MTB Egypt group rides guidelines

In the interest of having more organized, and thus more enjoyable, group rides, the following is a set of policies (or rather guidelines) that should be considered by anyone joining a group ride organized by MTB Egypt.

1) Ride difficulty/skill level:

There is a diverse background of riders with a very wide spectrum of skill level, experience and equipment. A group ride where the participating riders are on more or less the same skill level is more enjoyable becuase all riders are more comfortable being within a collective (or average) skill level of the group, and thus they know what to expect in terms of pace and difficulty. For example: beginner riders in an advanced ride will feel under pressure to “keep up” with more advanced riders, and the more skilled riders will feel the lesser experienced riders are “weighting down” the ride.

Group ride announcements will be labeled with one of the five difficulty levels below. Please bear in mind that descriptions of technical difficlty leves is subjective, and what can be rated as intermediate for one rider can be either easy or advanced for another. You are the best judge of your ability.

Easy/Beginner: Easy ride on a flat or relatively flat terrain. No prior mountain biking experience neccessary. All skill levels welcome. The only essential piece of equipment is your bike. Average ride time: 45-90 minutes

Intermediate: Faster-paced but still relatively easy ride. Climbs and descents of varying difficulty involved. You should have a bike in good shape and minimum kit (helmet, spare tubes, pump and tool set). Average ride time:60-120 minutes

Advanced: A more “spirited” ride with a pace that is a little faster than an intermediate ride. Requires some endurance and above-average fitness level. At this level you should ensure that you have your repair kit and know how to perform basic on-trail repairs. Average ride time: 2-3 hours

Expert: You should be adequately comfortable with technical and difficult sections (steep descents, rock-infested single tracks, knee-busting climbs, etc). Your bike should be suitable for use on very rough terrain (the frame and components will take a beating!) and you should know how to negotiate difficult terrain obstacles. You should have adequate ride kit, including helmet, hydration pack and food, tool set, spare tubes, etc (basic body armor, such as knee and elbow pads is also recommended).Average ride time: 2-3 hours

Epic/Long distance: This kind of rides require good pre-ride preparation, adequate ride kit, higher endurance levels, and commitment to a more demanding ride. Ride details will be announced at least two weeks ahead. You should have a complete kit ( and know how to quickly perform basic repairs on your bike. Average ride time: 5+ hours

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2) Policy on flats and dropped riders:

  • A ride will be stopped to allow a rider to fix a flat.

3) Equipment lists:

– Minimum kit list: Helmet, multi-tool, 1 spare tube, mini-pump

– Recommended kit list: Helmet, riding clothes (jersey+riding shorts), gloves, eye protection, 2 spare tubes, multi-tool, mini-pump, hydration pack (with at least a 2-liter capacity bladder), sun lotion

– Optional but important: Basic body armor for advanced rides, GPS, cycle computer.

Finally, you are responsible for your own safety. Ride sensibly and do not attempt something that you know is beyond your current skill level, stay on-trail and remember to bring your ride kit (it might save you from aborting a ride or a long hike back on foot). Happy riding.

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