Hamsterley Forest Mountain Biking Skills Trip

The sun was certainly smiling on us on Saturday as we descended on Hamsterley Forest for the first Lord Lawson Mountain Biking skills event.

 

21 Students from all years including 6th form took part in the event which was run in conjunction with Joe Alexander of Consett YMCA. The day consisted of a mountain bike skills session where students learned how to control their bikes at very slow speed as well as on rapid downhill descents, how to “Manual” over obstacles such as tree stumps and “See Saws” and cross water features such as Fords or deep puddles. Once students mastered these skills they were then introduced to the challenge of the downhill skills loop, which is a very technical one mile descent.  Students really excelled at this and in Joe’s words, “I’m so impressed not only by their technical ability but their ability to learn some quite advanced skills so quickly”. There was also a 15km navigation exercise which tested both fitness and stamina. We have some great photographs and videos of the day which we hope to upload soon.

 

Some memorable comments on the day were as follows..

 

To Liam Middlemas as he attempted a water feature.......”Pedal, pedal, pedal............Oooh” as he almost made it across the ford.

 

To Danny Taylor “Sorry Danny but we don’t have any more bikes left” as Danny snapped two chains.

 

To Mr Goodwill “Did that hurt” as the pedal made contact with my shin during an attempted bunny hop....

 

Watch this space for more opportunities to get involved in these events

 

 

Mr Goodwill

 

 

Click on the thumbnails below to see photos from the Hamsterley Forest Biking Skills Trip