Question 1

RIDE LEVEL 1 - FIRST TIMERS

Accepted Answer

It’s your first time ever riding a mountain bike and you have only ridden on dirt a few times.
Skills required:
Can pedal in a straight line without falling over
Local Trails ridden:
Maybe none yet!

Question 2

RIDE LEVEL 2 - BEGINNER

Accepted Answer

You have had a mountain bike for a few weeks or months (or even years), but have only been riding on dirt trails a few times, and are still unsure what the heck you’re doing, or how you even “work” the bike.
Skills required:
Level 1 skills
Can stand up while coasting or riding downhill (with level pedals)
Comfortable using both brakes and shifting gears
Confident in riding smooth trails with some turns, but very few rocks or roots
Local trails ridden:
Bear Creek State Park, South Table Mountain, Marshall Mesa, local dirt trails that may surround lakes or be at parks

Question 3

RIDE LEVEL 3 - ADVANCED BEGINNER

Accepted Answer

You’ve been riding a mountain bike for a little while now, but still aren’t sure you have the fundamentals, though you’re having a great time!

Skills required:
Level 1 and 2 skills
Comfortable using BOTH brakes and only using 1 finger (INDEX finger)
Able to ride some obstacles, such as up and over small rocks and roots (both uphill and downhill)
Prefers to ride smooth green trails, but would consider trying a blue trail
Enjoys the exercise, but does like to stop frequently for rest breaks and photo ops
Local trails ridden:
Bear Creek State Park, South Table Mountain, Marshall Mesa, South Valley Park, Hildebrand Ranch, Hidden Mesa
You can handle some parts of Green Mountain
You have attempted North Table Mountain but found the sustained climb too difficult and had to walk most of the switchbacks and rocky sections.

Question 4

RIDE LEVEL 4 - INTERMEDIATE

Accepted Answer

You’ve got the basic fundamentals and have good body awareness while on a bike. You enjoy riding a couple times a week when the weather is good. You have enough skills to be able to teach a new rider some basic fundamentals of mountain biking. You enjoy going fast and are not afraid to try some more difficult obstacles.

Skills required:
Level 1, 2 and 3 skills
Can shift gears smoothly and efficiently and anticipate when to shift
Navigates switchbacks and small uphill obstacles, though at times may have difficulty
Confident with descending rocky and steep terrain of moderate challenge
Uses the dropper post efficiently and frequently
Rides blue trails with confidence, though on occasion may need to walk your bike
Likes to “session” obstacles during some of your rides, to progress your skills with others of similar riding ability
Local trails ridden:
You've ridden many front range trails and find most blue-rated trails doable, but may have to walk some sections
You can handle all trails at North Table Mountain, though have to walk some of the rocky sections.
You probably enjoy Three Sisters, Buff Creek, and Green Mountain. You like climbing Easy Money at Maryland Mountain, and descending Fast Money.
In Boulder, you can ride Betasso, Antelope to Nelson Loop at Hall Ranch, and Picture Rock
You've been to Floyd Hill, but the Sluice DH only trail is above your skills.

Question 5

RIDE LEVEL 5 -  ADVANCED INTERMEDIATE

Accepted Answer

You’ve become a bit obsessed with mountain biking and are wanting to really start pushing your skills. You may be starting to gain confidence to use your bike’s suspension by getting some air! You have been to a mountain bike clinic or received coaching lessons in an attempt to continue to advance your skills. You use Strava to track your rides and try to gain new PRs in segments you’ve ridden before.

