Off Road technical

[Ian Watts]

A few months ago I had my first experience of off road technical stuff at Cannock Chase (something to do with a dog and a monkey) and spent more time off than on. In the end I moved and went to the blue trail while the rest of the team carried on. I just wasn't prepared.

There seems to be a lack of places to practice these technical skills - all or nothing. And there is such a difference between blue trails (which my family do, including my 9 year old daughter), and the red/black trails.

Does anyone know of places where you can train / practice these sets of skills - I would love to do it, but just jumping straight in seems too hard, especially with tons of people overtaking me all of the time.

Any suggestions??

 

[fossyant]

Practice. You've just got to do it.

 

[Ian Watts]

Are there places that are better for beginners than others? Practicing at Cannock chase was almost impossible as everyone was faster than me, and just kept overtaking me - I had to keep stopping (I feel like a right wuss now )

 

[dan_bo]

Go and have a mess about in the park- find a slope (not too steep) and let it roll through. Find a rooty bit, approach it rolling and lean back to take your weight off the front wheel. Get used to moving your body around and the bike moving around underneath you.

Jump off kerbs- forward and sideways-that kind of stuff. Before you know it, you'll start to pick up speed. Make sure you enjoy it though, cos it's not worth it if you don't!

 

[Cubist]

How close are you to Sherwood Pines (mansfield) ? The Kitchener trail there is a very light red, in fact, scrub that, it's a blue route, but can be ridden as fast and as hard as you like, and has the very occasional technical bit that takes a bit of thinking about. For beginners it's a fantastic place to raise your confidence, and it's very family oriented. There are a few chutes, whoops and berms on decent singletrack to teach you balance, cornering and weight shifting, but has very little by way of climbing or descending (though there are a couple of good fast sections if you pedal!) There are no rocks or rock gardens until you go and seek them out in the skills area.

Coed Llandegla would be a good progression as it's got a fun blue and a reasonably XC style Red route, albeit with a few more technical features. It's a fantastic family day out too, has a great cafe, and a skills are where you can go and practice the technical stuff.


However, the biggest barrier to your riding is letting yourself get worried by what others are thinking. Trail centres are for everybody, not just fast experienced riders. I know it is easy to be self-conscious, but if you concentrate on your own riding you'll soon stop fretting. Just remember, it's good etiquette to let the rider IN FRONT of you take the lines they need, so next time some whippet/gnaaaarrboi is breathing down your neck, just remember this mantra. "If they were any good they'd be riding something more difficult.". By all means pull left and let them pass if you wish, but don't stutter to a halt in the mistaken belief that they have a right to get past you and spoil YOUR ride!

A few months ago I had my first experience of off road technical stuff at Cannock Chase (something to do with a dog and a monkey) and spent more time off than on. In the end I moved and went to the blue trail while the rest of the team carried on. I just wasn't prepared.

There seems to be a lack of places to practice these technical skills - all or nothing. And there is such a difference between blue trails (which my family do, including my 9 year old daughter), and the red/black trails.

Does anyone know of places where you can train / practice these sets of skills - I would love to do it, but just jumping straight in seems too hard, especially with tons of people overtaking me all of the time.

Any suggestions??

 

[Crackle]

Yep, you don't have to go to trail centres to have fun. Bridleways and forest roads can be just as much fun and there are lots of easier trails which are worth a visit in forests and country parks.

If you do want to get better at trails then go to different trail centres and practise on the blues. Also look at Youtube tips about how you should approach an obstacle, knowing where you should be on the bike is half the battle.

 

[dan_bo]

Get used to scanning the trail as well. Spend too much time looking close and you'll get a nasty surprise at speed. Look too far ahead and, again, you'll miss something you didn't want to. Use your eyes constantly.

 

[Ian Watts]

How close are you to Sherwood Pines (mansfield) ? The Kitchener trail there is a very light red, in fact, scrub that, it's a blue route, but can be ridden as fast and as hard as you like, and has the very occasional technical bit that takes a bit of thinking about. For beginners it's a fantastic place to raise your confidence, and it's very family oriented. There are a few chutes, whoops and berms on decent singletrack to teach you balance, cornering and weight shifting, but has very little by way of climbing or descending (though there are a couple of good fast sections if you pedal!) There are no rocks or rock gardens until you go and seek them out in the skills area.
!

I live in Stoke and grew up in Chesterfield - definitely the right area of the country. Might go and give it a look - cheers.

However, the biggest barrier to your riding is letting yourself get worried by what others are thinking. Trail centres are for everybody, not just fast experienced riders. I know it is easy to be self-conscious, but if you concentrate on your own riding you'll soon stop fretting. Just remember, it's good etiquette to let the rider IN FRONT of you take the lines they need, so next time some whippet/gnaaaarrboi is breathing down your neck, just remember this mantra. "If they were any good they'd be riding something more difficult.". By all means pull left and let them pass if you wish, but don't stutter to a halt in the mistaken belief that they have a right to get past you and spoil YOUR ride!

I find it intimidating when they are going right past me - I end up stopping when they are on my back - I know what you are saying, but the bit of trail i was on was os narrow I would have ended up with a tailback a mile long!!

Yep, you don't have to go to trail centres to have fun. Bridleways and forest roads can be just as much fun and there are lots of easier trails which are worth a visit in forests and country parks.

If you do want to get better at trails then go to different trail centres and practise on the blues. Also look at Youtube tips about how you should approach an obstacle, knowing where you should be on the bike is half the battle.

I do a fair bit of that - I should do more and practice the tougher bits more, It almost feels like there need to be some purple routes in between blue and red.

Get used to scanning the trail as well. Spend too much time looking close and you'll get a nasty surprise at speed. Look too far ahead and, again, you'll miss something you didn't want to. Use your eyes constantly.

I made that mistake a lot - looking too far ahead and hitting a stump and coming off.

Thanks all for the pointers - I shall definitely try Sherwood.

 

[02GF74]

practising on bridleways isn't going to do it.. I've been riding them for years and years and years.
went down t swinley forest on he blue an parts of the red trail and just about everyone scooted past me - rather embarrssing..... only way to get better is to practise on the trail.

 

[Ian Watts]

practising on bridleways isn't going to do it.. I've been riding them for years and years and years.
went down t swinley forest on he blue an parts of the red trail and just about everyone scooted past me - rather embarrssing..... only way to get better is to practise on the trail.

Cheers - I've been in touch with a friend who knows some quiet places we can go in some woods and practice. That should help.

 

[lukesdad]

There are trails and enough space out on the chase to get all the practice you need, without using the centre itself.

 

[Ian Watts]

There are trails and enough space out on the chase to get all the practice you need, without using the centre itself.

I think that's what my friend has in mind - the actual red/black trails at cannock are just too busy

 

[lukesdad]

Perhaps while we're on the subject, it's probably worthwhile repeating this;
It's up to the faster rider to make a safe pass! Not the other way round.

 

[Ian Watts]

Perhaps while we're on the subject, it's probably worthwhile repeating this;
It's up to the faster rider to make a safe pass! Not the other way round.

I did think this at the time, but just felt bad at slowing other people down.

 

[lukesdad]

I did think this at the time, but just felt bad at slowing other people down.

Everybody has to learn sometime and everybody slows someone down!