As newer North American riders get confused "where's the red trails". You guys should do a video comparing the European trail rating system (Blue, Red, Black, Double Black) to the North American trail rating system (Green, Blue, Black, Double Black, Pro Line). The rating systems definitely don't line up exactly. Your example trails, your blue would also be a blue in most North American trail systems, your example red trail would also probably be a blue or a blue/black in most North American trail systems. It's also common to see higher rated alt lines on blue trails in North America, and in a well run trail system those alt lines will have signs indicating their difficulty.
I’d definitely agree with the comment at the start of the video that there’s little consistency between red trails around the country. I notice this because they’re at the edge of what I can ride and enjoy. I’ve been on red trails that have been fun and I’ve been on red trails where I’ve hated every minute of them because they’ve been too technical for me. With that in mind, for me at least, it’s not red versus blue, it’s finding a trail that pushes you a little but not so much that it freaks you out and damages your confidence
I agree. Once I hit a green that scared me more than the blacks. I think the people rating them come from varying backgrounds so you always need to do a cautious run first.
I’ve thrown my bike away on unfamiliar blues and yet I fly down my local reds & blacks. The local blue runs are still a challenge as speed or style can be worked on. Ride them all, just use your head to avoid biting off more than you can chew. Session sections that feel spooky or keep them in mind and try to find a less full-on version. Progression is satisfying, let’s you take calculated risks and that often avoids the stopper-injury. Its far more fun to back off & ride another day than to be competing to see who is the kamikaze rider of the day.
Yup, it comes down to the local trail system. On my ride yesterday I rode two very famous trails in Colorado Springs. The first downhill was Captain Jack's, it is rated blue, but is downright scary to ride because while the features aren't that big, the trail surface is extremely loose gravel so you never really have much grip and it has some sketchy exposed sections. The second downhill was the Chutes downhill trail, it is rated black as it has some good sized jumps and drops on it, but is extremely well built and is less sketchy to ride because of that despite the bigger features.
As a rail fairy, these sort of vlogs are gold. Just started cutting in a new jump line, have enough room to build some tables next to gaps...bit more work is worth it. Thx for the reminder 🤘
As you said, the colours depend on where you are. I have been in some places where you can‘t ride down a red with the intention to just look at it and be able to stop because they are so steep that you just can‘t stop.
the laurentian conservation trail network in north bay ontario has green blue black and an orange proline... ive never done a red trail lol. have to drive out to the far side of trout lake and do north bays north shore for a red trail
I've hit reds that feel like blues and blues that felt like reds. Cheese Roller at Flyup 417 is a blue but due to a lot of fast tight corners and being a longer trail means that it's more draining than the red Dubby Skipper. It's also more exposed with a much less pleasant drop in.
Dismissed a blue at a local park as rubbish, lacked flow, too nagery. Visited on a wet day when the reds were just slick mud so spent the day on the blue. Totally changed my mind as I learnt to find the flow and ride it propperly; now one of my fave tracks there.
I love riding reds and blacks , but I really love riding a flowy blue and just getting it just right. Can't wait to give the new blue at Fort Bill a go when it opens.
Yeah, the go pro effect is real. I looked at some videos on the trail I used to ride, and all the sections I usually had trouble with just seemed so trivial in the video.
Blue trails teach you how to go fast, jump, pump and corner. Black diamond (red) trails teach you technical steep descents, how to properly brake and how to do drops and ride in slippery conditions.
Yup It's all down to the trail network. On my local trails, on the black rated trails (North American black) the main challenge is the tech climbs, the downhills aren't that hard
Good video but a little confusing, because here in British Columbia a red trail well that a pro line. Your blues are our greens, and your reds are our blues. But still a great video I really enjoyed it.
Red is my suggestion. Blue is just to tame and you can't progress if you don't push yourself as a ride. If you're watching this channel you want to progress. Use Blake's philosophy and go slow but do it on the red I dropped my 20 mile lap times by 28 minutes in a matter of a few months
There are trails by my house that are the opposite. The red an orange trails are shorter and easier. While the blue and green trails are longer and more technical.
