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Skills & Fitness Ratings

Setting you up for success starts with understanding exactly what kind of adventure you are getting yourself into.

Please be aware:

Riding in the Grand Valley is CHALLENGING!

Not all the trails. But the vast majority. 

 

Aunty strongly encourages everyone to

level down in both Skill Rating & Fitness Rating

if you have not ridden here, in Moab, or in Sedona before.

You've never actually mountain biked on a singletrack trail before.

Skill Level 1
MTB Newbie

You can execute:

  1. Staying upright while pedaling in a parking lot

  2. Road/gravel riding

You have ridden mountain bikes on dirt trails a few times, but mostly everything about riding these contraptions is still a mystery...but you're game to learn

Skill Level 2
Beginner / Novice

You can execute:

  1. Skill Level 1

  2. One finger braking on both the front (left) and rear (right) brakes

  3. Riding with 50/50 pedals while not pedaling (pedals are "flat"/parallel to the ground)

  4. Pushing the shifter thingy...but being in the right gear might need some work still.

 You enjoy mellow smooth trails and aren't really comfortable riding roots, rocks, switchbacks, and the steep stuff...and drops or jumps? Oh hell no!

Skill Level 3
Strong Novice

You can execute:

  1. Skill Level 2

  2. Controlled braking at speed

  3. Standing - you're balanced and comfortable standing up with 50/50 pedals and can maintain level pedals while coasting

  4. Using a dropper post to get that seat the HECK OUTTA YOUR WAY!

  5. Can get over small rocks, roots, and obstacles...but you're not sure how you're doing it.

Mountain biking has started to become your "thing" and you ride fairly regularly. You are starting to get the hang of shifting, pedaling through more technical features, making it up shorter climbs, and getting just a little rowdy going down hill....although you prefer keeping your wheels on the ground

Skill Level 4
Intermediate

You can execute:

  1. Skill Level 3

  2. Confident controlled braking at faster speeds

  3. Shifting gears - you anticipate terrain and can shift accordingly

  4. Compressing your suspension to get over small (a couple inches high) obstacles

  5. Confidence rolling over obstacles  (rocks, logs, drops in terrain)

  6. Wider switchbacks and turns that aren't too steep

You're confident riding most blue trails and willing to dabble in black trails, although you're positive you'll be walking a few technical bits.  You can comfortably use your front and back brakes when different braking pressure is required (i.e. switchbacks, steeper sections of trail), & your wheels leave the ground on occasion! 

Skill Level 5
Strong Intermediate

You can execute:

  1. Skill Level 4

  2. Controlled front braking independent from rear braking and vise versa

  3. Anticipating changes in terrain and shifting smoothly and often

  4. Front wheel lifts to get wheel up or over an obstacles or down drops in terrain

  5. Letting go of the brakes and standing on 50/50 pedals on descents while gaining speed 

  6. Trail scanning and cornering techniques such as looking through turns, although you still feel and maybe look awkward AF trying to corner any faster than a tortoise.

Expert trails and technical terrain? Let's do this. You feel confident braking, using momentum to crush terrain, and are comfortable shifting and using that seat post dropper all dang day. You can shred through tight trees, loose dirt, snaggly rock gardens, and twisty turns, all while lookin' and feelin' good. 

Skill Level 6
Advanced

You can execute:

  1. Skill Level 5

  2. You are confident in your handling skills on a variety of singletrack

  3. You can shift your bodyweight to keep traction on steep climbs, and climbing technical terrain is totally in your bag of tricks. 

  4. Berms? Braaaap! Timing and coordination through berms and tight turns is dialed, and you are comfortable with bike-body separation to keep speed and momentum through the exit. 

  5. Confidence on fast or steep descents with a little air time on small jumps and drops

  6. You are comfortable with wheels leaving the ground, just for a lil' bit.

You eat trail for breakfast. You are comfortable riding black trails and aggressive terrain with complete control over your speed and your bike. You rarely walk on descents, and can hop or wheel lift over larger obstacles that are not rollable. Slow tech. Fast tech. You want all the tech. 

