Mastering Blue Trails - The Fundamentals
Learn to ride easy technical trails safely and with skill & confidence
Maybe you're completely new to mountain biking, or perhaps you're a little more experienced, but you've never been taught the fundamentals of riding off-road. Possibly you've
tried some technical trails,
but lacked confidence and scared yourself a few times?
Our Mastering Blue Trails course will give you the core skills to get out in the woods tackling technical trails with confidence and commitment.
Following training you will see an immediate improvement in your riding and a boost in confidence. You'll understand how changes in your body position, footwork and where you are looking affect the way your bike behaves on singletrack trails. You'll be able to tackle steeper terrain, corner with greater control and negotiate small trail obstacles with ease.
Awesome morning on Holmbury Hill. Seems I've been doing everything wrong all these years! Jess is a great coach
Rhys - Whitstable
Course outline
The skills taught and practiced on a Mastering Blue Trails course include:
- Bike Set-up
Pre-ride checks
Choosing the right tyre pressures
Setting your saddle height for off-road riding
- Mind Skills
Relaxing on the bike and staying loose
Riding within yourself to stay in control
- Body Position & Movement
The Ready Position
Moving around the bike in three dimensions
Dynamic weight shift
- Speed Control
Braking safely and effectively
When and where to brake
- Cornering
Cornering with speed and confidence
- Trail Obstacles
Negotiating trail obstacles
- Climbing & Descending
Negotiating steep terrain
Rolling drops & bomb holes
- Trail Flow
Reading the trail
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 new to mountain biking, may have never tried riding off-road or have tried just once or twice
- You can already confidentally ride a bike, but may not know how to use your gears or brakes correctly
- You can already ride comfortably on the road or smooth off-road trails such as tow paths, forest roads or easy bridleways
- You participate in formal exercise at least once per week, though not necessarily on a bike
- You can ride on flat or moderately steep terrain at a steady pace
- You can ride for at least an hour comfortably
- You are aged 18 and over unless accompanied by an adult also participating on the course
If this sounds sounds a little too basic, please choose our Singletrack Fundamentals course instead or have a look at our choosing the right course FAQ page.
Typical programme
Morning or afternoon sessions are available usually keeping to the following programmes:
Morning programme
- 09:15-09:30 Arrival at course venue
- 09:30-09:45 Course commences, introductions and equipment check
- 09:45-13:00 Singletrack skills coaching and practice
- 13:00 Course ends
Afternoon programme
- 13:45-14:00 Arrival at course venue
- 14:00-14:15 Course commences, introductions and equipment check
- 14:15-17:30 Singletrack skills coaching and practice
- 17:30 Course ends
