Friday 31 October 2014

Magnus and Richards two to one session




Magnus and Richard booked in with myself wanting to feel smoother when riding descents and feel more confident as they do such events as trans-provence etc and saw themselves as cross country riders. I could see the missing skills in their riding skill sets as I ran them through my skills check and adjusted Magnus's set up too. We as ever, began with applying both physical and mental skills sets to the drop technique as soon they were riding them all in total control. I moved onto cornering and controlling their edges in turns, something that they were familiar with from other sports and they were absolutely amazed at the result of applying the technique that i teach as grip and control went through the roof as that made them faster.
 We applied the same cornering technique to three berms and they were linking them together nicely by the time we broke for lunch. We resumed by moving to the singletrack to work on using the techniques we at ukbikeskills teach and applying them as required in the fourteen sections contained on the trail. Flat, bermed, off camber and switchback turns were linked to jumps, drops, rock gardens, pumping and steps. by the time I'd demonstrated each section and they were riding the trail top to bottom they were already self diagnosing any errors in any section and also they were growing more and more controlled and confidence soared. The drop into the berm at the end of the trail was something they both thought beyond them but it now flew beneath them as they sailed into the air with ease.
 We moved to steeper terrain and eventually, a near vertical drop off and once again , by applying their new skills sets they both rode it easily.  I knew they were tiring but I wanted to work on something they asked about when we met, how to ride over logs and fallen trees along the trail.
They rode all three logs I placed out, after I demonstrated the techniques involved and the look on their faces was a picture. They both then called an end to the session, tired and happy.
Amazing session, High5!























Thursday 30 October 2014

Chris and Stan from Cardiff



 Chris and Stan made the journey up from Cardiff after hearing about www.ukbikeskills.co.uk coaching on the uplift at bike park Wales 6 months ago and wasted no time in researching and then booking in with us. They choose to go ahead with myself for their coaching and today was the day. 
 The skills check showed me errors in their skills sets and footwork and body positioning was paramount in this correction, so a set up change was made and the effect could be felt immediately. Drops were the first sections we applied their skills sets to and the required technique was demonstrated by myself first obviously.  All three drops were ridden easier and with more control than ever before and they were blown away.
 Cornering was next and here they applied their new skills sets to the technique myself and Nathan teach. one, two then a third berm flew past with control and they developed speed through each turn.
We took a welcome coffee break before resuming with linking drops into corners and the required braking technique and line choices.
 When we first met they said they wanted to learn to jump rather than hang on and hope at their local bike park wales. I began with applying the skills to a 6ft tabletop, followed by a 6ft gap which they soon were sailing over effortlessly. We moved to a more complex 7ft gap jump that requires speed to be carried through two corners to ride and they blew themselves away by riding that easily too.
 They were tiring quickly now but we still had time to not only ride the 9ft gap jump a few times but to also link the berms, gaps and pumping from earlier.
 Cracking session in beautiful sunshine.
High5!