[Closed] Skills course expectation

Who are you going with? Coaching styles (and abilities) vary massively.

Can't see anyone trying to do you in though, bad for business

Pro ride guides.. Read good things about them across forums.. Booked for private session... Had a browse in their website again.. They seem to be doing hardcore 🙄 ... Im biting more than i could chew i imagine.

I've only even been on two coaching courses. One of whom I felt perfectly safe with and one who promised people would crash/break bikes/go to hospital and then watched as that came true.

People say great things about both of those places on this very forum.

You are in very capable hands. They will only seek to improve you not break you. Make sure you report back.

What level has been advertised?

How fit/experienced are you?

What tyres do you need for skills?

Has anybody tried the 2 day Mountain Bike Improver course at Glenmore lodge? Don't tell me that's the one where they break you. My wife booked me on that for a Christmas present.

Roverpig, the one I'm talking about is much further south that that.

@mugboo ..i assume you had skill s course with them.. Do tell 🙄

@tmb467 ... Average at best.. Red trails round and round dog in the C.Chase.? Tyres? Whatever suits winter/rainy/muddy weather...

..just want to learn jumps and proper drops really like a real mtb'r 😉

Thanks Onzadog. I'll sleep a little easier now 😀

Any good course, coach or instructor should allow you to go at pace, level that you are comfortable with, and whilst they can help build confidence and technique, should not push you further than you want to go...IMHO

You'll be fine pal.
I race with Alex from RRG and can vouch for him as a rider, person and coach. His brother Joe is also a top rider and from what i have heard, nice guy. They will bring skills out of you that you didn't know you had whilst all the while making you feel safe and in control.
Your in very safe hands

Pull yourself together! Just follow instructions and enjoy.

Nope but I will at some point though.

We have a friend who had the balls to try stuff but sometimes lacked the skills which is a dangerous combination. He had a private lesson with one of the brothers and the difference was incredible.
Following his lesson we had a Chainless Challenge up at Stainburn to promote our good work to improve 'flow' to the upper part of the descent line. Up against some stiff competion he beat all comers & the look on his riding buddies faces said it all.

Enjoy.

I've done a PRG course with Joe, very good IMO. With the private sesh he will work on whatever you want to do.
I don't know your level, but if it's basic or average, I would ask him to start on their basic core principles/concepts to MTB and then maybe work on any specific stuff you want later.
As an example, I'd been on a couple of other courses previously and still didn't understand how to do a bunny hop. He had me understanding and doing them within 1/2 an hour. just their core approach to basic riding has made a difference for me.
we were a group of 4 and did the basics course, but partly tailored for our requests as we were pretty much a group of friends. we didn't do jumps, but spent some time on drops.

Cheers all for the reply.

@b.a.nana ..this is what i want to hear.. Thanks for reminding me on that "bunny hop" 😀

As it's a private session, exactly what you want to get out of it, thats why it's not a group session. To get the most out of it you need some objectives going into it.

I did one the other week with Ed Oxley.

He had us doing stuff nice and slowly but teaching you little bits and pieces that you practised on small stuff but then applied on the bigger stuff

I've been biking on and off for 18 yrs and thought I was ok...in a few hours I could do stuff I'd not even attempted before, and that will stay with me and improve me even more as I practise it

If the place you're going to is any good at all they'll push you but only at your own pace...if you don't feel ready to drop off then just practise the basics but just make sure you get something out of it and push yourself when you can. Pain goes away after a while but knowledge and experience stay with you ( think I read that somewhere!)

I would be very surprised if any coach would push you too far beyond your comfort zone. Common sense says that big drops/jumps would be better built up from smaller ones where you could learn the correct techniques.
Personally only done one skills course. Did it with a mate and in hindsight we picked a course that was possibly a little too close to the beginner standard. Still, Had an excellent day and took away quite a bit of stuff that I still use now when I remember. The coach tailored his advice and methods to each person in the group. There was a fair spread of abilities and a few different learning styles so I came away well impressed.
Taught my kid to bunnyhop when I got back having cribbed the coaches way of braking down and explaining it. Prior to that I had failed miserably. Worth the money just for that.

Re: picking a course too close to beginner standards, I thought that too when people were having a problem going over stuff I'd not even give a second thought to

But then when I tried to ride it as Ed suggested I got a lot faster and smoother

Definitely worth the money

To update this.. For the life of me, i cant get my head around that bunnyhop.. Im trying it this morning outside my house .. Neighbour must be thinking i go nuts after being made redundant from my job 🙄 .. Big drop off is a bit easier than this 🙁

Your not on a 29er are you?

My bunnyhopping of note has ground to a halt the bigger wheels I go.

Bmx > Doddle
26er > Easy enough
29er > embarrassing

Never been one to weigh my bikes but I reckon the 29er is a good bit heavier than my 26...

How did the course go wolfenstein?

@feeralski LOL 😛 , seriously you cannot put it to words better than that, iwas riding bmx and true its a doddle but that was 20-25 years ago for me and i can do wheelie and bunnyhop.. Pick up a bike again just last summer and gobsmacked how bike has developed.

@skids.. Amazing mate, till now still trying to make sense out of it.. I mean im almost hitting middle age, thought ive gone past learning stage with this stuff.. Actually made a thread about that bike school

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/who-says-you-cant-teach-old-dogs-new-tricks