MTB Skill Rating System
Brave Endeavors MTB Skill Rating System
SKILL LEVEL 1-3
SKILL LEVEL 1 - TOTES A NEWBIE
You've never ridden a mountain bike on an actual dirt trail before.
You can execute: Staying upright while pedaling.
SKILL LEVEL 2 - NOVICE
You have ridden mountain bikes on dirt trails a few times, but mostly everything about riding these contraptions is still a mystery...but you're game to learn!
You can execute: Skill Level 1 and…
One finger braking on both the front (left) and rear (right) brakes
Riding with flat (50/50) pedals while not pedaling (pedals are "flat" or parallel to the ground)
Pushing the shifter thingy...but being in the right gear might need some work still.
SKILL LEVEL 3 - STRONG NOVICE
You're stoked on singletrack, but working on those skills all the cool kids are doing. You enjoy mellow smooth trails, but sometimes climbs come out of friggin' nowhere & you forget to shift, or those rocks or roots get a little cray cray and you prefer to walk-it-out. You’re still not comfy riding roots, rocks, switchbacks, & steep stuff...and drops or jumps? Oh hell no girl.
You can execute: Skill Level 2 and…
Controlled braking at speed
Riding while STANDING and being able to coast with flat pedals
Can get over small rocks, roots, and obstacles...but you're not sure how you're doing it.
SKILL RATING SYSTEM
SKILL LEVEL 4 & 5
SKILL LEVEL 4 - INTERMEDIATE
Mountain biking has started to become your "thing", and you are starting to get the hang of shifting, pedaling through more technical features, making it up shorter climbs, & getting just a little rowdy going down hill....although you prefer keeping your wheels on the ground
You can execute: Skill Level 3 and…
Controlled braking at faster speeds
Shifting - you anticipate terrain and can shift accordingly
Standing - you're balanced & comfy standing with flat (50/50) pedals and can maintain level pedals during a descent.
Compress your suspension to get over small (a few inches) obstacles
Confidence rolling over obstacles that do not require wheels to leave the ground.
Wider switchbacks and turns that aren't too steep
SKILL LEVEL 5 - STRONG INTERMEDIATE
You're confident riding green and most blue trails and willing to dabble in black trails, although you're positive you'll be walking a few technical bits. You can comfortably use your front and back brakes when different braking pressure is required (i.e. switchbacks, steeper sections of trail), and your wheels even leave the ground on occasion!
You can execute: Skill Level 4 and…
Controlled front braking independent from rear braking and vise versa
Anticipating changes in terrain and shifting smoothly and often
Front wheel lifts to get wheel up or over an obstacle that is not rollable (up to 6 inches)
Letting go of the brakes and standing on Flat (50/50) pedals on descents, & maintaining speed as long as you can see what's ahead of you.
Trail scanning and cornering techniques such as looking through turns, although you still feel and maybe look awkward AF trying to corner any faster than a tortoise.
SKILL RATING SYSTEM
SKILL LEVEL 6-8
SKILL LEVEL 6 - ADVANCED
You got this! You feel confident braking, using momentum to crush terrain, and are comfortable shifting and using that seat post dropper all dang day. You can shred through tight trees, loose dirt, snaggly rock gardens, and twisty turns, all while lookin' and feelin' good. Oh and descents? Bring it!
You can execute: Skill Level 5 and…
You are confident in your handling skills on a variety of singletrack
You can shift your bodyweight to keep traction on steep climbs, and climbing technical terrain is totally in your bag of tricks.
Berms? Braaaap! Timing and coordination through berms and tight turns is dialed, and you are comfortable with bike-body separation to keep speed and momentum through the exit.
Confidence on fast or steep descents with a little air time on small jumps and drops
You are comfortable with wheels leaving the ground, just for a lil' bit.
SKILL LEVEL 7 - EXPERT
You eat trail for breakfast. You are comfortable riding black trails and aggressive terrain with complete control over your speed and your bike. You rarely walk on descents, and can hop or wheel lift over larger obstacles that are not rollable. Slow tech. Fast tech. You want all the tech.
You can execute: Skill Level 6 and…
Confidently riding all green, blue, black, and double black trails
Climbing technical "bitchy" climbs and switchbacks are easy peasy
Clearing table top jumps, large drops (over 4 feet), and all the sketchiness the trail has for you.
SKILL LEVEL 8 - PRO
You ride professionally on a mountain bike. Congratulations...we have beer and extra bacon since you're probably broke and hungry.