COMMUNICATION is key to making each ride enjoyable for everyone!
If you are a NEW Rider at your first FAST ride, please introduce yourself to the ride leaders. This helps us get to know you and make sure you have a great time.
If for any reason there is an issue and riders need to split up or break off from the group, this must be communicated verbally to another group member and then later communicated to the entire group at one of the stops.
FRIENDS of ARKANSAS SINGLETRACK Group Rides:
Announcements @ 5:55 PM
The ride starts promptly at 6pm (Feet On Pedals at 6pm). We recommend arriving around 5:30 to set up your bike so you can socialize before the ride.
Rides are 1-2 hours in length depending on group, weather, time of year etc.
If you are uncertain about which group to join, please opt for the next lower ride. If you find you need a greater challenge, there is always next week.
This is a group ride for all levels of rider enjoyment from experienced to beginner. Please foster this environment through communication, awareness, and compassion.
There are 7 potential groups to select from, depending on group size. Ride length and difficulty varies. The following are guidelines for the fitness and technical levels required for each ride.
- Ae (eMTB) – Fitness Level 5 – Required Technical ability Black to Double Black
- A – Fitness Level 4-5 – Required Technical ability Black to Double Black
- B – Fitness Level 4 – Required Technical ability Blue to Black
- C – Fitness Level 3-4 – Required Technical ability Blue
- De (eMTB) – Fitness Level 2-3 – Required Technical ability Green to Blue
- D – Fitness Level 3 – Required Technical ability Green to Blue
- Ez – Fitness Level 1-2 – Required Technical ability Green to easier Blue
eMTBs are welcome on any ride as long as you ride the pace of the ride and have the technical skills on the eMTB.
New riders please introduce yourselves to your ride leaders.
Three Major Rules
- Never leave/split off from a group without telling someone.
- Pay attention to where the rider is behind you! Don’t leave folks behind.
- If it’s your first time riding a feature, treat it like a pre-ride. The mantra is “Pre-Ride, Re-Ride, Free Ride”.
Mountain biking requires both fitness and technical riding skills. Rides require a combination of these efforts. Some rides lean towards fitness; perhaps consisting of more climbing and/or faster speeds. Other rides lean towards technical skills, requiring more bike handling skills. There is overlap between fitness and technique where one may compensate for the other. But it is crucial for one’s safety to recognize one’s ability and ride within that ability, especially on social rides with FAST. Remember that sickness, injury, and other factors may affect your riding abilities on any particular day.
Fitness Levels below are rated 1-5 with 5 being the highest. Additionally, just because a Required Technical Ability says “Blue” doesn’t mean that group will only do “Blue” rated trails–the ride leader will make appropriate trail selections based on the descriptors in the link above.
EZ rides are suitable for new riders. Tips may be given but no specific instruction is given. At a minimum riders should be familiar with their bikes and basic riding skills.
Technical Ratings
Example Riding Skills
| RIDER SKILL LEVEL | BASIC SKILLS |
|---|---|
| GREEN | Able to ride standing with level pedals with 1 finger braking. |
| BLUE | Good bike body separation with controlled braking. Tires leave ground with minimal height. Able to do small drops/roll downs. Able to do small front wheel lifts. Able to navigate moderate sized obstacles up to 6 inches off the ground. |
| BLACK | Able to do larger (1 foot+) drops and navigate jumps safely. Excellent balance and bike body separation. Bigger wheel lifts. |
| DOUBLE BLACK | Able to successfully navigate most Black & Double Black trails successfully with minimal stops. |
Fitness Ratings
Fitness ratings are subjective related to the trails being ridden, however here are a few guidelines for non-motorized riders:
- 1: 3-7 MPH on green trails with frequent stops
- 2: 5-8 MPH on green-blue trails with frequent stops
- 3: 7-9 MPH on blue trails infrequent stops
- 4: 8-10 MPH on blue-black trails infrequent stops
- 5: 12+ MPH on black without stops (may be a drop ride depending on group decision)
Example Trails
- Ae: Loam Wolf
- A: Here’s Johnny, It’ll Bluff Out, Black Limousin, Sick-A-More with minimal dabs
- B: Oscar’s loop (Lower), Copperhead Road, Berm Creek, Master Plan with minimal dabs
- C: Oscar’s Loop (Upper), Fire Line, Sally, Blowing Springs Loop (South)
- De: Fire Line, Dirt Therapy, Back 40, Rago
- D: Fire Line, Dirt Therapy, Back 40, Rago, Through the Looking Glass
- EZ: Esthers, All-American, Good Vibrations, Moo Moo, Tristans
