Mountain bike skills days

Whether you are planning a holiday with us or you just want to improve your technique, a skills day could be the perfect way to learn more about your bike, and the best way to handle it.

 

Skills learned

• Ascending
• Descending
• Track stands
• Slow speed handling
• Drop-offs
• Front wheel lifts
• Rear wheel lifts
• Cornering

Itinerary

We will spend a day in the Cairngorms tackling a route that has been decided by the group, taking in the obstacles to allow you to practise the mountain biking skills that you learned in the morning.

 

We will meet at Glenmore lodge at 9am, get a cup of tea and discuss the day ahead. After our tea we will get straight onto the bike and head to the skills loop where we will run through all the skills that you will need to complete the afternoon ride and send you on the way to becoming an accomplished mountain biker.

 

We’ll have some lunch before heading out on the trail for the afternoon where we will discuss various obstacles that we come across on the trail. We’ll also run through trail-side repairs and aim to be back at Glenmore lodge for 5pm, where we’ll get more tea and cakes and run through the highlights of the day.

Skill Level

From green to black

Accomodation

Accomodation can be arranged on request

Meals

Lunch not included

Dates of Holiday

Contact us to discuss your requirements and preferred dates

Price

£40 pp based on a group of four

Skills List

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Green grade

Green grade trails are suitable for: beginners or novice cyclists.
• Bike required: mountain bikes are suitable.
• Skills needed: basic bike skills are required for this grade.
• Trail and surface types: these will be relatively flat and wide. Trail surface might be loose, uneven or muddy at times. Might include short flowing singletrack-style sections.
• Gradients and technical trail features: climbs and descents are mostly shallow. No challenging features.
• Suggested fitness level: suitable for most people in good health.

 

 

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Blue grade

Blue grade trails are suitable for: intermediate mountain bikers with basic off-road riding skills.
• Bike required: Front suspension mountain bike.
• Skills needed: basic off-road riding skills to cope with uneven surfaces and small obstacles.
• Trail and surface types: as above, plus specially constructed singletrack trails. Trail surface might include small obstacles of root and rock.
• Gradients and technical trail features: most gradients are moderate but might include short steep sections. Technical features such as roots and rock might be present.
• Suggested fitness level: a good standard of fitness can help as some trails have short climbs.

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Red grade

Red grade trails are suitable for: proficient mountain bikers with good off-roading skills.
• Bike required: suitable for better off-road quality mountain bikes.
• Skills needed: good off-roading skills and techniques to cope with technical trail features.
• Trail and surface types: as above but steeper and tougher, mostly singletrack with technical sections. Expect variable surface types.
• Gradients or technical trail features: a wide range of climbs and descents of a challenging nature will be present. Expect boardwalks, berms, large rocks, medium steps, drop-offs, cambers and water crossings.
• Suggested fitness level: a higher level of fitness and stamina is required to deal with technical features and longer distances.

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Black grade

Black grade trails are suitable for: expert mountain bike users, used to physically demanding routes.
• Bike required: a good quality full suspension mountain bike is recommended.
• Skills needed: advanced level off-roading skills and technical ability.
• Trail and surface types: as above, but with an expectation of greater challenge and continuous difficulty.
• Gradients or technical trail features: expect large, committing and unavoidable obstacles and technical features. Sections will be challenging and variable. Might also feature 'downhill' style sections.
• Suggested fitness level: suitable for very active people used to prolonged exercise.

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Kit List

• Helmet
• Gloves (appropriate to the time of year)
• Glasses
• Cycle shorts/trousers
• Waterproofs
• Hat and spare gloves
• Bike in good working order (this will be checked before we set off)
• Pump
• Inner tubes
• Puncture repair kit
• Tyre levers
• Multi tool
• Allen keys 2,2.5,3,4,5,6,8,10mm
• Brake blocks or pads to suit your bike
• Shock pump if required
• Chain tool and joining pieces to suit your chain
• Water system (water bottle or Camelbak)
• Personal energy bars
• Any medication you require (you must inform your guide about this prior to the tour)
• Suitable day sack to hold all of the above