Improving MTB skills
Discussion
I am reaching the stage where basic tracks and trails aren't challenging enough but I don't feel I have the skills or confidence to tackle built trails such as Follow the Dog on Cannock Chase. What is the best way to gain the skills and confidence? I tried riding Follow the Dog but decided I was too slow and unskilled to do the ride. So does anyone have any recommendations are lessons, books or DVD's any good or is it a suck it up and try?
www.thebikeschool.net
Experienced guys who will coach you on Cannock Chase
Experienced guys who will coach you on Cannock Chase
Edited by ewenm on Tuesday 2nd November 10:37
I hear those Bike Adventures guys are good. Seem to know what they're doing and instruction is very often most beneficial early on; avoid bad habits and nasty surprises which might put you off riding.
I'd also say that you should persevere with FTD. In order to ride at your own pace - without worrying about other riders - try and get out earlier in the day and preferably mid week, to ensure you have some 'space'. My OH also dislikes learning on a packed trail - even though she's a more competant and fit rider than a lot of the other trail users, it seems to put her off and undermine her confidence.
Also, have a look at the Chase Trails Forum. The instructors are often on there (IIRC one is 'StinkyHarry') and there may also be groups/rides that you could join in with.
I'd also say that you should persevere with FTD. In order to ride at your own pace - without worrying about other riders - try and get out earlier in the day and preferably mid week, to ensure you have some 'space'. My OH also dislikes learning on a packed trail - even though she's a more competant and fit rider than a lot of the other trail users, it seems to put her off and undermine her confidence.
Also, have a look at the Chase Trails Forum. The instructors are often on there (IIRC one is 'StinkyHarry') and there may also be groups/rides that you could join in with.
Edited by Digga on Tuesday 2nd November 10:47
I'd follow some of what's been said above.
I've watched DVD's, read skills stuff in Mags and online and they can give you some insight but I think it's one of those things you just have to get on and do.
FTD is 'only' 7 miles long, don't worry about holding people up or looking bad, if you come across a rider who isn't patient enough to wait a few moments for you to stop somewhere sensible to let them past, feel free to consider them the knobs they are! Everyone was new to the game once.
If you can go mid-week when it's quieter all the better, personally I love nothing more than booking a cheeky Friday off work for a ride.
Remember the basics, arse off seat for anything remotely technical, no panic braking, don't break on turns and look where you're going, not at the thing you don't want to hit and you'll be fine!
I've watched DVD's, read skills stuff in Mags and online and they can give you some insight but I think it's one of those things you just have to get on and do.
FTD is 'only' 7 miles long, don't worry about holding people up or looking bad, if you come across a rider who isn't patient enough to wait a few moments for you to stop somewhere sensible to let them past, feel free to consider them the knobs they are! Everyone was new to the game once.
If you can go mid-week when it's quieter all the better, personally I love nothing more than booking a cheeky Friday off work for a ride.
Remember the basics, arse off seat for anything remotely technical, no panic braking, don't break on turns and look where you're going, not at the thing you don't want to hit and you'll be fine!
Al this:
Keep at it.
P-Jay said:
Remember the basics, arse off seat for anything remotely technical, no panic braking, don't break on turns
and most definietly this this:P-Jay said:
look where you're going, not at the thing you don't want to hit and you'll be fine!
Also, have a gander here on the CT forum as tere may be other beginners to ride with: http://www.bikeadventuresuk.com/forum/viewforum.ph...Keep at it.
there are, in my opinion, two options.
1/ do the SMBLA course. not only will you get instruction on how to ride better but also an industry recognised qualification.
2/ go to somewhere like coed y brenin for the weekend, there is enough variety of trail there to test you and you can only really learn something by doing it. you cant learn to ride a mountain bike from a magazine or a dvd, you can get tips, you can get some ideas but you can only feel the terrain under your tyre by being out there. push yourself, be prepared to take a tumble and try repeating the same section numerous times throughout the day. dont time yourself or anything silly but just try different ines and learn what you and your bike do differently each time.
1/ do the SMBLA course. not only will you get instruction on how to ride better but also an industry recognised qualification.
