Mountain Bike Trail Difficulty Scale (MTDS)
The MTDS describes the characteristics of a trail or single trail (single track) on the descent or uphill in normal, dry conditions. In aggravating circumstances such as wetness, frost or snow, the user himself has to make a conclusion about the increase in the degree of difficulty. In the case of extreme traffic, the external conditions can certainly be specified.
Difficulty (1-10, open at the top) as well as + and – to increase or decrease the grade. A severity scale is also introduced (A, B, C, D, E) and a rating for built-in jumps.
This classification applies to driving downhill as well as driving uphill on the routes. The scale is open at the top, that is, routes with higher difficulty can be suggested by drivers. Average difficulty should be assessed. Passages that deviate significantly from this should also be mentioned. The total level of difficulty is composed as follows:
“Degree / leaps (if any) / revaluation or devaluation / seriousness”
| Degree | description | Driving technique | example |
| 1 | Width: wide, over 1.5 m Gradient: little< 10% Condition: gravel, good grip, no obstacles; |
Braking technology Basic position |
– Departure from Salvensee to Hopfgarten on our Straubing Alm Tour 1+ |
| 2 | Width: wide, over 1.5 m Gradient: medium 10-15% Condition: gravel, good grip, no obstacles, or wide path, little gradient, poor condition |
Braking technology Basic position Printing technique curves |
– Willingen 2+ freeride route – Well-developed forest roads in the Alps with a good road surface 2 |
| 3 | Width: wide, over 1.5 m or narrow 0.5 to 1.5 m Gradient: steep 15 – 20% Condition: gravel, stones, small obstacles |
Braking technology Basic position Printing technique curves Balance basics possibly jumping technique |
– Old Hornweg Kitzbühel 3+ – Hang Man II Leogang 3² + – Flying Gangster Leogang 3³ + – Going 3 toboggan run – Stangltrail Going 3 – Compost Trail Kirchberg 3- |
| 4 | Width: narrow 0.5 to 1.5 m Gradient: medium to steep Texture: low roots, stones, good grip Sweeping: tight turns |
Braking technology Basic position Printing technique curves Balance basics possibly jumping technique |
– Hirzegg Trail Aschau 4 B – Wiegalm Trail 4+ – Stangenjoch descent to Aschau 4+ – Sun Trail Brixen 4 |
| 5 | Width: narrow 0.5 to 1.5 m Gradient: medium to steep Characteristics: carpets of roots, larger stones, small steps Sweeping: tight turns |
Braking technology Basic position Overcome obstacles Printing technology curves good balance possibly jumping technique |
– Rough head trench trail 5 – The Darkside, first & last part 5 – Wildkogel Trail 5 + A |
| 6 | Width: narrow 0.5 to 1.5 m Gradient: medium to very steep Characteristics: coarse root carpets, large stones, steps, slightly blocked terrain, … Hairpin bends: tight turns and switchbacks |
Braking technology Basic position Overcome obstacles Printing technology curves Switchbacks base Step driving good balance Trailer experience possibly jumping technique |
– Fleckalmtrail 6C – Lisi Osl Trail 6+ – Gaisberg Trail 6²-C – Holy Trail Tenerife 6B – Niederkaiser Trail 6C |
| 7 | Width: narrow 0.5 to 1.5 m Gradient: medium to very steep Characteristics: coarse root carpets, large stones, steps, blocked terrain, … Hairpin bends: switchbacks and sometimes narrow switchbacks |
Braking technology Basic position Overcome obstacles Printing technology curves Switchbacks base Move switchbacks with HR Step driving very good balance a lot of trailer experience possibly jumping technique |
– Hang Man I Leogang 7³ – Sunny Benny Laces 7- – Schwarzkogltrail 7 – Gaisberg summit trail 7 + C |
| 8 | Width: narrow 0.5 to 1.5 m to very narrow< 0.5 m Gradient: very steep and extremely steep Characteristics: coarse root carpets, large stones, high steps, extremely blocked terrain, … Hairpin bends: hairpin bends and narrow hairpin bends |
