March 18, 2012 9:00 AM. 3 attended.
Mountain Bike Skills Workshop! (For everyone!)
Take advantage of AW's massively discounted rate and take part in a Mountain Bike Skills Workshop! Bike hire available!
While this is not a beginners course, if you are a beginner and are worried it will be too difficult, don't stress, the Phundamentals applies to absolutely everyone and is very simple to do. You will notice an instant improvement in your confidence and balance.
What we're doing:
In this 4 hour clinic, provided by Carl of MTB Skills Clinics, you will learn how to set and maintain a stable platform which gives you control of the bike for traction and obstacle absorption. If you think about all of the problem areas; corners, slippery mud/sand/gravel, roots, rocks, braking bumps, drops, jumps etc, they all fit into one or both of those areas. You either slip or skid in the loose surface or have trouble negotiating obstacles. It is amazing how important this platform is and how counter-intuitive it is to what we are told or what we "think" is logical.
What to bring:
* Bike
* Helmet
* Snacks
* Might be worth bringing a spare tube in case of puncture.
What to wear:
If you wake up and it is sunny and warm your normal riding attire will be fine, if the weather is cold or wet it will not. When doing a skills clinic you will be taking instruction and won’t be riding continuously so your standard wet weather outfit won’t suffice. It is not the instructor’s responsibility to keep you warm if you are unprepared (although they will do their best to keep you moving as much as possible).
Health problems and existing injuries:
If you have a health condition that you think your instructor should know about please contact us prior to the clinic. Likewise if you have an old (or new) injury that may affect your ability to ride please inform the instructor on the day as it will be taken into consideration.
Bike set-up:
On the Phundamentals, bike set-up is an integral part of your ability to ride well and we take steps to make you as comfortable on your bike as possible. This can take some time on the day but is essential to the skill techniques that you will be taught. The best way to think about bike set-up is that you are getting a free set-up and mechanics lesson and a relaxing start to the day. Wearing warm clothes will combat the cold weather and you can also slip off a quick ride while other people’s bikes are being set up.
Any more questions?
Contact Carl 021 959 654
Cost: $80 - this is a $40 discount! Please pay to:
Dan Smith
National Bank
06 0606 0043574 00
Time: From 9 - 1pm
7 people (incl the host) req'd for the course to go ahead.
Once you have RSVPed:
Fill out the following and send to Dan via the website:
NAME:
AGE:
SEX:
CLINICS COMPLETED:
EMAIL:
CELL PHONE:
NEXT OF KIN:
NEXT OF KIN PHONE:
Also -- we need to know ASAP if people need to hire a bike so we can organise this
Clinic postponement date In the case of extremely bad weather or insufficient numbers this clinic will be postponed.
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Gareth Humphreys
Would love to have done this! But clashes with another event I'm on. Hope another gets arranged.
Posted February 23 at 7:11 AM -
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Dan
Hi all, if you need to hire a bike, I got a quote from James @ Dirt Merchants at 93 Aro Street, who would do a 1/2 day hire (but full day to return) for $35 per bike (usually $50 for a full day to return). That was for 6 bikes, so I need to confirm that the same price will stand if we only grab one or two. http://mountainbikingwellington.com/rental-info/our-bikes...
- Cannondale F72. The sooner we can confirm how many bikes we need the better our chances are of securing them. Cheers, DanPosted February 23 at 12:38 PM -
Adam
Hi Dan. I'd need a bike, but on that link it says that $35 for half day is the standard price for 1 bike (unless I've missed something?). I wonder how this compares with hiring the bike from the company that's doing the course?
Posted February 23 at 2:08 PM -
Dan
Hi Matt, when I negotiated with James he said that he would give us the bikes for the whole day so we had time to get them back (the course was originally going to be run out at Wainuiomata rather than Makara). A full day usually costs $50, so $35 was discounted. MTB Skills themselves do not hire bikes, they suggested James as our go to guy in Wellington. They also suggested On Yer Bike, if you wanted to check the rates there. Cheers, Dan
Posted February 23 at 5:59 PM -
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Adam
Thanks Dan - that's great that they allow the whole day rental for the price of half. $35 is fine, I don't think we'll get less than that!
Posted February 23 at 9:00 PM -
Wiebe Baron
Couldn't resist this one. For those driving, note that the map link above is pointing to Makara rather then Makara Peak.
