What we’re about
MTB Beginners Progression Series
NEW MEMBER RULES:
Welcome! Thanks for your interest in our group. Feel free to sign up for an event. Due to limited spots, and in order to keep the group and events available to people, remember, you must RSVP; if you RSVP, don’t show up, and don’t cancel 24hrs before the event, then you will be band from the group.
To be accepted as a member, you must (1) have a clearly visible photo of yourself; (2) have a bike or rent one; (3) comply with all safety requirements described below (including having a helmet); (4) meet basic biking proficiency as defined below; (5) be kind and respectful to all other members and riders on the trail; and (6) read the entire description below before registering as a new member and showing up for an event.
Introduction
Interested in trying out mountain biking (“MTBing”) or building your skills and confidence? Join other women and men (ages 18 to 45) who have fun learning and socializing together! No judgment, just fun. You don’t have to be good or athletic. We all started somewhere. You can start here with us!
Pick the day that fits you best based on your experience level (see below) and bring your bike and helmet. We look forward to meeting you!
What is this?
We are hosting a Meetup where you can get instruction, tips, and tricks to mountain biking in a progressive series. This beginner series will include three weekly sets of meetups (progressive stages, levels B1, B2, and B3) to improve your biking abilities. These meetups are free and will repeat weakly throughout the spring, summer, and fall on the same day, time, and place.
Who is this Meetup for, and how “good” do I need to be?
This is for people that don’t consider themselves “bikers” but want to be; it’s for people that know how to ride a bike (more or less) proficiently but have never mountain biked, or for people that have occasionally mountain biked but don’t feel confident on beginner to intermediate trails or terrain. People that didn’t grow up on or have a local school mountain bike team. People looking for a new hobby or getting better at one they already have or forgot about. People like this: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5385uxvM80/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
The goal is to take you from “I can confidently ride around the neighborhood streets, but I want to try some trails” (level B1) to “I confidently enjoy green (easy/beginner) trails. I can navigate small obstacles (rocks, roots, drops 3-9 inches) at at medium to fast speeds on an easy trail” (level B3). And for some, initiate small drops, bumps, whoops, jumps, and ride intermediate trails at slow to medium speeds (I1, intermediate 1). We hope you get to the intermediate level where you feel comfortable riding on your own or in groups on green and blue terrain at varying speeds.
Who is hosting and providing instruction?
This is all volunteer and community based event. Instruction will be provided by a certified ski instructor, with a life time of experience biking and teaching. He has a love for biking that he wants to share and cultivate with others. Your fellow pears may also help you and you them as you each progress.
Schedule
Days and Levels
Mondays (level 1 beginner, B1)
Tuesdays (level 2 beginner, B2)
Wednesdays (level 3 beginner B3)
TBD Saturdays (occasional intermediate and advanced riders).
Which day/level should I attend and what should I expect on the different days?
Skill levels are not strictly defined with any clear lines and there are overlaps, but below you will find a good starting point for assessing your own abilities and which rides might be fore you. Levels are generally broken down by terrain type, speed, and trail type.
Level B1 (beginner 1)
B1 Prerequisites: You have never (or rarely ever) MTBed before, but know how to ride a bike reasonably well. You don’t struggle with balance, starting, stoping, turning or braking at medium to fast speeds on flat or hilly paved roads.
B1 Summary: In B1, we will spend time talking about bike parts, basic challenges and techniques and how to over come them. We will ride on open flat ground while practicing shifting, turning, braking, and balance at different speeds and on different surface conditions (cement and dirt).
B1 Terrain: Riding will be on wide open flat cement and dirt areas with a very slight incline or decline, with some declines on cement or paved areas and roads.
B1 Goals: Rider is comfortable and confident riding on wide open flat ground with loose dirt and gravel at slow to medium speeds (about 1-8mph, walking to jogging speed); rider can start, ride, turn, and brake to a stop in this terrain and at these speeds; rider is comfortable peddling while standing up in this terrain and at these speeds. My try small obstacles like riding up or down curbs or over small rocks.
Level B2 (beginner 2)
B2 Prerequisites: You’re proficient at all B1 skills and goals. B2s are confident in their ability to ride and brake on flat dirt terrain at slow and medium speeds generally; they have ridden a few easy green dirt trails (wide or narrow); they are starting to ride on small inclines; they are starting to ride on fire roads and some narrower single track trails).
When riding up hills, B2s struggle with shifting; they lack confidence maintaining steady speeds down small hills; B2s are somewhat uncomfortable on gravel sections on hills; B2s aren’t sure when to stand or sit; B2 turns on narrow trails are often too tight, too wide, or unsteady; they often stop on the trail due to lack of confidence or balance; they don’t yet feel comfortable on narrower trails when making turns.
B2 Summary: We will discuss trail educate and safely principles, practice/increase in proficiency of shifting, maintaining momentum, braking down small hills, turning on small and wide trails, and navigating obstacles (rocks, roots, trees).
B2 Terrain: Rides will be on dirt and gravel trails that wind and are wide (2-3 bikes wide) or narrower (1 bike wide); there will be flats areas and small to medium inclines and declines, with slow to medium speeds (about 3-8mph, walking to jogging speed). May attempt riding on small berms (turns with a small hill directing your path).