I just ride what I have, no "dedicated " trails here... mostly open feilds, wooded paths, dirt roads, etc.....not hilly here either .. can be kinda swampy at times also
It's been raining for 5 weeks here and while I have some trails near me, they've been unrideable. I've taken to the streets downtown to supplement the trail experience. Our downtown area has hills built for fountains, lots of stair sets and curb features to practice jumping.
There are no red trails in the states and especially where we live. Our green trails are true singletrack that are probably tougher than any blue trail outside the states. Our blue trails are rocky, rooty and gnarly and would probably be considered black overseas. For years I rode black trails on a singlespeed. Now that I'm in my 60's, I save the singlespeed for blue trails and ride the full suspension on black.
What region is this? Trail ratings are at least somewhat consistent in the US, with some notable exceptions (Grand Junction blues would be blacks in most systems)
I rode the blue trail (bottle rocket) at rogate the other day on my short travel trailbike, and it was more tech than most things I ride, with rooty sections strait into berms, I was more just trying to stay off my face then actually learn anything sadly
Isn't it crazy all POV videos make everything look flat. Then when you get their you're looking over the edge of a cliff saying "the video made it look easier"!
Good flow trails are enjoyable. IMBA "Flow" trails i.e. featureless multi-use trails with tons of grade reversals are boring. It's why tech trails are often more popular in local trail systems as they take less effort to build (just cut trail through a gnarly looking area and call it good). In North America at least it takes a huge effort to get a bike only flow trail built outside of a bike park. An example, the front range of Colorado, which has a massive MTB community and hundreds of trails only has 3 trails that would meet the general definition of a good flow trail, and they've only been built within the last few years.
Unfortunately there is no real standard as to what constitutes a blue, red, black, double black, double orange... it all varies park to park, region to region. The trail system I ride on often (in the USA) has blues that make the red trail in this video look like a joke. But the reality is the "blue" trails at said park are underrated. I wish there were a universal standard that all trail systems would homogenize their ratings against.
It’s horrible! Don’t you know that you’re supposed to own a 2000 mm full suspension bike with a 500 hp motor, anti-gravity and inertial dampening these days?! 😁
Respect! I love my Gary Fisher but it is a real challenge when the weather turns. Having said that, my Whyte 905 is much quicker on local reds - the riding position just feels right pointing down the way. I think modern hardtail geometry has blurred the lines with full suspension so much, often the biggest difference is how sore your ass gets. :)
I don't think we have red trails here in Cleveland Ohio I know we have blue green white black and double black maybe down south further in Ohio we might have something like that
Red must be a UK thing. Never cared for ski ratings on MTB trails, it doesn't really fit. Any red, black, double black is easy going down. But even green can be horrible to get up. Should be more like climbing ratings (to make it even more confusing). Flow 5.8, rough 5.10, > 50% risk of puncture or rim failure 5.12+, 50% risk of injury 5.12R, slight risk of death 5.12X, certain death 5.12XXX.
As newer North American riders get confused "where's the red trails". You guys should do a video comparing the European trail rating system (Blue, Red, Black, Double Black) to the North American trail rating system (Green, Blue, Black, Double Black, Pro Line). The rating systems definitely don't line up exactly. Your example trails, your blue would also be a blue in most North American trail systems, your example red trail would also probably be a blue or a blue/black in most North American trail systems. It's also common to see higher rated alt lines on blue trails in North America, and in a well run trail system those alt lines will have signs indicating their difficulty.
More Hard tail videos possibly?
Yes!!!!
@@nikibloxsidge1701 hum, nah
Check all of Blake's older videos, the sponsors unfortunately dictate a little too much it seems
x2
I’d definitely agree with the comment at the start of the video that there’s little consistency between red trails around the country. I notice this because they’re at the edge of what I can ride and enjoy. I’ve been on red trails that have been fun and I’ve been on red trails where I’ve hated every minute of them because they’ve been too technical for me. With that in mind, for me at least, it’s not red versus blue, it’s finding a trail that pushes you a little but not so much that it freaks you out and damages your confidence
I agree. Once I hit a green that scared me more than the blacks. I think the people rating them come from varying backgrounds so you always need to do a cautious run first.
