Mountain Bike Skills

[bouncer1979]

Anyone know of any groups that teach mountain biking for beginners in the Perth area?

I see info for places in the Eastern States but haven't seen anything for Perth.

Any info appreciated.

Cheers,

Ben

[bennysthe1]

There are no groups that teach as such but there are a few groups that ride on a regular basis. Just tag along with one of them and you will pick it up.

Malaga Cycles has one (not sure where it goes) and TBE Belmont is on Wednesday nights and they usually do Kalamunda/Mundaring Wier.

I am sure there are more shops that do it too that I dont know about.

[Kalgrm]

Ben,

If you jump on the Perth MTB club web site and keep an eye on the "organise a ride" section, you'll often find beginners' rides. Tag onto one of them and watch what others are doing.

I don't know of anybody who does it professionally in Perth. You can pay me to take you on a ride though ...

Cheers,
Graeme

[twowheels]

I seem to remember WAMBA & Mundabiddi doing skills sessions/workshops a couple of years ago, try their web sites

[rolandp]

Aushiker recently posted a link to Muda Biddi Trial which includes the Munda Biddi Trail in Mundaring.

There are a couple of events in March.

[bouncer1979]

Cheers for the info. Will keep an ear out and check with my LBS as well.

[trailgumby]

MTB Skills resources:
DVDs:
I've picked up a bit from a DVD put out by Dirt Magazine (UK) called "Fundamentals". It's downhill-oriented, but it has still been quite useful as this is where crashes hurt the most.

Books:
* Serious Mountain Biking by some Olympian chick whose name I can't recall (the missus has moved the book on me): good cross-country focus - there's some stuff on climbing as well as descending! Good descriptions of the steps involved, good suggestions on how to start to learn the skill without overcommitting and betting the farm.
* Mastering Mountain Bike Skills by Brian Lopes, again DH primarily but some XC stuff as well. Lots of good sequence pix.

[Kalgrm]

Second the motion re the Brian Lopes book. I've got that one and found it very useful.

Another useful book is "Mountain Bike Like A Champion" by Ned Overend (yes, that is his name, and he is a champion.) It's very much aimed at the XC rider.

Cheers,
Graeme

[twowheels]

Mastering Mountain Bike Skills by Brian Lopes

gets another vote! available from Inglewood Public Library!

[bigacorn]

Try the pmbc they do rides at the goat farm on wednesday nights

[trailgumby]

Another useful book is "Mountain Bike Like A Champion" by Ned Overend (yes, that is his name, and he is a champion.) It's very much aimed at the XC rider.

I'll keep my eye out for that one - much prefer the XC-related stuff. I'm too bloody old to afford the consequences of stuffing up downhilling - I don't bounce like I did when I was younger.

I've always wondered whether that was his real name or a stage name...