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{"ID":27,"SpaceID":2,"PageID":2,"HasCommentsThread":false,"SeoTags":{"OpenGraphTags":[{"ID":"og:title","Name":"Skill, Fitness and Pace guidelines"},{"ID":"og:type","Name":"website"},{"ID":"og:url","Name":"https://www.manchestermountainbikers.org/Cms/Spaces/GUIDELINES/Skill+Fitness+and+Pace+guidelines"}],"NonOpenGraphTags":[]},"Path":"Skill+Fitness+and+Pace+guidelines","Title":"Skill, Fitness and Pace guidelines","Author":{"ID":4,"Name":"Andy Webb","CompanyName":null,"HasEmail":true},"Version":4,"IsDraft":false,"IsOldVersion":false,"PublicationDate":"01/02/2024 20:02","VersionDescription":"v4 - Andy Webb","HideHeader":false,"IsFullWidth":false,"ThemeCode":null,"BackgroundColour":null,"JumpLinks":[],"Blocks":[{"Columns":[{"Width":12,"WidthClasses":"col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12","Elements":[{"ID":16,"Type":"HTML","Content":"\u003ch2\u003enotes\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eThese grades form part of the \u003ca href=\u0022MMB+Rules\u0022\u003eMMB rules\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eThe routes are graded under \u0022good\u0022 weather conditions - bad weather will increase the level of difficulty and riders should use their own judgement as to whether they are comfortable with the proposed ride under bad weather conditions.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eThe grades are subjective and may not always be based on first hand experience of a route (e.g. first time use of a route from a guide book/magazine). Furthermore the difficulty of any part of a route can change overnight with the weather. Use your own judgement!\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eAt all grades, riders need to ride at a speed that allows them to assess if they are competent to ride what\u0027s in front of them. It is not the route leader\u0027s responsibility to warn you of upcoming obstacles. Don\u0027t ride blind!\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eYou are the best judge of your ability. There is an inherent risk of injury with mountain biking. Do not ride something that you are not comfortable with.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003c/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\t\t\t\t\t\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSkill Grades\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003cdt\u003eS1 - Rideable by all\u003c/dt\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003cdd\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003cul\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eSuitable for all bikes\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eSurface: Road, accessible routes, fire track and shared use paths.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eHazards: Limited hazards such as loose gravel, other path users\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eGradient: Can mostly be ridden in the saddle and with mostly gentle incline\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eExperience: Suitable for riders with limited off-road experience \u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eExamples: Quiet roads, Fallowfield Loop, Middlewood way, green routes at trail centre\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003c/ul\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003c/dd\u003e\n\n\t\t\t\t\u003cdt\u003eS2 - Suitable for riders with some experience, includes hazards\u003c/dt\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003cdd\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003cul\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eMountain bike recommended, not suitable for slick/semi-slick tires\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eSurface: Fire track, grass or rough double/singletrack\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eHazards: Small loose rocks, roots, ruts and muddy or steep sections which may be avoidable/walked\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eGradient: Some parts likely to be ridden out of the saddle and include steeper inclines\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eExperience: Suitable for riders with some off-road experience and skills\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eExamples: Blue routes at trail centres, rutted farm tracks, Trans Pennine Trail (off road sections), Reddish Vale\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003c/ul\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003c/dd\u003e\n\n\t\t\t\t\u003cdt\u003eS3 - Steep downhills, some unavoidable obstacles\u003c/dt\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003cdd\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003cul\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eMountain bike required, not suitable for hybrid bikes or slick/semi-slick tires\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eProtection (knee pads etc) recommended\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eSurface: Rough singletrack, rocky/loose trails, narrow in places\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eHazards: Tighter turns, loose/slippery surfaces, larger loose rocks (football sized), roots and narrow gaps (eg between trees) and deep ruts/mud. Rollable obstacles such as step-ups, small drop-offs (up to 12 inches) and jumps. Not all obstacles will be avoidable. Can involve routes which are relatively remote/exposed, may include small sections of hike-a-bike. \u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eGradient: Ridden out of the saddle, generally steeper for longer (1 in 4 for \u0026gt;100 metres) and may include very steep sections (gradients of 1 in 1 for 2-3 metres), often ridden as a continuous descent/climb.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eExperience: Not suitable for beginners, it is important that riders can use their past experience to decide whether or not they should attempt to ride the trail in front of them.