The levels of difficulty listed in the uphill scale
Easy passage or challenging, technical trail – the uphill scale gives you valuable pointers for your next ride. And it helps E-MTB riders of all levels of skill in experiencing the perfect flow.
U0↑ (very easy)
U0 describes trails on which no noteworthy difficulties are to be expected. Besides forest roads, it includes wide forest and meadow trails with plenty of grip. You get to look forward to a perfectly smooth ride without obstacles and tricky passages. The gradient is usually less than 20 percent.
Riding technique: No special riding technique required.
Good to know: With a standard mountain bike without drive unit, U0 would be the equivalent of a medium difficulty trail.
U1↑ (easy)
If you decide to head out onto U1 trails, you can expect slightly narrower trails and small obstacles like flat roots and stones. Loose terrain, rough gravel and small water drainage channels across the trail could be reasons for the higher level of difficulty. The gradient can be up to 25 percent, curves might be a little narrower.
Riding technique: Basic riding skills are a definite advantage. Accelerating on an incline should be practised.
U2↑ (moderate)
Larger obstacles are a given on U2-level trails. Roots, stones and steps of up to 20 cm are the norm. Additionally, you should expect narrow trails, slants and gradients of up to 35 percent or higher.
What makes them trickier is the terrain: Loose stones, rough gravel, rock passages and drainage channels are your uphill challenges. There might be some narrow curves along the route, but hairpin bends are relatively rare occurrences.
Riding technique: U2 trails require slightly advanced riding skills. They include briefly lifting the front wheel and conquering obstacles by shifting your weight. Knowledge about the controlled use of force and uphill braking techniques as well as skilled pedal management or shorter cranks are recommended.
Tip: Lower your saddle a bit before tackling an uphill ride!
U3↑ (difficult)
Challenging passages with roots, terraces, rocks, coarse gravel and scree as well as rides on narrow, slanted trails are characteristic of this level of difficulty. Steps with up to 35 cm aren’t uncommon. Obstacles can occur in narrow curves as well. There could be up to 50 percent gradient for longer passages – sometimes with flat steps in between.
Riding technique: Rock solid advanced riding skills are a prerequisite for conquering uphill trails rated “difficult”. Lifting the front wheel and pivoting, shifting your weight, and controlled acceleration and braking for overcoming obstacles are all essential skills the rider must have. Important too: very good pedal management and clean, spontaneous line selection.
Good to know: The saddle needs to be lowered significantly. Certain passages can only be mastered standing up.
U4↑ (very difficult)
The U4 level of difficulty describes exceptionally challenging uphill trails with rough roots, big stones, scree, rock passages and steps of 40 cm and higher. Narrow slanted sections as well as very narrow curves and hairpin bends are to be expected – just like difficult steps and gradients of 60 percent or more. If you dare to tackle U4 uphill trails, you should be prepared that your sprocket cluster or pedals might take some hits.
Riding technique: Alongside profound riding skills, U4s require knowledge of challenging trail techniques. Among them: the ability to lift and shift the front wheel (rear wheel pivot) and the rear wheel (nose pivot). Pedal management needs to be timed perfectly, otherwise the pedals might get caught on obstacles.
Important too: accelerating on an incline and standing under known criteria. The saddle must be fully lowered for optimum freedom of movement.
U5↑ (extreme)
Mountain bike riders who are looking for an adrenaline kick can live it up on U5 trails. The challenges listed under U4 now occur in a combined fashion and in sequences. Another taxing occurrence: extremely steep sections that test the limits of tyre traction, very high steps and narrow hairpin bends that might correlate with tricky terrain.
By the way: Even if you’ve mastered sophisticated and advanced trail techniques, U5 passages might require many attempts to master them. Additionally, extreme difficulties can occur in exposed terrain. Special caution is advised!
