Skills course recommendations

frogrocket

Hiya, just wondered if anyone had any recommendations for MTB skills courses?

I'm based in Manchester but was thinking of doing a weekend in Scotland, as never ridden up there. Heard great stuff about Wolftrax.

I'm pretty experienced, having ridden a steel hardtail for the last 10 years but have just bought a full suss and feel like taking my riding up a notch (I'm comfortable on reds but want to be nailing some proper Scottish black runs and then giving the Alps a go)

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers.

chemicalali

Dirt School - run courses at GT/Inners but I'd recommend a half day one-to-one session - sounds just like what you're after

omegas

Llandegla is only 1 hour away and they run a number of skills days for different levels.

http://www.oneplanetadventure.com/index ... Itemid=136

popstar

Frogrocket, Laggan Wolftrax black graded trails are awesome. Especially after skills course.

I would even say, do skills course then go to Scotland.

Amen.

BlueAdvocate

Ed Oxley's (Great Rock) courses are run in Gisburn or Lee Quarry http://www.great-rock.co.uk/blog/?page_id=517

frogrocket

Cheers for all the replies, keep them coming!

Would especially like to hear from anyone re. courses north of the border and anyone who has been on a skills course themselves that they can recommend.

Popstar - I hear you re. skills course first, trip north second. Will see how it pans out.

trailpuppet

https://regonline.activeeurope.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=836740
Give Clive a shout. He has a skills book coming out in the spring, quite a book

Northwind

Think it depends a bit on exactly what you want to work on. Like, I'm just waiting for the opportunity to get along to Dirt School, because they have a superb rep for the technical/mechanical side of riding, ie "to get bike to do this, do this". Likewise A Quick Release. But other coaches have a better rep than them for hte mental side- "to get your brain to do this, do this". Definately not the same thing.

bobcheese

+1 for Ed Oxley

couldashouldawoulda

I got a birthday pressie of a course at Glentress with Andy of MB7 which benefitted me greatly. http://www.mb7.com/
Since then I regularly see the Dirtschool crew out with different students and try and eavesdrop - they seem good. http://www.dirtschool.co.uk/

As I enjoyed the course so much this Christmas I got a voucher for more training - from the Hub at GT - they are also highly recommended locally. http://www.thehubintheforest.co.uk/Tuition/tcl.html

The only thing I'd say if you're reasonably proficient is to get a private / one - to - one half day rather than a full day 'intermediate' type course.

Also Jedi of uk bike skills makes regular excursions north of the border and comes highly recommended. http://www.ukbikeskills.co.uk

doug@basqueMTB.com

I've been on a few skills courses. I have done the dirt school one and though it was good. In fact I did 2 courses with them, a XC one and a DH one. With Chris both times.

Recently I went on a course with Ed at Great Rock though and it was fanastic. I did a write up of it on my site... http://www.basquemtb.com/great-rock-skills-weekend-with-nigel-page/ Ed's also got a special course for Alps preperation. http://www.great-rock.co.uk/blog/?page_id=1360

Just to be upfront.... I've invited Ed over to do a skills week with me but the review I wrote was before that was organised and is my honest opinion!

If you wanted to do something at Wolftrax then Jules is a good guy, he runs courses there. http://www.cyclewildscotland.co.uk/

Trek820

+1 for Ed Oxley

popstar

Frogrocket, unfortunately Jedi is a bit far from you. Some people do travel some miles, in some cases Jedi can come to your local woods too. As Northwind and Co hinted on style of different type of courses 1-2-1 is best.

As it sounds you allready have experience and habits good or bad, all you may need is knowledge of how to put all your best things together and just correct and improve your weak points. Those mental tricks and understanding of your riding, thats where it is at.

As people say -You can lead a horse to water, but you may not make him drink*

frogrocket

Thanks to everyone for their recommendations!

Had a look at some of Jedi's vids and some posts on here, defo seems to be a very thorough instructor, feel like I got a lot just from reading and watching!

Nothing can beat the real deal though, so I'll keep on with research. Will prob post up a review as and when I've done the training too for benefit of others.

Cheers

Neil Fat man on a bike

I did a skills course at Wolftrax with Joollz Fincham.
Top guy, really very good tuition, great place with an excellnt cafe and bike shop.
I'd recommend Joolz, he transformed my riding !
I was making some really basic errors that was effecting my whole ride.
He sorted it very quickly.

http://www.cyclewildscotland.co.uk/media.htm

Hope you have a great time.

I love Wolftrax. Fantastic riding in a beautiful area.

frogrocket

Cheers Neil, that might just be what I'm after.

Like the fact that Jules has the Glenmore Lodge connection. Did a ski mountaineering course there and was very impressed with the tution, gear, accom and value for money, so if he's associated I reckon it'll be good quality.

Neil Fat man on a bike

Frogrocket

Joolz has part of the Glenmore Lodge bike route named after him
Looking forward to getting some more trainning off him this year.

The whole area is stunning. Loads of MTB'ing all around but Laggan is tops IMO

Enjoy

frogrocket

doug@basqueMTB.com wrote:

I've been on a few skills courses. I have done the dirt school one and though it was good. In fact I did 2 courses with them, a XC one and a DH one. With Chris both times.

Recently I went on a course with Ed at Great Rock though and it was fanastic. I did a write up of it on my site... http://www.basquemtb.com/great-rock-skills-weekend-with-nigel-page/ Ed's also got a special course for Alps preperation. http://www.great-rock.co.uk/blog/?page_id=1360

Just to be upfront.... I've invited Ed over to do a skills week with me but the review I wrote was before that was organised and is my honest opinion!

If you wanted to do something at Wolftrax then Jules is a good guy, he runs courses there. http://www.cyclewildscotland.co.uk/

Cheers Doug, like the write up. Rode at Gisburn at end of last year and really enjoyed it, although it pretty much ended my Timberline, thereby forcing me to spend £1,200 on a new bike. Never mind

The Dog and Partridge looked really good place to eat, defo a bike friendly pub!

Ed Oxley seems to be getting some man-love on here so he's up there with Joolz at Wolftrax at the mo. Anyone know if Joolz has a beard as impressive as Oxley's? Could be the deal breaker...

Neil Fat man on a bike

Clean shaven.

But his Mrs is Lisa Fuchs .........daughter of the Austrian (?) downhill skier.

frogrocket

Neil Fat man on a bike wrote:

Clean shaven.

But his Mrs is Lisa Fuchs .........daughter of the Austrian (?) downhill skier.

Really? Just had an email from Lisa in reply to my initial query saying that Jules would ring me on Wednesday, provided they weren't out skiing. LIke these people already - ski first, work second.

mac_man

Another one for Ed 'The Beard' here. Lee/Cragg quarry would be a good place to practice for bonnie Scotland I would have thought...

But one of his days with Nigel Page would be epic

frogrocket

mac man wrote:

Another one for Ed 'The Beard' here. Lee/Cragg quarry would be a good place to practice for bonnie Scotland I would have thought...

But one of his days with Nigel Page would be epic

Cheers mac, off to Lee next weekend.