What is the difference between singletrack and doubletrack?

A singletrack is a narrow trail that is about as wide as a mountain bike. A doubletrack is typically an old overgrown dirt road, that has two paths that were created from the wheels of vehicles.

single track/singletrack

Single track / singletrack

• A single track is a narrow mountain bike trail

• Only wide enough for one rider as the trail width is about that of the bike

  • One rider must yield the trail to another when passing

  • Single tracks are ridden in single file

• More difficult trails are narrower

  • Singletrack width is a ranking factor in the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) trail difficulty rating system

Basically, a single track is a narrow path for mountain bikes. However, many singletracks are also multi-use trails and are shared by hikers.

Double Track / doubletrack

Double track / doubletrack

• A double track, by contrast, has two paths that were created from the wheels of vehicles

• Often resource roads closed to motorized vehicles

  • Fire roads, old logging and mining roads, power-line roads, and former jeep trails are examples of double track

• Two bikes can ride side-by-side

• Sometimes called two-track or twin-track

Gravel Roads

Many mountain bike routes are a combination of gravel roads, doubletrack and singletrack.

Jesse is the Director of Pedal Chile and lives in Valdivia, Chile. Jesse has a Master of Science in Health & Human Performance and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. Hobbies: Mountain biking, bicycle commuting, snowboarding, reading, weight-lifting, taster of craft beers, & researching.

Sources:

• IMBA, 2004. Trail solutions, IMBA’s guide to building sweet single track, IMBA, Boulder, Colorado, United States.

• IMBA, 2007. Managing mounting biking, IMBA’s guide to providing great riding, IMBA, Boulder, Colorado, United States.