in Group Rides, Bike Trips, and Events

So a few of us have talked about doing a skills ride or mini clinic focused on having our more advanced riders help our newer riders out with skills, techniques and confidence. It seems that we have a large amount of people with a lot of talent and a large amount of newer riders looking to improve. I know that there are a number of female riders in particular that have expressed interest in having some sort of skills ride as its sometimes easier to learn from someone who isn't your significant other.

I have heard that CORP used to do things like this and know a number of people are interested. We could keep it really low key and just have something on a weeknight ride say at Quarry Ridge. Have some people work on technical skills like wheelies, unweighting, bunny hops and skinny's and maybe have people go out into the trail and work on particular sections for more advanced riders.

Would anyone be interested in doing something like this? Id be happy to tackle the organization if there is any interest...

We had one skills ride last season at Cam-Rock where we went out on a casually paced group ride and took turns on the various features there.  Those with more experience demonstrated how they ride the feature, and those with less experience were able to try them out with spotters in some cases and people available to give pointers.  It seemed to be a hit.  We followed that up with food and beers at the CR3 shelter...this one was on a weekend though.

I think it's a great idea...I'll offer anything I can assuming the date and time work out for me.

Following Nate up, I think Camrock would be the best place for this considering the variety of technical features throughout the park.  Definitely more bang for your buck there vs QR.

I would vote for Quarry Ridge, it's not nearly as large as CR but the big sandy bowl has a ton of options to play on and it's so quick to get to any point in the park or to loop back on the same section.

Also, I'm extremely biased towards Quarry Park but it is hands down the best place to practice technical riding, nothing else in the area even comes close (well maybe Blue Mounds). There are countless little tricky spots that can be practiced or demonstrated on and you can put together micro loops to hit the same thing over and over again. Plus there is the freedom to build new lines at will if you see something that looks like it would be fun for you to ride no matter how big or small it is.

We're doing the regular Thursday night rides there (I'll be out there tonight) so if anyone wants to work on their skills, or just have a good time, please come join in.

I join the bias for Quarry Park, suggest PView for some new and changed features and changes most are probably not aware of, but am game for this anywhere.

Just make sure Bob W. is invited where or when it happens.

PView is a good option too, the short downhill xc trail is perfect for trying to improve on very specific turn or obstacle because it's so easy to quickly loop back around to try again, plus it has a better variety of jumps to practice on than QP.

Hints no matter where we do this:

-lower your seat
-flat pedals
-pads or long pants
-no bifocal glasses

You can better escape your bike with flats, and they will teach you timing to really get air vs just pull your bike up with your legs. That timing makes it a lot more fun even when I have cleats.

Hints no matter where we do this:

-lower your seat
-flat pedals
-pads or long pants
-no bifocal glasses

You can better escape your bike with flats, and they will teach you timing to really get air vs just pull your bike up with your legs. That timing makes it a lot more fun even when I have cleats.

When we did this last year I was clipped in, left the seat at my usual cross country height, typical biking shorts I don't need the bifocals....yet!

Guess it is what you are comfortable with riding to some of us.

I totally agree regarding the lowered seat, flats, and pads!  I'm never going to be a big air / freerider, but I am making an effort to be more proficient when it comes to TTF or sections of trail that are just plain difficult and/or scary.

This year, I've been switching back and forth between flats and clip-in pedals on a monthly basis.  (August is a clip-in month, Sept. will be flat, etc.)  I don't understand exactly why, but each switch seems to bring additional balance and confidence; regardless of whether I'm switching to flats after some time clipped-in or visa versa.

Over the winter, I bought a set of those G-Form elbow and knee pads.  I know that I look like a total dork -- wearing pads as I cautiously over-brake all the downhills and generally stink-up the technical features.  But that said, the pads do lend an extra level of confidence.  That little bit of foam allows me to try stuff that I was unable to try last year.  Which of course, leads to building skills!

I also went on a little spending spree and got a dropper seat-post.  I got the Fox that has three settings -- "climb", "trail", and "descend" -- or regular, 1 inch drop and 5 inch drop.  In hindsight, I wish I would have got the one that had a 4 inch drop instead.  I can see where somebody who's flying around on jumps and super-steep terrian would want 5"; but the 4" would have been a better fit for my not so narly style. 

I didn't read the whole thread, but I am willing to lead a skills clinic. I also agree camrock is the best option as thete are no elevated or skinny features anywhere else. A jump specific clinic is best at one of the quarries.

sent from my Smart-Ass Phone

I totally agree regarding the lowered seat, flats, and pads!  I'm never going to be a big air / freerider, but I am making an effort to be more proficient when it comes to TTF or sections of trail that are just plain difficult and/or scary.

This year, I've been switching back and forth between flats and clip-in pedals on a monthly basis.  (August is a clip-in month, Sept. will be flat, etc.)  I don't understand exactly why, but each switch seems to bring additional balance and confidence; regardless of whether I'm switching to flats after some time clipped-in or visa versa.

Over the winter, I bought a set of those G-Form elbow and knee pads.  I know that I look like a total dork -- wearing pads as I cautiously over-brake all the downhills and generally stink-up the technical features.  But that said, the pads do lend an extra level of confidence.  That little bit of foam allows me to try stuff that I was unable to try last year.  Which of course, leads to building skills!

I also went on a little spending spree and got a dropper seat-post.  I got the Fox that has three settings -- "climb", "trail", and "descend" -- or regular, 1 inch drop and 5 inch drop.  In hindsight, I wish I would have got the one that had a 4 inch drop instead.  I can see where somebody who's flying around on jumps and super-steep terrian would want 5"; but the 4" would have been a better fit for my not so narly style.

Mini review on those G-Form would be appreciated. I've got old school Roach knee + shin which were best in their day but they're large and loud. My neoprene shin pads are not comfy. The G-Form look perfect.

I still use cleats for some places. Main reason I reiterated the tips is we've been doing skills rides and the kiddie lessons all summer. I saw a bloody incident within the past week and we had one earlier in season where we watched bike attached to rider do enough damage to send somebody to ER even though it was a drop the kids do with 20" wheels.

The body protection really does help confidence.

My only recommendation around equipment is that if you want to try out platforms then get shin guards, those pins will dig down to the bone in the blink of an eye. Some people never seem to hit their shins but you don't want to find out the hard way if you're a shin smacker or not.

+1 for the shin guards... the plastic soccer ones are fine.  If you are riding flats and learning to jump the elbow pads are key too.  Plastic cup roller skate kind are fine and cheap.  If you really get into it and are going big consider a cup (for the junk), especially if you ride dual slalom or DH courses.  Sounds dumb and is totally uncomfortable, but I have had some horrible crashes.  My two cents, pads are cheaper than the ER bills.

I also used shin guards extensively while learning to ride flats from clipped in. I usually go without them now, but they were very helpful.

Mini review on those G-Form would be appreciated.

As requested, a short review.

I bought G-Form knee and elbow pads from Jensen USA.  The bottom line is that I like them very much.  The foam crash protection is thin and articulated, which means it is not at all uncomfortable.  Once you put them on, it just feels like your wearing a fancy compression garment -- kind of like something a trendy triathlete might wear.  They don't impede movement at all.

Thankfully, I have no personal knowledge of their performance in a crash.  I don't know, but based on appearance, you'd think the light, thin, soft, and flexible G-Form isn't quite as protective as more substantial body armor products. But they are most certainly far more protective than no padding at all; with hardly any trade-off in decreased comfort or mobility.