SKILL AND FITNESS RATING SYSTEM
SKILLS RATINGS
SKILL LEVEL 1 – BEGINNER
You’ve never ridden a mountain bike before or in an off road experience.
You can execute:
– Staying upright on a two or three wheeled cycle
SKILL LEVEL 2 – NOVICE
You have ridden adaptive cycles off road a few times, but you still have lots to learn.
You can execute:
– Skill Level 1
– 1 Finger (if possible) braking
– Riding with level pedals or level base
– Can shift or use the throttle, but still need more practice
SKILL LEVEL 3 – ADVANCED NOVICE
You’ve done this before and you are stoked to continue learning. You enjoy mellow smooth trails, but sometimes climbs can be an issue. Technical climbing and shifting in these situations need a bit more work. You may not be comfortable riding roots, rocks, switchbacks and steeps.
You can execute:
– Skill Level 2
– Controlled braking at speed
– Riding while being able to coast with level pedals or level base
– Can get over small rocks, roots and obstacles…but you need the skills to understand how.
SKILL LEVEL 4 – INTERMEDIATE
Mountain Biking is starting to become your “thing”. You are getting the hang of shifting, pedalling or cranking through more technical features, making it up shorter climbs and getting a bit more rowdy going downhill.
You can execute:
– Skill Level 3
– Controlled braking at faster speeds
– Shifting – you can anticipate terrain and shift accordingly
– You can remain balanced during descents
– Compressing your suspension to get over small obstacles
– Confidence rolling over obstacles that do not require wheels leaving the ground
– Wider switchbacks and turns that aren’t too steep
SKILL LEVEL 5 – ADVANCED INTERMEDIATE
You’re confident riding Green and most Blue trails and are willing to try Black trails. You can comfortably use your front and rear brakes when different pressure is required.
You can execute:
– Skill Level 4
– Controlled front braking, independent from your rear brakes and vice versa
– Anticipating changes in terrain smoothly and often
– Front and Rear wheel lifts to get over an non rollable obstacle (up to 6″)
– Can maintain level pedals or level base at speed
– Can use trail scanning and cornering techniques, such as looking through the corner, but need a bit more refinement
SKILL LEVEL 6 – ADVANCED
You got this! You feel confident braking, using momentum to beat terrain and are comfortable shifting. You can shred through tighter trails, loose dirt, rock gardens and twisty turns all while looking good doing it!
You can execute:
– Skill Level 5
– You are confident in your handling skills on a variety of singletrack
– You can shift your body weight to keep traction on steep climbs and technical climbs are becoming easier
– Confident on fast or steep descents
– Your timing and coordination are dialed through berms and corners and you are comfortable with bike body separation to keep speed and momentum through the exit
– You are comfortable with wheels leaving the ground, just for a little bit
SKILL LEVEL 7 – EXPERT
You eat trails for breakfast. You are comfortable riding Black trails and aggressive terrain with complete control over your speed and your bike (aMTB). For those on two wheels, you rarely need to walk on descents. You can hop or wheel over larger obstacles. You are comfortable on slow and fast technical terrain.
You can execute:
– Skill Level 6
– Confidently riding all green, blue and black trails
– Climbing up technical terrain is easy
– Clearing tables, jumps and larger roll over with confidence and safety (depending on equipment)
SKILL LEVEL 8 – PRO
You literally ride and/or race professionally. Well done! Maybe it’s time for a Skill development clinic for your next event?
FITNESS RATINGS
FITNESS LEVEL 1
– You gotta start somewhere
– Exercising, including cycling, for more than a half hour is daunting
– Climbing up a hill? Heck no!
FITNESS LEVEL 2
– You can handle shorter rides (less than an hour) at a chill pace, with a couple of stops
– Short hills are no small feat, but you can make it up if you try
– You mountain bike or get out for moderate exercise a couple times a month
FITNESS LEVEL 3
– You can ride green or blue trail for about 2 hours at a chill pace, with a couple of stops
– 3 days of riding is a tall order, but you’re up for it – you’ll just need to go on shorter rides and enjoy more downtime off the bike
– You can handle short burst of climbing, but anything over 500 vertical feet is pushing your limits
– You mountain bike or cycle a few times a month
– You exercise an average of two hours a week
FITNESS LEVEL 4
– You can ride green and blue trails multiple days in a row at a chill pace for an average of 2 – 3 hours
– Climbs aren’t so bad, and you can handle around 800 vertical feet a ride
– You mountain bike or perform a similar activity once or twice a week
– You exercise an average of three hours a week
FITNESS LEVEL 5
– You can ride blue trails multiple days in a row at a moderate pace for an average of 3 – 4 hours
– you could do one day of riding for 5 – 6 hours, but it would be pushing your fun factor
– You might actually be starting to like climbing and can handle 1,500 feet in a single ride
– You exercise an average of four to five hours a week
FITNESS LEVEL 6
– You can ride blue trails multiple days in a row at a moderate pace for an average of 3 – 4 hours
– You could do one day of riding for 5 – 6 hours, but it would be pushing your fun factor
– You might actually be starting to like climbing and can handle 1,500 feet in a single ride
– You mountain bike or do a similar activity two or more times a week
– You exercise an average of 4 – 5 hours a week
FITNESS LEVEL 7
– You can ride blue trails multiple days in a row at a moderate pace for an average of 3 – 4 hours and could add a 5 – 6 hour ride into the mix
– Riding a black trail at a moderate pace for 2 – 3 hours is within your fitness range
– Climbing is no problem and you can handle 2,000 vertical feet in a single ride
– You mountain bike or do a similar activity six or more hours a week
– You exercise an average of 5 – 6 hours a week
FITNESS LEVEL 8
– You can ride multiple days in a row at a moderate pace for an average of 3 – 4 hours and could add a 6+ hour ride into the mix
– You’re part mountain goat and can climb 3,000 vertical feet in a single ride
– You mountain bike or do a similar activity three or more times a week
– You exercise an average of 6 or more hours a week
– Your exercise routine includes dedicated to climbing and endurance training
