Hello Sprootlet!

Welcome to shecycles!

Where are you based?  I've had some coaching fairly recently which I found really helpful but I'm based in East Anglia so the local skills course may be no use to you....

There are lots of courses out there but there's also a lot to be said for finding some people to ride with who are a bit quicker than you on the technical stuff, it really helps tune up skills.

I'm off to Morzine in August with Flowmtb, if that doesn't sort out my technical downhill skills, nothing will!!

Vix x

LOL, I'm in Peterborough!  I'd recommend the skills course at Woburn with Getmountainbiking (hopefully helsbels will appreciate the recommendation!!), probably go for the new ladies intermediate course. Helen is great and I learnt some good stuff from her!

I'd also consider, after the immediate course and practice with the new skills, going over to Wales or up north to one of the trail centres (Llandegla is good) and get some more specific downhill training.  I'm just trying to sort out some training at CYB for me and another local flatland girlie as we still struggle with 'flow' on the techy downhill stuff.

Hi,

I did the 'jumps and drops' course at Llandegla a few weeks ago and it was awesome. I'm not a beginner and I also race xc but I learnt a lot. A few things I learnt on the day (such as bunny hopping - v useful in xc racing) and some things need a little work. It is amazing what a few useful (and correct) tips can make to your riding, it also helps that you are videoed (and get a copy) so you can see what you are doing right/wrong. I also did this course on my xc hardtail so don't be put off by the title of the course - it is catered to the needs of the people on the course. 

Not only did I learn, but it was a fun day too - really recommend it. 

I've done a couple of courses after riding MTB for over ten years. Not overly impressed really. All I took away from the two I've done was practice trackstands. I did have one-one tuition once on holiday from one of the guides and found that very good but needed more I guess.

The last course I did with 3 friends only a couple of months ago. It was supposed to be tailor made to what we requested but it wasn't it was pretty much the same as what I'd done previously. The guy was saying about riding a section 'that was great' and I just had to be honest and say 'well thats how I always ride'.

I did think it may be because I've been riding so long can't teach an old dog new tricks

I like the idea of being video'd (apart from it adds 10lb's) !!

http://www.aquickrelease.com do training days at Sherwood Pines, they run mixed or women-only.  I went on one last year, I know Ian and Kate (the instructors) quite well so it was as much a social for me as anything.

All sorts of people there, from a girl who'd only ridden a bike three times before right through to me and another guy who'd both had years of experience at decent XC race level.  We ALL learnt new things (in my case it was more getting out of bad habits I'd picked up over the years), it improved my riding loads even in one day.  Plus I met some great people and made a few new friends. 

Well worth it, great for improving confidence and technique and learning a few new skills too.

I did a couple of courses with Mountain Bike Instruction - http://www.mountainbikeinstruction.co.uk/ up at Rivington, and they were pretty good.  I did bigger stuff than I was previously used to - bigger steeper drop offs, jumps into rock gardens, steeper decents etc.  It's a bit of a trek up there, but I found it worthwhile. 

"It's a bit of a trek up there"

Er excuse me that very much depends where you live ! I live here it's about 15 mins pedal UP from my house to the Pike. Thats not who I did my courses with though as I know Ray the owner he use to be in our bike club, very nice chap. I didn't see much point in riding what I always ride on a course.

May I sugest that you rtry to ride more with more people. I use to ride with a lot of different people so I can pick up different trails and learn from a lot of different riders (the XC jey-boy, the DHer/Jumpy goat, the wheelies god etc etc)

 If you have a local ride where you can't clear some section try to ride with people that can clear them. It might help and they might give you some advice. I am trying to learn to jump at the moment biggest dificulty is mental bypass.

 I ride with a friend who is a bit of a jumpy goat, and I just follow him along the jump parc. And it helped (ok I kissed the ground twice) a lot.

Hope it helps 

Hi Carolyn,

Sorry, I was trying to point out that I thought it worth travelling to a new area to do a course - everything was fresh, and I had no idea of what to expect, and so hadn't already found sections of trail there that I hald baulked at in the past.   

You have some fun local riding up there - I'm down near Bath, so for me, it was a few hours drive up the M5/M6 on a Friday night, course on Saturday, then a gentle drive back down south on the Sunday with stops to visit family etc on the way - a great couple of weekends in all.

I agree with FB too - try to ride with more people - the different styles of tackling the trails will give you plenty of techniques to use. 

OP said she was in Essex Carolyn so for her it is a long way!

I think Treehugger did a course last year with AQR which she rated and I've heard good things about the courses ran at Llangdela.

I think its the law of diminishing returns!

When you start out riding there is so much to learn that a skill course is really good way of getting a lot of info quickly and learning core things like lifting the front wheel that otherwise may take you weeks/months/years (depends on you/what you  are riding/how much you practice etc.).

Once you can ride, an intermediate level course which covers the more technical bits such as jumps/bunnyhops/berms etc. is useful to be able to get the skills under your belt and work out a bike set up that works for you however after that its a case of practice/good level of fitness/loads of riding/variety of terrains and watching the really good riders (line choice/skills/bike set up) to see how to improve.

So... (not that I'm shooting myself in the foot but I wouldn't encourage anyone to waste money they could spend in their local bike shop!) it depends where you are on the riding skills route as to how much you will get from a course - most people get something from it but beginners get much more!

Helen

http://www.getmountainbiking.co.uk (blatant plug!)