Rating the Difficulty of Bikepacking Routes
The grading of difficulty for the BT 700 bikepacking routes is based on the system created by Bikepacking Roots and summarized very well by Bikepacking Adventures. The difficulty is broken down into 2 main components: Physical difficulty and Technical difficulty.
Of course, there are several factors that come into play when considering the difficulty of a route. Fitness of the rider, distances covered, past bikepacking experience and weather can all impact how “hard” a route appears.
Physical difficulty
1-2 - Relatively level riding
3-4 - Regular rolling terrain with sustained climbing
5-6 - Rugged terrain with frequent climbs, some of which may be steep and unrelenting
7-8 - Very rugged terrain with abundant climbing, some of which is very steep and unrideable
9-10 - Numerous very steep, climbs requiring bike-pushing and/or carrying
Technical difficulty
1-2 - Smooth riding surface with few obstacles (e.g., graded dirt roads, rail trails); suitable for novice mountain bikers
3-4 - Track has occasional obstacles and steep sections (e.g., maintained forest roads, mellow singletrack); suitable for beginner mountain bikers
5-6 - Continuous sections of track may be rocky, loose, and steep; (e.g., 4x4 roads or singletrack in rugged/rocky terrain) suitable for intermediate mountain bikers
7-8 - Narrow trail with regular obstacles, sustained steep grades; suitable for intermediate to advanced mountain bikers
9-10 - Very challenging riding with frequent large obstacles, exposure, very steep grades; suitable for advanced mountain bikers
Here is a rough idea of what I consider the appropriate difficulty rating for the BT 700 bikepacking routes. Just remember, this is not a perfect science.
BT 700: 5-6
Grand Nith Ramble: 4-5
Farmers Folly: 3-4
Hasty Highlander: 4
No Winter Maintenance: 5-6
The grading of difficulty for the BT 700 bikepacking routes is based on the system created by Bikepacking Roots and summarized very well by Bikepacking Adventures. The difficulty is broken down into 2 main components: Physical difficulty and Technical difficulty.
Of course, there are several factors that come into play when considering the difficulty of a route. Fitness of the rider, distances covered, past bikepacking experience and weather can all impact how “hard” a route appears.
Physical difficulty
1-2 - Relatively level riding
3-4 - Regular rolling terrain with sustained climbing
5-6 - Rugged terrain with frequent climbs, some of which may be steep and unrelenting
7-8 - Very rugged terrain with abundant climbing, some of which is very steep and unrideable
9-10 - Numerous very steep, climbs requiring bike-pushing and/or carrying
Technical difficulty
1-2 - Smooth riding surface with few obstacles (e.g., graded dirt roads, rail trails); suitable for novice mountain bikers
3-4 - Track has occasional obstacles and steep sections (e.g., maintained forest roads, mellow singletrack); suitable for beginner mountain bikers
5-6 - Continuous sections of track may be rocky, loose, and steep; (e.g., 4x4 roads or singletrack in rugged/rocky terrain) suitable for intermediate mountain bikers
7-8 - Narrow trail with regular obstacles, sustained steep grades; suitable for intermediate to advanced mountain bikers
9-10 - Very challenging riding with frequent large obstacles, exposure, very steep grades; suitable for advanced mountain bikers
Here is a rough idea of what I consider the appropriate difficulty rating for the BT 700 bikepacking routes. Just remember, this is not a perfect science.
BT 700: 5-6
Grand Nith Ramble: 4-5
Farmers Folly: 3-4
Hasty Highlander: 4
No Winter Maintenance: 5-6
