Gravel Skills Coaching Day
Friday June 7th - Lake District
£100 (add on to Summer 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 two British Cycling qualified coaches Claire Sharpe and Em Wormald. 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 isnt 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.
Meet the team
We’re thrilled to have two female coaches with a wealth of experience of riding gravel all over the world, and who are leaders of their own gravel communities with All Terre Adventure and Lakes Gravel Gang. Claire Sharpe and Em Wormald are not only highly skilled in riding and teaching, but also pro’s at creating supportive spaces in which to learn and build confidence. We’re lucky to have them as part of our SITW guide team too, leading riders on our Lanzarote and Scotland Gravel Camps, and our Intro to Bikepacking weekends.
FAQ
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 must be comfortable riding a 25km day with around 500m of elevation.
The lake district is hilly, which is great to allow us to practicing going downhill. It does though mean that there will be some laps of uphill to get to the downhill!
Where/When
Friday 7th June 9am - 4:30pm
Grizedale Campsite, Bowkerstead Farm, Satterthwaite, Ulverston, Cumbria. LA12 8LL
We’ll start with an intros session at 9am, with classes running to around 4:30pm. We’ll have a lunch break in the middle. Weather dependent, we’ll be undercover in the main barn, or out on the field.
What do I need to bring?
Yourself, your bike and any tools/spares that you regularly carry on rides.
You’ll need camping stuff (tent, mat, bag) for camping on Thursday night, and food for Thursday evening and day time on Friday The campsite also has some basic glamping options available (mat and sleeping bag still required) that can be booked through the ticket page.
What’s included
Camping on Thursday night
Participation in the Gravel School.
Not included
Summer Gathering ticket
Food and drink
Will food and drink be available to buy on Thursday night/Friday daytime?
No - please bring meals and snacks with you.
Can I come if I don’t have my own bike?
Yes - but you will need to arrange bike hire for the day. If keeping the bike for the whole weekend, we suggest Country Lanes cycles by Windermere train station.
Can I come if I haven’t got a ticket for the Summer 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.