• L1 Total off-road beginners

  For complete novices & experience seekers

  • Discover Mountain Biking

• L2 Rookies, roadies & returners

  For riders looking to learn the essentials

  • Singletrack Fundamentals
  • Fast-track Singletrack Skills

• L3 Intermediate & improvers

  For regular weekly mountain bikers

  • Singletrack Improver

Fast-track Singletrack Skills

Take your trail skills from zero to hero over two intensive days of skills coaching

So you've been mountain biking a while and have probably realised that there's more to this incredibly exciting sport than simply being able to ride a bike.

On our Fast-track Singletrack Skills two day course our expert coaches will take what you have learned so far to the next level and beyond. We'll tell what you're already doing right, so you can do more of that, and what you're doing wrong.

On Day One we'll polish your fundamentals, iron out any bad habits you may have picked up, get you moving around your bike and tackling some trail obstacles with style and finesse.

Then on Day Two we'll take these fundamentals to the next level and teach you some trail skills that will have you riding your local loops faster and tackling larger obstacles more confidently than ever before.

After the course you'll find your enjoyment of the sport will increase dramatically. You'll no longer feel like you're just surviving trails, you'll feel in more control and ready to the most technical of trails.

When & where

This course is usually scheduled on the 1st Saturday/Sunday, 2nd Friday/Saturday and 4th Saturday/Sunday (women only) of the month or, if you wish, you can book the two course days separately with a break in between. However, you must complete the course days in order; Singletrack Fundamentals first and then Singletrack Improver (part I).

The venue for this course is: Hurtwood Car Park 14, Radnor Lane, Dorking, Surrey RH5 6NW.

How to book

Click Book Online below to open our bookings system and first add a two day course pass to your basket. Then add the two course days from our schedule on the days you prefer, remembering to book the two courses in order.

You may also download the pre-course pack for each course day from the bookings page. This details the schedule for each day, venue details, travel information and a full equipment list including some mandatory items. 

Course outline

The skills taught and practiced on the Fast-track Singletrack Skills course include:

• Bike Set-up
  Pre-ride checks
  Choosing the right tyre pressures
  Setting your saddle height for off-road riding
  Cockpit/controls setup
  Setting up your forks and shock
• Mind Skills
  Relaxing on the bike and staying loose
  Riding within yourself to stay in control
  Positive thinking and visualisation
  Projecting your mind down the trail - "The Looking Epiphany"
  Dismissing distractions to maintain concentration and commitment
  Developing confidence through fundamentals instead of luck
• Body Position & Movement
  The Ready Position & "The Standing Epiphany"
  Moving around the bike in three dimensions
  Dynamic weight shift
  Weighting & unweighting the bike
  Stop riding and start driving
  
• Speed Control
  Braking safely and effectively
  Pump assisted braking
  Using speed to activate your suspension
  When and where to brake
• Trail Obstacles
  Riding over large rocks and roots with confidence
  Using Manual Front Wheel Lifts to negotiate rocks, roots & logs
  Steep terrain technique
  Rolling drops & bomb holes
• Cornering
  Technique for flat and off-camber corners
  Finding grip on loose surfaces
  Carrying more speed through corners
• Trail Flow
  Reading and breaking down the trail into sections
  Pumping the trail for free speed and efficiency

Is this course right for me?

Please read the following description. If this sounds like you, then you're perfect for this course:

• You're fairly new to mountain biking or have not been riding off-road regularily for more than a year or so
• You regularily ride off road and will have tried green, blue and perhaps red graded singletrack trails before at a trail centre or similar venue
• You have your own mountain bike (we have bikes available to hire if your bike is not available)
• You can already ride confidently on narrow singletrack trails with small rocks, roots and steps
• You exercise at least twice a week and at least one of these sessions is technical mountain biking
• You can ride moderately steep terrain at a steady pace
• You can ride for at least three hours comfortably
• You are aged 18 and over unless accompanied by an adult also participating on the course

If this sounds beyond your current skill and fitness level, please choose our Singletrack Fundamentals day course instead or have a look at our choosing the right course FAQ page.

Typical programme

Although the course is flexible it will usually keep to the following programme:

• Day 1 09:15-09:30 Arrival at course venue
• Day 1 09:30-10:00 Introductions, equipment check and bike set-up session
• Day 1 10:00-10.15 Warm-up ride into the forest
• Day 1 10:15-13:00 Singletrack skills coaching and practice
• Day 1 13:00-14:00 Lunch break back at start point (bring a packed lunch)
• Day 1 14:00-15:30 Coached singletrack ride

• Day 2 09:15-09:30 Arrival at course venue
• Day 2 09:30-10:00 Introductions, equipment check and bike set-up session
• Day 2 10:00-10.15 Warm-up ride into the forest
• Day 2 10:15-13:00 Singletrack skills coaching and practice
• Day 2 13:00-14:00 Lunch break back at start point (bring a packed lunch)
• Day 2 14:00-15:30 Coached singletrack ride
• Day 2 15:30-15:45 Review and next steps

At the end of your course you will receive

• Personalised Feedback
  to remind you of your performance on your course
• An Action Plan
  your coach will tell you what you need to do after your course to consolidate your new skills and progress your mountain biking into the future
• 30 Days Free Support
  if you have any questions about what you've learned or need any other advice

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