Braking technology Basic position Overcome obstacles Printing technology curves Switchbacks base Move switchbacks with HR Step driving very good balance a lot of trailer experience possibly jumping technique |
– Nordketten Singletrail 8⁴ + B – Gildensteig Wilder Kaiser 8D – Schwarzkogel Nord 8B summit trail |
| 9 | Width: very narrow< 0.5 m Gradient: very steep and extremely steep Characteristics: coarse root carpets, large stones, high steps, extremely blocked terrain, … Hairpin bends: tight and extreme switchbacks |
Braking technology Basic position Overcome obstacles Printing technology curves Switchbacks base Move switchbacks with HR Step driving excellent balance a lot of trailer experience various trial techniques Move the front wheel possibly jumping technique |
– Ludwig Scheiber Steig Kitzbühel 9E – Gmail Trail 9-C |
| 10 | Width: very narrow< 0.5 m Gradient: extremely steep Characteristics: large stones, high steps, extremely blocked terrain, … Hairpin bends: tight and extreme switchbacks |
Braking technology Basic position Overcome obstacles Printing technology curves Switchbacks base Move switchbacks with HR Step driving excellent balance a lot of trailer experience various trial techniques Move the front wheel possibly jumping technique |
– Schwarzkogel Süd 10C summit trail – Ellmauer Tor Süd 10-C |
Jumps:
² = jumps with good landings / no dangerous gaps / small to medium heights
³ = jumps with good landings from great heights, but gaps to be jumped not a great danger
⁴ = jumps with dangerous gaps and sub-optimal landings, but not very high
⁵ = big jumps with dangerous gaps and sub-optimal landings
Intermediate levels +/-:
If the trail is found to be easier or more difficult than the actual level, a – or + can be added according to the level of difficulty and the jump classification.
Seriousness:
– = no risk of falling
B = It is possible to fall from a low height into relatively harmless terrain (mountain pines, meadows)
C = Falling possible in the event of falls, danger to life!
D = Crashes possible due to driving errors, danger to life!
E = Crashes are likely due to driving errors, danger to life!
Term definitions:
Trail width:
- wide => 1.5 m
- narrow = 1.5 to 0.5 m
- very narrow => 0.5 m
Gradient:
- Little slope =< 10%
- Steep = approx. 10 to 20% gradient
- very steep = 20 – 40% gradient
- extremely steep => 40% gradient
Curves and hairpin bends:
- normal curves: wide path, radius should not be a problem
- tight curves: wide path, radios is narrow, easy to ride by experienced bikers; A challenge for beginners due to the low speed and the gradient
- tight turns: narrow path, radius requires good control and pushing technique
- Switchbacks: narrow path, very tight radius; requires hairpin bends but no rear wheel relocation
- tight switchbacks: narrow path, sharp radius, not feasible without moving the rear wheel
- extreme switchbacks: narrow path, sharp radius, great steepness, blocked terrain; For absolute experts only!
Condition requirements at Mountain bike tours in the Alps
It’s about the altitude difference per day. Knowing that many kilometers can also tire, kilometers are not taken into account here!
| Degree | Altitude meters total | description |
|
1 |
0 to 150 | easy MTB tour with moderate inclines (less than 10%) or downhill MTB |
|
2 |
150 to 300 | easy MTB tour with partly challenging inclines (over 10%) or downhill MTB |
|
3 |
300 to 500 | Moderately difficult MTB tour with demanding inclines (over 10%) or easy Enduro MTB tour with climbing aids |
|
4 |
500 to 750 | demanding MTB tour with long inclines over 10% or Enduro MTB tour |
|
5 |
700 to 1000 | demanding MTB tour with long inclines or enduro MTB tour |
|
6 |
1000 to 1500 | Difficult MTB tour with long and steep climbs |
|
7 |
1500 to 2000 | Very difficult MTB tour with long and steep climbs |
|
8 |
2000 to 3000 | extreme MTB tour with long and steep climbs |
|
9 |
3000 to 5000 | extreme MTB tour with long and steep climbs |
|
10 |
> 5000 | Ultra MTB Tour |