@@kalelragnar What Green was that?
@@leahthompson1 It was in Phoenix, Arizona. On the Hawes trails. The blacks were fun but there was 1 green in particular that was tougher.
I’ve thrown my bike away on unfamiliar blues and yet I fly down my local reds & blacks. The local blue runs are still a challenge as speed or style can be worked on. Ride them all, just use your head to avoid biting off more than you can chew. Session sections that feel spooky or keep them in mind and try to find a less full-on version. Progression is satisfying, let’s you take calculated risks and that often avoids the stopper-injury. Its far more fun to back off & ride another day than to be competing to see who is the kamikaze rider of the day.
Yup, it comes down to the local trail system. On my ride yesterday I rode two very famous trails in Colorado Springs. The first downhill was Captain Jack's, it is rated blue, but is downright scary to ride because while the features aren't that big, the trail surface is extremely loose gravel so you never really have much grip and it has some sketchy exposed sections. The second downhill was the Chutes downhill trail, it is rated black as it has some good sized jumps and drops on it, but is extremely well built and is less sketchy to ride because of that despite the bigger features.
As a rail fairy, these sort of vlogs are gold. Just started cutting in a new jump line, have enough room to build some tables next to gaps...bit more work is worth it. Thx for the reminder 🤘
As you said, the colours depend on where you are. I have been in some places where you can‘t ride down a red with the intention to just look at it and be able to stop because they are so steep that you just can‘t stop.
Road my first red trail the other day and it was sick 🤟🏻
Rad dude
the laurentian conservation trail network in north bay ontario has green blue black and an orange proline... ive never done a red trail lol. have to drive out to the far side of trout lake and do north bays north shore for a red trail
Video evidence is needed lol
@@trbotimmmmmmmeh yep my local is at windhill and it takes me 10 mins to get there
@@trbotimmmmmmmeh I dont think red trails exist in the US
I've hit reds that feel like blues and blues that felt like reds. Cheese Roller at Flyup 417 is a blue but due to a lot of fast tight corners and being a longer trail means that it's more draining than the red Dubby Skipper. It's also more exposed with a much less pleasant drop in.
red v blue = potential for bigger learning mistakes!! love it :)
Hmmm, the Orbea Rallon, my favourite enduro bike. Glad to see that there are more Orbea in GMBN
1:43 Hehe, Blakes legs go WEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Dismissed a blue at a local park as rubbish, lacked flow, too nagery.
Visited on a wet day when the reds were just slick mud so spent the day on the blue.
Totally changed my mind as I learnt to find the flow and ride it propperly; now one of my fave tracks there.
I love riding reds and blacks , but I really love riding a flowy blue and just getting it just right.
Can't wait to give the new blue at Fort Bill a go when it opens.
I love the cohesion of your jerseys. Well done lads!
Me: These POV vids have me thinking I can handle this trail.
This trail: Taste dirt, bucko, and bring some antiseptic wipes.
Yeah, the go pro effect is real. I looked at some videos on the trail I used to ride, and all the sections I usually had trouble with just seemed so trivial in the video.
Another great video. If there was a beige line I'd probably choose that but I'll hopefully advance to blue and red
Hooe your shoulder is healing well brotha Take care guys
Great vid. Just got home from shreading at Forest of Dean via the blue trail on my full sus...Loved it that much, me and my mate did it twice!
Love the attention to detail here: Blake blue shirt and Rich red shirt :)
Mix blue and red give me black all day Blake This is cool
The Orbea looks like a crossing between Specialized Stumpjumper and YT Capra
Blue trails teach you how to go fast, jump, pump and corner. Black diamond (red) trails teach you technical steep descents, how to properly brake and how to do drops and ride in slippery conditions.
I remember when trails didn’t have ratings. They were just trails.
Where I live the black diamonds are very ridable for intermediates. Though I find myself having a better time on flow trails than tech trails
Yup It's all down to the trail network. On my local trails, on the black rated trails (North American black) the main challenge is the tech climbs, the downhills aren't that hard
"You don't want a bolt flying out". You're damned right I don't. I'm riding that Bolt.
