Route difficulty rating - what to include?

[Oneman]

I'm working on an easy-to-use rating system to rate MTB trails and races. It started out as a small project to compare my own efforts on different routes, but with input from other Hubbers it might be useful to a wider group of people.

 

In rock climbing the rating system works exceptionally well. It usually distils difficulty to the most difficult section of any climb. I think that's a useful approach for rock climbing, but with MTB many other factors play a role in perceived difficulty. This is what I have so far:

• Distance
• Total elevation
• Distance of single track (as % of total distance)
• Number of technical sections
• Difficulty of most technical section (scored 1 - 10)
• Weather / Increased difficulty as a result of weather (wind, mud, etc.)

Anything I should add to this?

 

Also - I know this is a problem other people are working on too - if there is an approach that you have found useful, let me know.

[PhilipV]

Go read up on the IMBA trail classification. It might save you some effort in trying to reinvent the wheel.