Pick'n'Mix

Each session is a snapshot of CTC's existing full provision, enabling you to gain the tastiest bits in a nice shiny foil wrapper, yet remaining as flexible as liquorice strands around your desires, so that your tastebuds are filled with sweetness throughout.

Once you've selected, pick up the scoop and dig in (or alternatively complete the expression of interest form).

Make your selection from:

• Offroad confidence building - moving offroad
• Mountain bike riding skills - getting technical
• Technical Skills Development - higher level mountain biking
• Road riding confidence building - returning to cycling, in traffic, in groups
• Fundamental maintenance - bike set up, punctures and on(4 hrs)
• Trailside maintenance - using trail tools to prepare your bike and to get you home(4 hrs)
• First aid - CPR and emergency management to help your friends if something happens on your ride (4 hr certificate)
• Beyond the Trail Centre - gain confidence in independant riding without trail markers and signposts (4 or 7 hrs)

Of course if there is something you want that isn't shown on the counter, just ask - we may have it in the store room out back!

Offroad confidence building - moving offroad (4 hrs)

Set up for those coming back into cycling or moving from the road to the trail, this half day covers the fundamentals of bike set up, riding position, confidence building off tarmac and how to ride the trails you're going to encounter (climbs, descents, corners, line selection, lumps and bumps).

This session can also look at where you can ride, meeting up and riding with others and finding your way, where required.

You need: Enthusiasm to ride your bike; Ability to ride on tarmac or surfaced trail

Venue requirements: Trail riding such as green and blue forest routes, bridleways and cycle paths.

Mountain bike riding skills - getting technical (4 hrs)

So you're out there riding regularly, enjoying it, but you keep coming across things that you find challenging. Sometimes you get through on a wing and a prayer, sometimes its a bit more sketchy, and sometimes you prefer to get off and walk.

This session exists to show you how you can ride these elements and what a difference that can make to your desire and skills. By the end of the session you'll be able to ride with confidence and relax on your bike.

You need: to be confident on non-technical terrain; Attempting more technical sections

Venue requirements: A mix of trail and technical riding such as blue and red forestry routes, lumps, bumps, rocks and roots.

Technical Skills Development - higher level mountain biking (7 hours)

You're riding regularly and are wanting to learn how to make the most of your energy, deal with drops and jumps, hold tight lines through then fire out of corners and choose great alternative lines.

This session will also show you how to set your bike up properly (including suspension), pumping (energy management), effective braking, manuals and climbing and descending. This session may use video analysis at some locations.

You need: to be confident on non-technical terrain; Starting to develop some ability on technical features such as drop offs, berms, jumps and northshore

Venue requirements: Technical riding such as red and black forestry routes, lumps, bumps, rocks and roots on bridleways and byways

See the main page on the Technical Skills Development course.

Road riding confidence building (4 hrs)

Coming back into cycling, or moving towards using busier roads can be a daunting task. As the National Cyclists Organisation, we have the widest knowledge and experience at helping people ride bikes in every environment.

So whether looking at using your bike for commuting, exercise or recreation, we can help you develop the skills and confidence to ride anywhere.

You need: to be able to ride your bike on traffic free areas

Venue requirements: Traffic free areas, quiet roads and busier roads

Fundamental maintenance - bike set up, punctures and on (4 hrs)

If not knowing how to take your wheels out, mend a puncture or adjust your saddle, then the Fundamental Maintenance course is right up your street. For this flexible session, we make no assumptions and have no expectations but will help you gain the confidence to deal with stuff that might happen when you are out riding.

Covering everything from bike set and adjustment to making sure you can fix the stuff most likely to happen, this session will make you smile and fill you with confidence to enable your independance.

You need: to be ready to get your hands just a little bit dirty; Enthusiastic about wanting to learn

Venue requirements: A sufficiently large indoor location with heat, light and suitable floor surface

See the main page on the Fundamental Maintenance course.

Trailside maintenance - sort the fundamentals beforehand and when on your ride (4 hrs)

A shortened version of our well used Trailside Maintenance course, this course covers checking of your bike before you leave, using a trail tool and 'get you home' fixes.

Mending and adjustment of brakes, gears and chains are all included.

You need: to have attempted to use a trail tool; to be prepared to get your hands dirty

Venue requirements: A sufficiently large indoor location with heat, light and suitable floor surface

See the main page on the Trailside Maintenance course.

First aid for cyclists and mountain bikers (4 hr certificate)

A fully recognised 4 hour emergency aid first aid certificate, this course is adapted specifically for cyclists and mountain bikers who could find themselves out in the countryside with an injured friend or colleague.

It covers the essentials of CPR, bleeding and wounds, spinal and head injuries, dealing with unconsciousness, preventing worsening and the fundamentals of emergency situation management.

You need: to be prepared to learn inside and out

Venue requirements: A sufficiently large indoor location with heat, light, data projector, and hot drinks facilities

See also CTC's 2 day First Aid in the Outdoors course.

Beyond the Trail Centre - independant riding (4 or 7 hrs)

Regularly riding at Forestry centres? Enjoying it but want to see what is beyond the trees? Or maybe you are just following everyone else, and aren't confident enough to go out without those who know the area? Perhaps you want to try riding yourself in new areas, and need to know how to find your way around.

Whichever category you fall into (and we all fall into one somewhere!) this session will give you the skills to head out into pastures new. Using our unsurpassed teaching of mountain bike navigation and riding skills, you will be able to identify and ride great routes on public rights of way wherever you find yourself.

You need: to be able to ride a variety of trails confidently

Venue requirements: A mix of trails, all on bridleways and byways from a base