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eExamples: Red routes at trail centers, classic Peak District Descents (Screaming mile, Rushup edge, The Fox dh, Little Mill descent,)\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003c/ul\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003c/dd\u003e\n\n\t\t\t\t\u003cdt\u003eS4 - Steep, technical riding, unavoidable obstacles, experienced riders only\u003c/dt\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003cdd\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003cul\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eMountain bike required, protection strongly recommended\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eSurface:Rough singletrack, rocky/loose trails, narrow in places, unmarked trails, rocky outcrops\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eHazards:Tight turns, loose/slippery surfaces, larger loose rocks, roots and narrow gaps (e.g. between trees), deep ruts/mud and steep chutes. Unavoidable obstacles such as step-ups, larger drop-offs (over 12 inches) and jumps which require good technical skill to ride at speed. May feature obstacles in series/one after another. Can involve routes which are remote/exposed/long and may include large sections of hike-a-bike.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eGradient: Steeper for longer (1 in 2 for over 50 metres), likely to include very steep sections (eg 1 in 0.5 for 2 metres), ridden as a continuous descent/climb.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eExperience: Experienced riders only with a good level of fitness. It is important that riders can use their past experience to decide whether or not they should attempt to ride the trail in front of them.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eExamples: The Beast, Jacobs Ladder, Black trails at trail centers, Red routes at downhill centres (BPW) big Lakes rides (Helvellyn), steep natural trails (Wharncliffe, The Golfie)\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003c/ul\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003c/dd\u003e\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u003cdt\u003eS5 - Highly technical riding, VERY experienced riders only\u003c/dt\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003cdd\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003cul\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eSurface: Rough unpredictable singletrack, rocky/loose trails, narrow in places, unmarked trails, rocky outcrops\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eHazards:As S4 but with numerous linked, unavoidable obstacles. Large drop-offs (over 18 inches) and gap jumps, very narrow tracks with obstacles or drops to the side. May be very exposed/remote/long routes. May also include sections/obstacles which need to be navigated at speed/walked and hike-a-bike.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eGradient: Steep trails which would be difficult to walk up, gradients may be near vertical for short sections. Descents likely to be ridden at speed.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eExperience: VERY Experienced riders only, a high level of technical skill and fitness is required. It is important that riders can use their past experience to decide whether or not they should attempt to ride the trail in front of them.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eExamples: black trails at downhill centres (Stiniog, BPW), Orange graded trails (Golfie), Freeride lines\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003c/ul\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003c/dd\u003e\n\n\t\t\t\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePace estimates\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003cdt\u003eSocial/Slow\u003c/dt\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003cdd\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003cul\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eThis is the slowest of the pace gradings.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eThe ride will be held at a social pace that is comfortable for all riders.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eRiders will (in the main) ride together as a group, any faster riders are expected to wait at regular intervals to avoid splitting the ride.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eThere are likely to be frequent stops.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003c/ul\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003c/dd\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003cdt\u003eMedium\u003c/dt\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003cdd\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003cul\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eThis ride will be run at a steady pace, with less frequent stops than the previous grading.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eRiders may not always remain together, although the ride will re-group as often as necessary (e.g. at the top of climbs)\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003c/ul\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003c/dd\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003cdt\u003eFast or fitness-orientated\u003c/dt\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003cdd\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003cul\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eThis ride will be run at a much quicker pace and with minimal stops.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eA good level of fitness and stamina will be required for this ride.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003c/ul\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003c/dd\u003e\t\n\t\t\t\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFitness Grades\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003cdt\u003eFitness Grade F1\u003c/dt\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003cdd\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003cul\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eRoute less than 10km.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eClimbs with gradients less than 1 in 10, largely on-road, firetracks or off-road cycle paths.