Ladies MTB course this weekend...

With Forest Freeride in mid Wales 
This was a Christmas pressie from my OH - anyone else going on it?!!

This was a Christmas pressie from my OH - anyone else going on it?!!
Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the number of moments that take your breath away....
Riding a gorgeous ano orange Turner Burner!
Sponsor the CC2CC at http://www.justgiving.com/cc2cc
Riding a gorgeous ano orange Turner Burner!
Sponsor the CC2CC at http://www.justgiving.com/cc2cc
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We are off on a course near Plymouth next month- OH needs help too so I felt a bit guilty going off on a girls only course- But we are being taught by a lady!
Good luck- and let us know how it goes!
Enjoy yours too
Riding a gorgeous ano orange Turner Burner!
Sponsor the CC2CC at http://www.justgiving.com/cc2cc
I'd reallly like to do a mtb course. My nearest place is Sherwood Pines, I phoned about it earlier this year and they've just started doing courses, so that was good timing. Just need to save up some money first.
Let us know how your course goes
Wish I was going this weekend, but I've got to work
http://i556.photobucket.com/albums/ss9/ ... c611a8.jpg
Am feeling a bit nervous as i'll be taking my new bike which i've ridden for all of 2 days :shock: May also take the old one too just in case.... (thanks goodness for Volvo estates
Will report back and let you all know how it went!
Riding a gorgeous ano orange Turner Burner!
Sponsor the CC2CC at http://www.justgiving.com/cc2cc
I'm toying with the idea of going on a skills day but I don't know where to categorise my riding ability - there's seemingly basic, beginnery stuff that I can't/don't do like bunny hops over obstacles or lifting the front wheel up over stuff, but then I'm happy to ride reds and will tackle black routes and quite technical terrain.
:?
Ditto - you're riding level sounds exactly the same as mine
That's exactly what I told the chap that runs it (Stuart) and he seemed pretty happy with that description! If he can get me lifting the front wheel over techy stuff then I will be forever grateful!!
Riding a gorgeous ano orange Turner Burner!
Sponsor the CC2CC at http://www.justgiving.com/cc2cc
Felt like a right twonk lying there flat on my back in the middle of this busy park unable to move with hubby gently reassuring me until I could breathe again. Haven't tried doing anything like that since!
I'll let you know!!!
Riding a gorgeous ano orange Turner Burner!
Sponsor the CC2CC at http://www.justgiving.com/cc2cc
I was the same as you.... couldn't imagine how to get front wheel up and over stuff, bunny hopping etc Now... all good, am putting in plenty of practise and am now feeling ready to tackle big drop offs and much more challenging terrain.
I've got an Orange 5 too and I reckon you'll love it. It took me about 5 minutes to get used to it! Best money I've spent in a long time!
Have fun
Kathg
Anyway, my girlfriend learnt to bunny hop a couple of years ago. I would say I taught her, but I honestly believe she has more skill than I have on the bike. She learnt faster than I did and got better than I am. The front wheel isn't really a problem, the back wheel was for me. It wasn't for her though
I'm still trying though, it's the only thing that bugs me about my riding - not being able to do a proper bunnyhop!
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Decided to try and dismount the curb but bunnyhop so that both my wheels landed together instead i ended up in the central reservation with a pale face and a sore *mini me*
I find it is the timing that was hardest to get right, I could lift front wheel ok and then do back wheel but putting them together one straight after the other is damn tricky!!! As for doing it right on trail when there's all the distractions of roots, trees, rocks etc weeell, more practise still needed there!
All fun and games though, just a good thing we have nice private garden and driveway so when it all goes wrong public humiliation is not an issue :oops: !
