It was thought useful to give a grading of the cycle rides. Originally this was measured in mars bars. The more mars bars, the more taxing the ride.
One can cycle all day with ease if there are no hills and one will expend little energy. A ride with a few long steep hills, as some rides around Devon do or even on the Isle of Wight, can require quite some stamina. Thus time and distance are not appropriate measures by themselves. The rides are given a rating dependent upon time, distance and effort required.
However whatever the grading, all rides are at an easy pace. We are a touring section, not a racing section. This means that if we spot anything of interest, we stop, look around and photograph. The Easy, Medium, Hard will give an indication of how tired you will be at the end, not whether you will be able keep up!
Rides graded as Medium will usually be over 40 miles and involve a hill or two. One shouldn't expect to be back for an early lunch.
Rides graded as Hard will usually be over 60 miles, involve a number of significant hills and last to mid afternoon or later.
Where a ride is also graded as involving tracks, these will still be accessible by normal touring bicycles and tricycles. Occasionally there might be a stile involved in access. For example when getting from Charlton all Saints to the road the other side of the river valley; a walk of a few hundred yards is involved.
When the weather gets colder, wetter and windier then a Hard ride might only cover 30 miles and corresponding changes to Medium and Easy!
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