Got dragged around a red trail for my first ride on my first ever MTB, and have the scars to prove it... literally
Good video but a little confusing, because here in British Columbia a red trail well that a pro line. Your blues are our greens, and your reds are our blues. But still a great video I really enjoyed it.
I always like how he calls us beautiful people. 🙂
If only he knew the truth...
Great job mate’s 💪💯🇺🇸
Where I ride its only red and black, definitely more gnarly than scotlands
i have never seen a red trail, but i say that double black is the best way to progress.
Red is my suggestion. Blue is just to tame and you can't progress if you don't push yourself as a ride. If you're watching this channel you want to progress. Use Blake's philosophy and go slow but do it on the red I dropped my 20 mile lap times by 28 minutes in a matter of a few months
You both are amazing.fantastic trails..but may fave color is red hahahha..
Dude red trails in America are called professional trails, above the double black dimond
There are trails by my house that are the opposite. The red an orange trails are shorter and easier. While the blue and green trails are longer and more technical.
I say you should work up in order. Master the lowest and then work the way up.
I just ride what I have, no "dedicated " trails here... mostly open feilds, wooded paths, dirt roads, etc.....not hilly here either .. can be kinda swampy at times also
It's been raining for 5 weeks here and while I have some trails near me, they've been unrideable. I've taken to the streets downtown to supplement the trail experience. Our downtown area has hills built for fountains, lots of stair sets and curb features to practice jumping.
There are no red trails in the states and especially where we live. Our green trails are true singletrack that are probably tougher than any blue trail outside the states. Our blue trails are rocky, rooty and gnarly and would probably be considered black overseas. For years I rode black trails on a singlespeed. Now that I'm in my 60's, I save the singlespeed for blue trails and ride the full suspension on black.
What region is this? Trail ratings are at least somewhat consistent in the US, with some notable exceptions (Grand Junction blues would be blacks in most systems)
I rode the blue trail (bottle rocket) at rogate the other day on my short travel trailbike, and it was more tech than most things I ride, with rooty sections strait into berms, I was more just trying to stay off my face then actually learn anything sadly
Our blue is just turns and flowy the red is just jumps onf flowy turns and black is like rock faces and technical stuff
I'll start with Blue☺️
Isn't it crazy all POV videos make everything look flat. Then when you get their you're looking over the edge of a cliff saying "the video made it look easier"!
Yup, it's called GoPro effect. Look at the angle of the trees if you want an idea how steep a trail is in a video.
where I'm at the red trails are the pro line so I think the intermediate riders should just stick to the blue trails 😅
I don't kow about red or blue but ponk helmet is a NO GO!,
This was great instruction
What was that awesome doom/ sludge song during the first part of the red trail?
Pov help so much, would have killed myself first time out at triscombe without it
Do a road bike off roading video
You should review that Rallon
Flow trails are super enjoyable
Good flow trails are enjoyable. IMBA "Flow" trails i.e. featureless multi-use trails with tons of grade reversals are boring. It's why tech trails are often more popular in local trail systems as they take less effort to build (just cut trail through a gnarly looking area and call it good). In North America at least it takes a huge effort to get a bike only flow trail built outside of a bike park. An example, the front range of Colorado, which has a massive MTB community and hundreds of trails only has 3 trails that would meet the general definition of a good flow trail, and they've only been built within the last few years.
Can i trayn slopestyle whit rose brous 2 dirt jumper
Blue to build the skills, red to test them. Same with black. Build the skills on a red, then test on black
Unfortunately there is no real standard as to what constitutes a blue, red, black, double black, double orange... it all varies park to park, region to region. The trail system I ride on often (in the USA) has blues that make the red trail in this video look like a joke. But the reality is the "blue" trails at said park are underrated. I wish there were a universal standard that all trail systems would homogenize their ratings against.
Blue: Hardtail
Red: Hardtail
Black: Hardtail
Also..what are you riding Rich?
What is the size of orbea rallon? How tall is orbea rider?
I'm thinking about buying, it's hard to choose a size.