Kathg
I can definitely recommend Forest Freeride http://www.forestfreeride.co.uk/ - Stuart knows what he's doing and is very patient, with lots of different ways of explaining the same thing (so one of them is bound to make sense to you!)! I had a really good weekend and the other girls on the course were absolutely lovely
I would say that the course is really valuable regardless of level - there were ladies who could ride a bike but hadn't done much MTBing at all and others more experienced, but it was the same techniques and skills that could be used whether you were tackling a ride nice flowy blue trail or a more techy black. Fitness also doesn't really come into it as we were concentrating on skills, rather then riding.
I certainly learnt loads. And I can now jump, and mastered my nemesis - the dreaded front wheel lift!
Riding a gorgeous ano orange Turner Burner!
Sponsor the CC2CC at http://www.justgiving.com/cc2cc
Which bike did you use, did you get on ok with your new one?
Would definitely recommend it - I got more out of it than I thought I would to be honest.
Riding a gorgeous ano orange Turner Burner!
Sponsor the CC2CC at http://www.justgiving.com/cc2cc
I've definately got to get myself on a course of some sort now. Wheel lifts would certainly have come in handy on some of the stuff I was riding up yesterday, although I'd very definately need to practice them in places with a potentially soft landing. Lots of pointy loose great boulders and rocks and big gradients do not make for a great place to get it wrong!!!
What else do you think he managed to fine-tune about your riding?
I found it so useful that I would definitely consider doing something similar in another 6 months or so... Let me know if you think about doing one, as we seem about the same level (with the same 'grey areas') so could always join forces!
He went through controlled braking (ie braking at the right time, and braking with conviction rather than half-heartedly!), drops, jumps, front wheel lifts, slow and fast cornering, body position etc. The braking thing was also very relevant to me as - I now realise! - I panic break too late on some techy sections which increases my chance of messing them up. If I braked properly BEFORE the evil drop / jump whatever, I would be at a controlled speed for me and would be able to tackle them. Braking on techy sections is probably responsible for my recent off's (and I don't come off much!) :?
Really made me look at how I ride. Obviously I will forget all of this tomorrow night when we go for a ride with friends, and will end up on my bum as I try to demonstrate my new found jumping skills :evil:
Riding a gorgeous ano orange Turner Burner!
Sponsor the CC2CC at http://www.justgiving.com/cc2cc
you push to unweight the front (not lift) then push again.
mtb coaching
Sarah, that all sounds really good and time so well spent (did you stay overnight in their bunkhouse?) You'll definately have to come back up to the Peaks now to 'properly' try out all these new found skills
Would be great to join forces though, so if I can sort out saving up some spondoolies to go on one in the next few months, then I might be ready for another one in about 6-8 months time.
Sounds like a plan for spring next year then!
Riding a gorgeous ano orange Turner Burner!
Sponsor the CC2CC at http://www.justgiving.com/cc2cc
Have been very lazy - just got back from holiday last night which involved lots of sunbathing, eating and drinking and absolutely no MTBing
We're riding tonight in the forest which should be interesting, i'm feeling more jet-lagged than anything else :?
Riding a gorgeous ano orange Turner Burner!
Sponsor the CC2CC at http://www.justgiving.com/cc2cc
This time next week I'll hopefully be sat supping some wine on a balcony overlooking alpine scenery readying self for 6 days of mountain biking! Off to Chatel where the weather (fingers crossed) is currently looking promisingly warm and sunny.
Actually, just noticed the time. I probably won't be drinking wine at 4.40pm in the afternoon. It might more likely be a cup of tea. Wine at 6pm. (don't want you thinking I'm some kind of lush!)
Good luck with the riding tonight!
Enjoy your 6pm glasses of wine
Riding a gorgeous ano orange Turner Burner!
Sponsor the CC2CC at http://www.justgiving.com/cc2cc
She's only started riding about a year ago and about 6 months ago, had a nasty fall, when I say nasty, I mean the kind where you stop on a single track and fall off your bike and roll down a hill, body slamming into a tree which if you went further you would have fallen off a high edge - walked away with a few bruises and a sprained ankle .... needless to say, this shot her confidence
-- Specialized Safire FSR Comp (09) [for the Mrs] --