Experience & Skills

You have ridden a bike before, maybe on gravel or double track, and are comfortable on it, but have never or rarely ridden a mountain bike trail (singletrack). You may have ridden in other cycling disciplines (ie: road, gravel, bmx). You have a basic understanding of braking and pedaling. You know how to shift but maybe not when or which leaver. Your skills may apply to other cycling disciplines (ie: road, gravel, bmx), but not mountain biking.

Goals

You will be comfortable riding smooth, green level single track up to 90% of the time. You will have a full understanding of good trail etiquette and safety. You will build confidence on your bike and with its operation. You will know the more popular green trails in the Edmonton trail system. Make some friends/acquaintances to ride with.

Trails to Ride

Examples are Birdhouse, Rattlesnake, Rollercoaster, No Horses, Terwillegar Park and area trail network

Fitness

Overall good health with no debilitating injuries and can ride up to 5-8 km or for 1.5 hours with lots of breaks.

Experience & Skills

You have ridden some green single track and are comfortable with easier trails. You understand how your bike works.

You understand one finger braking, but need to practice more. You are getting better at knowing when to shift on hills and are walking up them less. You remember and execute basic body positions to suit trail needs (climbing, descending, gentle corners).

***Participants at this level would have taken at least one clinic or private instruction (with any coach) to cover the basics (body position, braking, shifting, trail awareness).

Goals

You will become confident in braking and maintaining a controlled speed going down medium sloped hills. You will confidently move from ready to neutral positions on the trail with minimal thought to the movement. You will be able to ride up hills or at least find they are easier. You will walk your bike less.

Trails to Ride

Examples are Kinsmen, Mill Creek, and Old Timers trail networks, Gold Digger, Purple Haze

Fitness

Overall good health with no debilitating injuries and can ride to 10-12 km or for 1.5 hours with some breaks.

Experience & Skills

You are consistent on all green rated single track and most blue rated single track. You have attempted black rated but maybe walked a bunch of sections. You can ride over most obstacles comfortably. You have started steeper roll downs, but aren't totally comfortable yet.

You have a solid understanding and execution of body positions to suit the trail needs. You can adjust quickly to sharp corners, climbs or descends. One-finger braking is natural. You know when to shift for sudden trail changes but are working on consistency.

***Participants at this level would have taken at least one clinic or private instruction (with any coach) to cover the basics (body position, braking, shifting, trail awareness).

Goals

You will improve your cadence and endurance with longer rides on blue rated single track. You will improve consistency on climbs and picking lines on technical sections. You will ride low consequence features and execute wheel lifts and other harder maneuvers, while riding trails.

Trails to Ride

Examples are Hustler, Dawson trail network (Educations), Andre’s Trail/Caddytrack, Middle Ewok, Root Canal

Fitness

Overall good health with no debilitating injuries and can ride up to 12-15 km or 2 hours with moderate breaks.

Experience & Skills

You are successfully accomplishing the blue rated single track in Edmonton. You have shown consistency on black rated and are walking less sections. Quick thinking is coming easier (ie: shifting, independent braking, rad cornering).

You are a natural when it comes to executing proper body positions to suit the trail needs. You are consistent at utilizing the space required for corners. You can climb most technical trails without stopping or getting hung up. You can descend most technical sections; choosing lines to keep you smooth.

***Participants at this level would have taken clinics or private instructions (with any coach) to cover the basics (body position, braking, shifting, trail awareness).

Goals

You will have consistent success with cadence and endurance with longer rides on harder blue and black rated single track. You will be consistently successful on climbs and picking lines on technical sections.l You will incorporate rear wheel lifts into your tool kit. You will ride most low consequence features in Edmonton comfortably.

Trails to Ride

Examples are Machete, Wonder Woman, Bobsled, Risky Business

Fitness

Overall good health with no debilitating injuries and can ride up to 15-20 km for 2.5 hours with minimal breaks.

Experience & Skills

You are consistently riding all blue rated single track and most of the black rated trails. You don’t think twice about riding a new (to you) trail.

You can successfully complete smaller drops on trail and execute high speed efficient cornering. Your bike handling is like second nature and you can quickly shift, adjust body position and pedal power. You have the ability to successfully accomplish most technical climbs and descents.

***Participants at this level would have taken clinics or private instructions (with any coach) to cover the basics (body position, braking, shifting, trail awareness).

Goals

You will master advanced maneuvers like high speed cornering, power pedals while climbing technical sections, etc. You will ride as much of the Edmonton single track as possible. You will find new lines on favorite trails to improve your flow and cadence.

Trails to Ride

Examples are Fireman’s Descent, Upper Ewok, Purgatory, Bedsprings, Sideline

Fitness

Overall good health with no debilitating injuries and can ride up to 20-25km for 2.5 hours without much breaks.