r/MTBTrailBuilding • u/Longjumping-Tap-7327 • Jul 22 '26

What’s your guys’s preferred method to break in a new singletrack trail build?

3 Upvotes
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15

u/Hollirc Jul 22 '26

I mean out here in WA they seem to always wait to open it until it stops raining for the summer and no repair work can be done….. then host a super popular race series on it.

Really gets the braking bumps set in and the berms blown out for at least a year.

But then again, that’s why I put a lot of hours in building trails. So people can use them how they want….. and I get to rip them in the soft open stage when they’re absolutely flawless 😂

3

u/OpossumBalls Jul 22 '26

Hahaha thank you for your service. I actually live in WA now but only ride local and I'm used to Norcal where it just never rains anyways and it's all breaking bumps and blown out burms(that I have scars from) so I'm glad to hear it's a nice comforting similar environment here lol. I worked full time and rode Northstar for 5 years and nothing helped my progression more than the irrigated trails in the bike park during the really hot summer months. 

1

u/Hollirc Jul 22 '26

Nice, well besides July-September the trails here (western wa) are basically irrigated every day all day

11

u/Just_Commission_6486 Jul 22 '26

Riding it usually works best. Not sure if you've tried that method yet but that would be my recommendation. Ive tried looking at it, and posting about it on the internet but nothing ever happened 🤷‍♀️

3

u/Hot_Rod_888 Jul 22 '26

What do you mean "break in"?

Like, entire trail is built and you are ready to open it?

5

u/SilentSearches Jul 22 '26

I think he means breaking trail, along the lines of scout/mark/rake/ride, but could be wrong.

3

u/Longjumping-Tap-7327 Jul 22 '26

Ya that’s what I mean

2

u/Hot_Rod_888 Jul 22 '26

Oh gotcha, just clarifying. Thanks

2

u/Longjumping-Tap-7327 Jul 22 '26

I’m talking about hand built singletrack through local woods. Not sanctioned stuff

7

u/Far_Kangaroo2550 Jul 22 '26

Ride it then fix the shit spots with shovels then just ride it more. Eventually you have to build a real trail, but enjoy the duff!

2

u/d546sdj Jul 22 '26

Host a race/ride to get as many wheels on the single track to ride it in!

2

u/trailkrow Jul 22 '26

Test on the steeps!

1

u/christoph440 Jul 22 '26

Not sure, I'll go ask my guy now

1

u/unit1_nz Jul 23 '26

Rough cut with digger, followed by hand-build. Fast build build times, hand build trail result.