Club Ride Ratings

[michelem]

The following is taken directly from our ride schedule:

A: Mostly steep grades: strong riders only

B: Steep/Moderate: Some relief from steep grades

C: Moderate: Hilly; a challenge for the average rider

D: Moderate/Easy: Rolling hills, a challenge for beginners

E: Easy: Some gentle rolling greades, but no problems

F: Flat: If any route is really flat

Distance: Represented by actual number of miles

Pace will range in "miles per hour" between about 10mph on easy short distance rides to 20+ mph on hard long distance rides. Generally, the pace increases as the difficulty (steepness and distance) of the ride increases. Riders tend to increase their pace as they gain experience, fitness, and are challenged by difficulty. Beginners and novices are strongly advised to select easy and short distance rides to start with, and progress up the grading scale with experience and capability.

However, I don't care how "easy" or "short" a ride is, even those described as "EZ Rides" (EZR) are swept at 12mph; and, unfortunately, our EZ Rider leader recently moved away. When I was starting out, I called the leader of an E/D 30 ride, which I figured qualified as an "easy short distance ride," only to be told that I needed to be able to keep up a pace of 14mph to come along.

So, here are a couple of ride descriptions:

Clarksburg & Southerly Backroads Wander
Grade: E40 EZR
This will be a relaxed pace (12mph) flat tour around the delta south of Clarksburg. A good first longer ride if you've been stuck in the 20-30 mile rut.

Tuesday Evening Ride & Dinner
Grade: C25-35
Come join us on our continuing series of brisk paced (15-20+mph) Tuesday night rides. We will do some hills around Folsom, El Dorado HIlls, and Roseville. Lights are required front and rear.

Lincoln, Loomis, and Auburn
Grade: C65
This ride goes on out to Auburn and back with approximately 3,500 feet of climbing (Sierra College, English Colony, Shirland Tract). Brign water and $$ for a midway rest stop.

The Annual "Kill Bill" Ride
Grade: A75
Come join me for another one of my "Rollers" rides. This is the ride where I earned my title as "Kill Bill." This is a spectacular ride from Georgetown to Loon Lake and bck on Wentworth Springs Rd. The views of Desolation Wilderness are awesome. There is approx. 7,500 ft of climbing with a long, fast and fun decent on the return. There are no services available so I will have SAG support to carry your food and drinks. We will lunch at the lake's edge.

Hope these help!

[Blueberry]

Our club's classification is as follows:

Ride pace classifications: A 18+ mph; B 16-18 mph; C 13-15 mph; D 10-12 mph

All rides are swept unless they're advertised as "training rides." Faster riders are normally welcome unless they are "social riders" - in those rides, only a few people are given cue sheets and the entire group will re-group every few miles.

Carrie Anne

[Deanna]

Our club rates all rides based on three criteria, listed as 4/C/65-80 (Difficulty/Pace/Distance)

Difficulty Classifications

1- EASY TERRAIN MOSTLY FLAT
2 - ROLLING, EASY GRADES
3 - MODERATE GRADES
4 - HILLY, A FEW STEEP CLIMBS
4- VERY HILLY, LOTS OF LONG CLIMBS

Pace Classifications
A: relaxed pace; frequent regroups; waits for all riders. Over 26 minutes*
B: touring pace; regroups every 30-45 minutes;waits for all riders. 23-26 minutes*
C: brisk pace;pacelines likely;regroups every 30-60 minutes. 19-22 minutes*
D: aggressive pace; pacelines likely; slower riders may miss regroups. Under 19 minutes*
** These times are based on a local “speed trap” that riders can time themselves on to check their pace.

Distance Classifications
The last figure in the formula, stated in approximate miles. (If in doubt, leader should overestimate mileage slightly.)

[Eden]

Here's the Cascade ride catagories

Easy: Under 10 mph
Note: for rides described as HILLY, consider choosing a pace one step down from your usual comfort level

Leisurely: 10-12 mph
Steady: 12-14 mph
Moderate: 14-16 mph
Brisk: 16-18 mph
Strenuous: 18-21 mph
Super Strenuous: 22+ mph
Refers to the range of speeds on level ground without breaks. Downhills may be faster, uphills slower.

Terrain

These descriptions should be considered int he context of the pace and length of the ride.

Mostly flat: trails and/or mostly flat roads with a possible gentle upgrade.
Rolling: climbs are short and easy, not too numerous.
Some hills: a few short, steep hills, some moderate upgrades and/or longer gentle climbs.
Hilly: many true hills but none outrageous.
Extremely hilly: steep and long climbs with grades >9% and/or mountain passes.
Unlimited: "out of category"; only for those very sure of their ability to climb any grade, any length at the advertised pace.
Off road: significant unpaved sections.

[Eden]

One of the Cascade ride listings

Activities Calendar - Ride Detail

STP Training Series Rain or Shine Northend Edition
Start Date/Time: 4/26/07, 06:00PM
Start Location: Tracy Owen Station/Logboom Park, Kenmore
Directions to common starting points
URL (for more info): http://
Ride Leader Name: Saul Kinderis
Contact Phone: (425)402-3426
Second Ride Leader
Ride Leader Name: Orin Eman
Contact Phone: (206)618-0376

Recurrence: Weekly
Distance: 25-35
Pace: Brisk
Unsure what the pace or terrain means? Check here.
Terrain: Some hills
Map Available: No
Regroup: Occasional
Weather Cancels: Ice/snow cancels
Ride Description:
Come join us as we do a variety of rolling hilly loops and then head over to the Grillhouse or 3rd Place Books for post ride libations. Lights required.

[HappyAnika]

When speeds are listed, does this mean the pace you are riding at most of the time? Or the average that your computer says at the end of a ride?

For me these can be very different numbers. For example I can be mostly riding along at 17, but at the end my computer says 14 due to starts and stops, perhaps a steep hill where my speed went way down, and/or slowing to wait for people, etc. . .

[li10up]

Shoot! Now I need to figure out how to put speed into something like this also.

IMO avg. speed is the avg. speed your bike computer says. That way on any given route you know that you go x mph and so if the advertised ride says x++ mph then you will likely get left behind.

Maybe I should take out the distance and substitute speed???????

[li10up]

Thanks for the ideas. What about this? Is it clear? I think our current listing is too ambiguous. My easy, moderate, etc. and someone else's easy are likely very different. I think this might help take the guesswork out of picking a ride.