MTB SKILLS AND COACHING
Mountain Bike specific skills coaching courses in the Peak District which aim to improve your technical skill and bike handling.
Even as seasoned riders we all fall into bad habits and as with other sports we hit a plateau with improvement. Skills coaching is not just for those riders new to mountain biking we design all our courses to build confidence, technique and bike control through progressive teaching methods, whatever your ability.
So whether you are new to mountain biking and want to grasp the basics, an intermediate rider wanting brush up on the fundamental skills to take your riding to the next level, Or you’re an experienced advanced rider who wants to improve specific aspects of their riding or for improving race results, then have a look at our open and private courses below.
If you requiring bike hire get in touch.
True North Adventures in particularly Jaime the owner has been involved with mountain biking since the early days, from riding in the 90’s riding for Great Britain in World and European Championships through to Enduro racing at World level and standing on the podium at races such as Trans Provence, Ard Moors and Ard Rock and later the setting up the first Peak District e-bike guiding company through to working with Lapierre and Haibike in testing and demonstrating bikes at large events. All our experienced guides and instructors have been using and racing mountain bikes in the UK and abroad with great results for a number of years so we think you will be in great hands.
We operate from a number of locations but in addition we have developed our own private trails and skills area with a number of dedicated features (enduro trails with varying size berms, corners, shutes, rock gardens, roots and ruts, drop offs, jumps and series of table tops), allowing us to focus on specific techniques allowing you to confidently get the most from your mountain bike on the technical sections and downhills too. Whether it’s carrying more speed through corners, hitting jumps and drops or improving your flow on technical trails we can help you.
We use portable training aparatus like manual machines and coaching ramps to allow progression in a controlled envirnoment which allows effective coaching repetition combined with slow motion technology also aids a clear understanding and insight into your riding so you can visually identify where you’ve got it nailed or where you might need some improvement.
Our range of mountain bike courses suit riders of all abilities. Those new to mountain biking through to experienced riders wanting to develop specific skills weather it be beginners looking to get into mountain biking or for advanced riders looking to improve their technique, speed and performance for riding or for improving those stage times for improved results.
From our years of experience through racing at high level at EWS and gravity enduro racing along with our coaching experience we understand the specific principles and requirements for riding mountain bikes so our courses are developed with these techniques in mind. T
We utilise many skills and techniques to help you understand and learn the fundamentals, below are just some of these…
- Bike set up, including tyre choice, correct pressures, functionality of the controls and suspension set-up
- Understanding all the modes and how to use the gearing appropriately
- Utilising modes efficiently to increase battery life and improve power delivery through pedalling efficiency
- How body positioning and weight transfer is so important when handling the extra weight, controlling speed and adopting flow on a trail to bring out speed and minimise risk of it going wrong.
- Using features on a trail to aid grip and control
- Why wheelies and manuals aren’t just for showboating
- How to control traction, especially on technical climbs and understanding the dynamics of body, feet and head positioning in all aspects of riding
- Improving overall bike handling and skill through both physical and mental training approach in a structured format
MOUNTAIN BIKE SKILLS COURSES
Solid Fundamentals - MS01
£90 per person
Course Grading
Our fundamentals course does exactly what it says on the tin! It covers all the fundamental techniques and skills required forming the basis of mountain biking and allowing you to move onto to further courses
Once mastered these skills will set you up on a path for improvement which will ensure you have all the basic skills needed enabling you to progress and enjoy your future riding.
Avoid those bad habits and progress your riding further in less time.
Covering everything from bike set up, balance, cornering with speed and control to small front wheel lifts, drop-offs and getting up technical climbs.
- Location – True North Cycle Hub Private Trails
- Duration: 5-6 hours
- Rider Capacity: 6
- Experience required: Beginner/Intermediate- You’ll need to have ridden a mountain bike off-road before and be comfortable riding on loose off comyou will be able to safely operated the gears and have the mobility to get on and off a traditional mountain bike. (Please contact us if you are 5′ 1” and below)
- Type of trails: Private skills course/Green/Blue trails
- Classroom session included: no
- Hiring bike included: No, Hire bikes are available at extra cost.
- Food Included: No
- You’ll already have some off-road experience riding mountain bikes.
- You’ll be able to ride green and some blue type trails that include loose gravel and stones and small rocks.
- You’ll be well balanced and be able to track stand for at least 2 seconds
- You’re over eighteen unless with an adult.
- You’d love to get stuck in and learn those mountain bike fundamentals to gain more confidence and control and take your riding further.
- We will explore the fundamental skills and techniques of mountain biking that everyone including professionals rely on everyday
- Correct positioning on the bike, this is often referred to as the attack position or what we call our reset position allowing you to be relaxed able to absorb unexpected inputs and which will increase your speed without losing balance or control
- How to lift your front wheel off the ground and use your legs to find grip, balance and speed
- How to ride small drop-offs safely and in balance
- How to move your body on the bike to deal with sharp bumps and simple trail features
- Typical corners you’ll find on a Green and Blue route including small mellow switchbacks, small berms and flat corners
- How to get up and over rocky step ups on climbs
- The basics of trackstanding and low speed balance
Location: True North Cycle Hub, Upper Hulme. Leek. ST13 8TY
Meeting time: 10:00 – 16:00
Once at the hub we will brief you on the days activity whilst you help yourself to a coffee, tea and pastry. From here we will set off to our private skills area just beneath the Roaches for an exciting days e-biking learning the fundamentals.
