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David Hogan

Mountain biking is more than just a hobby, it's an exciting way of life.

Riding a mountain bike is excellent for your physical and mental health and provides a lifestyle that you'll fall in love with. We understand the feeling of newness when you first get on your bike and we are here to make sure your experience is enjoyable and safe from the very first ride.

Whether you are an avid racer or weekend warrior, your passion lies with mountain biking and we have the solution to take your game to the next level.

Read more

Mountain biking is more than just a hobby, it's an exciting way of life.

Riding a mountain bike is excellent for your physical and mental health and provides a lifestyle that you'll fall in love with. We understand the feeling of newness when you first get on your bike and we are here to make sure your experience is enjoyable and safe from the very first ride.

Whether you are an avid racer or weekend warrior, your passion lies with mountain biking and we have the solution to take your game to the next level.

In this course, you'll learn how to ride your mountain bike with confidence and ease. We'll cover all the skills you need to stay safe and enjoy the sport, from beginner to advanced levels. You'll never be caught off guard on the trail again.

Do you wish you could tap into the wealth of knowledge and expertise of a professional in any field? Imagine being able to swap minds with them and immediately having access to their skills.

With these mountain biking courses, we aim to provide riders and racers with a concise summary of everything we have learnt throughout our careers. This includes skills, tips, tricks, training, mistakes and all other aspects of mountain biking. By presenting this information in an easy-to-understand manner, we hope to help people develop good habits and improve their abilities while improving as fast as possible.

Mountain biking is a sport with many facets, and one of the most important is technique. Too often, rider focus exclusively on fitness, strength and endurance training without paying attention to their skills. This leads to being left behind on technical sections of the trail.

A well-rounded rider is one who is proficient in all aspects of the sport. They have the fitness to ride all day, the strength to power through tough sections, and the skills to make it look easy. By focusing on becoming a more complete rider, you will be able to take your riding to the next level.

Our goal is to provide you with the skills and confidence you need to achieve your riding goals in the safest and quickest way possible.

Whether you're just starting out or pushing for more advanced goals, we hope to give you the tools you need for success.

This course is broken into three main categories:

  1. Bike body skills - Building a strong foundation for your biking skills starts with understanding how your body interacts and moves with your bike. Our detailed step-by-step courses will help you develop this critical connection, building upon the skills learned in each section.

  2. Terrain - Biking is a great way to get around, but it can be tough to navigate everything that mother nature can throw at you. However, with a little understanding of the mechanics behind what your bike is doing on the trail, you can start to overcome any obstacles that have been holding you back. So buckle up and let's explore some basic bike handling tips to help you take on anything the trail throws your way.

  3. Bike skills - Mountain biking is all about confidence. How your bike moves and interacts with you is the key to success. We believe that learning should be a progressive process, so we give you the ability to build one skill into the next. This way, you'll never be left in the dark when you need it most.

Hope to see you on the trail soon.

Enroll now

What's inside

Syllabus

How your body interacts and moves with your bike is fundamental to building a strong foundation Bike Body Skills bridge the connection between you and your bike
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Breaks down mountain biking into three core categories, which are bike body skills, terrain, and bike skills, providing a structured learning path
Covers skills from beginner to advanced levels, ensuring riders of all levels can find value and improve their abilities
Emphasizes the importance of technique alongside fitness, strength, and endurance, which is often overlooked but crucial for well-rounded riders
Includes topics like 'Crashing - Part 1' and 'Crashing - Part 2', which acknowledges the realities of the sport and prepares riders for potential setbacks
Features sections on 'Scrubbing & Squashing' and 'Whipping,' which are advanced techniques that appeal to experienced riders looking to refine their skills
Includes a section on 'Filming Yourself,' which suggests an understanding of modern riders' desire to document and share their experiences

