Who can teach trail riding?

[nzspokes]

Looking for a trainer for trail riding. Had my bike for a couple of years but I really seem to not have the skills to match it.

I get way to tired riding just one lap of a farm loop where as others seem to be able to go all day. Wouldnt mind doing the odd Maze race as well for a laugh.

So Is there a trainer for trail riding? I know of Tony at Woodhill but I guess due to my lack of skill that place just seems to hard to ride.

[FJRider]

Get fitter .... go to the gym more ... ;)

[andy 101]

Seat time is what is required, make riding part of your life, enjoy it, get out there when ever you can. and afther a while it will all come together for you.

[flashg]

Looking for a trainer for trail riding. Had my bike for a couple of years but I really seem to not have the skills to match it.



I get way to tired riding just one lap of a farm loop where as others seem to be able to go all day. Wouldnt mind doing the odd Maze race as well for a laugh.



So Is there a trainer for trail riding? I know of Tony at Woodhill but I guess due to my lack of skill that place just seems to hard to ride.


Just ride it as often as you can and try to relax, standing helps to save a lot of energy. There's heaps of YOUTUBE clips regarding enduro training, tips which will show you how to save energy. I always like to do about 100 km's for the day, could be 3 or 4 laps. Gotta get my moneys worth.
PS if you enjoy it you will get good

[neels]

Eat less pies and grow some balls.

Trail riding gets better the fitter and more fearless you are.

Hence why I gave it up.

[Gremlin]

http://www.broxy.co.nz/

Botany Honda recommends him. He'll tailor to you, even my boss did a session with him, with pretty much no gravel experience.

Otherwise Birch as well...

[nzspokes]

Eat less pies and grow some balls.

Trail riding gets better the fitter and more fearless you are.

Hence why I gave it up.

I just fitted new springs to make up for the pies. :clap:

Balls isnt the issue, its the friggin skill to back it up with.

Wouldnt mind finding somewhere close to do some rides.

[Doppleganger]

Fitness is the key, do them regulaly, this time of year there is one on somewhere every weekend.
Next is the bike set up for you? risers on the bars, suspension?

The more you do the better you'll get, watch some of the quicker riders and relax your grip on the bars, its amazing how fatigueing griping the bars too tight can be.

[scott411]

Chris Birch or Broxy would be your best bets,

I think teh Sandpit does some as well, Tony might be worth a call,

[Tazz]

Also take a nose at some of this chaps later vids.

http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/dirt-riding-enduro-cross-training-skills.972472/

[gwynfryn]

Keep your elbows up, stand up as much as you can this forces you to keep your feet on the pegs which aids traction, lowers bikes cog and makes it easier to balance. When you sit make sure its close to the tank esp to weight the front for turning.

Forget the farm rides, ride slower tech rides such as the upcoming ones in river head. If you must ride farm rides find a little hill or area off main track and practice figure 8's etc.
The sandpits fine in winter/wet but not ideal for learning.

Lessons would be great but $$

Stick at it it will get easier

[BuzzardNZ]

Eat less pies and grow some balls.

Trail riding gets better the fitter and more fearless you are.




Fitness is the key,

All sage advice for our rotund KDX rider, but I think he'd be far happier selling the 200 and going to this http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/food-wine/74667356/mixed-reactions-over-400-ticket-prices-to-see-nigella-lawson-in-southland.html

[nzspokes]

All sage advice for our rotund KDX rider, but I think he'd be far happier selling the 200 and going to this http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/food-wine/74667356/mixed-reactions-over-400-ticket-prices-to-see-nigella-lawson-in-southland.html

You would be better off going and washing your bike.

[nzspokes]

Keep your elbows up, stand up as much as you can this forces you to keep your feet on the pegs which aids traction, lowers bikes cog and makes it easier to balance. When you sit make sure its close to the tank esp to weight the front for turning.

Forget the farm rides, ride slower tech rides such as the upcoming ones in river head. If you must ride farm rides find a little hill or area off main track and practice figure 8's etc.
The sandpits fine in winter/wet but not ideal for learning.

Lessons would be great but $$

Stick at it it will get easier

Have been told the Riverhead ones are very hard and dont suit novice riders. Would this only be in winter though? Ive done heaps of MTB riding in there.

I enjoy the farm rides as you get to go places you wouldnt normally but yeah I get the point that its easy riding.

[gwynfryn]

Don't be put off Riverhead. It can be difficult especially after rain, but the club understands this and re-routes the course or puts deviations in, they don't want stuck bikes! Stick to the single arrow track and you will be fine.
Up until two weeks ago it was dry and dusty.
The trail ride this weekend will no doubt incorporate the vinduro course so shouldn't be too taxing.
You won't get a trail ride closer, its nearly on your backdoor.

[nzspokes]

Don't be put off Riverhead. It can be difficult especially after rain, but the club understands this and re-routes the course or puts deviations in, they don't want stuck bikes! Stick to the single arrow track and you will be fine.
Up until two weeks ago it was dry and dusty.
The trail ride this weekend will no doubt incorporate the vinduro course so shouldn't be too taxing.
You won't get a trail ride closer, its nearly on your backdoor.

