Categories: Uncategorized | February 1st, 2010 | by mikestafford | no comments
Big thanks to Christine and Lynne for a great day out at Rivington Sat 30th Jan beginners skills course. At 9.30am it was still below freezing but with blue skies and dry tracks it was a far cry from the snow of the weeks gone by.
During safety checks on the bikes before riding we found that Christine’s bike had no air in the rear shock. This meant she had been riding around for the last few weeks with no rear suspension. A few blasts from a shock pump and a dial on the rebound soon got things working.
The pair made lots of progress through the day with some of the main achievements being front and rear wheel lifts, riding up a step, single-track riding, and using negative positions on drop off’s and steeper descent. After a hard day of skills drills the pair managed to get to the top of Rivington Pike and were rewarded with fantastic views across to The Lakes and Snowdon.
Categories: Uncategorized | June 8th, 2009 | by mikestafford | no comments
Beginners course 6th June Rivington.
Big well done to the five riders seen above soaking wet before they set off! To say it was a wet start would be an under-statement, with three of them riding in from train stations.
Both skills and weather improved throughout the day with big smiles and muddy faces to finish.
From left to right are Mike, Sarah, Isla, Mark and Kirsten. Thanks again guys for sticking with it.
Categories: Uncategorized | May 15th, 2009 | by mikestafford | no comments
Beginners skills course Rivington 14th March
Pictured left to right are Candace, Pete, Ivan, Sam and Wendy. No livers were damaged on this ride, wish the same could be said for street cred!
Promise only water and energy drinks were used to re-hydrate on the ride to the top of Rivington Pike. We had a bit of a struggle through gale force winds and have to hand it to the group there were no complaints. Great day out with great company!
Categories: Uncategorized | May 14th, 2009 | by mikestafford | no comments
Beginners course Rivington 2nd April
Pictured left to right is Kenny, Martin, Rick and Andy aka Evil Knavel. Big drops, big climbs and fast decents, just what the doctor ordered. Look forward to riding with you guys again soon.
Click this link to see Rick and Evil riding the Pike slabs for the first time!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBjXXbpwPGs
Categories: Uncategorized | May 14th, 2009 | by mikestafford | no comments
Intermediate skills course April 29th.
Had a great day out on the Howgill Fells with Nick Moore, who has to be the most chilled out guy I have ever met!
This is a stream crossing at Murthwaite Park near Sedbergh which I have to admit can be a bit tricky. No probs for Nick who managed to get accross it twice. See this link for a quick video on how not to cross streams.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWejPnUnWCU
Lots of single track riding, wheelie drop offs and we managed to save a sheep from certain death.
Well done Nick and I might just take you up on your offer of a guided tour around Coniston.
Categories: Uncategorized | January 26th, 2009 | by mikestafford | no comments
Beginners course 25th Jan 09
Above from left to right are Polly, Sarah,Mark, Bill (who is a good looking guy but is camera shy) and Helen.
Topping out on a sunny day at Rivington gives you a great buzz, especially if you are relatively new to the sport. Often people are overwhelmed……. and so moved by the experience they say great things…….. like………
But how are we going to get down????
Now i have never been asked that question before, at the top of hill, by someone who has just ridden their mountain bike an hour to get there!!! But to put things in context Helen above started that morning unable to stand up on her pedals and with little control of her bike. Along with the others in the group she spent the morning working on wheel lifts to get over logs and up steps, drag braking for more general control, drop off techniques and climbing techniques. Think she was still in shock at how far she had come more in skills ability than distance.
I am pleased to anounce that all made it safely down off the the hill with maybe a few foot dabs along the way but big smiles all round.
It was late when we got back to the car park so i didn’t get chance to give out any prizes (cheap skate) but if i had have had these are the awards i would have given out :-
Most improved rider goes to Helen
Rider with almost no gear changes goes to Mark
Drag brake queen of the day goes to Sarah
Fittest and most enthusiastic rider i have ever met who owns a bus pass goes to Bill
Best line of the day goes to Polly (below) and i quote “I’m definitely a girl who likes to go down”
Thanks again for a great day hope to see you all again soon.
Categories: Uncategorized | January 26th, 2009 | by mikestafford | no comments
Intermediate course 24th January 2009. Don’t worry no cyclist were injured on this course, but all of us had dead legs by the end of a very successful but very long days riding. Seen above left to right are Malcolm, Jerry, Pete (The Unbeatable) Owen and John. Well done guys, long time since i have put on a course when all riders got down the slab steps at Rivington with so much finesse. I swear Pete (The Unbeatable) had both his little pinkies sticking out from his handle bars as he dropped off the biggest step!
Managed to get a few photos on Face book , think this is the best one of the day but check out the others @
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2012461&id=1471603020&saved#/album.php?aid=2012461&id=1471603020
Big thumbs up from me guys hope to see you on advanced courses up in gods country!
Categories: Mountain Bike Skills Courses | January 19th, 2009 | by mikestafford | no comments
YMCA moment at the end of first skills course of 2009.
Y= you might well ask. Paul Coogan from Leigh turned up for his skills course in a builders hard hat. New to mountain biking he was as keen as mustard but forgot his helmet. Paul chomping at the bit to get going donned his work hard hat, looking like a gay icon from 1980’s wasn’t going to stop him. I have got to say he took the jokes (which kept coming all day) square on the chin. Luckily i had a spare helmet, i also fixed him up with some decent layers and pads.
The other guy on the course was James Eddleston fom Bolton. James is interested in becoming a mountain bike leader and hopefully working with disadvantaged kids in the area. I have put him in-touch with Ray Mazey at www.mountainbikeinstruction.co.uk Ray runs mountain bike leader courses and is currently providing courses for various organisations including the Police, Army, Navy and RAF.
Both chaps did excellently on the day improving skills across the board. Have got to hand it to Paul, for someone with very little experience he did really well and excelled on the drop offs. James took the single track riding crown, using a drag braking technique he completed a long section of raised muddy single-track without fault despite strong winds, well done!
I look forward to seeing you both on an intermediate course soon!
Categories: Uncategorized | December 1st, 2008 | by mikestafford | no comments
Ladies beginners course 11th October 08.
Great day had by all, with the emphasis on basic skills like front wheel lifts (to get over logs or up steps) , control at slow speeds, advanced braking for safety at speed, climbing steeper trails ect. As you can probably tell from the picture we had one or two laughs along the way. Hope to see you all again in the new year to take things to the next level.
If you are interested in a skills course for ladies only contact me on 07971275184 cheers Mike.
Categories: Uncategorized | December 1st, 2008 | by mikestafford | no comments
Andy, Paul and Dave made the most of a short November day.
Big thumbs up to these guys cold weather and a 4pm night fall didn’t stop them improving their techniques on climbs drops technical descents. Big climb after lunch with strong winds left all with tired legs. The climb up to the Pike was interesting with views of only the bike in front because of the low cloud. We saved the best till last finishing on Georges Lane landing back on the car park just after sunset. Well done chaps see you in the new year for the advanced course.
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