Trip Rating System

Our trips are rated on a 1-10 scale. Please see the fitness and technical scales below and look for the graphics on our itineraries and trip pages.

Fitness Level Ratings
1 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Couch Potato Iron Man

fitness_64 - Comfortable with daily exercise on some level. Tours offer plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and ride at your own ability level. Support van is available often.

5 - Comfortable with sustained output at relaxed paced. Exercise regularly.

7 - Comfortable with sustained output at athletic pace with occasional short anaerobic periods. Exercise 3-4 times a week or more for 30 minutes or more.

9 - Comfortable with sustained challenging pace, including long periods of anaerobic exercise. Actively in training for competition.


Technical Level Ratings
1 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Watch ESPN2 Rampage Competitor

tech_62 - Gravel dirt roads, easy grades.

4 - Un-maintained dirt road, easy grades. Some singletrack, but usually easier options available too.

6 - More singletrack, often steeper sections, with some loose rocks. Some easier alternatives or time at camp may be available.

8 - Mostly rarely used backcountry singletrack and/or un-maintained jeep roads. Rocky, steep sections in remote areas with fast, steep descents and challenging climbs.

Why are none of our tours rated below a four?
In order make the most out of your active vacation you need to have some base level of fitness. Since 1 is a rating of a couch potato, we consider 4 as a good place to start. Many of our tours are appropriate for groups with mixed abilities. Up to about the rating of 7, we offer good, lower impact alternatives so more advanced riders can challenge themselves and others can take it easy if they need to.