Discover Biking
Discover LEVEL | 1 day(s) | Ratio 1:6
Overview
This one-day session aims to give you the confidence, support, and top tips from our experienced coaches and local guides to enable you to feel ready to explore. Ride through the ancient Scottish woodlands on our doorstep, making use of wide flowing trails to take in more of the landscape than you can on foot.
All bikes welcome! Gravel, e-bikes, adaptive bikes, and mountain bikes.
DETAILED INFO
AIMS
The aim is to give you a biking experience in a friendly off-road environment where you’ll have the support of a guide who will take all the planning and stress away. We’ll create a supportive environment where you can learn all the core skills and build your confidence to discover new biking adventures.
PRE-REQUISITES
Just the desire to build confidence, have fun, and to enjoy riding your bike in the stunning scenery of the Cairngorms.
IS IT FOR ME?
If you’re unsure, nervous, or simply want to ride some nice mellow trails with all the hassle taken away and a guide to help you achieve a great day’s ride, this is for you.
Our guides will aim to give you some core skills and lay the foundation for safe and confident cycling. We will do this through a mixture of personalised coaching and riding some of our very mellow trails that flow through the glen, starting on wide, sooth, easy tracks. This is suitable for anyone looking to get back on a bike, or venture from roads to gravel or who is new to riding.
CONTENT
We’ll start the day off with a bit of time to explain and practice the basics, and with one of our experienced and supportive coaches you’ll look at:
- The ready position – purposeful, poised positioning for dealing with whatever’s ahead on the trail
- Steering/cornering – eliminate that feeling of being dragged towards the edge
- Braking – the how, why, and when. Learn how to add control with your brakes, not take it away
- Flow – learn to deal with common features that threaten your flow
- Gearing – anticipating when to change gear to maximise efficiency
- Climbing – how to arrive at the top having enjoyed the process!
Included for e-bikes:
- Gearing – anticipating when to change gear to maximise the use of your e-bike motor
- Functions – choosing the right function for the trail to help maintain or maximise battery life
USEFUL INFORMATION
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
- Instruction
- Use of kit – please contact us in advance to enquire about availability of our bike fleet
- Packed lunch and afternoon tea and cake
- In-course transportation
NEED TO KNOW
WHAT WILL I NEED
If you do not have your own bike or are unable to bring it with you to the Lodge, we have a limited fleet of Trek bikes available for use. Please get in touch to arrange this prior to your course. E-bikes can also be ridden on any of our skills courses.
- Bike
- Small day pack – 25L max
- Helmet
- Eye wear
- Thin woolly hat or buff for under helmet
- Gloves – thin, full finger cycling gloves are perfect
- Warmer Cycle friendly Full finger Gloves – just in case its cold
- Water proof jacket & trousers – Suitable for cycling
- Padded cycling Shorts – there really are worth it for comfort!
- Outer Baggy Cycling Shorts
- Thin fleece or similar
- Full leg covering – for cold days e.g. cycle tights or cycling leg warmers
- Warm outdoor wear
- Insulating layers – a variety of base layers are useful to control your temperature
- Personal toiletries & medications (towels are provided)
- Suncream – you just never know!
We have laundry facilities here and a fantastic drying room so there is always the option to wash stuff as you go.