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Reviews summary

Comprehensive mountain biking skills guide

According to students, this course is a comprehensive guide covering a wide range of mountain biking skills, suitable for beginners through to more advanced riders. Learners frequently highlight the clear explanations, practical demonstrations, and how the structured approach helps build confidence and improve technique on the trails. While some advanced techniques could potentially benefit from more in-depth coverage, the course is widely seen as a valuable resource for skill development.
Good for beginners, maybe slow for experts.
"As a beginner, I found the pace perfect. It didn't rush through things."
"Someone already comfortable with the basics might find the initial sections a bit slow."
"I came in with some experience, and while the advanced parts were useful, the early lessons felt repetitive for me."
Course is a guide, practice is essential.
"This course gives you the tools, but you absolutely have to put in the hours practicing the skills yourself."
"Don't expect to watch and instantly ride like a pro. It requires dedication and repetition."
"The real learning happens when you take the techniques from the videos onto the dirt and practice."
Skills build logically from one lesson to next.
"The way the course is structured, building from body position to more dynamic skills, makes perfect sense."
"I liked how each lesson seemed to build upon the previous one, reinforcing the basics before moving on."
"The progressive learning path outlined in the syllabus was effectively delivered in the videos."
Significantly improves rider confidence.
"After taking this course, I feel way more confident tackling obstacles I used to avoid on the trail."
"It really helped me overcome my fear of drops and technical sections."
"My confidence has soared since practicing the techniques shown here. I feel much safer too."
Instruction is easy to follow with good demos.
"The instructor explains everything really clearly, and the camera angles for the demos are perfect."
"I found the step-by-step breakdown of each skill very easy to understand and replicate."
"Great teaching style. Made complex moves seem approachable through simple steps and clear visuals."
Covers many skills from basic to advanced.
"The course really does cover a huge range of skills, from basic body position right up to jumps and drops."
"I appreciated how it touched upon so many different techniques. It felt very complete."
"This course is great as it starts with the fundamentals and progressively moves to more complex maneuvers like wheelies and manuals."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in How to Mountain Bike! Including all the MTB Skills and tips with these activities:
Review Basic Bike Mechanics
Reinforce your understanding of how your bike works before diving into advanced techniques.
Show steps
  • Watch videos on basic bike maintenance.
  • Practice simple repairs like changing a tire.
  • Familiarize yourself with bike components.
Read 'Zinn & the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance'
Expand your knowledge of bike maintenance with a detailed guide.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Zinn & the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance'.
  • Read chapters relevant to common maintenance tasks.
  • Practice the techniques described in the book on your own bike.
Read 'Mastering Mountain Bike Skills'
Supplement the course material with a well-regarded book on mountain biking skills.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Mastering Mountain Bike Skills'.
  • Read chapters relevant to the course syllabus.
  • Practice the techniques described in the book.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Practice Lifting Front Wheel
Improve your ability to lift the front wheel, a fundamental skill for navigating obstacles.
Show steps
  • Find a safe, flat area to practice.
  • Start with a slow rolling speed.
  • Practice lifting the front wheel gradually.
  • Increase speed and height as you improve.
Volunteer at a Trail Building Day
Learn about trail maintenance and contribute to the mountain biking community.
Show steps
  • Find a local trail building organization.
  • Sign up for a trail building day.
  • Participate in trail maintenance activities.
  • Learn about trail design and construction.
Create a Video Analysis of Your Riding
Record and analyze your riding to identify areas for improvement.
Show steps
  • Record yourself riding on different terrains.
  • Review the footage and identify areas for improvement.
  • Focus on body position, technique, and line choice.
  • Share your analysis with other riders for feedback.
Build a Small Jump or Obstacle
Design and build a small jump or obstacle to practice your skills.
Show steps
  • Research different jump and obstacle designs.
  • Choose a design that is appropriate for your skill level.
  • Gather the necessary materials.
  • Build the jump or obstacle safely and securely.
  • Test the jump or obstacle and make adjustments as needed.

