Mountain Bike Skill and Fitness Matrix

You are not a sports person. Even small climbs are challenging and you cannot ride for more than an hour on flat terrain at a time.
Basic fitness from exercising once or twice per week. You can ride on flat or gently rolling terrain at a steady pace. Usually you have the stamina to spend 2-4 hours out on a ride.
Moderate fitness from two or three sessions of exercise per week. You can ride hilly terrain at a steady pace, or more demanding terrain but only for shorter rides.
Good fitness from regular exercise sessions and time spent actively involved in cycling. You can ride full days in any terrain at a steady pace.
Excellent fitness from regular training and a significant amount of time spent riding or racing. You can ride in any terrain at a demanding pace. You eat marathons for breakfast.

1. You have never ridden a mountain bike before. You rode a bicycle when you were a kid and think you can do it again.
2. You can cycle but have very limited experience of mountain biking. The most off-road you have experienced is some gravel tracks or smooth trails.
3. You can ride with confidence on gravel tracks or trails and over some rough terrain. You may have some experience of man-made single tracks and feel happy on green and some blue routes.
4. You can ride over most blue single track terrain, including steep, rough, narrow tracks with tree roots and other small obstacles. You will be able to ride most small drop offs and technical trail features.
5. You can ride over any terrain, including very rocky severe descents, 2+ foot drop offs and other more challenging features.