Need to know

Advanced Group

The advanced group is for 11-15 year old enthusiastic mountain bikers, wanting to learn level 3-5 very challenging skills. 

Advanced prerequisites – 20km red grade ride off road, Can do all L2 skills with ease, and most of L3 skills.

Age Range is as a guide, I do make exceptions under arrangement at this level, but bear in mind for younger ones fitness is a limiting factor to be able to keep up with kids around 15 years old.

Ability wise… if you are new, inbetween groups and unsure which session to book, its usually best to go for a group below your ability level as a confidence boost and to learn the format, then you can move up full of confidence next time. Moving up groups too soon, often can be damaging to confidence and enjoyment, we can find jobs for slightly more advanced kids to be an assistant coach, to maintain their love of mountain biking and develop their understanding further.

This is not an introduction to mountain biking, or a progrssion level, This group will be working on challenging black grade terrain and trying to learn skills which are difficult for most adults, for an introductory or intermediate level, please check out the fundamentals or trail skills group.

To attend this group, riders must be able to perform half of the following.

Techniques

  • Seated Pedal Wheelie; for a car length or longer.
  • English bunny hop; make both wheels leave the ground and clear a small stick without touching it.
  • Trackstand; balance on the spot in the ready position by feathering the lead foots pedal pressure. 10 seconds.
  • Gap jump; clearing a wheel sized gap between takeoff and landing. In control, with limited speed to encourage hopping technique.
  • Endo; stopping and dynamically lifting the rear wheel by shifting weight forwards. complete when rear wheel achieves half wheel height.
  • 20km ride; offroad red grade trail, carrying own equipment and fuelling during the ride.
  • Step up; riding up a step feature of 20cm achieving full clearance with front wheel and unweighting to allow back wheel to roll up. Limited speed to jogging pace to encourage technique.

Techniques

  • Manual front wheel lift; using correct dynamic weight shift backwards, without flexing arms, dragging bike backwards and achieving a wheel lift for a distance of 2 car lengths.
  • American bunny hop; using a manual as a starting point, manage to achieve a sequenced hop with front wheel first then rear wheel second. complete once applied over a log 3 times successively.
  • Pump manual; achieve a manual between 2 rollers with the front wheel taking off on the first and landing on the backside of the second.
  • Front wheel pivot; from an endo, application of a weight shift to turn the rear wheel to the side. complete once an angle of 45 degrees is achieved on both sides.
  • Standing wheelie; achieving a pedalling front wheel lift whilst out of the saddle for a distance of 1 car length.
  • Bike Mountaineer; Riding without uplift above 500m above sea level; suitable days out include; jacobs ladder, cut gate, nan bield pass, gunnerside gill, ingleborough, buckden pike, great shunner fell.
  • 30km ride; riding a big ride on natural trails in a wild upland area of the UK such as the peak district or dales.

Skills

  • All the gear; be able to adjust gears whilst on a ride, identify all drivetrain components in detail and set limit screws on deraileur(s)
  • Navigator; be able to relocate on a map 3 times, be able to follow a route and develop plans for a big ride using bridleways.
  • Mechanic; ability to replace a chain, identify if a chain might be worn as well as check brake pad wear.
  • Photographer; Get some cool riding pics of the group and use images to analyse technique.
  • Apprentice coach; plan and deliver a skill coaching segment of 10 minutes for the group, demonstrate and give feedback.

Techniques

  • Hop Stepper; perform a coordinated American bunny hop onto a raised pallet height platform, without clipping the edge with either wheel. Complete when achieved 3 times consecutively.
  • Stoppie; performing a rolling endo for a car length, achieved by feathering brake and forward weight shift from ready position.
  • Around the clock; performing front and rear wheel pivots on the spot in order for the bike to rotate 360 degrees.
  • Back hops; achieving a manual from a static position or rebounding from an endo, then hopping vertically for the rear wheel to be airborne 3 times in a row.
  • Wheelie good; Achieve an advanced variation of wheelie, including a 1 handed wheelie, stem grab wheelie, no footer for at least a car length.
  • Bikepacker; complete a large, adventurous ride which includes an overnight camp, cooking for yourself and being fully self sufficient.
  • EPIC; complete a 40km or more ride, including multiple major high passes or summits.  To include 1 Ben Nevis of elevation (1345 metres)
  • Lateral bunny hop; an American bunny hop with a lateral move in the middle, complete once jumping a log of water bottle diameter, orientated in a straight direction. No diagonal run ups!
  • Big gaps; complete a gap jump of over a bike length and height.

Skills

  • Sussed it; Adjust suspension pressure, preload and damping settings for flow trails vs technical trails.
  • True mechanic; understand how to adjust spoke tension in order to achieve lateral true on a wheel.
  • Componenteer; replacing 3 major components of a bike, 1 must include replacing a cable.
  • Trail doc; from start to finish, make the scene of an accident safe, manage your group and manage an unconscious but breathing casualty
  • Pro coach; assist in delivery of a complete day of coaching or wild ride, independently deliver skill sessions and manage the group in technical terrain.

Kids should be independent for the session, wearing a helmet and appropriate clothing for the weather. Gloves and additional protection are recommended but optional. Lightweight flexible knee pads work best, as opposed to hard shell versions. Kids should carry water and snacks in a backpack/bumbag.
Level 3+ to carry basic bike repair tools and spares; a multi-tool, inner tube and/or puncture repair kit and a pump.

Higher quality mountain bikes will be needed as the kids move up the groups. 

Bikes should be in sound mechanical condition, including lubed chains and correct tyre pressures, please dont leave getting the bike out of the shed post winter until the morning of the session. Minor failures do happen and can be looked at on the day, however inadequately prepared bikes will not be repaired on the day, and if deemed unfit for use, we cannot offer refunds. The less time we spend fiddling with bikes the more riding we can do – please prepare bikes before coming to the session.

For Advanced riders, it becomes tricky at this stage, all of the skills we will work on can be done on any bike, from cross country hardtails, to big enduro bikes, it does depend on your own aspirations, discipline of mountain biking etc. Unless you go to the alps, scotland and wales every month, try to stay under 150mm of travel, with modern geometry and posh suspension these all-mountain bikes are more than capable of riding almost any downhill track in the UK and are far more capable than the downhill bikes of just a decade ago. The lighter weight will mean you can get more laps in… making you a better rider and have more fun…

Parents typically do not accompany the ride except in pre-arranged circumstances, often keeping a distance behind the group, get in touch if you have any queries about more nervous kids.

Often parents can be a distraction to their child and a barrier to them mixing, even having fun with the group during the session, you can always book a private session for your family in order to make an introduction, or make arrangements to meet earlier on the day.