| Suitable for |
Novice cyclists and families. Children 4+yrs riding solo. Bikes with childseats or trailers. Touring bikes. Bikes for those with disabilities. |
Occasional cyclists with some experience of road use or easy trails. Reasonably fit families. Children 10+ yrs riding solo. Suitable for mountain bikes, hybrids or robust touring bikes. |
Regular cyclists with experience of moderate trails. Suitable for offroad quality mountain bikes. |
Expert mountain bikers who will expect and relish technical challenges. Suitable for offroad quality mountain bikes. |
| Trail types |
Railtrails, towpaths, reservoir trails, estate or forestry tracks. Traffic quietened roads, and those regulated by bylaws or other restrictions. |
As "Green" plus bridleways, byways and unsurfaced unclassified roads. Lightly trafficked lanes. |
Any usable trail with pushing or portage unlikely to exceed 2% of total distance. |
Any, but with the expectation of technical riding which could include unforgiving terrain, severe climbs and descents, or considerable distances. Unlikely to be appropriate on PRoW. |
| Gradient |
Shallow climbs and descents capable of being ridden by children and less active adults. |
Shallow / moderate climbs +/- short sections of steeper climbs which may have to be walked. |
A wide range of climbs and descents of a challenging nature. |
Any ridable or usable gradient. May include "drop offs". |
| Surface / Width |
Blacktop or compacted limestone or gravel. Essentially smooth with a minimum content of loose surfaces. Normal width 2 to 3m. |
Mostly stoned surfaces. < 10% earth based single track of width <2m. |
Widths from 1m, and any usable surface. Likely to include singletrack and other technical sections. |
Mostly offroad. Expected to include a significant proportion of singletrack, with challenging surfaces. |
| Acceptable Hazards |
These trails should carry a very low risk... Any unavoidable hazards should be identified in promotional literature and through notices at trail headand site of hazard. |
Some loose surfaces, ruts, potholes and / or tree roots may be expected. |
The route should be judged on the basis that a reasonably experienced rider riding within his/her level of skill and prevailing ground conditions, would not be expected to fall. |
Hazards are expected, as assessed and agreed by an expert user. Falling off will be expected! |
| Approx. Length |
5 - 20 km |
10 - 20km |
10 - 50km |
<1 to 100km including "skills" courses |
| Maximum Climb |
<50m |
<100m |
<500m |
<1000m |
Green
Blue
Red
Black