Career center

Learners who complete How to Mountain Bike! Including all the MTB Skills and tips will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Mountain Bike Guide
A mountain bike guide leads individuals or groups on mountain biking excursions, ensuring their safety and enjoyment. They often provide instruction on technique and trail etiquette. This course may help someone become a more effective guide by giving them a deeper understanding of mountain biking skills, including body positioning, navigating various terrains like roots and rock gardens, and executing advanced maneuvers. With the ability to build one skill into the next, this course will help one learn how to teach the fundamentals of bike handling as well as how to overcome obstacles on the trail. A potential mountain bike guide will find the course helpful in learning to improve their overall abilities.
Adventure Tour Guide
An adventure tour guide leads tourists on exciting and challenging outdoor adventures, such as mountain biking trips. This course may help an adventure tour guide to develop their mountain biking skills, allowing them to lead more challenging and rewarding trips. The course will also show the tour guide how to ensure the safety of their clients while they navigate demanding landscapes. In particular, this course discusses how to build one skill into the next. An adventure tour guide will find the course beneficial as they learn how to provide quality rides and experiences.
Park Ranger
Park rangers protect natural resources and provide visitor services in parks and recreational areas. They use mountain bikes to patrol trails, respond to emergencies, and educate the public. This course may help park rangers to improve their riding skills, enabling them to navigate challenging terrain and respond effectively to incidents. It may also help them to better understand bike maintenance and safety. Park Rangers will find this course helpful for learning about the mechanics of what your bike is doing on the trail. With confidence, a potential park ranger will learn the skills to navigate nature.
Bike Patrol
Bike patrol officers maintain order and safety in parks, trails, and other recreational areas using mountain bikes. They respond to emergencies, enforce regulations, and provide assistance to the public. This course may help a bike patrol officer improve their riding skills, allowing them to navigate challenging terrain and respond effectively to incidents. It may also help them to develop a better understanding of bike handling, safety, and maintenance. A bike patrol officer will find the course helpful in learning to overcome obstacles on the trail. The course will help one learn to develop bike body skills, terrain skills, and bike skills.
Cycling Coach
A cycling coach trains athletes to improve their performance in cycling competitions or recreational riding. Coaches develop training plans, provide technical guidance, and offer motivation. This course may help cycling coaches by providing them with a structured approach to teaching mountain biking skills. By breaking down complex techniques into easy-to-understand steps, the course may help coaches to effectively communicate with their athletes. The course will also show coaches the importance of building a strong grounding by focusing on fitness, strength, and endurance. The detailed step by step courses covered here will help the coach to develop the critical connection that drives success.
Outdoor Educator
An outdoor educator leads groups in outdoor activities, teaching them about nature, conservation, and outdoor skills. This course may help an outdoor educator incorporate mountain biking into their programs, providing participants with a fun and engaging way to explore the outdoors. Additionally, it can help them to teach participants about bike safety and trail etiquette. An outdoor educator will find this course helpful in learning how to build terrain skills, and learn to overcome obstacles along the trail. The course will show how to create confidence in mountain biking.
Summer Camp Counselor
A summer camp counselor supervises and mentors children in a summer camp setting, leading activities and ensuring their safety and well-being. This course may help a summer camp counselor to incorporate mountain biking into their camp's program, providing campers with a fun and healthy outdoor activity. The course will also help them to teach campers about bike safety and trail etiquette. In particular, this course gives a background in the mechanics of riding a mountain bike. This may assist a summer camp counselor in teaching these mechanics to children.
Bicycle Mechanic
A bicycle mechanic repairs and maintains bicycles, ensuring they are safe and functional. They diagnose mechanical problems, replace parts, and perform tune-ups. This course may help a bicycle mechanic to gain a better understanding of how mountain bikes function, improving their ability to diagnose and repair issues. It may also help them to develop a more nuanced understanding of different riding styles and their impact on bike maintenance. It may be useful for a bicycle mechanic to understand techniques for conquering challenging terrain, for example. This course will assist in their understanding of the basics of bike mechanics.
Ski Resort Employee
During the off-season, ski resorts often offer mountain biking activities to attract visitors. Employees may maintain trails, rent bikes, or provide instruction. This course may help a ski resort employee to develop their mountain biking skills, allowing them to work in these roles. It may also help them to better understand bike maintenance and safety. With this course, a ski resort employee may learn how to ensure the safety of mountain bikers. Ski resort employees will find the course helpful for learning the basics of biking.
Bicycle Shop Employee
Individuals working in bicycle shops may sell, repair, or rent mountain bikes. This course will help them gain a deeper understanding of mountain biking, enhancing their ability to advise customers and service bikes effectively. The course will also show them how to assess the needs of their clients and customers. Bike shop employees will find the course beneficial for learning the basics of mountain biking. The course provides riders and racers with a concise summary of mountain biking, which can be helpful in a customer facing role.
Recreation Director
A recreation director plans, organizes, and directs recreational activities and programs for a community or organization. This course may help a recreation director to develop mountain biking programs, such as guided rides, skills clinics, and races. The skills taught in this course may also help them to train staff and ensure the safety of participants. It will be useful for a recreation director to improve their understanding of challenging terrains, for example. The detailed courses covered here will allow the recreation director to hit the ground running with programming.
Personal Trainer
A personal trainer designs and implements exercise programs for individual clients. Incorporating mountain biking into a client's fitness routine can provide a challenging and enjoyable workout. This course might help a personal trainer learn how to incorporate mountain biking into their repertoire, enhancing their ability to provide valuable services. The course will also show them how to assess the needs of their clients. By focusing on becoming a more complete rider, a personal trainer can help their client take their riding to the next level.
Fitness Instructor
A fitness instructor leads group exercise classes, such as spinning or outdoor cycling programs. This course may help a fitness instructor to develop new and engaging cycling programs, expanding their class offerings. The course will also show them how to assess the needs of their clients. A knowledgeable fitness instructor can help their clients take their riding to the next level. This course may be helpful for learning how to build one skill into the next.
Event Planner
An event planner organizes and manages events, such as mountain bike races or festivals. This course may help an event planner to better understand the needs of mountain bikers, improving their ability to plan successful events. An event planner will find the course beneficial for making sure that events are safe and fun. By presenting events in a easy to understand manner, events planners can help people develop good habits and improve their abiliites while improving as fast as possible.
Physical Therapist
Physical therapists help patients recover from injuries and improve their physical function. This course may help a physical therapist to better understand the biomechanics of mountain biking, enabling them to develop more effective rehabilitation programs for injured riders. The course may also help them to advise patients on how to prevent injuries. In particular, the course shares information in an easy to understand manner.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in How to Mountain Bike! Including all the MTB Skills and tips.
Comprehensive guide to mountain biking techniques, covering everything from basic skills to advanced maneuvers. It is commonly used as a reference by both beginners and experienced riders. The book provides detailed explanations and illustrations, making it easy to understand and apply the techniques. It adds depth to the course by providing a more in-depth look at the skills covered.
Comprehensive guide to mountain bike maintenance and repair. It covers everything from basic tune-ups to advanced repairs. It useful reference tool for any mountain biker who wants to be able to maintain their own bike. It adds breadth to the course by providing a more in-depth look at bike maintenance.

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