Why did I bother with Tony Doyle's UK Bike School training?

vikingboy

Spontaneously and at short notice after reading some positive posts on Singletrack forums, I booked a days 1-1 tuition with Tony 'Jedi' Doyle for a skills course. Like the majority of riders here, I felt comfortable riding my bike off road, weaving between trees, sweeping through singletrack and coping with the odd drop.....so what could Tony teach me? For a relative modest fee (even more so when compared to what I've spent on the shiny bits of metal I ride upon), I got a the best part of a days 1-1 tuition with ‘Jedi’ Doyle.
I'd already given Tony the brief previous by email where I thought my strengths and weaknesses were, where my comfort zone was and most importantly, what I wanted to get out of my time with him. Having entered the Megavalanche later this year, I wanted to give myself the best possible chance of completing the event in one piece. Tony tailored a days training around my needs. At no point did it feel like he was trotting out some off the shelf generic lesson or using the day to show off his skills rather than developing mine.
It became obvious during the day that Tony had got a measure of my riding and where my areas for development would be before we had even left the car park! Tony’s expert eye picked up some tell tale signs purely from the way my bike was setup, he’s a very sharp guy obviously!
Tony drove the day perfectly, we progressed at a comfortable pace and he didn’t dwell on any area longer than necessary before moving me on to the next stage to ensure I got maximum return for my invested time and money.
We started by covering what one might consider the basics of riding, how to weight the bike by shifting my weight, how to ‘pump’ the ground to extract free speed and how to corner. Now obviously, I already knew how to corner, you turn the handlebars right, easy! But approaching everything Tony said and demonstrated with an open mind really helped me to understand how to really corner. Using Tony’s technique, the increase in speed I could carry through corners was amazing. My confidence in the bike, the tyres any myself grew massively over the course of the day and with the increased speed and confidence, came increased enjoyment.
We then spent time working on my technique for handling drop offs and jumps. Tony’s approach of again starting small and covering the fundamental skills required to handle the bike really helped me develop the confidence and right state of mind to attempt anything larger than I had been able to do previously. Looking back on the day, it seems laughable now than the gap jump we road past early in the morning that looked so frightening was now just another part of the trail I was all too eager to ride. There was simply no fear of failing, the days lessons and practice sessions had equipped me with the skill, knowledge and state of mind that I needed to clear this section of trail with ease.
We finished the days riding with a short free ride session which gave me the opportunity to put together everything I learnt during the day, Tony led the way around the woods including some of the sections that I had practiced earlier during the day. We didn’t ride these as teacher and pupil anymore, but just as fellow cycling enthusiasts and friends enjoying the trail.
It’s obvious from spending time with Tony that he loves riding bikes. He also has a rare skill in that he can teach and motivate in the way he does. So why did I spend bother spending time with Tony on his UK Bike Skills course? It’s obvious now, there is simply no better way to spend hard earned money on which would have increased my enjoyment and satisfaction from riding as much as the time spent with Tony has. Absolutely 100% recommended!, Thanks Tony!

slimboyjim

Good to hear positive experiences. I've previously used Cycleactive and found them excellent.

What was the cost and location?


James

vikingboy

Prices are on the web site at http://www.ukbikeskills.co.uk/index.html

He does both group and 1-1 sessions.

Jedi

wow, that's amazing feedback . thank you
i do a lot of coaching at woburn sands,bucks.

tlw1

Jedi wrote:

wow, that's amazing feedback . thank you
i do a lot of coaching at woburn sands,bucks.

think that man deserves a discount next time!

stumpyjon

It is amazing how many of us who can ride actually have appalling technique. I found that out on one of Ed Oxleys courses. When I've got a bit of spare cash I'm sorely tempted to book a 1 to 1 with him.

dodgy

Great feedback, but anyone cruising past could be forgiven for thinking it's a bad review looking at the subject "why did I bother....".

BlueDynamo

Yeah I thought that too. Glad I was intrigued enough to read it though. Might be worth the mods changing the title perhaps?

Splottboy

Saw some "Skills" education days advertised at Llandegla. Was something like £200, if not more !!! And I believe thi was for a small group, not 1-2-1. Not worth it I feel.

But your story is great reading, as it does need an outsiders "eye" to see what you're doing is wrong, or needs improvement.

Would have considered this a few years back, but Old dog, New tricks springs to mind!

Almightydutch

What a glowing review!!!

Even inspired me to ask for prices.

Sounds like you had a great day and can only be good for you especially if your doin Megavalanche!!!! Enjoy!!!!!

Jedi

thanks guys. most of my clients arebetween beginners and regular weekend warriors.

delcol

you can't beat a good coach (literalley) we had a few days of 2-1 coaching in whistler it's amazing what a good coach can spot and tell you you are doing wrong,, the confidence you gain the skills you earn..
and if mr jedi's coaching is anything like his videos i seen then you know your in for a excellent day,, that guy can ride....

mr jedi i don't suppose you fancy a trip up north,,, or 2 weeks in whistler in may coaching do ya.. :P

Jedi

lol. im in glentress all the coming week

delcol

stop off in lancashire,

please please please come to whistler in may to be my coach.... :P

last few times i been to whistler we had coaching with seb from bearbackbiking and in september jamie was our guide/coach,, and seb....

i would recomend anyone with a bit of spare cash to invest in some kind of coaching to improve and gain new skills...

please come whistlerin may jedi.. please,,,, shhshhh 15-30th may,, with bearbackbiking.

