Andrew Reeves Mountain Bike Instructor

Beginners Skills Course 31st July

2010-08-02T04:40:00.000-07:00

We had a great time in the Pentlands on Saturday, a beginners skills course with father and daughter Alastair and Gillian.

Alastair was a self confessed roadie (no shame in this people, I was one myself in the not so distant past) looking to improve his off road skills and Gillian his daughter, who was completely new to the world of two wheels.

We spent the day learning and then putting into practice the essential techniques that make cycling off road easier and so much more fun, such as climbing, avoiding obstacles, choosing the best line and the truly essential descending and stopping safely.

What really pleased me about the day was the determination shown by both and in particular Gillian. Gillian had only learnt to ride a bike a couple of weeks before the course, but made up for any lack of experience with a great attitude and bags of enthusiasm.

At the end of the course the amount of progress they both made was really impressive, and Gillian is now on the right track for her challenge in September.

Has spring arrived?

2010-03-20T05:52:00.000-07:00

Has spring arrived? Well lets not speak to soon, but the sun was out in the Pentlands and it felt good.

Ian and Mick came for a beginners skills course and a great day was had by all. In the morning we covered techniques, and they both excelled in climbing, descending and finding the nirvana of mountain biking - 'the right line'.

Ian had a problem with one of his hoofs due to a rogue SPD bolt, but luckily the Pentland Hills cobbler (Mick) was on hand.....

After lunch I took them on a ride to use their new techniques. We rode a variety of good technical trails ranging from gravel decents, rooty single track through woods and technical climbing.

We ended the day in true style, with a fast technical decent that left all three of us grinning ear to ear. A great day's mountain biking!!

Pentland Hills - Geese at Dusk

2009-11-04T05:33:00.000-08:00

I went for a leisurely cycle in the Pentlands on Saturday late afternoon, from Harlaw, round the back of the black hill and home. The amount of geese on one the reservoirs was impressive (as was the noise), there were hundreds of them. I guess they are preparing to emigrate to somewhere warmer.....good call. As the sun went down there were some nice views across the hills. Then got home and found out Portsmouth fc had won 4 -0. What a great day!

Beginners skills courses - The Pentland Hills

2009-11-04T05:26:00.001-08:00

Jamila learning how to ascend and descend, on some great trails in the Pentland Hills. By the end of the day she had made massive progress and she really enjoyed it.

All that and amazing scenery as well!!