MTB Technical/trials skills?
Discussion
TGCOTF-dewey said:
JQ said:
Makes sense, and with 2 sons into MTB it'll be expensive whether I go private or not.
I can't seem to find it on the website, but what are the times of the coaching, how many hours do you get?
It was all day and it was plenty... We were done before Tony was I can't seem to find it on the website, but what are the times of the coaching, how many hours do you get?
Doing lap after lap up small hills adds up over the day.
What's really nice is the jumps start as rollers/tabletop. Once he's happy you can repeatedly land on the down slope without coming up short, you move over to the gap - same distance. You realise just how much is in your head.
My son went from novice jumper but good tech rider to happily doing 10-12ft tables.
My son did stack it right at the end though, so if you're doing jumps I'd pad up and full face.
I'd be there every few months if it wasn't such a long way away as the combination of the private training area + the coaching make it probably the best in the UK IMO.
JQ said:
Thanks, that's exactly what we'd want. We're also 3.5 hours away, so it will need to be a special treat for the kids.
I would stay over the night before. Too much to do it in a day. I was absolutely knackered driving back. There is a local air B&B that Tony recommends, but it was full so we ended up in the local travel Lodge as they allowed the bikes in the rooms.
OP, apologies if my initial reply sounded off putting, not intended in that way at all. I'm 51 and only switched full time to MTB after a lifetime of BMX about 8 years ago, so my perspective may be a little different from others 
Tony is a great shout, check out the seesaw set up he has when you are there, utterly petrifying. Best of luck
Tony is a great shout, check out the seesaw set up he has when you are there, utterly petrifying. Best of luck
TGCOTF-dewey said:
I walked his ewok village... He's completely mental. It's scary enough walking it. I cannot even contemplate riding the f
king thing. Bonkers.
I've not been, a couple of old BMX mates have...and despite one of them being Pro for longer than I care ro remember they said the same thing king thing. Bonkers. 
trails said:
TGCOTF-dewey said:
I walked his ewok village... He's completely mental. It's scary enough walking it. I cannot even contemplate riding the fking thing. Bonkers.
I've not been, a couple of old BMX mates have...and despite one of them being Pro for longer than I care ro remember they said the same thing king thing. Bonkers. Edited by TGCOTF-dewey on Thursday 23 May 17:28
I've seen that guys 'shore' set-up on Insta and I didn't know it was him, looks a right laugh and a good challenge, I'd end up hurting myself!
I was always fairly ok on skinnies to a point, they're a proper head game IMO where one moment of even slight panic or doubt has you off. Riding them clipped is a real mental challenge.
OP, if you don't have a mate who can teach you the basics and lay the foundations for you to build on then you def want some professional coaching. I learnt by being a carefree teenager who bounced and so could crash a lot and learn from my mistakes, can risk smashing teeth and breaking bones at that age, less so now....
Get some coaching, take on board what they teach you then get on the bike and apply it as much as possible.
Oh and wheelies suck, manuals are where it's at!
I was always fairly ok on skinnies to a point, they're a proper head game IMO where one moment of even slight panic or doubt has you off. Riding them clipped is a real mental challenge.
OP, if you don't have a mate who can teach you the basics and lay the foundations for you to build on then you def want some professional coaching. I learnt by being a carefree teenager who bounced and so could crash a lot and learn from my mistakes, can risk smashing teeth and breaking bones at that age, less so now....
Get some coaching, take on board what they teach you then get on the bike and apply it as much as possible.
Oh and wheelies suck, manuals are where it's at!
bobbo89 said:
I've seen that guys 'shore' set-up on Insta and I didn't know it was him, looks a right laugh and a good challenge, I'd end up hurting myself!
I was always fairly ok on skinnies to a point, they're a proper head game IMO where one moment of even slight panic or doubt has you off. Riding them clipped is a real mental challenge.
Its a work of art isnt it...I think I'm allowed to link his profile for those unfamiliar I was always fairly ok on skinnies to a point, they're a proper head game IMO where one moment of even slight panic or doubt has you off. Riding them clipped is a real mental challenge.
https://www.instagram.com/ukbikeskills?igsh=MTBlZ2...
Clipped in
you nutter 
trails said:
Clipped in you nutter
I actually hate it TBH, I've started to run a combination of clips and flats depending what bike I'm riding. E-bike I run nothing but flats, trail bike and hardtail nothing but clipless and my Endruo bike I switch between depending what I'm riding.... you nutter Ride with mates who are better than you but who are also really decent guys.
Latterly I've upped my game a bit and in turn started riding with a few other dads who are much better / more confident riders on trails and even after a few rides, I'd say my ability and confidence has improved significantly. Having somebody who'll observe, critique and coach in a non egotistical manner works wonders as does following somebodies lead.
