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Cycling Holiday Grades
Welcome to the official grading page for our leisure cycling holidays, the best place to find out which trips match your cycling ability.
The below grading guidelines have been carefully created based on our many years of cycling experience, as well as customer feedback from our trips. Of course, if you’re still struggling to figure out where you fit on the scale, do feel free to give us a quick call and we’ll be more than happy to help! For more information about our grading system click here.
Grade 1
Is this suitable for you?
If you‘re new to cycling, or perhaps haven’t ridden your bike for a while, then the relaxed rides on our Grade 1 holidays might be for you. Of course no route can be pancake flat the entire way, with some gentle slopes being inevitable, but if you‘re looking for short, daily distances on mostly flat terrain, (with plenty of time to go at your own pace and explore your destination), then these holidays would be a good place to start. We’d expect those on a Grade 1 holiday to be able to ride their bike confidently and generally be fit and healthy.
For more information about the grading of this holiday in particular, please check out the terrain section which will give you some specifics of what to expect on this tour.
Grade 2
Is this suitable for you?
Maybe you have recently got into cycling and would like to do more over consecutive days, or maybe you‘re looking for a more energetic alternative to your usual holiday? If you‘re looking for an opportunity to try some quiet roads, cycle paths or some accessible, cycle friendly routes these holidays might be for you. You’ll come across some gently undulating terrain and the odd cheeky challenge, so we’d generally expect those on a Grade 2 holiday to ride their bikes relatively frequently at home, perhaps commuting to work or heading out for some leisurely rides at the weekend.
For more information about the grading of this holiday in particular, please check out the terrain section which will give you some specifics of what to expect on this tour.
Grade 3
Is this suitable for you?
Although you may not cycle everyday, you do keep yourself relatively fit and maybe enjoy an afternoon out on your bike at the weekend. Your preference is perhaps for flatter terrain but you don’t mind tackling some hills, and the occasional steep climb if you can take it at your own pace. For those happy to tackle some ups and downs, and possibly some sections of varying terrain (eg. forest tracks, gravel paths etc) we’d recommend our grade 3 trips. We’d generally expect those on a Grade 3 holiday to have a decent level of physical fitness and be comfortable with some longer days in the saddle.
For more information about the grading of this holiday in particular, please check out the terrain section which will give you some specifics of what to expect on this tour.
Grade 4
Is this suitable for you?
You ride quite frequently at home and perhaps enjoy cycling as one of your forms of exercise. Weekends will occasionally see you spending the day in the saddle exploring routes which take in some steep climbs. These tours may also see you riding over varying terrain and so it’s preferable if you have some experience of riding on uneven / unpaved ground. We’d generally expect those on a Grade 4 holiday to be fit and healthy, and ready to take on an achievable challenge.
For more information about the grading of this holiday in particular, please check out the terrain section which will give you some specifics of what to expect on this tour.
Grade 5
Is this suitable for you?
You‘re not unlike a Grade 4, Active rider, in fact you‘re possibly the same person, but you‘re looking to take on a challenge. As well as keeping a good level of fitness you are also a relatively experienced cyclist and enjoy feeling challenged by some of your days on the bike. You likely often ride at the weekend and are up for the challenge of some long days in the saddle. The routes you choose at home generally include some challenging climbs, distances that’ll test the legs and varying (sometimes rough / loose) terrain.
For more information about the grading of this holiday in particular, please check out the terrain section which will give you some specifics of what to expect on this tour.