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MTB & E-Bike Ride Grading

Ride Grading

There are so many amazing routes we have access to in the Peaks, so whether you are an individual or a group, we want to ensure the route is suitable for your fitness and technical ability.

We want to make sure everyone has an amazing time and experience and that all the group ride within their ability and comfort zone.

All of our routes and courses are assigned a route grading so you are easily able to assess if it is suitable for your ability and experience. Further details relating to distance and elevation is included on the course or route descriptions.

At the time of booking we will ask you to confirm this information so please be as accurate as you can. Unfortunately if you book onto a course or adventure and you do not meet the required experience you may be asked to leave the course without refund due to safety reasons.

Click icon above in you need any further info

Grading Colours:

true-north-grading-ews-style---colours

The colours signify the technical diffculty of the route or adventure, just like a trail marker or ski piste. We’ve tried to keep it as concise as possible to avoid any confusion.

If you are relatively new to the sport or looking to improve after a while out you should seek out GREEN and BLUE routes .

For intermediate and advanced riders after more challenging trails and routes then look for our RED or BLACK routes 

Ride Grading

Green - Easy

  • Beginner/novice cyclists. Basic Bike Skills required. 
  • Relatively flat and wide. The trail surface may be loose uneven or muddy at times. May include short flowing singletrack style sections
  • Climbs and descents are mostly shallow. No challenging features.
  • Suitable for most people in good health.

Blue - Moderate

  • Intermediate cyclist/mountain bikers with basic off-road riding skills. 
  • As “Green plus specially constructed single track. Trail surface may include small obstables of roots and rock.
  • Most gradients are moderate but may include short steep sections. Includes small Technical Trail Features (TTFs)
  • A good standard of fitness can help.

Red/Blue - Mixture

  • Mainly aimed at Intermediate cyclist/mountain bikers with good off-road riding skills. 
  • Majority of gradients are moderate but may include short steep sections. Includes small Technical Trail Features (TTFs)
  • A good standard of fitness is required
  • There are some sections of terrain that is classified as Red Grade as described below – Guide will manage riders
  • Steeper and tougher  technical sections. Expect vary variable surface types.
  • A wide range of climbs and descents of a challenging nature will be present. Expect boardwalks, berms, large rocks, medium steps, drop-offs, cambers, water crossings. 

Red - Difficult

  • Proficient mountain bikers with good off-road riding skills having ridden and comfortable in technical terrain.
  • Steeper and tougher, mostly singletrack with technical sections. Expect vary variable surface types.
  • A wide range of climbs and descents of a challenging nature will be present. Expect boardwalks, berms, large rocks, medium steps, drop-offs, cambers, water crossings.
  • Higher level of fitness and stamina

Black - Severe

  • Expert mountain bike users, used to physically demanding routes.
  • As “Red” but with an expectation of greater challenge and continuous difficulty. Can include any useable trail surface and may include exposed open hill sections.
  • Expect large, committing and unavoidable Technical Trail Features (TTFs). Sections will be challenging and variable. May also have “downhill” style sections.
  • Suitable for very active people used to prolonged effort.
true-north-grading-ews-style---black
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About us

True North Adventures are based in the south west corner of the Peak District National Park within the Staffordshire Moorlands directly beneath the Roaches near the market town of Leek. Our Cycle Hub is an independent, bespoke service centre and retailer specialising in high quality products for those who are looking for the best.

This fantastic location in the Peak District has some of the best riding that the UK can offer, be it on the road, mountain or gravel bike.

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However you wish to ride, let True North Adventures help you achieve it.

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Green - Easy

  • Beginner/novice cyclists. Basic Bike Skills required. 
  • Relatively flat and wide. The trail surface may be loose uneven or muddy at times. May include short flowing singletrack style sections
  • Climbs and descents are mostly shallow. No challenging features.
  • Suitable for most people in good health.

Blue - Moderate

  • Intermediate cyclist/mountain bikers with basic off-road riding skills. 
  • As “Green plus specially constructed single track. Trail surface may include small obstables of roots and rock.
  • Most gradients are moderate but may include short steep sections. Includes small Technical Trail Features (TTFs)
  • A good standard of fitness can help.