I guess it's not unlike driving... you can do it but over the years, a few bad habits or not having the opportunity to test your limits ends up with you flat lining as far as skills and confidence goes. Having somebody observe and coach, point out where to make small changes that will all in turn come together to dramatically improve your approach to the task in hand will make a big difference.
Being 40 doesn't matter... however with age comes a certain degree of "If this goes wrong, I still have to go to work tomorrow" self preservation and thus it's not difficult to become a very nervous, tense rider more so when tacking new challenges... even if quite tame in the bigger scale of things and when you're tense and anxious, that's when you start to make mistakes, ride badly, fall off and throw the towel in.
So, ultimately yes... saddle time helps too. The more you ride, the more relaxed and confident you'll get on the bike and then it's a case of dialling it in slowly. No shame in going outside in to the street and bumping up and down the kerb, over a house brick, trying to balance along the kerb edge without wobbling in to the gutter. It takes time and it takes practice and the golden rule is walk before you run... but... on a bike.
Latterly I've upped my game a bit and in turn started riding with a few other dads who are much better / more confident riders on trails and even after a few rides, I'd say my ability and confidence has improved significantly. Having somebody who'll observe, critique and coach in a non egotistical manner works wonders as does following somebodies lead.
I guess it's not unlike driving... you can do it but over the years, a few bad habits or not having the opportunity to test your limits ends up with you flat lining as far as skills and confidence goes. Having somebody observe and coach, point out where to make small changes that will all in turn come together to dramatically improve your approach to the task in hand will make a big difference.
Being 40 doesn't matter... however with age comes a certain degree of "If this goes wrong, I still have to go to work tomorrow" self preservation and thus it's not difficult to become a very nervous, tense rider more so when tacking new challenges... even if quite tame in the bigger scale of things and when you're tense and anxious, that's when you start to make mistakes, ride badly, fall off and throw the towel in.
So, ultimately yes... saddle time helps too. The more you ride, the more relaxed and confident you'll get on the bike and then it's a case of dialling it in slowly. No shame in going outside in to the street and bumping up and down the kerb, over a house brick, trying to balance along the kerb edge without wobbling in to the gutter. It takes time and it takes practice and the golden rule is walk before you run... but... on a bike.
bobbo89 said:
I actually hate it TBH, I've started to run a combination of clips and flats depending what bike I'm riding. E-bike I run nothing but flats, trail bike and hardtail nothing but clipless and my Endruo bike I switch between depending what I'm riding....
I was only ever OK clipped in on a road bike, suspect I'd spend quite a bit of time on my ass if I used them on an MTB, you have my respect 
Great replies and all duly noted! Thankyou.
Yes, the degree of preservation after 40 really doesn't help to progress at a decent rate. Or I'm just sh*t !
Was in the park and practicing wheelies yesterday evening, managed 2 strokes before landing all wonky and stabbing myself with the handle bar stacking it at 3mph (bending my toe back in the process -painful!). I kid you not 5 mins later there was a kid doing a manual the width of sloping park at about 20mph!
And to rub my nose into it further, when I was going to the supermarket later there was another teen doing high wheelies weaving in and out the roadside bollards forever. Little f*ckers ... I thought it would probably not go down right if a 40 something ran behind them shouting 'Show me your wheelie please!'
Yes, the degree of preservation after 40 really doesn't help to progress at a decent rate. Or I'm just sh*t !
Was in the park and practicing wheelies yesterday evening, managed 2 strokes before landing all wonky and stabbing myself with the handle bar stacking it at 3mph (bending my toe back in the process -painful!). I kid you not 5 mins later there was a kid doing a manual the width of sloping park at about 20mph!
And to rub my nose into it further, when I was going to the supermarket later there was another teen doing high wheelies weaving in and out the roadside bollards forever. Little f*ckers ... I thought it would probably not go down right if a 40 something ran behind them shouting 'Show me your wheelie please!'
Davie said:
Ride with mates who are better than you but who are also really decent guys.
Latterly I've upped my game a bit and in turn started riding with a few other dads who are much better / more confident riders on trails and even after a few rides, I'd say my ability and confidence has improved significantly. Having somebody who'll observe, critique and coach in a non egotistical manner works wonders as does following somebodies lead.
I guess it's not unlike driving... you can do it but over the years, a few bad habits or not having the opportunity to test your limits ends up with you flat lining as far as skills and confidence goes. Having somebody observe and coach, point out where to make small changes that will all in turn come together to dramatically improve your approach to the task in hand will make a big difference.
Being 40 doesn't matter... however with age comes a certain degree of "If this goes wrong, I still have to go to work tomorrow" self preservation and thus it's not difficult to become a very nervous, tense rider more so when tacking new challenges... even if quite tame in the bigger scale of things and when you're tense and anxious, that's when you start to make mistakes, ride badly, fall off and throw the towel in.
