Ride With Us
Curious ✹ Playful ✹ Confident
These three words sum up our coaching philosophy. Whether you’re brand new to mountain biking or have been shredding double-blacks for years, your riding (and your love for singletrack) will benefit from keeping those three concepts alive in your riding.
Group Skills Clinics
Level 100 Clinics
New to mountain biking? Start here!
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In this introductory course, specifically designed for riders who are new to the sport, you’ll learn the foundations of riding your bike off-road. The course will include skills & drills in a fun and safe environment to start your mountain bike journey off on the right track.
Skills covered:
Bike set-up and safety check
Using your bike’s controllers (brakes, shifters, seatposts)
Mounting and dismounting efficiently and safely
Basic Body Positioning
Climbing and descending skills for green-level trails
Techniques for finding balance and control on off-road surfaces
Details:Prerequisites for this class: A desire to try mountain biking and a good attitude
Duration: 3 hrs
Cost: $145
Location: Ouray County (exact meeting location TBD)
Class size: 2-6 students
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This entry-level course is designed for riders who are new to the sport or new to mountain bike skills instruction, and will build on the skills learned in MTB 101. We will teach the foundations of necessary skills, and offer progressive successions that you’ll practice in a safe & fun environment.
Skills covered:
Quick review of MTB 101 skills
Overcoming obstacles 2” or smaller
Cornering and turning basics
Dynamic climbing positions
Basics of braking techniques
Ascending and descending bails (emergency stops & dismounting on hills)
Starting on a hill
Riding bridges 36” wide
Details:
Prerequisites for this class: MTB 101 or the ability to perform the skills listed in MTB 101
Duration: 3 hrs
Cost: $145
Location: Ouray County (exact meeting location TBD)
Class size: 2-6 students
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This is the final class in the 100 level series and is designed to maximize a rider’s on-trail practice of all the skills covered in MTB 101 & 102. So much learning happens during drills & skills on the grass, but now it’s time to put those skills to practice in real-life trail scenarios. In addition to “sessioning” trail sections, your coaches will also provide spotting, tow-ins, and endless encouragement.
Skills covered:
Quick review of MTB 102 skills
On-trail practice & practical application of all the MTB 101 & 102 skills
Ride Green trails with guidance from our certified coaches
Frequent stopping to “session” or practice skills on certain trail features
Opportunities for spotting, tow-ins, and trailside video feedback
Details:
Prerequisites for this class: MTB 101 & 102 or the ability to perform the skills listed in MTB 101 & MTB 102
Duration: 3 - 4 hrs
Cost: $145
Location: Ouray County (exact meeting location TBD)
Class size: 2-6 students
Level 200 Clinics
Do you consider yourself an intermediate rider? This term can mean different things to different riders, but in our world, it means you aren’t brand new to mountain biking, and you also don’t feel totally proficient in a variety of skills required to really excel on the trails.
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In this class riders will learn the foundations to be confident on Blue trails. We’ll work on skills & drills in a safe and fun environment to improve your execution and timing of the more complex skills in mountain biking like cornering, wheel lifts, navigating technical terrain and so much more.
Skills covered:
Bike Set-up
Body position for technical riding
Braking skills for higher speeds and variable surfaces
Early exit off elevated features or when there is exposure
Climbing and descending skills for blue-level trails
Techniques for finding balance and control on off-road surfaces that may be loose, bumpy, or muddy.
Riding bridges 24” wide
Details:
Prerequisites for this class:
A desire to grow and refine your riding skills
MTB 102 or the ability to perform the skills listed in MTB 101 & 102
You can ride most or all of the green-rated trails you encounter
Duration: 3 hrs
Cost: $145
Location: Ouray County (exact meeting location TBD)
Class size: 2-6 students
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This intermediate course is designed for riders who are eager to build a solid foundation for more technical skills and learn the progressions needed to keep that foundation growing. We’ll teach you the foundations and progressions for a variety of advanced skills necessary to successfully ride technical trails (blue and some black) - all in a safe, controlled environment..
Skills covered:
Quick review of MTB 201 skills
Intro to high speed cornering (flat & berms)
Trackstands and slow speed skills
Tight turns and switchbacks
Basic wheel lifts for getting over obstacles 8” tall or less (climbing and descending, fast and slow)
Riding “skinnies” 12 inches wide
Details:
Prerequisites for this class:
A desire to grow and refine your mountain biking skills
MTB 201 or the ability to perform the skills listed in MTB 201
You can ride most or all of the green-rated trails you encounter
You are starting to feel comfortable riding some/most blue rated trails
Duration: 3 hrs
Cost: $145
Location: Ouray County (exact meeting location TBD)
Class size: 2-6 students
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In this intermediate course, you’ll learn the foundations of roll-downs and drops in a controlled environment. We’ll use props and ramps set up in a direct video feedback is super fun and will provide you with helpful support. So while this won’t be a ride that clocks a lot of miles, it’s sure to help you build your technique in a fun and constructive way.
