The Fundamentals Group is typically for 7-11 year old enthusiastic mountain bikers, wanting to learn important core skills in a fun way, go for fun rides, make some mountain bike mates and even learn some important off the bike skills too.

Age Range is as a guide, I dont accept any younger than 7yo unless in exceptional circumstances, for younger than this, check out your local cycling club for opportunities (I can be found coaching in Ilkley, Skipton and some sessions in Wakefield too). Please do not book anyone younger without having a conversation first, some venues work with younger kids, but often your child will probably have a better experience if they can wait a year.

Its also my philosophy that kids should enjoy the sport, entering events and races is great as long as its kept healthy and fun, I dont believe in prescribing training plans or race focussed coaching for younger ages. See long term athlete development model.

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.

Prerequisites;

This is not a ‘learn to ride a bike’ course, these can be booked privately – Fundamentals are expected to be able to ride 5km without help on bridleway/towpath terrain and be able to stop with control on a grassy slope as a minimum. (If they have just got a new bike, please check they can reach their brake levers, often the reach can be adjusted)

We will learn a combination of “on bike” techniques and “off bike” skills. 

Techniques

Level 1

• Ready Position; whilst coasting, standing up on both pedals, with feet level and bum out of the saddle. ability to turn head, whilst riding straight, ability to move body forwards backwards, side to side and squat up/down.
• Corner Champ; ability to navigate through tight corners in off road terrain.
• Rough stuff; riding confidently on different surfaces, paved, hardpack, mud or rocky.
• 1 Hand!; whilst seated, removing 1 hand and riding a bus length, ability to corner gently 1 handed, ability to high 5 the coach or another rider whilst riding.
• “Log Hop”; performing a mini lift of the front wheel from the ready position, without pedalling, clearing a water bottle diameter log without making contact with the front wheel.
• Stop and Go; performing a 1 second complete stop, pausing without putting a foot down, before riding away.
• Big Skid/No Skid; performing a high speed short stop without skidding & performing a high speed stop with a controlled car-length skid.
• 5km off road ride; complete a 5km ride with at least 50m of height gain.

Skills

• Bike Check/Kit Check
• Self Sufficient Star; Ride with a backpack or bumbag, with drinks, snacks and layers suitable for the conditions. Understand 5 items to carry and why.
• Component ID; be able to identify at least 3 components of a bicycle and their function.
• Chain Oiler; correctly applying suitable lubricant to chain and removing excess.
• Leave a positive trace; leaving the trails better than we found them by removing litter, fixing drains or removing leaves.
• Matesmanship; looking after buddys on a ride, sharing sweets, offering advice and giving encouragement.

Techniques

• Heavy/Light; from the ready position, dropping weight into the pedals or springing up in order to maintain momentum or even generate speed through a 50m section of undulating trail or pump track.
• Drop and roll; learning and applying the push drop technique to be able to roll medium sized drops in control, with no bounce, rotation or harsh impact.
• No hands!; riding a section of forest road no handed for at least a bus length, ability to clap 3 times consecutively.
• Flight club; achieve airborne abilities by making both wheels leave the ground on a tabletop style jump, for at least a wheels distance.
• 10km ride; riding on off road blue/red terrain for 10km, with at least 100m of ascent.
• Mountain goat; tackle a technical climb of more than 100m, with no feet touching down.

Skills

• M check and fix; perform a detailed bike check on a sabotaged bike, identify 2 faults and make safe.
• Trail hero; perform maintenance on a trail using hand tools to remove branches, resurface, sweep, tamp or drain a section of trail.
• Ambassador; be an ambassador for mountain bikers, say hi to other trail users, thank you to those who give way and give shout outs to the group where there are dogs, children and horses.
• Safety Superstar; making the scene of a crash safe, blocking the trail above with an upside down bike, managing a group and checking on the casualty.
• Nutrition nut; be able to explain which snacks are best for a ride, why and what you might carry for longer rides. name 3 good sources of energy for during, and 3 good meals for after a ride.

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 which are often uncomfortable and distracting. 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. But rigid isla/frog style bikes work well for fundamentals group level.

For the Fundamentals due to low relative rider weight, a lighter bike is best, either a rigid “frog” bike or similar (with offroad tyres fitted) or a hardtail with an air sprung fork if you are really keen. Avoid heavier full suspensions, its more weight, plus the extra suspension might prevent riders from being able to perform proper technique.

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.

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 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.