So, ultimately yes... saddle time helps too. The more you ride, the more relaxed and confident you'll get on the bike and then it's a case of dialling it in slowly. No shame in going outside in to the street and bumping up and down the kerb, over a house brick, trying to balance along the kerb edge without wobbling in to the gutter. It takes time and it takes practice and the golden rule is walk before you run... but... on a bike.
Great advice. In isolation it's a lot more challenging to 'up' your game if you have no one to follow and you definitely flat line and become a creature of habit by setting a lower bar to skill levels. I will see if i can find some group to help unlock something (no mates ride). We have loads of pelotons of middle aged men in lycra on road-bikes here on the weekends, but I don't fancy that.Latterly I've upped my game a bit and in turn started riding with a few other dads who are much better / more confident riders on trails and even after a few rides, I'd say my ability and confidence has improved significantly. Having somebody who'll observe, critique and coach in a non egotistical manner works wonders as does following somebodies lead.
I guess it's not unlike driving... you can do it but over the years, a few bad habits or not having the opportunity to test your limits ends up with you flat lining as far as skills and confidence goes. Having somebody observe and coach, point out where to make small changes that will all in turn come together to dramatically improve your approach to the task in hand will make a big difference.
Being 40 doesn't matter... however with age comes a certain degree of "If this goes wrong, I still have to go to work tomorrow" self preservation and thus it's not difficult to become a very nervous, tense rider more so when tacking new challenges... even if quite tame in the bigger scale of things and when you're tense and anxious, that's when you start to make mistakes, ride badly, fall off and throw the towel in.
So, ultimately yes... saddle time helps too. The more you ride, the more relaxed and confident you'll get on the bike and then it's a case of dialling it in slowly. No shame in going outside in to the street and bumping up and down the kerb, over a house brick, trying to balance along the kerb edge without wobbling in to the gutter. It takes time and it takes practice and the golden rule is walk before you run... but... on a bike.
I've also got to get over being self-conscious being a grown man making meal over quite basic things (I make it up by being able to skid... haha).
I always ride with clips, tried platforms and don't like the way your feet can bounce about on technical descents and you lacerate your legs if they come off. I also feel much more connected to the bike and balanced when clipped in.
To the OP, just get a big fk off 29er full suss and forget any training
To the OP, just get a big f
k off 29er full suss and forget any training ujio said:
Great advice. In isolation it's a lot more challenging to 'up' your game if you have no one to follow and you definitely flat line and become a creature of habit by setting a lower bar to skill levels. I will see if i can find some group to help unlock something (no mates ride). We have loads of pelotons of middle aged men in lycra on road-bikes here on the weekends, but I don't fancy that.
I've also got to get over being self-conscious being a grown man making meal over quite basic things (I make it up by being able to skid... haha).
As long as you are having fun, everyone else can sod right off...good luck I've also got to get over being self-conscious being a grown man making meal over quite basic things (I make it up by being able to skid... haha).
The age thing is just a number if you are healthy.
Still DH ing in the Morzine/Les gets/chatel area for a week at 60, didn't start until I was over 40.
Don't do stuff like big gap jumps, but can still manage to get down most runs without being a mobile chicane.
Take it easy to start with, build you technique and confidence.
Good coaching will probably help but I've never had any. Just watched other more capable riders or rode with them.
Its a head sport.
Still DH ing in the Morzine/Les gets/chatel area for a week at 60, didn't start until I was over 40.
Don't do stuff like big gap jumps, but can still manage to get down most runs without being a mobile chicane.
Take it easy to start with, build you technique and confidence.
Good coaching will probably help but I've never had any. Just watched other more capable riders or rode with them.
Its a head sport.
Wingo said:
Its a head sport.
Local bit of trail that's on my most ridden loop I had a big crash on a few years back that had me off the bike for a few months. Now, I can't hit it anywhere near as fast as I used to and it's because of that crash. I can't go brain off and trust my skill like I used to and now I overthink it, mess my line up and brake where I shouldn't. As soon as I'm through it I'm fine but I'm rattled when riding it and I've still not managed to shake it...
Wingo said:
The age thing is just a number if you are healthy.
Still DH ing in the Morzine/Les gets/chatel area for a week at 60, didn't start until I was over 40.
Don't do stuff like big gap jumps, but can still manage to get down most runs without being a mobile chicane.
Take it easy to start with, build you technique and confidence.
Good coaching will probably help but I've never had any. Just watched other more capable riders or rode with them.
Its a head sport.
Love reading this kind of post Still DH ing in the Morzine/Les gets/chatel area for a week at 60, didn't start until I was over 40.
Don't do stuff like big gap jumps, but can still manage to get down most runs without being a mobile chicane.
Take it easy to start with, build you technique and confidence.
Good coaching will probably help but I've never had any. Just watched other more capable riders or rode with them.
Its a head sport.
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