Mountain bike skills for Kids

CLTatters

I'm keen to get my nephew (12) & niece (9) into mountain biking. He has a Giant, which is great, she has an old heavy "pretend" mtb, which needs replacing! I'm thinking of arranging a mountain bike skills training course for them as a Christmas present. They both bike a lot (no car) including some off road tracks. Has anyone any experience of courses/training? I'd need to hire a decent bike for the younger one (unless anyone's selling a second hand kids mountain bike?!?) too. They live near Hereford, so Wales/Welsh borders ideal.
Thanks

dsmiff

I would try and contact your local club who run a Go-ride scheme - the nearest I could find was here: http://www.wyreforestcrc.org.uk/?p=120 get in touch with them and see if they can help or here http://www.fodca.org.uk/

My son goes to Llandegla (North Wales) where in conjunction with Rhyl CC they run go-ride sessions, he has also been on "MTB academies" that they run.

Llandegla themselves run courses - see here: http://www.oneplanetadventure.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&sectionid=4&id=60&Itemid=153 but it is probably a bit far.

Sorry can't be of any more help.

tlw1

great link - my boys are only 1 & 4, but I will do that with them. Might also get the wife back off road on her bike after a 5 year break (after a fall on the MBR at CYB)

CLTatters

Having had no reall sucess with this line (one option in Manchester, so not very handy for Hereford, £60 per child for 2 hours - maybe not) I have decided just to take them on some simple stuff anyway. Can anyone recommend somewhere we could do a reasonable ride & play? Ideally within an hour-2 of Hereford as I'd have to drive there first to collect them. All suggestions welcome!

Thanks

Mike Healey

I don't know how far you're prepared to go to a club, but you might try:
http://eveshamwheelers.org.uk/goRide/index.asp.

You could also try the British Cycling website and go to club finder, then go to go-Ride clubs, West Midlands region.

Alternatively, there might be a club nearer to you in Wales.

dave5n

Try the Forest of Dean - they have a great reputation for kids' mountain biking