2/ go to somewhere like coed y brenin for the weekend, there is enough variety of trail there to test you and you can only really learn something by doing it. you cant learn to ride a mountain bike from a magazine or a dvd, you can get tips, you can get some ideas but you can only feel the terrain under your tyre by being out there. push yourself, be prepared to take a tumble and try repeating the same section numerous times throughout the day. dont time yourself or anything silly but just try different ines and learn what you and your bike do differently each time.
I'd imagine that the vast majority of mtb'ers are self taught and started with the easy stuff, fire roads and the like, before graduating towards trail parks and taking things slowly at first. I started back in the early 90s when there was no such thing as a trail park and riding was mostly fire roads and bridleways (except for the odd cheeky trail, of course!). I graduated onto ST when the 9ft.com trail at Afan was first opened and struggled a bit, but practise makes, not perfect but a fair bit better. My problem is that living a long way from the Welsh trail centres, I don't get to ride them as much as I would like and the first bit of trail when revisiting is spent trying to get used to the different riding (the first climb away from the Glyncorwg Centre is a good example). The advice from previous posters is good, just get out and practise as much as you can.
I did the cannock trails for the first time recently, and although i thought they were ok ( i didn't do the really tricky stuff lol!!) i was a little bit put off by the hard packed surface. I've done all my technical rideing at Woburn on the sand, so if you mess it up, and take a tumble, it's a suprisingly soft landing. Whereas the hard packed stone looked a lot less inviting to land on (guess they gota have it to withstand the volume of all-year traffic they get) Anyway, cutting to the chase, i'm gonna get some knee pads and maybe some elbow ones, so next time i'm not quite so wary of any upset!
Max_Torque said:
I did the cannock trails for the first time recently, and although i thought they were ok ( i didn't do the really tricky stuff lol!!) i was a little bit put off by the hard packed surface. I've done all my technical rideing at Woburn on the sand, so if you mess it up, and take a tumble, it's a suprisingly soft landing. Whereas the hard packed stone looked a lot less inviting to land on (guess they gota have it to withstand the volume of all-year traffic they get) Anyway, cutting to the chase, i'm gonna get some knee pads and maybe some elbow ones, so next time i'm not quite so wary of any upset!
Yes it flippin hurts, i always wear elbow and knee pads, you get used to them quickly.I use kyle straits for the knees and some thor elbow pads, none intrusive, very flexible but definitely worthwhile. I tuck a tumble at llandegla the other week, the front just washed away on wet rock and i landed on my left side, i scraped up my forearm but it would have been a lot worse without my pads.
I agree with all posters, just get out there as much as you can, i just get out of the way if someone is faster. Go at your own pace, do not get egged on and just enjoy yourself. I love the trail centres and am hoping to get to cannock for the first time in a couple of weeks.
A great book is "trailriding tips & techniques from glentress"...almost pocket sized, and goes through each skill step by step. A lot of stuff you can learn on a quiet road or park.
Cannock is good, however it's always heaving, and there are lots of muppets on there. Certainly agree with the "avoid weekends" thing. Coed y Brenin is good, but lots of very rocky bits, which you probably won't ride to start with, interspersed with lots of fireroad, where you wont learn anything. Master Cannock first, and then head there.
TBH if you can afford the time, would be to consider going to Scotland and do some of the 7 stanes for a few days. There are some hard bits, but also some superb flowy bits and amazing views to reward your effort. Many of the centres also have "skills loops" where you can practice over a 1km stretch before hitting the trails proper. Most of the centres are nigh on deserted during the week!
Also spend some time getting someone to make sure your bike is set up just so too.
Cannock is good, however it's always heaving, and there are lots of muppets on there. Certainly agree with the "avoid weekends" thing. Coed y Brenin is good, but lots of very rocky bits, which you probably won't ride to start with, interspersed with lots of fireroad, where you wont learn anything. Master Cannock first, and then head there.
TBH if you can afford the time, would be to consider going to Scotland and do some of the 7 stanes for a few days. There are some hard bits, but also some superb flowy bits and amazing views to reward your effort. Many of the centres also have "skills loops" where you can practice over a 1km stretch before hitting the trails proper. Most of the centres are nigh on deserted during the week!
Also spend some time getting someone to make sure your bike is set up just so too.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff