MTB: Skill and fitness rating

 

Ensuring that the trip you are planning to ride is right for you can be challenging, as is ensuring you are ready for the physical and technical demands of the ride.

Here’s how we’re addressing this issue:

We have adopted an international skill and fitness rating system, which helps you determine the level you are on.

We also determine the skill and fitness level required to complete the tour in question using the same system.

Please read the following guidelines carefully, and pick the levels that best describe your skill and fitness. Compare your rating with the rating of the tour in question. If you’re still unsure if a trip is right for you, please contact us.

 

SKILL LEVELS

LEVEL 1/ NEWBIE

  • You’ve never ridden a mountain bike before

LEVEL 2/ BEGINNER

  • You have limited experience with off-road trail riding
  • You may have done some road riding
  • You’re reasonably fit and adventurous

LEVEL 3/ STRONG BEGINNER

  • You’re hooked but still lack the skills to tackle terrain beyond beginner level
  • You know how to use your gears and brakes properly but when the terrain gets technical, you have to get off your bike and walk
  • You can handle single-track as long as it is smooth and with few rocks or roots

LEVEL 4/ INTERMEDIATE

  • You have good general trail riding skills
  • You’re capable of controlling bike speed and direction on moderate single-track
  • You ride your bike once or twice a week during cycling season

LEVEL 5/ STRONG INTERMEDIATE

  • You feel confident on intermediate-level trails
  • You can handle undulating terrain, have good control of your brakes and know how to shift gears appropriately so that you don’t get off your bike too often
  • You can handle terrain that is slightly technical, with smaller rocks and roots and can climb on single-track as long as it’s not very technical

LEVEL 6/ INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED

  • You’re confident in your climbing and descending skills
  • You can handle moderately technical terrain and obstacles such as small logs and rocks (up to 10-12 cm high).
  • You have very good control of your bike on intermediate and slightly more advanced terrain, and are comfortable climbing quite technical single-track

LEVEL 7/ ADVANCED

  • You are confident in all aspects of mountain biking
  • You can handle most technical terrain, include rocky and root trails, along with features such as switchbacks, medium logs (15 cm high), and low-level obstacles
  • You’re comfortable with most advanced level trails (although you may walk a few sections)

LEVEL 8/ EXPERT

  • You’re fully confident riding all types of terrain and distances
  • You ride as often as possible and can handle technical terrain and medium-level stunts, such as large log rollovers (over 30 cm) and small bridges
  • You can descend steeps and climb technical single-track with little to no problem
  • You rarely – if ever – get off your bike to walk sections except on extremely technical terrain

LEVEL 9/ PRO

  • You are a mountain bike god/goddess. You can handle the most technical terrain imaginable, eat up steeps for breakfast and can ride stunts up to 8 feet high!

 

FITNESS LEVELS

LEVEL 1

  • You’re somewhat of a couch potato
  • You cannot ride for more than an hour on flat terrain at a time, and the thought of climbing on a bike is daunting
  • You exercise less than 1 hour per week

LEVEL 2

  • You live a fairly sedentary life with little physical activity other than walking
  • You can handle a 1-hour bike ride on flat terrain at a relaxed pace. Small, short hills are challenging to climb, but manageable
  • You exercise on average 1 hour per week (including riding your bike)

LEVEL 3

  • You’re capable of riding 1-2 hours a day at a relaxed pace with several breaks
  • You can handle one or two easy climbs of up to 150 vertical metres (330 ft) total
  • You exercise on average 1-2 hours per week (including riding your bike)

LEVEL 4

  • You can ride 2-3 hours at a moderate pace with several short breaks, over a few days
  • You’re capable of climbing up to 200 vertical metres (650 ft) in a day
  • You exercise on average 2-3 hours per week (including riding your bike)

LEVEL 5

  • You’re capable of riding 4 hours a day at a moderate pace with some short breaks, over a few days
  • You’re confident climbing up to a total of 300 vertical metres (1000 ft) in a day
  • You exercise on average 3-4 hours per week (including riding your bike)

LEVEL 6

  • You can ride 5 hours a day at a moderate pace with some short breaks, over a few days
  • You can handle moderately steep climbs of up to a total of 500 vertical metres (1,650 ft) in a day
  • You exercise on average 4-5 hours per week (including riding your bike)

LEVEL 7

  • You can ride 6 hours a day at a moderately fast pace with a few breaks, over several days
  • You can handle moderate climbs up to 750 vertical metres (2450 ft) total in a day
  • You exercise on average 5-7 hours per week (including riding your bike)

LEVEL 8

  • You can ride up to 7 hours a day at a fast and steady pace over several days
  • You have little trouble climbing 1,000 vertical metres (3,280 ft.) in a day on steep terrain
  • You exercise on average 7-9 hours per week (including riding your bike)

LEVEL 9

  • You can ride up to 8 hours a day over several days, and tackle almost any climb the mountain throws your way
  • You can handle steep, sustained climbs of up to 1500m (4920 ft) in a day
  • You exercise over 10 hours per week (including riding your bike)