Trail Rating System
This is a 10 point scale.
One: The trail is very easy to ride, maybe even paved. There's
no major hills and even a rookie rider could stay on the bike through
the entire course.
Two: There are a few minor obstacles and small hills. Minor obstacles
would consist of tree roots, small patches of sand and leave covered
trails.
Three: All of the above but with some added fun. Maybe wet leaves,
big roots than can eat a front tire, but nothing that would seriously
deter a new rider.
Four: This is where you start having fun. When you get into the
fours, you'll experience rolling hills, and more obstacles. Here's where
we start separating the boys from the men. You'll find serious sand patches
that will often force the inexperienced riders off their bikes. Some
of the hills force the rookies to dismount and walk their steed up the
hill.
Five: A 5 is usually still a 2-track but now, you'll find sandbars
that challenge most veteran riders. The hills usually are longer or just
much steeper than the previous. If you can climb the hills without your
legs screaming in pain, then it's not a 5. You will often find more obstacles
in a 5. You'll often find bridges, sharp curves and patches of rough
terrain.
Six: Sixes are where the real fun begins. The trails surface begins
getting rougher and you'll find it's difficult to stay on your bike.
You'll get introduced to switchbacks, kickouts, and singletrack.
You should begin to find logs in the trail
that need to be bunny-hopped and you may even find a small jump or two.
If you're skill aren't polished, you will not be able to ride the trail
out.
Seven: Seven's are all the fun of a six plus some added bonuses.
The trail must be singletrack, there must be logs over the trail, the
ground must be torn up in places. You'll need a good bike for these trials.
You'll wipe out cheap components in minutes. Narrow bridges without rails,
small gorges to jump, and occasional briar patches and trees so close
together that you nick the bar-ends on both sides when you pass through
are added bonuses.
Eight: Long steeps hills winding through heavily forested regions
make for killer views. Too bad you don't get much chance to see them.
You'll be screaming down hills barely in control of your bike and be
forced to react instantly to abrupt changes in the trail. You'll find
singletrack running along the sides of very steep hills and plenty of
dips and bumps that try to dismount you. Switchbacks that force you to
ride up the edge of a cliff, slam on the brakes and kick out the back
end of your bike and then start pedaling down the edge before you lose
balance and fall off the cliff. Or mudpits that drain off all your mo before
a long steep grind.
Nine: You get some added bonuses like water hazards, plenty of
opportunity for air, and trails that only a sick demented rider could
have created. You'll likely ride the course with an average speed of
less then 10 miles per hour because of all the hills, switchbacks, dips,
curves, and occasional soil sampling rider you must go around. The hills
should be at least as obnoxious as Uncle "I can't remember the name" hill
at Schuss mountain or 'The Wall' on the VASA trail. The Uncle "?" hill
was lots of fun. You come to the bottom and mutter something to the effect
of 'uh-oh'. You ride up until your near collapse, and seeing the top
in sight, you keep that determined spark alive and slowly grind to the
top. When, you reach the top, you pedal around a slight curve and realize
that you're only about halfway up. As your climb the last stretch, you
have fans screaming to keep going because your the 7th (of hundreds)
that has made it this far. You keep grinding and eventually crest the
'forever' hill.
Ten: A ten is not even ridable by a novice. If you have a cheap
bike, you'll discover what the term 'yard sale' means. You will find at least one unridable hill, singletrack
trails, deep ruts, very muddy sections, and plenty of grindies. You'll
learn about plenty of terms like christmas tree, endo, first blood, mantraps,
potato chip and other fun things. You never attempt one without your
trusty tool kit, even that usually doesn't do much good. You'll often
find your share of trail swag to collect as souvenirs.
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