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My lad is starting his Duke of Edinburgh award and for the physical challenge wants to do mountainbiking.
My thinking is to get him to work toward a goal ride, something like blade/skyline at afan or maybe a more classic route like South Downs way.
Can anyone suggest any other routes or maybe bike event/goals that we could look at?
We're in Cornwall so south west 'ish is ideal but would not dismiss something further afield.
There is a Plymouth to minehead route off/ on road that looks nice. Have a look at bikepacking.com the route is on there.
How about some sort of navigation element as well? If willing to travel the great glen way would be a good challenge for a teen.
Been a while since my son did his DofE(22yrs!)
Has your sons group got a leader qualified in mtb expedition?
When my son and his mates decided to do something similar there was not the need for any "leader" qualifications, that has all changed......
During the "training/practice" days it soon became obvious that the majority of his group were either not fit enough or their bikes were BOS!!!!!!!
The mtb challenge group were then diverted to some walk or other!!!
Tjnr went to the Black Forest in Germany for his gold expedition 🙂
FWIW The Carmarthenshire DoE team hold ten sets of waterproof (Ortlieb I think) panniers and Topeak racks to allow participants to do multi-day trips with bikes. If need be, give me a shout and I'll ask if some kind of a loan can be arranged.
I think responders are thinking of the expedition section but I think the OP is referring to the Physical section. That just requires you to do an hour a week for 3/6 months and demonstrate that you have set goals and achieved them through improvement in fitness.
The improvement in navigation wouldn't count for the physical but it could be used for the skill section. Just try not to double up your recordstreet by doing the skill and the physical at the same time.
Understood. Trying to be of assistance y'see.
Is there a Cornish/Devon coast to coast type ride that's mainly off road? Or maybe do one of the coffin roads (featured in the mag a while back) for charity - that would cover the fitness and maybe also give the target some secondary benefit.
Think strava. Physical section should be about improving physical prowess and competence in a relatively small amount of time every week. Don't turn into another expedition. Find a local strava section that requires endurance and skill; do a timed run. Spend an hour a week working on endurance and handling skills then intermittently retest on the section.
You know that: 1. It is supposed to be your son taking the lead in selecting and planning his activity and his supervisor agreeing its suitability? 2. Normally you need to be 14 to participate in bronze. I'd suggest if he's not mature enough to do 1 then he doesn't qualify for the special cases where the 14 yr minimum is relaxed.
Hour a week and based in Cornwall. Weekly session at Gawton 😀
Eldest_oab is biking for his physical at Silver.
He goes to a coached bike club session each week or so.
He Strava'd a couple of times, and will re-time at the 6months.
The bike coach volunteers will sign his record to say if they think he has improved.
For Bronze he did badminton club without the Strava 😉
Fwiw, I agree with the get your son to plan and organise it.
You don't *have* to be 14. If you're Y9 and pals are all over 14, you can take part.
When you say 'physical challenge' do you mean the 'physical section' or his 'expedition' ?
If it's his physical section then he must have an assessor that's not a family member and he must do an hour a week for 3,6,9 or 12months. Depending the level he's at.
If it's his expedition it's about time per day journeying. So at Bronze 6hrs, Silver 7 and Gold 8hrs. Minimum per day is half the hrs journeying, the other half is exploring or activity.