How to classify club rides

[westofsouth]

This is probably an old subject, but I thought I'd ask anyway.

This weekend my local club has a ride classified as 'medium'. This is a broad classification and can mean different things to different people. The ride is about 57miles and 5200ft of ascent/descent (according to Memory Map).

Is there some sort of magic formula - say on a scale of 1 to 10, which will factor in average speed and amount of ascent/descent, to give a more accurate idea of the amount of work required?

[meic]

No.

However if you had the space to say 57miles with 5200 feet of climb in x hours then that would tell me enough to make a guess as to whether or not I was up to it.

[westofsouth]

Average about 9mph. 2 cafe stops and a pub stop.
Does that qualify as 'medium' on the meic scale?

[Si]

On ours we just list the average speed and the rough distance. Of course, it all goes to pot when certain people lead, but on the whole it's a reasonable guide to what to expect.

[scottg]

Fast rides, you see the team car and the Belgian domestiques lined up.

Speedy ride, skinny people in lycra fiddling with heart rate monitors, skinny tires, no saddlebags, all non-ferrous bikes.

Moderate ride, Old guys on old bikes, some grey hair, lots talk about where to stop for coffee (cake stop in Brit)

Fun ride, lots of tweed, chaincases, people sitting upright like proper gentlefolk
and the lovely tick tick of Sturmey Archer.

Rides to avoid, people wearing wool, with french handlebar bags and very shiny hammered fenders,
they're going for a quick 400k lunch run.

[beachcomber]

Fast rides, you see the team car and the Belgian domestiques lined up.

Speedy ride, skinny people in lycra fiddling with heart rate monitors, skinny tires, no saddlebags, all non-ferrous bikes.

Moderate ride, Old guys on old bikes, some grey hair, lots talk about where to stop for coffee (cake stop in Brit)

Fun ride, lots of tweed, chaincases, people sitting upright like proper gentlefolk
and the lovely tick tick of Sturmey Archer.

Rides to avoid, people wearing wool, with french handlebar bags and very shiny hammered fenders,
they're going for a quick 400k lunch run.

(Rides to avoid) Especially if they are riding fixed gear