Happy New Year!
From beginning of March, I plan to start doing weekly skills orientated sessions for those who are interested. Most likely on Saturdays but we could do them in the evening also later in the year as the evenings get longer.
Why would you want to do them?
- you've been riding for many years, done many miles but still missing the basics, holding up your progress
- you rely on equipment to carry you through features (more suspension, bigger tyres, clipless pedals) rather than skill
- you frequently catch yourself feeling out of control and 'just getting away with it', or your come off your bike often.
- you look at features big or small and think 'nah, I will never be able to do this'
- you look at other riders that do cool moves and would like to do them to but don't know where to start
- you would like to stop and repeat features on spins but you are to embarrassed to ask the group to stop and let you try again
- you are bored with your riding, feel like every spin is the same and sometimes getting out is a chore just to keep up the fitness
If any of the above ring home then please come along.
What I can help you with:
- identify your weaknesses
- suggest set up changes to your bike so you get the most of it and not fighting against it (for example suspension set ups)
- breakdown movements involved in the skills we are practicing
- give you step by step guidance so that you can practice in a progressive way
- using your energy in an efficient way
What I can't help you with:
- determination to learn and practice on your own
- teach you to perform a skill to a good level in one session
- practice any features that I think are beyond your skill level, you can take those risks on your own.
- your fitness, these sessions are demanding and will challenge your body in new ways so be prepared
What do I know?
- not enough yet!
- I have mastered some skills, I'm good at some, average at some and still learning a lot I'm rubbish at
- I have keen interest in breaking down skills, understanding how they work and teaching
- this has been a primary focus of my riding for at least a year now so I'm excited to get others on the same page
What equipment will you need?
- a bike that you are not terrified of scratching
- less suspension will be easier than a 150-160mm bike
- lighter bike will be easier on your body
- older geo bikes are easier to learn on (steeper head angle, shorter wheelbase)
- smaller wheels are easier to learn on
- 100% working rear brake is ESSENTIAL
- flat pedals are ESSENTIAL
- flat pedal shoes are recommended, you can get away with skate shoes though
- good helmet, pads etc that goes without saying
- ebikes are too heavy for this
I have only one bike, a long geometry steel full 29er, hard work but it's all possible so if a massive enduro rig is all you have that's fine too.
Let me know if you are interested, I'm doing these anyway myself so I won't cry if nobody comes along but it would be nice to build a group of likeminded people.
And I get asked this all the time - can I use SPDs and the answer is - NO, why?
- you will hurt yourself
- you will never truly feel in control and won't understand what your body vs bike are doing
- I won't be able to explain the skills to you in a meaningful way so it's a waste of my and your time
Good composite flats are around 50-60e (One Up Composite, Race Face etc), low profile (slim) are better.
Good shoes are around 100-120, can't go wrong with FiveTen Freeriders but any of those will do for the practice
Trust me, the 200e investment will transform your understanding of how you ride your bike.
There you go, as Richie would say, I will make you DEADLY!
M
From beginning of March, I plan to start doing weekly skills orientated sessions for those who are interested. Most likely on Saturdays but we could do them in the evening also later in the year as the evenings get longer.
Why would you want to do them?
- you've been riding for many years, done many miles but still missing the basics, holding up your progress
- you rely on equipment to carry you through features (more suspension, bigger tyres, clipless pedals) rather than skill
- you frequently catch yourself feeling out of control and 'just getting away with it', or your come off your bike often.
- you look at features big or small and think 'nah, I will never be able to do this'
- you look at other riders that do cool moves and would like to do them to but don't know where to start
- you would like to stop and repeat features on spins but you are to embarrassed to ask the group to stop and let you try again
- you are bored with your riding, feel like every spin is the same and sometimes getting out is a chore just to keep up the fitness
If any of the above ring home then please come along.
What I can help you with:
- identify your weaknesses
- suggest set up changes to your bike so you get the most of it and not fighting against it (for example suspension set ups)
- breakdown movements involved in the skills we are practicing
- give you step by step guidance so that you can practice in a progressive way
- using your energy in an efficient way
What I can't help you with:
- determination to learn and practice on your own
- teach you to perform a skill to a good level in one session
- practice any features that I think are beyond your skill level, you can take those risks on your own.
- your fitness, these sessions are demanding and will challenge your body in new ways so be prepared
What do I know?
- not enough yet!
- I have mastered some skills, I'm good at some, average at some and still learning a lot I'm rubbish at
- I have keen interest in breaking down skills, understanding how they work and teaching
- this has been a primary focus of my riding for at least a year now so I'm excited to get others on the same page
What equipment will you need?
- a bike that you are not terrified of scratching
- less suspension will be easier than a 150-160mm bike
- lighter bike will be easier on your body
- older geo bikes are easier to learn on (steeper head angle, shorter wheelbase)
- smaller wheels are easier to learn on
- 100% working rear brake is ESSENTIAL
- flat pedals are ESSENTIAL
- flat pedal shoes are recommended, you can get away with skate shoes though
- good helmet, pads etc that goes without saying
- ebikes are too heavy for this
I have only one bike, a long geometry steel full 29er, hard work but it's all possible so if a massive enduro rig is all you have that's fine too.
Let me know if you are interested, I'm doing these anyway myself so I won't cry if nobody comes along but it would be nice to build a group of likeminded people.
And I get asked this all the time - can I use SPDs and the answer is - NO, why?
- you will hurt yourself
- you will never truly feel in control and won't understand what your body vs bike are doing
- I won't be able to explain the skills to you in a meaningful way so it's a waste of my and your time
Good composite flats are around 50-60e (One Up Composite, Race Face etc), low profile (slim) are better.
Good shoes are around 100-120, can't go wrong with FiveTen Freeriders but any of those will do for the practice
Trust me, the 200e investment will transform your understanding of how you ride your bike.
There you go, as Richie would say, I will make you DEADLY!
M