Towards the end of the course and if time permits we’ll put the new found skills into action and take in a small off-road loop to test them out.
If transporting your bike isn’t an option – or you don’t have an ebike, no problem, use one of ours.
Our fleet bikes are full suspension ebikes, varying from Bosch, Yamaha, Shimano or Fazua motors.
- Hire charge + £80
Select bikes at checkout
Secure Payment:
We accept most major credit and debit cards and with our secure booking system so booking your course couldn’t be easier.
However if you’d prefer to book and pay over the phone please feel free to call us on 01538300517
Ebike Fundimentals - ES2
£90 per person
Course Grading
Having developed the basic skills in the ebike starter course, or you’re already a competent mountain biker.
This intermediate course delves a little deeper, really nailing those fundamental techniques to be able to safely and effectively execute more technical skills, on what is effectively a really heavy bike.
We’ll use our experience from our years of e-biking to help you progress comfortably, allowing you to dynamically move around the bike, use the assistance to generate lift and be able to weight and un-weight the bike allowing for improved flow and speed on the trail.
Getting your suspension set up for you and why tuning your suspension to the trail will enable you to ride trails with more confidence.
We will dive into bike set up like optimising your cockpit and brake lever positioning to help improve the way you ride and develop confidence on your bike.
- Duration: 4-5 hours
- Rider Capacity: 6
- Experience required: Beginner – You’ll need to have ridden a mountain bike off-road before and you will be able to safely operated the gears and have the mobility to get on and off a traditional mountain bike. (Please contact us if you are 5′ 1” and below)
- Type of trails: Private skills course/Green trails
- Classroom session included: no
- Hiring bike included: No, Hire bikes are available at extra cost.
- Food Included: Yes (we will contact you after booking to review dietary requirements)
- You’re over eighteen unless with an adult. Min legal age for riding an e-bike is fourteen years of age.
- You’re curious over the new e-bike craze and want to know more
- You have an e-bike and want to learn the basics and how to get the most out of this trick piece of kit.
- You properly fancy testing an e-bike out to see what all the fuss is about but learning a few basic skills at the same time
- You’d love to gain more confidence and control
- Have a great day and come back with that e-bike smile.
- Understanding e-bike controls, bike care and setup.
- Understanding the importance of power modes, pedalling technique, gear selection and engagement.
- Understanding of the e-bikes low centre of gravity and the importance of how your Body Position, Footwork, Looking and Speed Control effect how you ride the trail withe an e-bikes extra momentum and weight
- Correct cadence and how it affects bike performance and traction
- Improved Braking Techniques
- How to corner safely
- Better body positioning and balance
- The composition of the trail and the importance of why the Entry, Section and Exit and how trails are linked and layered are so important.
- How to look after your e-bike and undertake some critical trailside repairs
- That E-Bikes are Rad!
- We will look at efficient ‘pumping’ techniques which will make the bike work with you to gain free energy on the trail even on an ebike.
Location: True North Cycle Hub, Upper Hulme. Leek. ST13 8TY
Meeting time: 10:00 – 15:00
Once at the hub we will brief you on the days activity whilst you help yourself to a coffee, tea and pastry. From here we will set off to our private skills area just beneath the Roaches for an exciting days e-biking learning the fundamentals.
Towards the end of the course and if time permits we’ll put the new found skills into action and take in a small off-road loop to test them out.
If transporting your bike isn’t an option – or you don’t have an ebike, no problem, use one of ours.
Our fleet bikes are full suspension ebikes, varying from Bosch, Yamaha, Shimano or Fazua motors.
- Hire charge + £70
Select bikes at checkout
Secure Payment:
We accept most major credit and debit cards and with our secure booking system so booking your course couldn’t be easier.
However if you’d prefer to book and pay over the phone please feel free to call us on 01538300517
Ebike Race Ready - ES3
£90 per person
Course Grading
So, you’ve only gone and signed up for your first ebike enduro race.
This full day course has been developed by or instructors with high level ebike race experience to give an insight into what will be expected on the day, from the ever growing discipline of ebike enduro racing.
Our ‘Race Ready’ course focuses on more advanced skills and techniques to give you the confidence at, or to enter, your first ebike race. It will also prepare you for the slightly different format used in ebike racing.
We’ll Iook at the specific skills required to improve your results, to help understand why these skills need to be applied, which in turn will improve your control, speed and flow.
This course however isn’t just suitable for those wanting to race. It’s an ideal course for riders wishing to improve their general trail riding and bring it to a new level but at a higher speed.
- Duration: 4-5 hours
- Rider Capacity: 6
- Experience required: Intermediate/Advanced – Riders wanting to attempt an e-bike race or riders wishing to take their ebike riding to a high level and understand the different techniques and different approach required along with improving e-bike specific skills
- Type of trails: Private skills course/Black/Red trails
- Classroom session included: no
- Hiring bike included: No, Hire bikes are available at extra cost.
