MTB Skills

YeehaaMcgee

forgotrafe wrote:

YeehaaMcgee wrote:

Oh, wait, so you're an instructor. Funny how you'd disagree with me on this then

Yes I am, but I don't make any money from it (I do it for free via our club, mbswindon.co.uk) so I'm not as biased as you think! I instruct because I believe it makes a genuine difference to peoples riding and I get a lot out of seeing people improve hugely after just a few simple hours of tuition.

Likewise, I've helped several people over the years, but that's all that's really needed in my opinion. It's like teaching someone to paint. you can show them how to get paint on the brush, and how to transfer it to the canvas, maybe even how to mix colours. But making the image is their work.
Wow, that's a rather hippyish way of saying it :shock:
I think I've fried my brain, time for some tea.

cycle monster

andymc06 wrote:

People learn in different ways. I have read every how to and skills article in various mags and forums for the last two years but in my experience there is no substitute for a decent coach actually showing you what to do and also correcting what you are doing wrong. Written advice will take you so far and give you the basic info but when it comes to executing it properly it can be hit and miss. It's about finding what works for you really.

A year ago my wife had a skills course for her birthday. I went along to keep her company but learnt loads and my riding is better, safer and faster as a result. I am more adventurous than I would otherwise have been and am far more confident over technical stuff. Worth every penny.

supersonic

There is always one thing that goes through my mind - if the instructors know so much, where are you in the national and world cup series for xc, dh etc?!

Clank

supersonic wrote:

There is always one thing that goes through my mind - if the instructors know so much, where are you in the national and world cup series for xc, dh etc?!

I'm reminded of the old adage:

Those that can, do. Those that can't, teach. Them that can't teach, criticise.

Aside from that, I'm going to assume Sonic meant the post in jest.

forgotrafe

I don't "just help people" in the club, I did qualify as an instructor and we offer two proper structured courses.

One thing that goes through my mind is that if these people on bike forums know so much about bikes why aren't they running the worlds biggest bike manufacturer or most successful shop?

forgotrafe

Forgot to say yeehah, that's all I do on my courses, teach the theory and let people apply it.

cooldad

forgotrafe wrote:

I don't "just help people" in the club, I did qualify as an instructor and we offer two proper structured courses.

One thing that goes through my mind is that if these people on bike forums know so much about bikes why aren't they running the worlds biggest bike manufacturer or most successful shop?

For the same reason that most people are big walkers but don't run porn sites.

supersonic

running the worlds biggest bike manufacturer

You mean GT ;-)

YeehaaMcgee

forgotrafe wrote:

One thing that goes through my mind is that if these people on bike forums know so much about bikes why aren't they running the worlds biggest bike manufacturer or most successful shop?

In my case, it's because I am an absolutely terrible businessman. I'm not so much "bad with money", I'm more "financially retarded"

As for qualified instructors, I won't bring you yourself into disrepute, but I have friends who really can't ride for toffee, yet they managed to pass as MTB instructors. God knows how.
It was quite amusing helping some of them hold a skills day thing once though, when they couldn't actually demonstrate how to use brakes, or bunnyhop, or manuals :roll:
Oh, and showing people how to give their bikes the once-over, when they can;t adjust their own brakes, or index their gears. Classy.

I still maintain that it's just riding a bike, and I don't really approve of the whole industry that's grown around teaching people how to ride their bikes. The learning to do things with your mates and whatnot is the most fun part.

bartiebat

danlightbulb wrote:

I have watched this a couple of times: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lb-shXvkKJc&list=FLft8MOQsDOAcCPPMaQkzd9A&index=1&feature=plpp_video and found it very useful. Applied some of the techniques on my last ride and my descents were definitely faster. Still can't manual though

That is awesome!! Watched it through tele last night. Ok so it's not necessarily how I've been taught to do stuff but it gives some different ideas to try with things i'm struggling with. Keen to try with a different thought process! Ta for sharing, guna go look at the other one tonight

madjakmclaferty

In the case you have you may well be right Yeehaa, but I wouldn't want people to think instruction in general is just a racket - not in my opinion.

I do take your point of just riding with mates but some people do not have this, some people probably yourself included have a more natural ability on a bike, some dont and like to have the reassurance of being shown.

The reason I stick my oar in is I have recently been on the MB Swindon core skills course and found it very useful in many ways. I'm far from a beginnner, 10 years of racing dirt bikes and 8 years MTBin' regularly. Not a life time of experience but enough to be competent, mostly

Apart from my experience I could see how people who started the day very shakey were riding with much more confidence and enthusiam, keen to learn more, tackling things they would never have by themselves and had great fun as well. And a positive experience will have those people coming back to the sport which can anly be a good thing.

You pay your money and make your own choice.

madjakmclaferty

Also I like this Vid;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiQGFX_RlW4&feature=related

EH_Rob

supersonic wrote:

There is always one thing that goes through my mind - if the instructors know so much, where are you in the national and world cup series for xc, dh etc?!

This is like when I used to have to go to those stupid careers classes in schools and wondered why someone who couldn't get a proper job was advising us on how to get a proper job.

I told them I wanted to be a careers advisor. She weren't happy.

YeehaaMcgee

EH_Rob wrote:

supersonic wrote:

There is always one thing that goes through my mind - if the instructors know so much, where are you in the national and world cup series for xc, dh etc?!

This is like when I used to have to go to those stupid careers classes in schools and wondered why someone who couldn't get a proper job was advising us on how to get a proper job.

I told them I wanted to be a careers advisor. She weren't happy.

But they DID have proper jobs. they'd applied for that position and got it.

EH_Rob

I was just being facetious, but thanks for that.

paul.skibum

People learn in different ways - some people develop by thinking, doing, following/copying - personally I am a thinker - I like to know why I need to do something - that is how I learn when skiing. Sometimes just following someone isn't enough (and I realise now that I am contradicting my earlier advice!) - but once you get some feel for what you need to do then following and challenging is good.

Training and skills courses aren't bad things as long as you know how you learn and get an instructor who can match to your needs or a good one who can determine how you learn and adapt. In Yeehaa's case he is likely a doer - try it see how it feels, try it again slightly differently and bingo. I can only do that if I know what I am trying to acheive in the first place so I need someone to tell me or a book to read.

Woody80

Sometimes it's as simple as needed someone to instil confidence. I've outgrown my mates abilities and needed someone to push me. One coaching session pushed me outside of my comfort zone and I loved it. I can now practice those skill and up my game. I'd never have got that without training. I've done the same on trackdays (motorbike). If you've not got someone to push you get someone to whether you pay for it or not.

ants-pants

Lisa101 wrote:

I've booked a course a Cannock (can't wait!) but it's with Chase Skills.. Are they the same?!.. Anyway I'm sure I'll learn all there, just wanted to get prepared

X

Have you done this course yet as I'd like to know if it's any good? If not, don't forget to post a review