Cool, cheers. I need to get the bike checked over which wont happen until after xmas. Then will head out to Thundercross to remember how to ride it.

But always liked riverhead so will give one a go.

[Crisis management]

Don't be put off Riverhead, I rode the Vinduro on a twin shock XR200 and had a hoot, it was a lot drier than usual but even muddy it just takes a bit more time and some sharp tyres. If you're finding it hard try getting fitter, I ride a bicycle for fitness and plan on being able to ride flat out for about 90 minutes so I have the necessary fitness for a 3 or 4 hour ride, I'm also 60 in a month (how the fuck did that happen?) so it's quite achievable. I would spend the money on training, I've always learnt something and it makes riding easier, Tony or Chris Birch would be my pick but get something aimed at your skill level, there's nothing more embarrassing than being surrounded by smart arses wheelstanding past you....
Maramarua is good too but, like Riverhead is muddy in the wet, lots of rides coming up, get out there!

[takitimu]

Chris Birch or Broxy would be your best bets,

I think teh Sandpit does some as well, Tony might be worth a call,

What Scott says, both are excellent I've had training from both & I think the best money you can spend on going faster/safer ( no training will make up for my lack of fitness, but that's a whole different story ).

They'll make sure you have the basics right. My one suggestion is write up notes that night & reread them every few months.

Tony's a good bloke who knows his stuff as well, ridden with him, but never had training from him :bleh:

[george formby]

Not sure exactly what you want to learn, technical stuff or how to ride faster but I put a trials bike in the shed a year ago which has transformed my riding. I do basic practice in the garden, full lock turns, steep banks, logs, balance, wheelies etc. I watch the cross training vids then go out and try to put it into practice. Easier to type than do but practice makes perfect. What I've learned in the last year translates straight to my bigger bikes, had a blast at The Farm recently on my CRM, tackling stuff I would have baulked at without the practice. I'm nearly 50 and fitness is not in my vocabulary but better technique has extended my riding time and increased the fun.
I spent Sunday arvo hopping along behind my gasgas trying to put the front wheel back down, half a wheelie..... must find that back brake... But no damage or injury if I have a tumble, the bike is so light and agile.
Summit to think about, anyhoo.
Next time Chris Birch does a clinic at The Farm I will be over it like a rash so I can learn the harder techniques. Nothing like a bit of peer pressure for getting out of the comfort zone.

[Sidey]

Hi Spokes

Chris Birch is quite a good rider, eh? To put it mildly. Guess where he learned his skills: Trials. Same as most of the top guys in extreme enduro. It makes sense: learn at low speed where it doesn't matter if you fall off a bit. Blokes come off trials bikes all the time but nobody gets hurt apart from a bruise or scrape. Go to the Trials Australia website and gobble up the "how to ride" information there. Troll through youtube too. Then get a trials bike and go to Waitemata club trials. See my mate Andrew Meisner there and ask for help with your riding, you'll find the trials boys are friendly and don't mind helping noobies out. Careful though, the trial can be addictive and you might end up liking it more than trailriding!

Cheers ... Sidey

[george formby]

Hi Spokes

Chris Birch is quite a good rider, eh? To put it mildly. Guess where he learned his skills: Trials. Same as most of the top guys in extreme enduro. It makes sense: learn at low speed where it doesn't matter if you fall off a bit. Blokes come off trials bikes all the time but nobody gets hurt apart from a bruise or scrape. Go to the Trials Australia website and gobble up the "how to ride" information there. Troll through youtube too. Then get a trials bike and go to Waitemata club trials. See my mate Andrew Meisner there and ask for help with your riding, you'll find the trials boys are friendly and don't mind helping noobies out. Careful though, the trial can be addictive and you might end up liking it more than trailriding!

Cheers ... Sidey

:banana:Bang on in bold. The wee trials bike encourages shenanigans out of the comfort zone. What's the worst that can happen? Put a foot down or have a mild tumble. The skill set is mad. Just the basic stuff I'm doing is a revelation. Steering with the footpegs, working the suspension for grip, wheelies, stoppies, zaps etc. Balance.... eek. Timing, OMG, it goes on. A revelation in bike dynamics and rider ignorance.

[scott411]

no doubt trials skills help,

but professional coaching helps as well,

in a perfect world you would do both,

BT and Josh both had trials bikes in the shed for play riding/ skill building when they were racing in europe,

[george formby]

no doubt trials skills help,

but professional coaching helps as well,

in a perfect world you would do both,

BT and Josh both had trials bikes in the shed for play riding/ skill building when they were racing in europe,

Yup. Coaching speeds the process up and prevents bad habits becoming ingrained. Daniel at The Farm has offered to do some training with us. Must take him up on it one day.

[nzspokes]

Well went up the Sandpit this morning. Apart from one OTB moment I had a great time. Watched lots of Utube and got tips on how to stand properly.

I can now blitz along on the soft sand at some speed. In fact I started looking for it. :niceone:

Next is learning how to stand on climbs, think my bars could do with being a bit higher.