I’ve just started to offer a new, additional location for the Stop Crashing level 1 course. This combines riding the man made trails at Hurstwood and the natural trails of Hebden Bridge. I’ve been running this course at Gisburn Forest trail centre for over 3 years and will continue to run courses there as well as at the new venue. The new course starts with a morning on the flowy  blue grade trails at Hurstwood near Burnley, which is a 20 minute drive from Hebden Bridge. We start by looking at good body position on the bike, both whilst doing  trackstands as well as when cornering. Hurstwood has lots of rollers and berms and is an excellent place for learning and progressing skills.

We drive over to Hebden Bridge for a cafe lunch and then head out onto rocky natural trails. Here we develop the skills of weighting and unweighting the bike for a smoother, more controlled and faster ride. We also look at good braking technique, line choice and other essentials.

It has been known that we end the day with a pint.

Check the Stop Crashing tab under Courses above for dates.

It’s time to get frisky. The sun is shining and spring is coming to the Hebden Bridge trails.

Here’s the latest on my main bike, the Titus ‘El Guapo’. I’ve got a great build including the excellent 2012 Marzocchi RC3 Evo Ti fork, a very handy 2 degree Slackset from On One and the incomparable Cane Creek Double Barrel Air shock.

The rest of the build is: Hope Hoops with Mavic EX721 rims, Hope Race M4 brakes, Chromag bars and seat, Continental Baron 2.3 tyres in Black Chilli compound, FSA Gravity Light cranks, DMR Vault pedals.

Also on You Tube if you prefer.