All bicycles and components are designed with a specific type of riding in mind, and are built to withstand the stresses resulting from that kind of usage. If a bicycle or component is subjected to higher than expected forces, the frames and components may fail prematurely.
To make it easier for you to decide if a specific model is appropriate for you, we have created several categories and classified our bikes and frames into one of them. Below you will find a description of each bike category.
Note that these divisions are for reference only. There is a huge number of other factors that can have an effect on how much a bike can withstand. For example, a heavy rider that does not have good technique can destroy a bike that will hold up forever when ridden by a light, experienced rider. Therefore it is important for you to take this into account when choosing the bike category that suits you best.
Special note for frames: Keep in mind that a bike will only be as strong as it's weakest component. So if a frame from a high category is built up using weak components that have a different intended use than the frame, the complete bicycle will not be appropriate for the type of riding that is indicated by the IUC of the frame itself. It also works the other way round – if, for example, a frame designed for easy riding on pavements or small pumptracks is fitted with strong components that are designed to withstand big hits, the finished bicycle will not be appropriate for harder riding than that resulting from the frames IUC.
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INTENDED USE CATEGORY 0 Intended use: UNDER PARENTAL SUPERVISION Products in this category can only be used by children under appropriate parental supervision on smooth surfaces. They should never be used near stairs, on steep downhill slopes, near swimming pools or ponds, on public roads or in areas with the likelihood of traffic. |
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INTENDED USE CATEGORY 1
Intended use: ROAD RIDING Bicycles and frames in this category should only be used on regular paved surfaces or alternatively on very smooth unpaved surfaces at speeds not exceeding 25km/h. The tires must maintain constant ground contact. These bicycles are not designed for any kinds of jumps or drops. |
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INTENDED USE CATEGORY 2 Intended use: ROAD & GRAVEL Bicycles and frames in this category can be use on paved roads and on reasonably smooth off road trails. They are designed to handle small jumps and drops that exert forces equivalent to jumping a bike onto a flat surface from a height of approximately 15cm. |
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INTENDED USE CATEGORY 3
Intended use: PUMPTRACKS & FUN Bicycles and frames in this category can be used on pumptrack lines for beginners and easy off-road trails. They are designed to withstand jumps and drops that exert forces equivalent to jumping a bike onto a flat surface from a height of approximately 25cm. |
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INTENDED USE CATEGORY 4
Intended use: XC & TRAIL Bicycles and frames in this category can be used off-road on easy and moderately difficult MTB trails, and are designed to withstand jumps that exert forces equivalent to jumping a bike onto a flat surface from a height of approximately 40cm. These bicycles should not be ridden at speeds exceeding 30km/h on rough surfaces. |
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INTENDED USE CATEGORY 5 Intended use: DIRT JUMP Bicycles and frames in this category can be used on all kinds of pumptracks and dirt jump trails. They are designed to withstand jumps that exert forces equivalent to jumping a bike onto a flat surface from a height of approximately 60cm. These bicycle should not be ridden on rough MTB trails. |
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INTENDED USE CATEGORY 6 Intended use: ALL MOUNTAIN Bicycles and frames in this category can be used off-road on all kinds of MTB trails, and are designed to withstand jumps that exert forces equivalent to jumping a bike onto a flat surface from a height of approximately 60cm. These bicycle should not be ridden at speeds exceeding 45km/h on rough surfaces. |
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INTENDED USE CATEGORY 7 Intended use: DOWNHILL FREERIDE & ENDURO Bicycles and frames in this category are designed to cope with the hardest MTB trails and are designed to withstand jumps that exert forces equivalent to jumping a bike onto a flat surface from a height of approximately 100cm. They can be ridden at hight speeds on rough terrain. |