Skills covered:
Slow speed approaches to roll-downs (up to 24” high)
High speed approaches to roll-downs (up to 24” high)
Slow speed approach to drops (up to 36” high)
Safe landing after both tires catch air
Details:
Prerequisites for this class:
MTB 202 or the ability to perform the skills listed in MTB 201 & 202
Willingness to push your comfort level and try new maneuvers
Duration: 2 hrs
Cost: $125
Location: Ouray County (exact meeting location TBD)
Class size: 2-6 students
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This is the final class in the 200-level series and is designed to maximize students’ on-trail practice of all the skills covered in MTB 201, 202, & 203. So much learning happens during drills & skills on the grass, but now it’s time to put those skills to practice in real-life trail scenarios. In addition to “sessioning” trail sections, your coaches will also provide spotting, tow-ins, and endless encouragement. By piecing together all the skills you worked on in the 200-level series you will start to feel the thrill of flowing blue trails with confidence and ease.
Skills covered:
Quick review of MTB 202 & 203 skills
On-trail practice & practical application of all the MTB 201, 202 & 203 skills
Ride Blue trails with guidance from our certified coaches
Frequent stopping to “session” or practice skills on certain trail features
Opportunities for spotting, tow-ins, and trailside video feedback
Details:
Prerequisites: MTB 203 or the ability to perform the skills listed in MTB 201, 202, & 203
Duration: 3 - 4 hrs
Cost: $145
Location: Ouray County (exact meeting location TBD)
Class size: 2-6 students
Our Coaching Philosophy
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Curious
The thing that makes mountain biking so much fun is that the terrain is constantly changing. We encourage you to be CURIOUS about how your bike responds to those changes. There is no “right” way to mountain bike. Be curious about how little changes to your body position, speed, focus, and pressure change how you handle the trail. Don’t be afraid to play with little - or big - adjustments, for that’s the only way you’ll know what the result will be.
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Playful
Do you remember zooming your banana-seat coaster-brake bike around the neighborhood as a kid? When did we all get so serious? Mountain Biking should be FUN! During our instruction, we’ll remind you again and again to “get playful”, because when you focus too much on all the techniques and doing the “right” thing, your body stiffens up and it all goes to hell, and that’s not very much fun. Keep it playful. Have fun!
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Confident
A little instruction goes a long way toward building confidence - and confidence goes a long way toward better riding. It’s a cycle. If I get all up in my head and convince myself that I can’t make a technical climb, for example, I’m never going to make that technical climb, and in fact will quit before I even give it a real go. Being confident means you get out of your head and try what’s in front of you. We’ll never let you try any obstacle or feature that we don’t think you’re ready for - so have confidence in our assessment and believe you can do it! The other side of confidence is developing the skillset needed to ride the trails you want to ride. Once you learn and practice the foundational skills enough, you’ll have confidence to put them to the test on the trail.
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Progression not Perfection
This is a tough one for most women/femmes to embrace. Who doesn’t want to be perfect? (Me. Perfection is boring.) No matter how long you’ve been riding, you’ll never be “perfect”, so why make that a goal? The aim in our coaching is to show you PROGRESSION. Get a little bit better as the season goes on. That’s it. Just progression. Our curriculum for both group clinics and individual lessons is based on the science of progression. We introduce skills as building blocks - one at a time, and we don’t add another building block until you’re ready for it. This style of coaching helps us to not get overwhelmed or frustrated, and makes sure we still find mountain biking FUN!
Skills Clinics & Group Rides
Don’t have a bike? We have a few full-suspension bikes that you can demo, or we can connect you with a local bike shop and their demo fleet. Contact us to see what’s available.
Our currently scheduled Skills Clinics & Rides are on the calendar below. If you see something that interests you but you can’t make that time or date, please reach out to us. We’re open to adding more clinics if the demand is there!
Free Group Rides
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Ridgway, CO | 4:00pm:
Join us every Tuesday for a FREE no-drop, social pace, women/femme only ride at the RAT Trails in Ridgway, Colorado.
Meet at the RAT parking lot on County Road 10. Wheels down at 4:00pm.
No-drop = we don’t leave anyone behind, even if you’re walking your bike the whole way.
Social pace = this isn’t a race - we ride at a carry-on-a-conversation pace.
Women/Femme = you identify as female, non-binary, or trans female. If you’re comfortable in this setting, your presence is celebrated. -
Post-Ride Co-Ed Social | Ridgway, CO
After Tuesday’s group ride, join us at the Colorado Boy Depot in Ridgway for a beverage and all-gender community social! (The dudes can come to this one. Unless they’re jerks.)
N/A beverages and local craft beer brewed on the spot are available for purchase.
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Skills Clinics
All of our clinics are capped at six participants each - that’s the sweet spot between being able to give each participant the individual attention you deserve and the fun of a group clinic setting. We also carefully screen all new registrations - if we don’t think the clinic you want to take is a good fit for your riding level, we’ll suggest another alternative. This allows the group to move forward with progression and makes sure you don’t get in over (or under) your head.
Lessons & Coaching
Not a fan of the group setting? We’ve got you. Contact us to book a private lesson to focus on one or a few specific skills.
Mechanic Clinics
Fix your own damn bike. That is all. Our mechanic clinics are hands-on and taught in a “just the facts” way. No geeking out or debating whether SRAM is superior to Shimano - just basic tuning and maintenance skills that we’ll do over and over until you feel confident. Even if you never work on your own bike again after attending one of these clinics, the fact that you understand how these systems work will make you a more confident rider.
