Climate Ride Difficulty Ratings
Every Climate Ride trip is rated from Level 1 to Level 5. Level 1 has the shortest days and least climbing; Level 5 has long days in the mountains. The rating is based on a typical day of the trip: distance, climbing, terrain, and time in the saddle. Some days will be shorter or harder than the average.
At a glance
| Level | Description | Daily Mileage | Daily Climbing | Terrain |
| 1 | Relaxed | 20–40 | Under 1,000 ft | Flat paved roads or smooth trail |
| 2 | Steady | 35–50 | 1,000–2,500 ft | Rolling hills, short climbs |
| 3 | Active | 45–65 | 2,500–4,000 ft | Rolling to hilly, some sustained climbs |
| 4 | Challenging | 60–80 | 4,000–6,000 ft | Long climbs, back-to-back big days |
| 5 | Advanced | 75–100+ | 6,000+ ft | Mountain passes, steep grades, consecutive hard days |
The levels
Level 1 · Relaxed
Short days on flat or gently rolling routes with plenty of stops. Good for newer riders, families and anyone who wants time off the bike to explore. To prepare: ride 1–2 times a week and be comfortable riding 1–2 hours at a conversational pace.
Level 2 · Steady
Moderate distances with rolling hills and a few short climbs. Suits regular recreational riders. To prepare: ride 2–3 times a week, with a weekend ride of 30+ miles.
Level 3 · Active
Full days in the saddle with some sustained climbs. Suits fit riders who ride regularly and enjoy a hill. To prepare: ride 3 times a week, including hills, and complete back-to-back weekend rides of 40–50 miles.
Level 4 · Challenging
Long days with significant climbing, several days in a row. Suits experienced riders with good endurance. To prepare: ride 3–4 times a week, with hill repeats and back-to-back 60+ mile rides with climbing.
Level 5 · Advanced
Our hardest trips: big mileage, mountain passes and steep grades on consecutive days. Suits strong, experienced riders who train consistently. To prepare: ride 4+ times a week, including intervals, long climbs and back-to-back 75+ mile days.
Choosing your level
- Riding an e-bike? Pedal assist makes climbs and long days much easier. Most e-bike riders can comfortably step up one level from where they’d ride on a standard bike.
- Between two levels? Pick the lower one. You’ll enjoy the trip more, and there’s always the option to add miles.
- Support is there. Every trip has a support vehicle, so you can take a lift for part of a day if you need to.
- Not sure? Contact us and we’ll help you find the right fit.