as challenging as a black diamond trail, say, in B.C. or Quebec. So, if travelling and adventuring with your bike are on the horizon, be sure to start with some of the easier trails first to get a better understanding of how challenging a trail system will be.
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