Skill Level 7
Expert

You can execute:

  1. Skill Level 6

  2. Confidently riding all green, blue, black, and (most sections of) double black trails

  3. Climbing technical "bitchy" climbs and switchbacks are easy peasy

  4. Clearing table top jumps, large drops (over 4 feet), and all the sketchiness the trail has for you.

You literally ride professionally on a mountain bike. Congratulations...we have beer and extra bacon since you're probably broke and hungry.

Skill Level 8
Professional MTB Rider

You can execute:

  1. All the things

Skills Ratings
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"I could share with you my story and why this event felt very personal and impactful to me, but I'm sure there are also a few hundred other women who could do the same. To sum it up, this event has changed my relationship with my body and my bike in a lasting and meaningful way that will carry with me perhaps for the rest of my life. This was an incredible experience."

- Roam Fest Participant

Copyright 2024 Roam Events LLC

Roam Fest is a Roam Events production

Contact us: hello@thisisroam.com

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You gotta start somewhere

Fitness Level 1

This most describes me:

  1. Exercising, including riding a bike, for more than a half hour continously is daunting

  2. Climbing a hill on a bike? Hell. No.  

Getting going

Fitness Level 2

This most describes me:

  1. I can handle shorter rides (less than an hour) on easy flat terrain

  2. Short hills are no small feat, but I can make it up if I try.

  3. I mountain bike or get out for moderate exercise a few times a month.

Keepin' going

Fitness Level 3

This most describes me:

  1. I can ride a green or easy blue trail for under two hours at a chill pace, with couple of stops.

  2. 3 days of riding is a tall order, but I'm up for it - I'll just need to go on shorter rides and enjoy more downtime off the bike. 

  3. I can handle short bursts of climbing, anything over 500ft of vertical total is pushing my limits.

  4. I mountain bike a few times a month

  5. I exercise an average of two hours a week. 

Look at me, I'm going!

Fitness Level 4

This most describes me:

  1. I can ride green and blue trails multiple days in a row at a chill pace for an average of 2-3 hours.

  2. Climbs aren't so bad, I can handle up to 800ft vertical in a ride. 

  3. I mountain bike or do a similar activity once/twice a week

  4. I exercise an average of three hours a week.

Got this.

Fitness Level 5

This most describes me:

  1. I can ride blue trails multiple days in a row at a moderate pace for an average of 2-3 hours.

  2. Climbs are part of riding and I can handle up to 1,000 feet in a ride. 

  3. I mountain bike or do a similar activity two+ times a week

  4. I exercise an average of three to four hours a week.

Hella got this.

Fitness Level 6

This most describes me:

  1. I can ride blue trails multiple days in a row at a moderate pace for an average of 3-4 hours.

  2. I could do one day of riding for 5-6 hours, but it would be pushing my fun-factor.

  3. I might actually be starting to like climbing, and can handle 1,500 feet in a single ride. 

  4. I mountain bike or do a similar activity two+times a week

  5. I exercise an average of four to five hours a week.

Bring on the climbs.

Fitness Level 7

This most describes me:

  1. I 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. 

  2. Riding a black trail at moderate pace for 2-3 hours is within my fitness range.

  3. Climbing is no problemo and I can handle 2,000 vertical feet in a single ride. 

  4. I mountain bike or do a similar activity three+ times a week

  5. I exercise an average of five to six hours a week.

I prefer the sufferfest

Fitness Level 8

This most describes me:

  1. I 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 if the opportunity arose.

  2. I'm part mountain goat and can climb 3,000 vertical feet in a ride. 

  3. I mountain bike or do a similar activity three or more times a week

  4. I exercise an average of six or more hours a week.

  5. My exercise routine includes dedicated endurance training. 

Fitness Ratings

Hi friends. Aunty wants you to know that these fitness levels are the best tool we currently have to get folks on rides with similarly-paced riders.

 

We know some of y'all can ride big distances and accomplish incredible feats with your bod, and you just don't like to do that shit fast. If this sounds like you, feel free to choose a fitness level that best describes the kind of folks you want to ride with.

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