Jedi

im in spain coaching 1st week in spain with basquemtb

delcol

awwwwwweeeeeee i tried,,,

wish i could makie it down to one of your coaching days though.. i would love a day or 2 1-1 coaching.. to make me flow a little more..

mac_man

delcol wrote:

awwwwwweeeeeee i tried,,,

wish i could makie it down to one of your coaching days though.. i would love a day or 2 1-1 coaching.. to make me flow a little more..

If you're based in Lancs give Ed Oxley a cal at http://www.great-rock.co.uk

As per Stumpy Jon's comments above... he's excellent.

I'm looking to book a day over at Gisburn, with my lad, when the weather's a bit kinder.

stumpyjon

Similar pricing to Jedi too I think. Don't distract him too much at the moment though, he's labouring for Rowen Sorrell in Lee Quarry starting the latest round of trail building there.

themanfromdelmonte

Jedi wrote:

wow, that's amazing feedback . thank you
i do a lot of coaching at woburn sands,bucks.

Are you sure you didn't just do the old Jedi mind trick on him? Or is he a Tiderian?

/Admiral Ackbar "It's a trap!"

:P

pilsburypie

dodgy wrote:

Great feedback, but anyone cruising past could be forgiven for thinking it's a bad review looking at the subject "why did I bother....".

I think that attracts more attention! If it said "I enjoyed a great skills course", many would think bully for him and not read.......

By saying something sounding negative it generates curiosity - then the reader finds out why he actually bothered......

I now want to find out more and may well bother myself with this! Discounts for all bikeradar members Jedi master?!!

Jedi

lol@pilsburypie

i-drive

jesus christ that is expensive!

colintrav

With having worded the titled of the thread simply to make you read it ...

It's nothing new to me


I've seen this kind of stuff on many other site's outwith cycling and 9 times out of ten the bloke that posts would be slated for being an alias or have some connection with the said event ... harsh it may sound what i've said is what I've encounterd over the years on various sites ..


Paying a person on how to ride a motor bike learn how to fly a plane Helo , sail a boat drive a car I can understand ,,, but a cycle ...

It's something you learn from an early age ... and through the years the experience you gain ...

Cps

Is this the same as the thread on STW ???


Smacks of advertising IMHO !!!

GLupton

I've had some coaching from Jedi. I can assure you that he is indeed a fantastic coach. That wee piece of writing, as cringeworthy as it may be, is pretty bang on the money.

colintrav

Cps wrote:

Is this the same as the thread on STW ???


Smacks of advertising IMHO !!!

L.. you clearly see and read between the lines

Briggo

colintrav wrote:

Blah blah blah

:roll:

Jedi

read between what lines?
i have nothing to do with the guys point of view other than to have coached him.

dirtbiker100

ha ha colintrav.
you mean to say you don't think people any help with learning to ride better?
riding a mtb over technical terrain quickly is no different to learning any other sport? so if you pay people in those, why not mtb?
you gave me a good chuckle there colin.

delcol

colin trav if thats the case why do the pro's like the athertons ect have coaches..

you may think you can ride a mtb and may be quite good at riding your bike,, but a decent coach will still improve your riding and confidence,..

i,m,o it is money well spent,, and probably one of the cheapest best upgrades you could buy.. (even though technically your not uprgrading anything just your skill)

switchback18

colintrav wrote:

With having worded the titled of the thread simply to make you read it ...

It's nothing new to me


I've seen this kind of stuff on many other site's outwith cycling and 9 times out of ten the bloke that posts would be slated for being an alias or have some connection with the said event ... harsh it may sound what i've said is what I've encounterd over the years on various sites ..


Paying a person on how to ride a motor bike learn how to fly a plane Helo , sail a boat drive a car I can understand ,,, but a cycle ...

It's something you learn from an early age ... and through the years the experience you gain ...

Will come clean straight away & say that I'm a skills coach too.
If you're happy with your riding or you feel you're progressing on your own fine, then maybe you don't need any coaching, but I've not heard any negatives so far about any of the UK MTB coaches. I might have missed some maybe, but all the comments that I've seen have been people well pleased with how their riding progressed with a day's coaching. Everyone that's done a day with me has improved & it seems that most if not all the UK providers are quality. You have to know your stuff to get any of the coaching/guiding awards. The value in coaching is that it speeds up your progression no end, or gets you past something you might be stuck on. People often say that they learn as much with a day's coaching as 6 months of trying to improve on their own.
Teaching anything requires not only ability to do the skills, but some teaching skills as well.

I'd guess that about 1 in 15 riders are 'naturals' who just jump on a bike & find it all easy. Even then, a bad off can make people question their ability & lose confidence.

So, take it or leave it, but just because one person finds a sport easy, doesn't mean everyone will.