£175.00
Private Introduction Course
Private Introduction MTB Course
New to mountain biking, or ready to move beyond flatter, smoother trails? This is where your MTB progression starts.
Our Private Introduction Course gives you the foundations to feel more balanced, more confident and more in control of your bike before the terrain gets faster, steeper or rougher.
There is no pressure to keep up with a group and no expectation that you should already know what you are doing. The course is built around you, your current riding and the areas that will make the biggest difference to your confidence.
The starting point in your MTB journey
Mountain biking becomes much more enjoyable when you understand the foundations rather than simply trying to survive each section of trail.
This course is designed for riders who are new to mountain biking, returning after time away, or riders who are comfortable on smoother trails but want the skills to start tackling rougher terrain with more confidence.
Build confidence
Learn at your pace without feeling rushed or pressured into riding anything you are not ready for.
Understand your bike
Learn how your position and movement affect grip, balance and control rather than simply hanging on and hoping for the best.
Learn the foundations
We concentrate on the core techniques that support almost everything else you will learn on a mountain bike.
Private coaching
The session is built around your riding, which means we can spend more time on the areas where you need it most.
What will we work on?
Every rider is different, so the exact balance of the course will depend on your current experience and progression.
These are the core areas we normally work through during an Introduction Course.
Body Position
Modern mountain bikes are incredibly capable, but they work best when the rider is balanced and able to move freely.
- Neutral riding position
- Weight through your feet
- Stable upper body
- Moving with the bike
- Building a strong foundation for rougher terrain
Balance
Once your basic riding position is established, we explore how much movement and control you actually have on the bike.
- Fore and aft movement
- Side-to-side movement
- Bike and body separation
- Finding your balance points
- Fun balance exercises
Braking
Being able to slow down confidently is one of the biggest factors in feeling comfortable on the trail.
- Front and rear brake control
- Brake modulation
- Body position while braking
- Choosing where to brake
- Creating control before increasing speed
Pumping
Pumping teaches you how to weight and unweight the bike and is one of the foundations behind many more advanced MTB techniques.
- Weighting the bike
- Unweighting the bike
- Using your arms and legs effectively
- Creating movement rather than staying stiff
- Generating flow through terrain
Cornering Basics
Corners often highlight problems with body position, braking and confidence. We break them down and make the process much easier to understand.
- Cornering body position
- Bike separation
- Vision
- Braking before the corner
- Maintaining traction
- Building smoother flow
Trail Confidence
Once the foundations begin to click, we start applying them to real sections of trail.
- Reading the terrain
- Choosing lines
- Looking further ahead
- Staying relaxed
- Putting multiple skills together
Your bike matters too
Confidence is much harder to build when your bike does not feel right.
At the beginning of your course we will look over your bike and help with any obvious adjustments that could make it easier and more comfortable to ride.
This can include tyre pressures, brake lever position, cockpit setup and general bike positioning. If we spot something that needs repair or replacement, we will advise you rather than ignoring it.
Get your bike dialled before your coaching day
Want to go a step further with your bike setup before you arrive?
Our SkillsLoop Bike Setup Tool gives you personalised starting points based on you, your bike and your riding.
It covers tyre pressure, suspension, cockpit setup, bar width, brake lever positioning and more, with clear guidance to help you understand what each adjustment actually does.
Try the Bike Setup ToolWe start where you are
You do not need to arrive with a certain level of fitness, speed or mountain bike knowledge to prove that you belong on the course.
We start by looking at how you currently ride, identify the changes that are likely to make the biggest difference and work through them progressively.
This course could be ideal for you if:
- You have recently started mountain biking
- You are moving from towpaths or smoother trails onto MTB trails
- You feel nervous when the terrain becomes rougher
- You rely heavily on your brakes
- You feel stiff or unstable on the bike
- Corners make you nervous
- You want to learn good habits before progressing further
- You have been riding for a while but never learned the foundations properly
Why choose a private Introduction Course?
Learning in a private environment gives us much more flexibility than a public group course.
If one technique clicks quickly, we can move on. If another area needs more time, we can stay with it without worrying about keeping pace with anyone else.
Your pace
There is no pressure to progress onto a feature simply because somebody else in the group is ready.
Your goals
Tell us what currently makes you nervous or what you would love to be able to ride and we can shape the session around it.
Your feedback
With private coaching there is more opportunity for individual observation, demonstration and feedback.
Your progression
Leave with clear techniques and coaching points that you can continue practising on your normal rides.
Half day or full day?
Half Day
A focused introduction to the key foundations and a great option if you are newer to MTB coaching.
AM: 10:00am – 1:00pm
Full Day
Gives us more time to go into greater detail, practise each technique and spend more time applying your new skills on the trail.
10:00am – 3:00pm
Includes a short break.
Which should I choose?
A half day gives us plenty of time to work on your main foundations. If you want more trail time, more detail and the opportunity to work through several techniques without rushing, the full day is the better option.
Course details
Price
Private Introduction Courses start from £175.
Final price depends on the course length and number of riders selected.
Group size
Maximum group size is 6 riders.
Minimum age
Minimum age is 18, unless accompanied by an adult.
Site charges
Course prices include applicable site permission charges.
Want your own course edit?
A personal course edit is available as an optional extra.
Simply select the course edit option when choosing your course options before adding your booking to the basket.
Before you book
- Please choose your preferred course length and number of riders carefully.
- All riders must bring a suitable mountain bike and helmet.
- Please make yourself aware of our Terms & Conditions before booking.
- Photos and videos may be taken for coaching and social media purposes.
- If you would prefer not to be photographed or filmed, please tell your coach on the day.
Start with the foundations. Everything else follows.
You do not need to be fast, brave or experienced to benefit from MTB coaching.
Come along with your bike, tell us what you want to improve and we will help you build the skills and confidence to make your riding more enjoyable.
Contact SkillsLoop
Email: info@skillsloop.com
Tel: 07429325729
Facebook: SkillsLoop