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What's wrong with fire roads?

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SWriverstone

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
So in the year or so since I've gotten into mountain biking...I've noticed what (to me, anyway) looks like a definite "fire roads suck" mentality among mountain bikers.

What's wrong with fire roads?

I guarantee in the U.S., there are MANY more miles of unpaved fire roads than there are singletrack or doubletrack. A lot of 'em traverse some really beautiful areas...and I've found many of them are great to ride. And they're not always boring...in many places, the terms "fire road" and "gnarly, rocky doubletrack" are interchangeable.

Fire roads are also a great way to introduce people to mountain biking...instead of taking people down singletrack on their first ride where they crash and burn and say "F this!" (I've seen that a lot.)

Don't get me wrong—I love good singletrack as much as anyone...but I don't discriminate against fire roads, and even seek them out sometimes.

Scott
 
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#2 ·
I've noticed this from some MTBers too. I really think it's just part of the whole "real mountain biker" "gotta be 'core" bravado so common in our sport. The truth is, if you're on two wheels on dirt you are mountain biking, I don't care whether it's the most pristine buff singletrack, an old dirt logging road, or a trail through the park... it's all mountain biking. Just ride.

Just my $0.02

- Jared
 
#4 ·
My feelings too, this sport seems to carry it's weight in the "uptight" competition. I just enjoy riding and i'll ride anywhere that is safe and fun.
 
#5 ·
They're great for connecting interesting sections of single track.

They're easier to ride up than single track.

They're often the only place I use the big ring on the flat.

They allow the body to rest and recover a bit before the next down hill section.

Drifting a loose off camber bend at speed on a fireroad is as grin inducing as any single track ride.

They often dry out way before the single track under the trees.
 
#6 ·
I would think a lot depends upon what first attracts someone to what we term "mountain-biking". (possibly "dirt-pathing" might be a better term). Were we attracted by the challenge of threading a bike through the trees without crashing? Or were we attracted to the scenic rides through woodlands where we didn't have to worry about getting run over by cars?

Then there is the amount to which we've overloaded the term "mountain-biking". Honestly, I don't consider a gravel road as "mountain-biking". But I still ride gravel roads and enjoy them, so who cares what I call it when I do that, right?
 
#7 ·
I think it depends where you live. Here in IL, our fire roads are pretty tedious, but some members post fire road pics that blow our singletrack out of the water.
 
#8 · (Edited)
In my area, anything I can call a "road" is usually a bit too civilized for me to find it interesting on a MTB. They do have their positive sides, though, as listed by marzjennings. I find the parts about connecting trail sections and giving the body a rest between pieces of single track the most relevant in my case.

... and my usual local rides almost always include paved sections too, for connecting the trail sections.
 
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#10 ·
mondaycurse said:
I think it depends where you live. Here in IL, our fire roads are pretty tedious, ...
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Very good point. Fire roads where I live tend to be well-groomed and have zero technical features. You could drive an RV down most all of them and not have a worry in the world.

They are dusty too, or can be if there's much car traffic.

OTOH, old logging roads of the double-track variety can be quite fun. Some of the lesser-used fire roads in the national forest can be ok too, as far as scenery and such, but again, no technical features.
 
#11 ·
JonathanGennick said:
Very good point. Fire roads where I live tend to be well-groomed and have zero technical features. You could drive an RV down most all of them and not have a worry in the world.

They are dusty too, or can be if there's much car traffic.

OTOH, old logging roads of the double-track variety can be quite fun. Some of the lesser-used fire roads in the national forest can be ok too, as far as scenery and such, but again, no technical features.
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you guys don't get winter deadfall across roads???

What about washouts and runoff...

What about rockfall...

What about bears in the middle of the road...well I guess bears are technically technical.
 
#12 ·
It depends, like many others have said. I've ridden some interesting fire roads or doubletrack that have been every bit as good as a lot of singletrack I've ridden. The better fire roads I've ridden have been in North Carolina and Utah.

However, I've also ridden some supremely terrible fire roads. Tops on that list would be some in northern Michigan and East Texas that are little better than trying to ride your bike in a f'n sandbox.

That's not fun no matter how you cut it.
 
#16 ·
jeffscott said:
you guys don't get winter deadfall across roads???
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I'm sure there must be some, but it gets cleaned up pretty quickly.

What about washouts and runoff...
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Tends to be near the edges of the road, if it's a problem at all. I see more washouts and ruts on old two-tracks and logging trails than on what I would term a "fire road".

What about rockfall...
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Sadly, we have mostly sand in my county. Even our "rock" is mostly sandstone ;) .

What about bears in the middle of the road...
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We do have those. I do see the occasional black bear when out riding. I don't catch them often, but once in awhile I get lucky and spot one.
 
#17 ·
Nothing wrong with them.

They are useful for a number of applications, do dry out faster than most trails, and should not be overlooked as a useful training area for beginners getting used to shifting under load, first use of clipless pedals, or just for common bike setup.

Some are not as lucky as others when it comes to what/where they ride. If its what you have, then cool. A friend of mine from Kansas was really impressed with our riding here in Dallas. On the flip side, my last three places to live were Phoenix, Boulder, and Durango. That's some good ridin' there.

Fire roads are fine and do NOT separate you from the "serious" mountain biker contingent.

That's roadie thinking...:thumbsup:
 
#18 ·
Here is a photo showing a typical fire road in my area. I took the photo to show the end of the plowed portion of the road, but it shows enough to give you the idea.

Image


The area in question is actually quite scenic. I've pedaled through it more than once. There are actually many two-tracks in the area that are much more fun and scenic to ride on than the dirt road that you see in the photo. So I drive out, park, ride two-tracks for awhile, and take the road back to my car.
 
Discussion starter · #20 ·
I'm gonna dig up some photos of great fire roads I've ridden and post them---maybe others should do the same.

Just as there is a pretty wide spectrum of what we call "trails," I guess it's the same for fire roads. I mean, I've never ridden a fire road like the one in the pic above. Most that I've ridden are really more like doubletrack logging roads (so I shouldn't call them fire roads). And I've ridden plenty of doubletrack logging roads that were so technical I had to get off and walk (seriously deep trenches, sections choked with pumpkin-sized rocks, etc.)

And let's not forget there are plenty of singletrack trails that are a snooze too. :)

Scott
 
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