Posted February 24 at 9:58 AM -
Dan
Hi all, unfortunately Saturday's forecast is looking a bit iffy, so we'll confirm tomorrow morning whether the clinic is going ahead or whether it will be postponed, and when it will be postponed to. Cheers, Dan
Posted March 1 at 2:03 PM -
Adam
Yes I saw that just now too. If it's postponed, count me in for the next one!
Posted March 1 at 2:40 PM -
Bharat Sangekar
Are we calling it off yet? http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6505984/Atrocious-weather...
Posted March 1 at 3:34 PM -
Bharat Sangekar
and sorry Dan, just saw the email about a prior bank transfer, was assuming cash on the day works fine as mentioned here. Don't think learning skills on a slippery trach would help much, count me in for a sunny day :-).
Posted March 1 at 3:36 PM -
Adam
lol that article reads "These may be severe and damaging in some areas, particularly on Saturday morning" I think that's our answer then! Shame i was looking forward to it.
Posted March 1 at 4:18 PM -
jon
enjoy - would come, but it's the karapoti that day... and biking in the rain and wind is fun!
Posted March 1 at 11:45 PM -
Bharat Sangekar
Just back from the forecast room (happen to work at Metservice) & phrases like "historic event" & "record amounts of rainfall" were mentioned for tomorrow, strong winds all over north island, a severe weather warning has been issued. Don't know how Karapoti or the Martinborough fair is going to go ahead, but given how exposed Makara is and the fact that we would need to stand for 2 hours in the first half of the session in windy conditions doesn't sound too awesome.
Posted March 2 at 10:35 AM -
Dan
Thanks Bharat, good to know we have friends in high places ;-).
I've emailed everyone to let them know that this clinic will be POSTPONED UNTIL SUNDAY 18TH MARCH, and to please let me know if you've paid but can't make the new date :).
Cheers,
DanPosted March 2 at 10:58 AM -
Bharat Sangekar
Thanks Dan. If by high places you mean top of the Botanical gardens, then indeed yes, haha. And not sure about Sunday, Saturday's work better for me, but will know closer to the date, till then do I have to change my RSVP to No?
Posted March 2 at 12:17 PM -
Dan
@Bharat, the sooner you can let us know the sooner someone else can grab your spot.
I've also updated the map to point to the Makara Peak car park in Karori.
Posted March 11 at 12:27 PM -
Dan
I've also updated the map to point to the Makara Peak car park in Karori.
Posted March 11 at 12:27 PM -
jon
So, 2 weeks I couldn't go because it was the Karapoti bike race. That was cancelled and delayed to the 18th - which means I still can't go!
if only this was on saturday...Posted March 12 at 10:16 AM -
Dan
@jon, what is with that?! maybe the mountain biking gods are trying to tell me something..
Posted March 13 at 8:04 AM -
Bharat Sangekar
still undecided at this stage about Sunday so will change the RSVP to No for now hoping there's still a spot left when I know on Friday if I can make it. Wish this was Saturday like before. Weather forecast is looking great as of now so hoping I can still make it.
Posted March 13 at 11:17 AM -
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Dan
The weather is looking good for the weekend so this event WILL be going ahead on Sunday. I just emailed everyone that has RSVP'd or is waiting to do so with an update. If you don't fit into either of those two camps get in quick as there are still 2 spots available.
Posted March 16 at 11:27 PM
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DanEvent HostFirewalkerA great skills clinic from Dave, who stood in for an injured Carl and did a wonderful job in spite of his cold. A small AW turnout meant that each rider received lots of attention, with Wiebe and Rob happily riding intermediate-grade trails despite having had little MTB experience to date.
I'd ridden more previously, but came away with a new riding style - and an urge to unlearn 20 years of bad habits!
While overall it was a positive, enjoyable day, it was a bit disappointing that we didn't get a full turnout, as I'd paid up front, so took a bit of a hit organising this one.
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Wiebe BaronAW Die-hardThanks for arranging this Dan, and thanks for the inner tube Rob - can you believe I added two more holes a couple of hours after the workshop!? Looking forward to applying new skills this weekend!
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RobAW Die-hardReally enjoyed the clinic and learnt a lot from Dave, most of which (hopefully!) I'll be able to retain. Lots of great advice on positioning, handling and technique. Big thanks to Dan for organizing and hosting!
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This course is really worthwhile for anyone who mountain bikes and the price is discounted. I might even have done it again but it clashes with another mountain biking event - who arranged that?