Information Hub
How to Ride the Earth
Everything you need to know to prepare for your mountain bike adventure—fitness, gear, logistics, and more.
Skill Levels Explained
We categorize all of our trips using a rating system based on 6 levels to help you choose the right adventure. Use the following Skill & Fitness ratings to self-assess, or reach out for help choosing the right one.
Beginner | Green Trails
You’ve never ridden a mountain bike, or you’re new to the sport and tried it only once or twice. You can ride the bike on very basic gravel roads or wide trails. You can operate the bike, but you are still learning the art of shifting, climbing, descending and cornering. You do not have the confidence to navigate roots, rocks, and tight turns without walking.
Intermediate | Blue Trails
You have a strong understanding of shifting up and down through the gears. You have the skills to brake appropriately on descents and you maintain a comfortable and sturdy stance on controlled climbs and descents. You are confident to ride through a variety of technical features (roots, rocks, tight turns) although you are most comfortable at a slow and controlled pace.
Strong Intermediate | Blue/Black Trails
You have a strong understanding and practice with the skills of braking, shifting, cornering and descending. You are able to navigate variable terrain at a good pace. You are confident and comfortable riding singletrack trails and can easily navigate roots, rocks, mud, sand and creek crossings. You are capable of a front wheel and rear wheel lift and can put the two together to navigate over obstacles. You are fairly confident on steep climbs and descents, but you may walk sections on trails that are rated Black or Double Black.
Advanced | Black Trails
You are comfortable and confident at high speeds in technical terrain. Your cornering skills are excellent, and you can easily ride the apex of berms. You are skilled and confident at navigating a variety of technical features such as roots, rocks, mud, sand, and creek crossings. You are very skilled at shifting your weight to navigate technical climbs, descents and all trail features. You can bunny hop over obstacles and are confident to handle smaller jumps and drops.
Expert | Double Black Trails
You are very advanced in all areas of mountain biking. You have significant and strong skills in the areas of shifting, braking, speed control, cornering, climbing and descending. You can comfortably navigate all terrain at high speeds. You’re not afraid of jumps and drops and can easily manage transitions.
Pro | Triple Black/Extreme Terrain
You can ride, jib, launch anything…no matter the size or technical difficulty. You’re probably next up for the Red Bull Rampage. You should probably come be one of our guides!
Fitness Levels Explained
Each trip requires different levels of endurance, climbing, and time in the saddle.
Here’s how we break it down to help you be properly prepared.
Level 1
You barely, if ever, exercise.
You can ride a bike for short periods of time (< 30mins) and then you need to stop and rest.
You exercise for less than one hour per week.
Level 2
You exercise at least once a week for at least an hour. You can ride a bike at a relaxed pace, with a lot of stops, for up to 3 hours at a time and at least 3 days in a row. You can easily climb a trail that gains 500ft without walking.
Level 3
You have a reasonable level of mountain bike fitness. You bike or exercise at least 2 times per week all year long for 1-2 hours each session. You are comfortable biking for 3-4 hours at a moderate pace. You can comfortably ride for four days back-to-back with climbing of up to 1000ft per day.
Level 4
You have moderately strong mountain bike fitness. You bike or exercise 3-4 times per week all year long for at least 2-3 hours per session. You are comfortable biking for 2-3 hours at a strong pace and 4-6 hours with some stopping or at a slower pace. You can comfortably ride 5 days back-to-back with climbing of up to 1500ft per day.
Level 5
You have solid mountain bike fitness. You bike or exercise 5-6 times per week year-round. You are comfortable biking for 4-5 hours at a strong pace and 6-8 hours with some stopping or at a slower pace. You can comfortably ride 6 days back-to-back with climbing of up to 2000ft per day.
Level 6
You are extremely fit. You exercise 5-7 days per week year-round. You are confident that you can bike 6-8 hours a day for 7-9 days straight at a strong pace. You can comfortably climb steep trails without stopping and can easily climb more than 3000ft of vertical terrain with minimal resting.
What to expect on our trips
A day in the life...
Our experiences are curated to show off each destination. We line up the best trails, then pair them with unique local activities, foodie spots, and boutique accommodations.
MORNING FUEL
EPIC RIDING
HEALTHY LUNCHES
OFF THE BIKE ADVENTURES
UNIQUE FOODIE SPOTS
A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP
Sunrise to Sunset
While each trip is unique, most days follow a purposeful flow to maximize your experience.
Morning: Coffee (or your fav pick me up) and a healthy breakfast at your boutique lodging. Ride out the back door or private transportation to the trailhead.
The Ride: Epic ride session with your private guide(s). Breaks for snacks, photo ops, and sessioning tech features. Your guides will show you all the best A-lines, ride around options, and sweet side hits.
Midday: A picnic lunch on the beach, a sandwich on the trail at an epic overlook, or a healthy stop at an art cafe. Lunch with style!
Afternoon Adventures: Ride through the afternoon, zipline through the canopy of the rainforest, or SUP the Pacific. Something special each day.
Post Ride: Throw on your hoodie for a post ride cold one at a local brewery or wind down with sunset yoga. Each day will be topped off just right.
Evening: Delicious local dinner, poolside cocktails, gear tuning, and sunset hangs.
We balance adventure with relaxation —and add fist pumping stoke everywhere we go!
The Logistics
We have already obsessed over all the details. All you have to do is show up and ride.
Boutique Lodging
Our lodging is intentionally chosen to reflect the character and style of each destination—both beautiful & unique.
Whether it's a boutique eco-lodge in the rainforest or a mountain chalet with post-ride hot tubs, we prioritize comfort, vibe, cleanliness, and rider-friendly amenities.
Most of our trips stay in hotels or unique private properties each night. Some adventures include a night or two of camping in very special locations. We are always seeking out killer stays to top off our epic trail days.
Meals & Food
We believe food is fuel, but also a cultural experience worth savoring. We provide meals that are nourishing, delicious, and rooted in the local flavors of each region.
Expect meals that balance health and indulgence—from traditional Costa Rican gallo pinto to homemade Peruvian soups, or a Japanese mountain curry.
We strive to support & provide:
Local chefs and restaurants
Farm-to-table meals
Organic & sustainable food
We also accommodate:
Vegetarian / vegan
Gluten-free
Dairy-free / food allergies
Traveling with Your Bike
There's a lot of benefit to riding with your own gear. We travel all over the world with our bikes in tow and definitely think it's worth it.
If you want to bring your own bike, consider the following:
Pack your bike in a bike bag and bring it with you on the plane. You can check it as a piece of luggage. For international destinations, this is much cheaper than Bike Flights.
Be sure your bike has modern geometry, tubeless tires, and is in good condition for many days of riding.
When you book your trip with us, we will send you a detailed packing & supplies list to be sure you have all the parts & gear you need to travel with your bike.
Our guides will be there to assist you in assembling your bike upon arrival and packing it up at the end of your trip.
Bike Rentals
Prefer to Rent? We partner with trusted local shops and will arrange a high-quality rental bike for your trip.
Rental options vary by destination and may include:
Santa Cruz, Ibis, Pivot, Transition, and others
Both full-suspension and hardtail bikes with dropper posts
Flat pedals unless otherwise requested
Helmets and bike repair kits available upon request
Let us know your height and riding style, and we’ll get you dialed.
Want to know more?
Traveling with your bike is much easier than it may seem at first. We have been taking our bikes around the world for more than a decade and we'd love to walk you through the process.
What people are saying
Straight from the horses mouth, as we like to say...