Red/Blue - Mixture

  • Mainly aimed at Intermediate cyclist/mountain bikers with good off-road riding skills. 
  • Majority of gradients are moderate but may include short steep sections. Includes small Technical Trail Features (TTFs)
  • A good standard of fitness is required
  • There are some sections of terrain that is classified as Red Grade as described below – Guide will manage riders
  • Steeper and tougher  technical sections. Expect vary variable surface types.
  • A wide range of climbs and descents of a challenging nature will be present. Expect boardwalks, berms, large rocks, medium steps, drop-offs, cambers, water crossings. 

Red - Difficult

  • Proficient mountain bikers with good off-road riding skills having ridden and comfortable in technical terrain.
  • Steeper and tougher, mostly singletrack with technical sections. Expect vary variable surface types.
  • A wide range of climbs and descents of a challenging nature will be present. Expect boardwalks, berms, large rocks, medium steps, drop-offs, cambers, water crossings.
  • Higher level of fitness and stamina
true-north-grading-ews-style---Red-2

Black - Severe

  • Expert mountain bike users, used to physically demanding routes.
  • As “Red” but with an expectation of greater challenge and continuous difficulty. Can include any useable trail surface and may include exposed open hill sections.
  • Expect large, committing and unavoidable Technical Trail Features (TTFs). Sections will be challenging and variable. May also have “downhill” style sections.
  • Suitable for very active people used to prolonged effort.
true-north-grading-ews-style---black

Technical and Fitness rating

There are so many amazing routes we have access to in the Peaks, so whether you are an individual or a group, we want to ensure the route is suitable for your fitness and technical ability.

We want to make sure everyone has an amazing time and experience and develops their confidence in a controlled way, and that all the group ride within their ability and comfort zone.

Each of our routes are assigned a technical and fitness grade so your able to assess if the adventure is right for you, it also allows us to plan the best route and ensure all riders are on a similar level when out riding together.

ONE Grade - TWO Components

Colour:

true-north-grading-ews-style---colours

The colours signify the technical diffculty of the route or adventure, just like a trail marker or ski piste.

If you are relatively new to the sport or looking to improve after a while out you should seek out GREEN and BLUE routes .

For intermediate and advanced riders after more challenging trails and routes then look for our RED or BLACK routes 

Bars:

true-north-grading-ews-style---bars

The bars signify the physical difficulty in climbing or distance, as we offer e-bike adventures the route will be as challenging technically but will be easier on a fitness level as you’ll be assisted.

1 Bar: Physically easy, generally flat routes with the potential for rolling terrain. Less than 500 meters climbing distance varies between 10-15km

2 Bars: A slight increase in difficulty than that of a 1 bar route, possibility of additional climbing with a duration between 1-2 hours

3 Bars: Much harder, a route graded with 3 bars will be good undertaking. Expect between 2-5 hours out on the bike depending on route and between 800-1500m of climbing

4 Bars:  The HARDEST routes we have in the Peaks. You’ll be climbing over 1500 meters and will be out between 4-8 hours depending on the route. 

Technical ratings

Green

  • Able to ride a bike:
  • Ridden one in the past but it’s been a few years
  • can understand gear selection
  • Skills: Limited mountain biking skills

Blue

  • Time on mountain bike: Relatively new, but have had a few rides on a mountain bike
  • You have basic bike handling skills. You are comfortable on a mixture of double tracks and estate roads that may have variable ground conditions around 1m wide. Shallow gradients, some rocks and roots but nothing too severe.
  • Skills: You would be comfortable on a Blue trail centre route

Red

  • Time on mountain bike: Riding 1-2 years
  • You have comfortably grasped basic bike handling skills on a mixture of single-track and paths, on uneven, loose and occasionally steep gradients, with some variation in trail surfaces from rocks to roots. You are comfortable negotiating narrower trails around half a metre wide that are mostly stable with some variability. You are comfortable traversing unavoidable obstacles such as roots, rocks and logs.
  • Skills: You would be comfortable on a red trail centre route

Back

  • Time on mountain bike: Riding for 2 + years
  • You are a confident mountain biker and have been riding technical terrain for at least 2 years including exposed single-track and rough trails, on uneven, loose and frequent steep gradients, with frequent variation in trail surfaces from rocks to roots and small water bars. You are comfortable riding on narrow trails around a foot wide that vary greatly in their stability and may be unpredictable including loose rock. You are comfortable regularly traversing unavoidable obstacles such as roots, rocks, logs and drop offs up to hub height.
  • Skills: You would be comfortable on a black trail centre route
true-north-grading-ews-style---black