Improving your MTBike Skills
Discussion
Morning folks,
Just thought I'd share my experience yesterday of UK Bike Skills. I'd heard great things about Tony Doyle from a mate who's into MTbing much more than I am. (I just enjoy the riding, don't buy the magazines and don't go on the forums except this one)
Turned up and had a chat with Tony about what I wanted from the day and what I rode and where I rode, then he made me do two very simple procedures after which he changed my brake and shifter positions for me and then showed me a couple of basic things. After which we headed out onto his playground.
Ran through his drop technique then onto cornering and rocks all the time he was very patient and encouraging, he's got a great little skills run that gives you a chance to utilise all the skills you've learnt so far.
After the basic skills we moved onto jumps, he's got a 6ft table top with a gap jump encorporated into it as an alternative option, he managed to get me clearing the table top but still couldn't bring myself to have a go at the gap unfortunately but to be fair to Tony it's all in my head.
Then we moved on to pumping and doing some more jumps on a really cool jump section he's got.
Overall would throughly reccommend it to anyone who's looking to brush up their MTB skills, I expect to be considerably quicker and more confident on the trails now.
Just thought I'd share my experience yesterday of UK Bike Skills. I'd heard great things about Tony Doyle from a mate who's into MTbing much more than I am. (I just enjoy the riding, don't buy the magazines and don't go on the forums except this one)
Turned up and had a chat with Tony about what I wanted from the day and what I rode and where I rode, then he made me do two very simple procedures after which he changed my brake and shifter positions for me and then showed me a couple of basic things. After which we headed out onto his playground.
Ran through his drop technique then onto cornering and rocks all the time he was very patient and encouraging, he's got a great little skills run that gives you a chance to utilise all the skills you've learnt so far.
After the basic skills we moved onto jumps, he's got a 6ft table top with a gap jump encorporated into it as an alternative option, he managed to get me clearing the table top but still couldn't bring myself to have a go at the gap unfortunately but to be fair to Tony it's all in my head.
Then we moved on to pumping and doing some more jumps on a really cool jump section he's got.
Overall would throughly reccommend it to anyone who's looking to brush up their MTB skills, I expect to be considerably quicker and more confident on the trails now.
I went on one of Tony's public jumps and drops days last year and absolutely loved it. He really is a fantastic coach and although I was OK at jumps and things beforehand, I was clearing the 9ft gap by the end of the day and when I visited Aston Hill last week I was happily sailing off the big drop off at the end of the new trail using the techniques Tony taught. Think I'll be back there next year before my summer Alps trip.
Can you tell I'm bored?
These guys are based on NY Moors.
Dalby Forest MTB centre may offer tuition also. Just have a mooch around Google.
These guys are based on NY Moors.
Dalby Forest MTB centre may offer tuition also. Just have a mooch around Google.
burriana said:
Can you tell I'm bored?
These guys are based on NY Moors.
Dalby Forest MTB centre may offer tuition also. Just have a mooch around Google.
Thanks for that, I'll do some digging. Have you used them? I know there are a few around here - I'm just up the road from Dalby - but like anything some are better than others. It's personal recommendations I'm after.These guys are based on NY Moors.
Dalby Forest MTB centre may offer tuition also. Just have a mooch around Google.
Forest Freeride near Machynlleth. Had 2 days there earlier in the year and Stuart who runs it is a top chap. Very patient and tailors what he teaches to what level you are at. Nice little digs there too which is a converted barn with log burner and all the basics you'd need for a weekend.
Spent a day with Ed Oxley (he of the infamous beard!) a couple of years ago.
Best 'upgrade' I've bought in 20 years of offroad riding. He's top bloke with a relaxed style of teaching that really worked for me. Will be booking an Alpine Prep day for next Spring, as my general confidence and ability came on loads from just that one day. If you're up North, then it's well worth checking out what he can offer:
www.great-rock.co.uk
Best 'upgrade' I've bought in 20 years of offroad riding. He's top bloke with a relaxed style of teaching that really worked for me. Will be booking an Alpine Prep day for next Spring, as my general confidence and ability came on loads from just that one day. If you're up North, then it's well worth checking out what he can offer:
www.great-rock.co.uk
NCC said:
Spent a day with Ed Oxley (he of the infamous beard!) a couple of years ago.
Best 'upgrade' I've bought in 20 years of offroad riding. He's top bloke with a relaxed style of teaching that really worked for me. Will be booking an Alpine Prep day for next Spring, as my general confidence and ability came on loads from just that one day. If you're up North, then it's well worth checking out what he can offer:
www.great-rock.co.uk
That's close enough. Might have to ask for the Jumps for Dads course as a Christmas present.Best 'upgrade' I've bought in 20 years of offroad riding. He's top bloke with a relaxed style of teaching that really worked for me. Will be booking an Alpine Prep day for next Spring, as my general confidence and ability came on loads from just that one day. If you're up North, then it's well worth checking out what he can offer:
www.great-rock.co.uk
I had a great day on the 'Jumps and Drops with Neil Donoghue' at Llandegla back in the Summer, best value MTB thing I've ever spent money on, there was nothing earth shattering, just lots of little tweaks, and a brilliant fun day.
I've always hated drops, especially blind ones, but was hoping off stuff with gay abandon by the end of it, plus they helped me change the set-up of my bike a touch, to be frank I was a little dismissive and thought I knew better - I have, never once since, not even on the longest descents in the Alps had a single moment of arm pump or sore hands since they changed it for me and it's something that has plagued my riding for years.
I will say this though, for people who've followed DH for a while Neil's obvisouly a big name, and he's a lovely bloke who's happy to chat about racing World Cups and all that, but he's quite shy and retiring 90% of the actual training is done by another bloke, Neil's more of a performing monkey (his words) on the course - he does the 'show' when the other guy Paul (my namesake) does the 'tell' - his bike skills and control and out of this world, he'll do little things to show you and you think "yeah, I can do that" and after a bit you can, but now and again he'll do a bit of showing off and the helmet strap was the only thing keeping my chin off the floor ha ha.
I've always hated drops, especially blind ones, but was hoping off stuff with gay abandon by the end of it, plus they helped me change the set-up of my bike a touch, to be frank I was a little dismissive and thought I knew better - I have, never once since, not even on the longest descents in the Alps had a single moment of arm pump or sore hands since they changed it for me and it's something that has plagued my riding for years.
I will say this though, for people who've followed DH for a while Neil's obvisouly a big name, and he's a lovely bloke who's happy to chat about racing World Cups and all that, but he's quite shy and retiring 90% of the actual training is done by another bloke, Neil's more of a performing monkey (his words) on the course - he does the 'show' when the other guy Paul (my namesake) does the 'tell' - his bike skills and control and out of this world, he'll do little things to show you and you think "yeah, I can do that" and after a bit you can, but now and again he'll do a bit of showing off and the helmet strap was the only thing keeping my chin off the floor ha ha.
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