- Food Included: No
- You’re over eighteen unless with an adult. Min legal age for riding an e-bike is fourteen years of age.
- You’re curious over the new e-bike craze and want to know more
- You have an e-bike and want to learn the basics and how to get the most out of this trick piece of kit.
- You properly fancy testing an e-bike out to see what all the fuss is about but learning a few basic skills at the same time
- You’d love to gain more confidence and control
- Have a great day and come back with that e-bike smile.
- We will cover all the areas contained within the Improver Course but on slightly more technical terrain, we’ll concentrate in greater detail on the importance of how your Body Position, Footwork, Looking and Speed Control effect how you ride the trail.
- We’ll look at extremely technical climbing and how gear selection, power modes along with body positioning and pedalling cadence all impact on if a climb is rideable or not.
- The composition of the trail and the importance of set up for entry, mid corner and exit to maintain speed
- The importance of pumping and conserving energy by making bike work with you and gain speed from the trail.
- Understanding importance of ‘attention focus’ and when to use it. Use performance cues to focus your concentration. Cue statements help you to focus through challenging environments, situations, and negative obtrusive thoughts that impact performance.
- Race tips from our coaches with years of racing experience.
Location: True North Cycle Hub, Upper Hulme. Leek. ST13 8TY
Meeting time: 10:00 – 15:00
Once at the hub we will brief you on the days activity whilst you help yourself to a coffee, tea and pastry. From here we will set off to our private skills area just beneath the Roaches for an exciting days e-biking learning the fundamentals.
Towards the end of the course and if time permits we’ll put the new found skills into action and take in a small off-road loop to test them out.
If transporting your bike isn’t an option – or you don’t have an ebike, no problem, use one of ours.
Our fleet bikes are full suspension ebikes, varying from Bosch, Yamaha, Shimano or Fazua motors.
- Hire charge + £70
Select bikes at checkout
Secure Payment:
We accept most major credit and debit cards and with our secure booking system so booking your course couldn’t be easier.
However if you’d prefer to book and pay over the phone please feel free to call us on 01538300517
Private Skills Course - PS1
From £100 per person
Course Grading
Our private skills sessions are great for individuals or, groups of friends wanting the most personal tuition.
Our courses are for all ability of rider or riders who prefers the individual tuition and focus only a private course can bring. We can run any of our group courses as a private sessions or we can create a session just for you. You may have a specific target in mind or an event and want to sharpen your skills or get ready for an important race, or you maybe new mountain biking and want to learn at your own pace.
As its totally bespoke to you its the best way to progress your riding and address specific areas.
Operating from various locations including our own private course and purpose made tracks, specifically built with features that enable us to concentrate and really hone in on those skills.
Our private skills area allows us to progress in a controlled environment, we don’t – unlike other companies, have to share our trails with anyone. Therefore, no pressure and more time for you to grasp a technique and practice.
Of course, if you want to combine skills training with a guided ride, then we have some great natural Peak District riding on our doorstep once you’ve developed those techniques and skills.
Locations:
Upper Hulme/Blackshaw Moor Trails – Leek
Farmer Johns – Marple
Wharncliffe-Sheffield
Clipstone Forest – Edwinstowe
Hope Valley – Peak District
- Duration: 5-6 hours
- Rider Capacity: recommended 1-6
- Classroom session included: no
- Hiring bike included: No (Bikes can be hired at booking)
- Private 1:2:1 Session – £220
- Private 2 people – £150pp
- Private 3 people – £120pp
- Private groups between 4-6 £100pp
- You’re over eighteen unless with an adult. Min legal age for riding an e-bike is fourteen years of age.
- Individuals wanting a private session to focus solely on their skills
- Private groups, of similar ability and looking to achieve similar results from the session. Maximum recommended group size 4.
- Those riders wanting to concentrate on a specific skill or skill set and get the best coaching experience
- Experienced riders who’ve hit a plateau and want to improve
- Racers wanting to improve their technique and results.
- Riders wanting instruction in a familiar riding area of their choice. – Contact us to discuss
- This will be personal to your requirements and areas in which you may wish to concentrate on. We will discuss your requirements at booking stage, but if you have a look at our other courses to see what areas of development are available for you.
Location: True North Cycle Hub, Upper Hulme. Leek. ST13 8TY
Meeting time: 10:00 – 15:00
Once at the hub we will brief you on the days activity whilst you help yourself to a coffee, tea and pastry. From here we will set off to our private skills area just beneath the Roaches for an exciting private day e-biking.
If transporting your bike isn’t an option – or you don’t have an ebike, no problem, use one of ours.
Our fleet bikes are full suspension ebikes, varying from Bosch, Yamaha, Shimano or Fazua motors.
- Hire charge + £70
Select bikes at checkout
Secure Payment:
We accept most major credit and debit cards and with our secure booking system so booking your course couldn’t be easier.
However if you’d prefer to book and pay over the phone please feel free to call us on 01538300517
