Bike SkillLevels
Bike Skill Levels
Please choose your bike skill level so that you may select the retreat that is right for you.
Level 1 – Beginner – You’ve never ridden a mountain bike or you’ve just begun. You are comfortable on flat surfaces. You may road ride or you’ve ridden on paved bike trails and some flat double track trails in the woods. You avoid obstacles and/or get off your bike to go around them.
Level 2 – Beginner – You’ve been riding for at least a year and you have sufficient handling skills and fitness. You are comfortable taking on small hills. You’ve begun to try singletrack with rooty or rocky sections. You can use your brakes to slow down and stay in control. You are comfortable shifting gears so that you spend more time riding. You are comfortable riding for longer time periods up to two hours. You are eager to learn more!
Level 3 – Intermediate – You have consistent braking, shifting, and body positioning skills. You harness these skills in order to stay on your bike as much as possible. You are willing to tackle slightly more technical terrain with small rocks and root sections. You ride mostly singletrack and are comfortable taking on longer rides of two to three hours in duration. You consider yourself a mountain biker!
Level 4 – Intermediate – You have solid intermediate bike handling skills. You can use momentum and trail features to your advantage. You are ready to start learning more advanced techniques such as manuals, front wheel lifts, and small hucks from curb-sized obstacles. You are ready to attempt larger rock roll-downs, steeper descents, and technical climbs. You are adventurous and can handle longer rides of 3-4 hours in duration.
Level 5 – Advanced - You’ve been riding for 5 years at least. You ride several times a week during the riding season on rides lasting between 2-5 hours. You can handle more technical terrain, rarely getting off your bike to walk. You’re comfortable going over medium-sized logs, small bridges, and multiple challenging obstacles in a row. You can ride drops of ½ foot – 1 foot high, climb and descend switchbacks, and are comfortable on rocky, steep downhills.
Level 6 – Advanced – You’ve been riding 5 years or more. You’ve attempted or would like to attempt freeride or downhill style trails. You enjoy sustained technical climbing, log piles, obstacles requiring on-demand advanced skills such as wheelie drops, bigger hucks, and track stands. You ride as often as possible and are capable of long rides several days in a row. You are comfortable with faster speeds, exposed rock faces, and higher bridges.
