Ride Levels

It's crucial to choose a training group that aligns with your fitness/pace level and riding skill experience. This allows for a positive and comfortable riding environment for every rider.

If you're unsure, consider starting in a group that matches your current capabilities and adjust your training group as you progress in both fitness and skill. As a note, we ride in all weather conditions and are prepared to help set you up for success to navigate gravel rides in a variety of weather conditions.

Group A

Group B

Group C

Novice Cyclists

Has basic cycling skills, can ride most paved roads, and may need practice with more challenging terrain or group riding.

F

Fitness

S

Skill

You own a gravel bike and have been riding for a minimum of one year
You can safely mount and dismount a bike
You can steer and control your bike in a straight line
You can stop safely and smoothly
You can manage your speed and balance even at slow speeds
You have experience riding but are new to this gravel thing
You bike on undulating terrain (climbing and descending) roads or gravel roads
You understand how to use your front and rear brakes effectively and can control your braking speed
You have a basic understanding of how and when to shift gears, but might need a little improvement
Comfortable riding with level pedals (pedals are flat to the ground) while not pedaling, AKA coasting
You have a knowledge of basic hand signals to communicate to other cyclists and motorists and are inspired to learn more
You are seeking to build confidence while climbing, descending, riding sections of more challenging terrain and learning group ride techniques during your adventure with Femmes Gravel

You are an active person and exercise two or more days per week
You are able to manage a 3 - 4 hour effort with a few stops at a low intensity pace
3 days of riding in a week is a tall order, but you are here for it and committed to shorter rides mid-week
You can handle short climbs, but anything over 500 ft of vertical begins to push my limits
You can ride at a 10 - 12 average mph pace consistently

Group B

Intermediate Cyclists

A confident rider that can handle most road conditions, is comfortable with technical maneuvers like cornering, understand how to ride in a paceline but needs more practice.

F

Fitness

S

Skill

You have been gravel riding regularly for at least two years
You can ride confidently in a straight line and have good bike handling skills
You continue to build confidence riding on various surfaces and conditions: gravel, double track, dry, loose, wet, muddy and creek bedrock
You are confidant at modulating brake pressure to maintain speed and control, and understand independent front and rear braking
You anticipate changes in terrain and shift smoothly and often to maintain pedal efficiency and speed
You feel confident standing while riding downhill but could you some practice riding in the drop section of the handlebars
You apply terrain scanning and cornering techniques for better control in the turns and would like to work on carrying more speed
You employ techniques for efficient climbing and can safely maintain speed and control on descents
You'll have a go on technical features, such as creek crossings and steeper up or down sections, but may get off and walk
You are comfortable riding with one hand in order to use hand signals, adjust gear, reach for hydration and manage fuel consumption
You are familiar with paceline techniques and feel comfortable riding closely (drafting) and safely in a group and are looking to make improvements

You like to challenge yourself and exercise three or more days per week
You are able to handle 4 - 5 hour efforts with minimal stops at a moderate pace with bursts of anaerobic sections (2 - 4 minutes)
You ride 2 - 3 days per week for 1.5 hours non-stop at a moderate pace on road gravel or mountain
Climbs are part of riding and you can handle 800 - 1000 feet of climbing in a ride
You can ride at a 12 - 13 mph average pace consistently

Group A

Advanced Cyclists

A highly skilled rider, comfortable with challenging terrain, can perform advanced maneuvers, capable of tiding in demanding conditions.

F

Fitness

S

Skill

You have several years of gravel riding experience and have excellent bike handling skills
You are proficient and enjoy navigating riding in any condition and on technical terrain (chunky rocks, ruts, loose gravel, rain, mud and creek bedrock
Mastery of braking, shifting gears and cornering for optimal pedal efficiency and speed
You accept the challenge of steep and technical "bitchy" climbs, while utilizing proper posture and shift your bodyweight to keep traction and maintain performance
You can descend comfortably on steep fast roads and understand bike-body separation to maintain speed and momentum
You are confident riding with one hand in order to use hand signals, adjust gear, reach for hydration and manage fuel consumption
You have mastered fueling and hydrating on the bike for sustained energy on long rides
You are confident and comfortable implementing pacelining skills for long rides and continue to refine your technique

