I recently had the chance to spend three days at a BetterRide mountain bike skills camp. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in school and the amount of information was overwhelming – in a good way!  I learned a ton of ways to improve my mountain bike riding and handling skills.  With new skills to master, now I approach mountain biking with the same excitement as when I was starting out over 14 years ago.  This post won’t cover nearly as much as I learned while at camp so if you want to know more, head over to BetterRide’s website and find a camp near you.

BetterRide Coach Andy Winohradsky leads a women’s MTB skills camp

In my pre-camp post I mentioned how Gene Hamilton stresses the importance of using visualization for mountain bike racing and riding, and during Gene’s BetterRide mountain bike skills camp at Georgia International Horse Park I realized this actually means two different things. There is the positive-imagery type of visualization that can be used on and off the trail which I find most effective at boosting my riding confidence.  If I use visualization to psyche myself up for a race, or even when thinking about a technical section of trail that I always freeze up on, my actions become almost instinctual to mimic those visions when faced with the real situation.

But positive visualization can only get you so far. Most of time we are physically and mentally capable of riding a mountain bike trail, and to ride it better and more efficiently requires a whole different kind of vision. At BetterRide mountain bike skills camp, Coach Andy taught us about having vision on the trail.  The kind of vision to see the best line that will allow you to keep your momentum and get you where you want to go.  The best line isn’t always the most worn-in, main path on the trail and it certainly can have its share of obstacles.  It sounds easy in theory; of course, we want to take the path of least resistance, but when you’re riding 15 mph down a trail you may not have time to even realize you need to make a decision.  That’s why at camp we slowed things down and practiced training our vision in the parking lot first.

On the first day we did some vision drills to practice scanning and trusting our peripheral vision.  The most important outcome from those drills was remembering to always keep our heads up and focused two steps ahead of where we wanted to go.  Looking down, especially when coming up on an obstacle, can lead to falls and at a minimum it kills your momentum. When you combine vision with proper body position (photo left), also taught during the camp, you have the basics for riding efficiently and being in control.

Over the next two days of camp, Coach Andy showed us more drills for cornering, braking and wheelies, switchbacks and balance.  Putting it all together on the trails was tough, especially because I’ve been riding for more than a decade and have become comfortable in the way I ride.  In particular, downhill cornering is one area I know can use a lot of practice and it turns out this is probably the most common place mountain bikers throw away momentum when not executed correctly.

The first few times I executed a good bike lean in a corner on the trails it felt weird – the acceleration through the corner felt fast, almost too fast, and it definitely surprised me!  I realized I have a habit of slowing down before going into a turn which is clearly the wrong approach. It always felt natural for me to squeeze the brakes at the last second in the crook of a corner but it turns out that’s way too late to maintain good control of the bike. The photo below shows one of the cornering drills we did during the camp.

One of my initial goals for the camp was to learn how to control my heart rate during a ride.  I had gotten to a point in my riding where I thought just pedaling faster and harder would make me better, but it has actually just been making me more tired. Now, having been to camp, I’m convinced I can control my heart rate better by fine tuning my skills to ride more efficiently.  Throughout our time at camp, Coach Andy would say, “sometimes you gotta go slow to go fast.”  I know I have some slow rides–on and off the trail–ahead of me, slow enough to train my vision while doing things right.  I left camp with enough drills to practice in the convenience of my own neighborhood, so I can practice skills like cornering and wheelies on days I can’t make it to the trails.

BetterRide camp was a great experience and I learned a lot, but actually becoming a “better rider” takes a lot of disciple.  Andy was an awesome coach, teaching me what to do and what not to do on my bike, so now if I do my homework I should be able to accomplish my goals.  In fact I’ve even come up with my own measurable goal to check my progress: by the end of the summer, I hope I can shave a few minutes off the time it took me to ride the Blankets Creek trail in the Dirty Duathlon just a few weeks ago.  I’ll report back in a couple months with the results, or watch the MTB event calendar and come ride my time trial with me!

A few mountain bike items to take a look at today:

Mountain biking 101: How to get women into the sport. Diane Ursu posted a good article over on Examiner.com with tips for introducing women to the sport of mountain biking. Aside from the obvious stuff (get a comfortable bike, the right clothes, etc.) Ursu also says “don’t give her pointers unless she asks, at least for the first ride” and “let her lead.” Most articles I read about getting women into mountain biking are written by men so they usually skip these points Give the article a skim if you’re thinking of introducing your significant other to mountain biking this fall.

3 cool MTB events in Atlanta this weekend. I already posted about this in the forums but here’s a quick recap: SORBA Atlanta ride @ Panola Mtn. State Park Saturday; GA Tech sponsored collegiate MTB race at GA Int’l Horse Park Saturday & Sunday; and ribbon cutting / grand opening for new bike trails at Burruss Park in Marietta on Sunday. I’ll definitely attend at least one of these events – that is, if it doesn’t rain!

Mountain Hardwear giving away a pack-a-day through September 17. Man, August and September must be the months of free outdoor gear! Not only can you score a VHoldR HD helmet cam or Specialized Stumpjumper FSR, you can also register to win a sweet pack from Mountain Hardwear (giveaway pack changes every day). The cool thing about this promo is that you’ll find out if you’re today’s winner as soon as you submit the entry form and you can enter every day the contest runs (I didn’t win today so that means you still have a chance!). Most of the giveaway packs are hydration bladder compatible and should be great choices for epic slogs through remote terrain.

Babes in the Backcountry is hosting a womens only mountain biking weekend in Breckenridge this summer and it includes some unique activities beyond mountain biking like yoga and spa treatments. Sorry, no men allowed BUT it could be a good way to trick (err, introduce) your wife or girlfriend into mountain biking. Price is a bit steep for a weekend (500 bones not including lodging or bike rentals) but may be a good option for some. Press release with more details is quoted below.

BRECKENRIDGE, Colo.— An action packed weekend full of volunteer trail maintenance, good fun, and spirited riding partners is being offered to women mountain bikers July 31 – August 2, 2009 in Breckenridge, Colorado. The Breckenridge Bike Babes Mountain Bike Getaway, hosted by Babes in the Backcountry, offers trail building, skills and bike maintenance clinics, instructional guided daily tours, training, yoga, nutrition and a little pampering at the end of the day. The women’s mountain bike weekend is geared toward amateurs wanting to get a taste of the sport to advanced fat-tire enthusiasts looking for a challenge with fellow lady riders.

The town of Breckenridge is continually expanding and improving its recreational territory, opening up miles of dirt roads and trails to mountain bikers and hikers, connecting the mountain town with seemingly endless Rocky Mountain wilderness. Breckenridge and the surrounding area have been praised as an up-and-coming fat-tire destination. For more information on Breckenridge, visit gobreck.com or call 877-593-5260.

The Breckenridge Bike Babes Mountain Bike Getaway includes an optional day of trail building and conservation, an evening bike maintenance class, two days of skills and guided rides, two morning yoga sessions, two organic lunches, Saturday night dinner and wine tasting, a spa treatment and a Babes in the Backcountry gift bag. The cost of the trip is $500, and lodging and bike rentals are not included. To register or for more information, visit babesinthebackcountry.com.

Various other bike clinics are offered by Colorado Bike and Ski Tours throughout the summer in Breckenridge as well.