Non Beginner Rides, what's in it?

[.8down]

probably a lot less gears are involved in non newbian rides.....

[osmarandsara]

So does anyone know if there is a "rating" system for trails? I used to rock climb, and based on the rating system I knew more or less if I could climb a particular route...

Maybe we need to invent one?

Like a number 1-10 for technical difficulty with 10 being the hardest and a letter from A to Z for steepness/climbing difficulty so a 1-A would be a paved Bike Path and 10Z would be a rocky, rutted trail with mega-rocks and 60 degree climbs....

[SAR_boats]

The best way to judge what the ride will be like is who is leading it and who is in attendance. Examples:

Leader Genusmtnbkr5
In attendance: A large amount of people
Advice: Either a newbie ride or a VQ training ride. Read the post carefully. If it says newbie ride it's easy. If it says training ride it isn't.

Leader: Onelegrolledup
In attendance: 26erZenMaster
Advice: Either a boxing match or a fixie ride. Both involves 2 fixie fairies who don't like each other circling around, only one involves punching.

Leader: Sar_boats
In attendance: people with nothing better to do
Advice: Easy. Painfully easy. The "leader" will be in the back hacking up a lung. Bring a lawn chair.

Leader: Maxwell:
In attendance: Guero, Pain Freak, TKBlazer, MTNbikerfred
Advice: Probably the Push-a-Kona. If you insist on going take water and a heavy bike. Or you could stab yourself in the lungs and legs a few times after you sit in a sauna all day and get the same effect.

Leader: Andy aka Rut
In attendance: Mechmann, Allison, Genusmtnbkr5, OMR, 1x1Clyde, ShinKen
Advice: Stay home. If you do go, bring water laced with EPO and an oxygen bottle. And a map and compass. And lights. And food. And a cyanide pill, just in case you want to end the pain.

[Winger]

Originally Posted by osmarandsara

So does anyone know if there is a "rating" system for trails? I used to rock climb, and based on the rating system I knew more or less if I could climb a particular route...

Check out the route on Geoladders. They have ratings for every route and you can read the rider comments to get a feel for it. The ride organizer should tell what the pace is.

[allison]

Originally Posted by osmarandsara

So does anyone know if there is a "rating" system for trails? I used to rock climb, and based on the rating system I knew more or less if I could climb a particular route...

Socalmtb.com has kind of a rating... The site is probably mostly outdated, but it's where I used to get trail info.

Originally Posted by SAR_boats

Leader: Andy aka Rut
In attendance: Mechmann, Allison, Genusmtnbkr5, OMR, 1x1Clyde, ShinKen
Advice: Stay home. If you do go, bring water laced with EPO and an oxygen bottle. And a map and compass. And lights. And food. And a cyanide pill, just in case you want to end the pain.

Chris - you just made my morning!!!

[mp3]

Originally Posted by CalEpic

While all STR rides are "no-one gets left behind" The list below would usually put a ride into non-newbie category IMO (but it's still pretty subjective):

• 25+ miles
• 4000'+ of climbing
• quicker pace
• gnarly exposure
• steep descents
• technical sections - big rock gardens, etc.

I think that sums it up pretty good. The only thing I'd add is no stops...maybe just one if it's a 40-60 mile ride.

[spookydave]

who cares, just ride man. ride what you can and walk the rest. And the next time try to ride a little more.

As far as ratings, Mammoth double black dimonds = Bootlegs blue runs. lol

Nice meeting you at the Loop BTW.

[jcbikeski]

Originally Posted by JOx2

Is there anything in between? if so, which trail?

In between rides could be those that only include a single item from CalEpic's list of more advanced features. For example slowly climbing Blackstar or Maplesprings to the Main divide (or bailing earlier) are good ones because they're long climbs, but not super steep and not technical at all. Or you might do something a more technical but with little exposure and easy to get to like Rock-it at Aliso.

[Pho'dUp]

Originally Posted by osmarandsara

So does anyone know if there is a "rating" system for trails? I used to rock climb, and based on the rating system I knew more or less if I could climb a particular route...

Maybe we need to invent one?

Like a number 1-10 for technical difficulty with 10 being the hardest and a letter from A to Z for steepness/climbing difficulty so a 1-A would be a paved Bike Path and 10Z would be a rocky, rutted trail with mega-rocks and 60 degree climbs....

Besides geoladders and mtbbill's site. Maybe check out Vogel's book 'Southern California Mountain Biking'. It's got most of the popular trails and he describes how hard the climbs are by "grunt factor" as well as the descents and how long it should take you do the ride.

[Abui]

Originally Posted by JOx2

what is the degree of difficulty when a ride is NOT beginner friendly? could you give specifics? like trail technicalities, duration, etc..
The ultimate answer is to give it a try but before i get my foot in the water, i wanna know what is out there?

Thank you.

There is no accepted rating system. I know a club that has endless debates about rating. The quote below is the best system yet. Go and and ride! Learn what challenges you! (Are you an endurance runner looking for new adventures or are you (PC words) "physically challenged"?)

Originally Posted by SAR_boats

The best way to judge what the ride will be like is who is leading it and who is in attendance. Examples:

Leader Genusmtnbkr5
In attendance: A large amount of people
Advice: Either a newbie ride or a VQ training ride. Read the post carefully. If it says newbie ride it's easy. If it says training ride it isn't.

Leader: Onelegrolledup
In attendance: 26erZenMaster
Advice: Either a boxing match or a fixie ride. Both involves 2 fixie fairies who don't like each other circling around, only one involves punching.

Leader: Sar_boats
In attendance: people with nothing better to do
Advice: Easy. Painfully easy. The "leader" will be in the back hacking up a lung. Bring a lawn chair.

Leader: Maxwell:
In attendance: Guero, Pain Freak, TKBlazer, MTNbikerfred
Advice: Probably the Push-a-Kona. If you insist on going take water and a heavy bike. Or you could stab yourself in the lungs and legs a few times after you sit in a sauna all day and get the same effect.

Leader: Andy aka Rut
In attendance: Mechmann, Allison, Genusmtnbkr5, OMR, 1x1Clyde, ShinKen
Advice: Stay home. If you do go, bring water laced with EPO and an oxygen bottle. And a map and compass. And lights. And food. And a cyanide pill, just in case you want to end the pain.