B2 Goals: proficiently rides up hills while maintaining speed and shifting between gears without stopping; confidence maintaining steady speeds down small hills at slow to medium speeds; proficient braking down small gravely hills; knows when to stand and sit, and does it most of the time; feels fairly comfortable and often picks and maintains good consistent lines though turns on narrow trails (not too wide, or unsteady most of the time); rarely stops on uphill east to medium trails due to lack of confidence or balance.
Level B3 & I1 (beginner 3 to intermediate 1)
B3 prerequisites: you have mastered all B1 skills and terrain at medium speeds, and you are proficient (or master) at all B2 skills at slow to medium speed levels.
Summary: We will be riding about 50% easy terrain at medium speed, and 50% medium terrain at slow to medium speeds. There will be limited instruction.
B3 goals: get comfortable and confident at (1) standing while peddling up and down hill at medium speeds; (2) riding and baking down small obstacles or drops (3-9 inches or about the size of a curb) at medium speeds; (3) braking quickly before tighter turns down hills at medium speeds; (4) ride small to medium berms at medium speeds; (5) working on riding slow to medium speeds on medium terrain;
Intermediate rides (I1 and I2)
On Saturdays, we will be riding a fun intermediate trail. No instruction, just fun and practice.
How do I know I’m ready for the next level?
The first rule of any outdoor activity, is stay in control, the second is learn, and the third is have fun. The B1, B2, and B3 levels are each meant to provide skills and challenges push your comfort zone but not exceed your level of control. If you are able to proficiently and comfortably execute the tasks and skills while maintaining control of one level, then you are ready to attempt the challenges of the next. Based on your performance, you decide when and how fast you progress, which level to attend, and what challenges and obstinaos you take on. You can attend the same level as many times as you’d like.
Depending on how fast you learn and how comfortable you feel after each meetup, you can repeat each level once a week until you feel ready to move to the next level, or you can attend each level progressively through that same week until you feel ready for the intermediate Saturday ride.
Those that complete the level 3B, and don’t feel the need to repeat it are welcome to join the non instructional intermediate meetup on Saturdays.
What do I need to bring?
- You. Yourself and a positive growth mindset. Spectators/future bikers are welcome.
- Bike. This a BYOB event. You must bring your own bike or borrow a friends. If you don’t have a bike, you can buy or rent one from the local bike shop. If you aren’t sure which bike you should buy, ask the host for a copy of his bike buyers guide for beginners.
- Helmet. You must have a mountain bike specific helmet (one that covers the top, back, and sides of your head but leaves the ears exposed).
- Shoes. You must have a pair of good athletic shoes. No specific type is necessary but some with flat stuff flat bottoms are best, like Vans.
- Gloves. While not strictly necessary, a pair of full finger biking gloves are recommended and will help protect your hands from over sweating or scrapes in minor falls.
- Water. Don’t get dehydrated. No you can’t have mine. Even a basic plastics disposable one from the gas station works.
- Snacks. Always good to avoid hangry people.
- Other. If you have a pump, tools, patches, tubes, etc. feel free to bring them just in case but they aren’t must haves.
Safety and Injury
The primary difficulty of mountain biking is learning to control the bike on unstable dirt, gravel, and rocky terrain. From the beginning you must accept that you will likely slip, slide, skid, and possibly fall when practicing, even on beginner terrain. That is part of the challenge and fun when riding. Minor bruises and scrapes are common in mountain biking, regardless of the terrain level. On beginner terrain, major cuts, brakes, and other injuries are highly unlikely and rare (almost impossible). On advancing to intermediate terrain, such major injuries are more possible but, again, unlikely if you maintain control and don’t exceed your abilities.
Legal Disclaimer.
Attendees and registrants are participants (“you”), and by registering or attending this event or series of events, all participants agree to the terms below.
Mountain biking is an inherently risky and dangerous activity with possible injuries ranging from minor scratches and scrapes broken bones, other fractures, head injuries (TBIs), and even death.
By registering or attending, each person chooses to participate at their own risk. You alone as a participant, not the instructor, chose what level of skills you have, which terrain, obstacles, and risks you are ready to attempt and take. You alone assume responsibility for the injuries you sustain or inflict, if any. Participants must act responsibility and with reasonable caution, restraint, and control at all times and particularly when in the proximity of other people and property.
This is a volunteer event. The hosts and instructors, and participants are not paid nor pay for participation. Hosts and instructors are simply providing a time and community for people interested in improving their availabilities. No instructor, host, or participant asserts, assumes (intentionally or unintentionally) any responsibility or duty for any other person or participant. The term instructor will not be construed to or actually assign a legal duty or responsibility for safety or care of participants. Each attendee and participant is solely responsible for their own participation and the injuries and consequences of their participation. Hosts and instructors are not responsible for the actions or inactions of participants. All hosts and instructors explicitly assign all risk of injury and damage of a participant to the participants. You waive and will not hold the host or instructors liable for any injuries sustain in connection to this event. Participants waive all tort claims for negligence against the host and instructors. By registering or attending, a participant agrees to all disclaimers, disclosures, and waivers stated herein.