Skills required:
Level 1, 2, 3, and 4 skills
Can come to a sudden controlled stop while descending at speed.
Enjoys riding fast without the need for frequent rest breaks.
Performs a front wheel lift to get up an obstacle (up to 6 inches.)
Uses feet to compress suspension to jump off small features on trail (up to 6 inches)
Navigates switchbacks and corners efficiently, without the need to slow down significantly or put a foot down in every turn. 
Rides blue trails with ease and confidence, and not afraid to ride some black trails and attempt features that may be more intimidating.
Local trails ridden:
Same as those noted in Intermediate level, but you also like to continue to push yourself by attempting black trails, even if you  have to walk sections on the uphill or downhill.
You can ride most trails at Apex, though may walk a lot through "The Gut" and have to walk on some of the uphill rocky features.
You have ridden at White Ranch, though found Longhorn to be very challenging and walked a lot.
You're curious about Dakota Ridge, so have tried it once but hated it.
You enjoy Floyd Hill and Virginia Canyon, but find many features scary and difficult on the descent. 
You can ride all of Matthews Winters, but may walk a few spots on the Morrison Slide climb and descent.
You like to ride some trails in Boulder- including Antelope to Nelson loop at Hall Ranch, Picture Rock, Heil Valley and Betasso. You've also been exploring more trails at Maryland Mountain- Fast Money is easy, and you like the Millsite descent, but not sure you're ready for Hard Money yet.

Question 6

RIDE LEVEL 6 -  ADVANCED

Accepted Answer

You’re a shredder! You live and breathe mountain biking, and it is all that you think about.  You get pretty sad when you can’t bike for a week and spend your evenings watching Nate Hill videos. You’ve probably been riding for a few years and have made lots of riding friends along the way.

Skills required:
Level 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 skills
Has great bike handling skills
Prefers to push yourself on most rides, including the pace, with few rest breaks
Has some trick skills nailed- track stand, pedaling wheel lift, maybe a wheelie, or manual? You are constantly practicing new tricks in the parking lot before and after group rides
Comfortable getting the wheels off the ground on some natural trail features and drops, maybe 1-2 feet 
Able to climb up and over steeper obstacles (up to 12 inches), including features with more than 1 obstacle in succession
Prefers to only ride black trails which you consider “Fun,” yet can be challenged by steeper and chunkier terrain on both the uphill and downhill
Local trails ridden:
You can ride anywhere in the front range, except maybe Ore Chute, and the advanced lines and drops at the new Virginia Canyon Mountain Park.  At times you do walk some features on the uphill or downhill.
Your favorite trails may be The Sluice at Floyd Hill, Enchanted Forest at Apex, Chimney Gulch, Dakota Ridge, Longhorn, Left Hand, and Bitterbrush at Hall Ranch. You can't necessary clear all of the features on these trails, but it doesn't stop you from trying and working up the courage to conquer the hard sections.
You like to push the limits and try double black trails whenever given the opportunity, though may walk some sections.

Question 7

RIDE LEVEL 7 - EXPERT

Accepted Answer

You have been riding for a long time and have spent many years advancing your skills, technique and confidence on the bike. You’ve been to more than a few clinics and lessons in your past, to get where you are today. Your friends are all advanced + riders and you travel the state and country to seek out more exhilarating trails and mountain bike trips. You might be sponsored by a few bike brands or clothing companies, and have a strong presence on social media. You are RAD!

Skills required:
Level 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 skills
Confident in riding all levels of trails, including double black diamond, and maybe even dabbled in some “Pro lines” at Whistler or other well-known mountain bike parks across the world. 
Climbs steep, punchy, technical trails with ease
Descends the gnarliest, chunkiest terrain like an antelope
Can clear table top jumps (6+ feet) and large drops (4+ feet)
Has a whole bag of trick skills and is always working on more!
Local trails ridden:
There's nothing you can't ride here in Colorado, though may occasionally have "off days" where you're not feeling up for doing a big feature. or riding the sketchiest lines.
Can ride all double-black trails Colorado has to offer, and at the DH bike parks.

Question 8

RIDE LEVEL 8 - PRO

Accepted Answer

You ride bikes for a living and make a bit of money doing it! Lucky you! Most likely you don’t have time to ride with social clubs like ours, but if you do, that’s pretty sweet! Welcome!

Skills required:
You can do anything on a bike!
Local trails ridden:
All of them! There's nothing you can't or won't do! Impressive!  :)

Ride Levels