What is blakes bike? Spectral or Neuron? edit: nvm, spectral 29
i thought red trails where pro lines
Favourite moment: Rich at 4:18
Black
A simple blue can turn into a red or black with faster speeds.
Why is Blake not on a hardtail bike?
Pink Pocs?? Did you guys lose bet?
How bout a bright green helmet that would be 👍
Is a red trail classes as a 2 dots trail at FOD
Man these red trails are considered green and easy in Stockholm, Sweden. Wish there was some more beginner flow around here :(.
Double pink 😍😂👍🏼
Cool vid 👍
I was the first comment
🤘🏻
Have you ever been to Ethiopia
Nice helmets 😉
Is a red just a European blue black
oh yes top 3
Is it bad that I do black trails on 26 inch hard tail 100mm travel xc bike and do like 8 foot jumps it’s a trek 4900
It’s horrible! Don’t you know that you’re supposed to own a 2000 mm full suspension bike with a 500 hp motor, anti-gravity and inertial dampening these days?! 😁
Respect! I love my Gary Fisher but it is a real challenge when the weather turns.
Having said that, my Whyte 905 is much quicker on local reds - the riding position just feels right pointing down the way. I think modern hardtail geometry has blurred the lines with full suspension so much, often the biggest difference is how sore your ass gets. :)
The real question is why the pink helmets????
I m faceing a problem when ii see pov on vr i get affected by the Devil
And remember..... "never go full Blake"
I have a btwin rockrider sport trail one of the cheapest trail bikes right now at £500 but wouldn't recommend trails like these on it
Dude. That is no Trailbike. Im Sorry to tell you that. I whould Not recommand bikes from Decathlon.
@@blauerhirschmtb1601 it says sport trail and full suspension that's been tested and 1 by 8 cassette so it fits the trail bike category for me
If you come to the north shore in Canada make sure you don’t make the mistake of going down a red trail. That’s a double black here😂
intermediate rider drops into "Ladies Only" immediately rethinks their life choices haha.
I don't think we have red trails here in Cleveland Ohio I know we have blue green white black and double black maybe down south further in Ohio we might have something like that
Euro rating system is different. Euro red could be anything from a upper end blue to a low/mid black in North America.
freeriding
Is the greeting really "f*ck them back you beautiful people" or did I miss something? XD
I think it just might be...
😂😂😂😂
Didn't watch the video, but I just ride them all , doesn't everyone ?
i am from nigeria
Neither: black trail
POC making their riders wear salmon pink helmets lol
Maybe it’s all they have left in the warehouse and they’re trying to shift them. Sometimes it must suck being a sponsored rider 🤣
@@geoffsimons3475 haha you're right!
cool pants
Me watching this: ‘Mmm, yes, 15 yo me could’ve used this info’.
What pack is Blake wearing?
Fanny
And no, not an ass
@@Iheartdgd do you always have to clarify that? 😁
@@clint2627 ya know... just in case.
😁
More like Orange vs blue lol
looks like a girly helmets! you need a pink unicorn on your handlebars!🤪🤔
Off raid my butt is painful 😖 🤣😂😂👌🏻
There aren’t red trails in aus it goes from blue to black
Pretty sure the UK is the only place to use red in its grading system
@@bongocat5223 I think mainland Europe does too? Vancouver Island does as well, the only place in North America that does.
0:01 oh i thought i heard fuck em back you beautiful people
Blake is using clips??!!?!
Usually,yes
Ou yeah thats my bike ORBEAaaaa
Nah just send straight into the double black diamond with your hardtail...
i hate rim brakes they fell of my bike
australia where there are no reds
and where (for my locality anyway) the greens are blues the blacks are double blacks and pro lines you mean world cup lines (2009 uci world cup)
Red must be a UK thing. Never cared for ski ratings on MTB trails, it doesn't really fit. Any red, black, double black is easy going down. But even green can be horrible to get up. Should be more like climbing ratings (to make it even more confusing). Flow 5.8, rough 5.10, > 50% risk of puncture or rim failure 5.12+, 50% risk of injury 5.12R, slight risk of death 5.12X, certain death 5.12XXX.
Studies show men who wear pink have a 100% higher confidence level
Heh