This weekend our little town of Ridgway had it’s first “fat tire fest.” Actually, it was called the RAT Fest. RAT being Ridgway Area Trails. We had a full weekend of activities including a slide show from Sara Ballentyne, IMBA trail care crew work sessions, band, auctions, group rides and a kid’s skills clinic. The weekend was a success and we learned a lot for next year.
I was very excited about the kids clinic on Sunday. Sara Ballentyne lead the mountain bike skills clinic and I helped with one other parent. We had almost 20 kids! This was a large turnout for us here in little old Ridgway. The kids all had a great time and I was amazed by their wonderful attitudes. As long as they were pedaling their bikes, they had a huge smile on their face.
If you have a chance to get your kids in a skills clinic I would highly recommend it. If you can’t find one, here are a few tips. Maybe you can get a few neighborhood kids together and do one yourself. These tips are for those very new to mountain biking.
Start with the basics
Kids of any age do not want a lecture. Teach while moving and giving them feedback. Remind them to look ahead and not down at their wheel. To drive home the point have them stand on one foot while looking down and then try again when looking forward. They should be able to balance better looking straight ahead. Show them good body position: Keep arms bent, don’t lock knees, body is loose and relaxed.
Go to a park and do a few drills
- Cones. Place cones in a line and have them weeve around them. Discuss body position, looking ahead and swinging wide to avoid hitting the cone. Move cones closer together as they advance.
- Going slow. Have a slow race to see who can go the slowest without getting off bike. Explain keeping pedals at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions (horizontal), looking forward and the importance of balance when mountain biking.
Move to a pump or BMX track
Kids loves pump and BMX tracks. We took our group to the BMX track and just let them ride and have fun. We focused on getting in the standing position when going over the bumps. We had them experiment with shifting their body towards the rear of the bike. They should be in a rear shifted standing position when coasting over obstacles or when the trail gets rough. Standing on their pedals with knees bent and seat between legs.
Finish off with a fun mountain bike ride
At the end we went on a short mountain bike ride that included singletrack, dirt roads, a bike path and a few short hills. We left time for breaks and brought plenty of good snacks. We reinforced the skills learned throughout the day. We made sure to leave them wanting more and got them all back to their parents without and breakdowns or injuries!
