[Closed] Jedi - softly spoken genius...

Hi all,

I’ve been riding mtb’s since the mid 80’s and thought I was a fairly competent mountain biker, but I always liked to keep both wheels firmly on the ground and felt well out of my comfort zone when airborne (not that it used to stop me!)

After several very close misses I decided that it was time to face up to the facts - I couldn’t jump for toffee and should really learn how to do so before I seriously knackered myself.

After a quick web search it became apparent that I should be talking to Tony Doyle aka “Jedi” of UK Bike Skills and booked an afternoon 1-1 coaching session.

Tony comes across as a very knowledgeable, competent instructor who loves biking. His calm and friendly teaching style really helped to put me at ease (I freely admit that I was all for turning around after I’d driven in to the venue past a row of huge jumps – my comfort zone had definitely left the building!).

We started with a skills check where it became clear that I needed help with my cornering technique. Then it was straight onto my bike set up and working on my stance to improve cornering and un-weighting the front wheel.

Tony has a natural ability to figure out how you learn (in my case it’s by watching then having a go myself!) and his coaching technique is clear, concise and to the point. When he demonstrates a technique he does it effortlessly and without drama – top marks!

Once we’d addressed my stance, cornering and un-weighting in the skills area it was straight over to a series of progressively larger jumps on the hillside. Now normally, at the sight of jumps, I’d be getting fairly twitchy but Tony demonstrated how to do the jumps first and then I had a go starting with the smallest and working upwards. I couldn’t believe how easy it was – it really was just like jumping off the edge of a kerb (welcome back comfort zone...)

After the jumps we progressed onto the singletrack section for pumping the trail for energy, cornering around berms and drops. By this time I’d forgotten that this was a coaching session as I was having such a laugh.

Next came the tabletop. Up to this point in my life I’d never cleared one but Tony helped me to break it down into easy sections and by starting slowly and working up my speed and un-weighting I ended up sailing over my first tabletop!

However, there was still something horrible looming on the horizon – the 6ft gap jump immediately next to the tabletop. Normally this would be serious “terra incognita” for me and something to be carefully rolled over if not avoided at all cost when out riding on the trails.

However this gap jump was no bigger than the tabletop which I’d already cleared so after watching Tony jump it first I decided to have a go......BOOM - I’m still grinning like a kid and feeling on top of the world!

I went to Tony for help with jumps and now I can jump a gap – 100% result. Tony achieved this by giving me the mental skills and confidence required and in doing so he also made me a far better rider.

Now my mates will definitely take the piss when they hear that I’ve had some coaching – fair enough that’s what mates do. But I know that next time we’re out on our regular ride that just happens to have 6ft tabletop - they’ll all still be rolling it...

Cheers Dave 😀