Gravel Skills Coaching Day @ Winter Gathering
Sunday February 2nd - Peak District
£100 (add on to Winter Gathering ticket)
Join us for a day of skills coaching, focusing on the foundational skills that will enable to you ride on off road gravel trails with more confidence, efficiency and speed.
What can you expect?
A full day of coaching with experienced SITW guides and qualified MTB coaches. In a group setting of max 1:8 instructor:rider ratio, we’ll practice and build confidence in some of the fundamentals of off-road/gravel riding.
We will start with focussing on balance, co-ordination and body position before moving on to braking and how to corner confidently. In the afternoon we’ll put this all into practice on the tracks in Grizedale forest, allowing laods of time for practicing, build confidence and speed.
Agenda
AM session 1: Setting the scene, discussing goals and looking at balance, co-ordination and body position.
AM session 2: We’ll move on to looking at braking and cornering skills.
PM session: After a lunch break, we’ll venture out into the forest to put all the new found skills and theory into the test on gravel tracks. There will be loads of time for practice and individualised feedback.
By the end of the day you will:
Have a brain full of knowledge and tips to go away and practice
Understand the importance of body position on your bike and how this improves balance and co-ordination.
Be more confident riding in the drops of your bike (if you have them!)
Be more confident braking, avoiding skidding.
Be more confident building speed while descending
Be more confident cornering on gravel trails, knowing the most efficient and safe lines.
This session is not:
Whilst the sessions will here will be lots of opportunity for individualised tips and tricks, this isn’t 1:1 skills coaching. It will be a group setting (max 16) with at least 1 leader per 8 riders. We will adapt our plan for the day to the needs and levels of the group, and aim to give you a great platform from which to continue practicing and advancing your skills.
We will be riding on flat and hilly gravel double track trails. Forest roads with smooth gravel and perhaps some sections of looser gravel. We won’t be riding technical off road descents or mountain bike terrain.
FAQ
What about the weather?
We’ll adjust our programme if needed to adapt to weather, but we will go ahead as long as it is safe to! Bring layers and waterproofs (we’ll send a packing list before the event). Our AM session will be at basecamp, and we’ll take opportunities rto warm up over the morning fand have a warm lunch break before heading out to test our new skills in the afternoon.
Fitness level required
The day will be a long day of learning and riding bikes. The morning will take more brain capacity and the afternoon more bike fitness.
In the afternoon we’ll journey through the forest, riding at a slow steady pace and stopping often to practice. You should be comfortable riding a 25km day with around 500m of elevation.
The Peak District is hilly, which is great to allow us to practicing going downhill! It does mean we need to ride up there first though :)
Where/When
Sunday 2nd Feb - 9am - 4:30pm
Thornbridge Outdoors - Great Longstone, Bakewell DE45 1NY
We’ll start with an intro at 9am, with classes running to around 4pm. We’ll have a lunch break in the middle.
What do I need to bring?
Yourself, your bike and any tools/spares that you regularly carry on rides.
Will food and drink be available to buy?
We’ll have a lunch option at basecamp if you need it.
Can I come if I don’t have my own bike?
Yes - but you will need to arrange bike hire. See the Bike Hire info on our Winter Gathering event page.
Can I come if I haven’t got a ticket for the Winter Gathering?
Yes! You have the option to just join us for the Gravel Skills coaching. Simply select only this Add On when buying your ticket.
Refund Policy
Refunds available 45 days before the event. You may transfer your spot to another person up to 14 days before.