You have previous experience with training and completing events and exercise four or more days per week
You are able to cope with 5 - 6 hour efforts with minimal stops at a swift pace with bursts of anaerobic sections (3 - 5 minutes)
You ride 3 - 4 times per week for 2 hours non-stop at a moderate pace on road, gravel or mountain
You kind of like climbing and you can handle over 1500 feet of climbing in a ride
You can ride at 13 - 15 mph on average consistenetly

Ride Levels

Novice Cyclists

F

Fitness

S

Skill

You own a gravel bike and have been riding for a minimum of one year

You can safely mount and dismount a bike

You can steer and control your bike in a straight line

You can stop safely and smoothly

You can manage your speed and balance even at slow speeds

You have experience riding but are new to this gravel thing

You bike on undulating terrain (climbing and descending) roads or gravel roads

You understand how to use your front and rear brakes effectively and can control your braking speed

You have a basic understanding of how and when to shift gears, but might need a little improvement

Comfortable riding with level pedals (pedals are flat to the ground) while not pedaling, AKA coasting

You have a knowledge of basic hand signals to communicate to other cyclists and motorists and are inspired to learn more

You are seeking to build confidence while climbing, descending, riding sections of more challenging terrain and learning group ride techniques during your adventure with Femmes Gravel

You are an active person and exercise two or more days per week

You are able to manage a 3 - 4 hour effort with a few stops at a low intensity pace

3 days of riding in a week is a tall order, but you are here for it and committed to shorter rides mid-week

You can handle short climbs, but anything over 500 ft of vertical begins to push my limits

You can ride at a 10 - 12 average mph pace consistently

Intermediate Cyclists

F

Fitness

S

Skill

You have been gravel riding regularly for at least two years

You can ride confidently in a straight line and have good bike handling skills

You continue to build confidence riding on various surfaces and conditions: gravel, double track, dry, loose, wet, muddy and creek bedrock

You are confidant at modulating brake pressure to maintain speed and control, and understand independent front and rear braking

You anticipate changes in terrain and shift smoothly and often to maintain pedal efficiency and speed

You feel confident standing while riding downhill but could you some practice riding in the drop section of the handlebars

You apply terrain scanning and cornering techniques for better control in the turns and would like to work on carrying more speed

You employ techniques for efficient climbing and can safely maintain speed and control on descents

You'll have a go on technical features, such as creek crossings and steeper up or down sections, but may get off and walk

You are comfortable riding with one hand in order to use hand signals, adjust gear, reach for hydration and manage fuel consumption

You are familiar with paceline techniques and feel comfortable riding closely (drafting) and safely in a group and are looking to make improvements

You like to challenge yourself and exercise three or more days per week

You are able to handle 4 - 5 hour efforts with minimal stops at a moderate pace with bursts of anaerobic sections (2 - 4 minutes)

You ride 2 - 3 days per week for 1.5 hours non-stop at a moderate pace on road gravel or mountain

Climbs are part of riding and you can handle 800 - 1000 feet of climbing in a ride

You can ride at a 12 - 13 mph average pace consistently

Advanced Cyclists

F

Fitness

S

Skill

You have several years of gravel riding experience and have excellent bike handling skills

You are proficient and enjoy navigating riding in any condition and on technical terrain (chunky rocks, ruts, loose gravel, rain, mud and creek bedrock

Mastery of braking, shifting gears and cornering for optimal pedal efficiency and speed

You accept the challenge of steep and technical "bitchy" climbs, while utilizing proper posture and shift your bodyweight to keep traction and maintain performance

You can descend comfortably on steep fast roads and understand bike-body separation to maintain speed and momentum

You are confident riding with one hand in order to use hand signals, adjust gear, reach for hydration and manage fuel consumption

You have mastered fueling and hydrating on the bike for sustained energy on long rides

You are confident and comfortable implementing pacelining skills for long rides and continue to refine your technique

You have previous experience with training and completing events and exercise four or more days per week

You are able to cope with 5 - 6 hour efforts with minimal stops at a swift pace with bursts of anaerobic sections (3 - 5 minutes)

You ride 3 - 4 times per week for 2 hours non-stop at a moderate pace on road, gravel or mountain

You kind of like climbing and you can handle over 1500 feet of climbing in a ride

You can ride at 13 - 15 mph on average consistenetly