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eThis grade may also be applied to longer routes on flattish terrain e.g. up to 20km that are run at a slow pace with regular stops.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eReasonable levels of general health and fitness required.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003c/ul\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003c/dd\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003cdt\u003eFitness Grade F2\u003c/dt\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003cdd\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003cul\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eRoutes 10 to 20km.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eClimbs with gradients greater than 1 in 10, on and off-road.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003ePerhaps includes short sections with gradients 1 in 5.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eReasonable levels of general health and fitness combined with a moderate level of mountain-bike fitness required (e.g. 3 to 4 previous recent rides)\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003c/ul\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003c/dd\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003cdt\u003eFitness Grade F3\u003c/dt\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003cdd\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003cul\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eRoutes 20 to 30 km.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eSustained climbs over distances of perhaps greater than 2 km with gradient of 1 in 10 or perhaps even 1 in 8.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003ePerhaps includes short sections with gradients steeper than 1 in 5.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003ePossibly includes significant proportion of off-road climbing.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eGood levels of general health and fitness combined with good level of mountain-bike fitness (e.g. regular biking over 12 weeks previously)\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003c/ul\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003c/dd\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003cdt\u003eFitness Grade F4\u003c/dt\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003cdd\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003cul\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eRoutes e.g. 30 to 50 km.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eSustained climbs over greater than 2 or 3 km with gradient of 1 in 8.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003ePerhaps includes several sections steeper than 1 in 5.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003ePotentially includes large proportion of off-road climbing.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eHigh level of mountain-biking fitness required (e.g. 6 months of fitness grade v3)\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003c/ul\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003c/dd\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003cdt\u003eFitness Grade F5\u003c/dt\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003cdd\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003cul\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eRoutes greater than 50km.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eSustained climbing for e.g. 5 km at gradients exceeding 1 in 8 with some sections considerably steeper and very short sections perhaps 1 in 2.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003ePotentially includes large proportion of off-road climbing.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eBikes may need to be carried or pushed up hills.\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003cli\u003eVery high level of mountain biking fitness required (e.g. greater than 6 months of sustained riding at fitness grade 4)\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003c/ul\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003c/dd\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003c/dl\u003e","ContentConfig":{"Caption":null,"Icon":null,"IconColour":null,"CaptionColour":null,"UnderlineColour":null,"TextColour":null,"FontSize":null,"LineHeight":null,"RequiresLoggedInUser":false,"BottomMargin":0,"PaddingLeft":"0px","PaddingTop":"0px","PaddingRight":"0px","PaddingBottom":"0px","PhoneVisible":true,"TabletVisible":true,"DesktopVisible":true,"CssClass":null,"PageLinkName":null,"PageLinkCaption":null},"ComponentCode":null,"ComponentError":null,"BottomMargin":"0px","PaddingLeft":"0px","PaddingTop":"0px","PaddingRight":"0px","PaddingBottom":"0px","CssClass":null,"ResponsiveClasses":"","PageLinkName":null,"PageLinkCaption":null,"Background":{"Colour":null,"ImageURL":null,"Filter":null,"IsParallax":false,"Image":"","Tint":""},"ImageConfig":{"ImageURL":null,"ObjectFit":"contain","ImageHeight":null,"FrameStyle":null,"BorderRadius":null,"Caption":{"IsActive":false,"Text":null,"SubText":null,"Font":{"Size":null,"Colour":null},"SubFont":{"Size":null,"Colour":null},"Alignment":null,"Position":null,"Margin":null,"BackgroundColour":null,"Blur":false,"Hover":false},"AltText":null,"LinkURL":null,"BottomMargin":0,"PaddingLeft":"10px","PaddingTop":"10px","PaddingRight":"10px","PaddingBottom":"10px","PhoneVisible":true,"TabletVisible":true,"DesktopVisible":true,"CssClass":null,"PageLinkName":null,"PageLinkCaption":null},"IgnoreCache":false}]}],"ColumnSpacing":"0px","BottomMargin":"0px","TopPadding":"0px","IsFullWidth":false,"IsBackgroundFullWidth":false,"Background":{"Colour":null,"ImageURL":null,"Filter":null,"IsParallax":false,"Image":"","Tint":""}}],"PageURL":"https://www.manchestermountainbikers.org/Cms/Spaces/GUIDELINES/Skill+Fitness+and+Pace+guidelines?version=4","AllVersions":[],"Comments":[],"UpdatedComments":[],"Spaces":[],"IsWatching":false,"LastViewTime":null,"CanEdit":false,"CanPublish":false,"CanCopy":false,"CanCreateTemplate":false,"CanComment":false,"CanReadComments":false,"CanModerateComments":false,"CanLike":false,"CanWatch":false}
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