Rating yourself accurately helps ensure you get booked into classes and clinics that are suited for your riding ability. It also makes sure you have a great time during your lesson as opposed to struggling through it.
Take a few minutes and watch the video below to better understand our rating system, read through the descriptions of each level and determine what your levels are. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our office so our staff can help you determine your level!
Technical Level Assessment
You have never ridden a bicycle off-road before, but you can ride a bicycle. Maybe you are a roadie, or a spin instructor and you thought this whole mountain bicycling thingy looked cool, or you have some mountain biking friends that grind your gears daily and keep pushing you to come out riding with them. Either way, this will be your first introduction to the world of Mountain Biking.
You are still new to mountain biking, but have ridden off-road on bike specific trails for about a year. You are comfortable on trails approximately 36 inches (1 metre) wide that are generally firm and stable. You are comfortable traversing unavoidable obstacles such as roots and rocks that are up to 3 inches tall and you are comfortable riding over open bridges (no railings) that are 36 inches (1 metre) wide.
Typically GREEN rated trails are your jam!
You have been riding a mountain bike off-road for a few seasons. You are comfortable on trails approximately 18 inches (45cm) wide that are mostly stable with some variability and loose dirt. You are comfortable traversing unavoidable obstacles such as roots, rocks and logs that are 8-10 inches tall and you are comfortable riding over open bridges (no railings) that are 24 inches (60cm) wide.
Typically BLUE rated trails are your jam!
You are a confident mountain biker and have been riding highly technical single track for a few years. You are comfortable riding on steep trails approximately 12 inches (30cm) wide that vary greatly in their stability and may be unpredictable including loose rock. You are comfortable regularly traversing unavoidable obstacles such as roots, rocks, logs, step ups and drop offs up to 18 (45cm) inches tall, and some obstacles you encounter may exceed that. You are a confident jumper on small sized tables. You can traverse open bridges approximately 18 inches (45cm) wide.
Typically BLACK rated trails are your jam!
You are an expert mountain biker and have been riding expert level trails for at least 5 years. You are comfortable riding on extremely steep trails of any width that are highly unstable and are completely unpredictable including loose rock. The trails you ride have a high level of consequence. You are comfortable regularly traversing unavoidable obstacles such as roots, rocks, logs and drop offs well over 24 inches (60cm) tall, and many obstacles encountered will exceed that. You are a competent jumper on medium & large tables and small & medium doubles. You are comfortable riding any technical trail features that may be present on a trail.
Typically DOUBLE BLACK rated trails are your jam!
You are a professional/expert mountain biker (sponsored DH/Enduro athlete) who is capable of negotiating any obstacle on any sanctioned trail.
Sending everything is your jam!
Endurance Level Assessment
Cycling (on any surface) is not something you do regularly, but you find yourself on a bike a few times a month in the summer. You have never ridden a bicycle off-road before, and while you are reading this paragraph, you are probably wondering why you have even considered doing this. Activities involving exercise are not a priority in your life.
You will likely be caught on your mountain bike a few times a month or on your road bike once or twice a week when the weather is decent. You are at an average fitness level for your age, and occasionally do other activities that qualify as exercise, like soccer or running. You usually find yourself riding for a 1.5 hours on the road, or on the trails, and you ride at a relaxed pace.
You are a mountain biker riding once a week, or a roadie riding twice a week or more when the weather is cooperating and some days when its not. You are at an average fitness level for your age, and regularly do other activities that qualify as exercise, like running. You can ride on consecutive days and usually find yourself riding for 2-4 hours per day on the road, or 2 hours per day on the trails, and you ride at a relaxed or moderate pace.
You are an avid mountain biker riding twice a week or more, and mild inclement weather isn’t a big factor for you. You are at an above-average fitness level for your age, and regularly do other activities that qualify as exercise. You usually find yourself riding for 3 hours on the trails, you’ll ride on consecutive days, and you ride at a moderate pace. Climbing 1000m (3000ft) of vertical in a ride is not a stretch for you.
You are a very avid mountain biker, who is considered an athlete and only getting out on the trails twice in the week is a bad week for you. The weather is never a factor for you, rain or shine – you are riding. You are at an advanced fitness level for your age, and most of your extra-curricular activities qualify as exercise. You can easily spend 4-5 hours in the saddle on the trails, and you ride at a moderate-racing pace. You like averaging at least 1000m (3500ft) of climbing during your rides.
You are a professional mountain biker (sponsored XC/Enduro athlete) who can spend the entire day smashing uphill.