Southern California - Do you want to join or organize a BF Ride?

Join in! Or organize your own BF ride!

Some helpful Bfers and I have worked to come up with a Difficulty Rating to let newcomers know which BF rides they may feel most comfortable joining. (It still needs tweaking, so any constructive suggestions are welcome.) Please note that the following are mere guidelines - not hard and fast rules - that were written in an attempt to give newcomers and newbies a sense of the difficulty level of BF rides.

BTW – If you are at or beyond the Intermediate level, you should already be well aware of your abilities and have no need of the Difficulty Scale.

If you have never organized a ride but would like to, we welcome you to do so... especially easier rides for new riders! Some of the more experienced ride organizers will be happy to give you some advice on how to do this. If you need a starting point, feel free to copy the following template:

Name of Ride: X
Date: X
Start location: X
Meet time: 0:00
Roll time: 0:00
Distance: X
Elevation Gain: X
Difficulty Level: X
Routeslip/Ride Description/Other Details: Pace, SAG/No SAG, etc.

Difficulty Scale (Road)
Disclaimer: Ride at your own risk. Cycling carries a significant risk of personal injury or death. DO NOT participate in any rides unless are knowledgeable about the risks involved, and are willing to assume personal responsibility for all risks associated with these activities. BikeForums and ride organizers cannot and will not be responsible for any damages or bodily injury caused to any rider or their bicycle for any reason. Please observe all applicable traffic laws, wear a helmet and conduct yourself in a safe and prudent manner while participating.

Novice
Skills: Keep the rubber on the ground.
Just getting into riding or been off the bike awhile? Family friendly. Fun and short route with an experienced rider. Any kind of bike acceptable. Helmets mandatory. No distance or speed recorded. NO DROP.

Beginner
Skills: Pace not more than 15mph on flats. Any kind of bike acceptable. Helmets mandatory.
Rides should be relatively flat, with many regroups/stops. NO DROP.
Flat: Up to 30 miles.

Beginner/Social Rider
Skills: Able to maintain 15 mph (solo) on flats comfortably.
Rides should be less than 1000 ft of climbing (nothing steep), many regroups/stops. NO DROP
Flat: Up to 60 miles.
(Good rides: river trail rides, South Bay bike path)

Social Rider
Skills: Able to maintain 16 mph (solo) on flats comfortably, up to 2500 feet of climbing, moderate climbing ability (<10%). Basic group riding skills acquired, signaling, knowledge of traffic rules/defensive riding in traffic, maintaining speed in slow-to-moderate paceline.
Flat: Up to 75 miles Hilly: Up to 30 miles.
(Good rides: PV Loop, Chantry Flats, GP Night Ride, river trail rides)

Social Rider/Intermediate.
Skills: Able to maintain 16-17 mph (solo) on flats comfortably, up to 4000 feet of climbing, steeper climbs possible (10% or steeper), self supporting food/water. Greater group riding skills required. Some proficiency at technical descents. More remote areas possible.
Flat: Up to 100 miles Hilly: Up to 50 miles.
(Good rides: Lower GMR, Slacker century, South Bay Fun Ride)

Intermediate.
Skills: Able to maintain 17-18 mph (solo) on flats comfortably, up to 7000 feet of climbing, including steeper grades. Must be self-supporting. More advanced technical and defensive skills. Rides may be in remote areas, possible high altitudes.
Flat: 100+ miles Hilly: Up to 100 miles
(Good rides: GMR to Baldy Lifts)

(If you are at or beyond the Intermediate Level, you should be well aware of your own capabilities)

Thanks, Joy!!! That looks great. :beer: :D

+1

Very nice!

Maybe it's just me, but I've noticed on really tough climbing rides, they have the ratio of 1,000 feet of climbing per 10 miles. Should this be added to the difficulty scale?

Ok, I like this. I have a few questions, nothing to start a painful debate about. Rad :)

Ok, I like this. I have a few questions, nothing to start a painful debate about. Rad :)

Huh? What? Did I hear the word debate? :p

Needs more mountain bike.

Needs more mountain bike.

I'm getting my mtb, Red Baron, spruced up this week and buying a new saddle. Can't wait. :)

Back to thread topic...

Needs more mountain bike.

I completely agree, Mark! However, I know nothing about mountain biking, so if anyone wants to start up a "How to come up with a MTB Scale thread", and set up some helpful MTB guidelines, I would gladly post it in the Ride Thread!

What is the equivalent to a century in mountain biking?

For mountain biking, you would have to add another dimension of technical difficulty.

For mountain biking, you would have to add another dimension of technical difficulty.

get to it and I'll be looking forward to your new thread with the technical difficulties added to the chart. :D

To go mountain biking, one would have to have a mountain bike, wouldn't they? :D :D

What is the equivalent to a century in mountain biking?

Too many variables obviously and almost impossible to compare the two, but on certain trails a mere 15 miles of mountain biking can feel like a century on a road bike. :D

Too many variables obviously and almost impossible to compare the two, but on certain trails a mere 15 miles of mountain biking can feel like a century on a road bike. :D

Fixed gear mountain bike?

Fixed gear mountain bike?Now, the guys who ride fixed mountain bikes are crazy.:D
Singlespeeds seem like a lot of fun....just ask Jeff. :D

What is the equivalent to a century in mountain biking?

100 miles. ;)

100 miles. ;)

Ya, but it's kind of like Dog years....
100 miles in Mt bike is 2-3 days, for most sane people...

If you have never organized a ride but would like to, we welcome you to do so...

Hey, thanks.

I was feeling kinda hesitant to do so, but now that I know the "royal we" welcomes it, I feel much better.

Hey, thanks.

I was feeling kinda hesitant to do so, but now that I know the "royal we" welcomes it, I feel much better.
I think you might get it with that one.