Any MTB classes in Austin?

"TacomaBoy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Newbie here, and I really want to improve my skills on my MTB and also how to repair/maintain my
MTB. Are there any low priced, decent classes

offered

Quoted message said:

in Austin? Someone told me UT offers a class, but I figure its pretty costly... I am still working
on my endurance and losing weight, but I

want

Quoted message said:

to learn riding tricks and techniques, balance, hopping, how to repair maintain and upgrade my
bike, etc. I have just recently re-started riding my bike, and have been riding every day for the
past 3 weeks. I love it, and find myself slowly improving, though there is alot of room left to
get better. I'd like to save some money by repairing my bike myself, since I weigh 230, I am sure,
I will need to frequently repair my bike. Also, I want to learn how to ride correctly, to prevent
damage to it. Any ideas

are

Quoted message said:

gretaly appreciated. Thanks all! Eventually I want to start riding with others... once I can break
the 10 mile barrier without feeling like my head exploded. Or maybe when temps

get

Quoted message said:

back UNDER 95F...

Jason Diaz

Yo k. dude. These guys will teach ya all you would want to know and more. Don't waste your money on
classes. austinridgeriders.comaustinridgeriders.comOpen ↗

Cleanbean

Nice, thanks.. Ill spend some time on this site. Free is ALWAYS cool to me
🙂
"Cleanbean" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"TacomaBoy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Newbie here, and I really want to improve my skills on my MTB and also

how

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to repair/maintain my MTB. Are there any low priced, decent classes

offered

Quoted message said:

in Austin? Someone told me UT offers a class, but I figure its pretty costly... I am still
working on my endurance and losing weight, but I

want

Quoted message said:

to learn riding tricks and techniques, balance, hopping, how to repair maintain and upgrade my
bike, etc. I have just recently re-started

riding

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

my bike, and have been riding every day for the past 3 weeks. I love

it,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and find myself slowly improving, though there is alot of room left to

get

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

better. I'd like to save some money by repairing my bike myself, since

I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

weigh 230, I am sure, I will need to frequently repair my bike. Also, I want to learn how to
ride correctly, to prevent damage to it. Any ideas

are

Quoted message said:

gretaly appreciated. Thanks all! Eventually I want to start riding with others... once I can
break the 10 mile barrier without feeling like my head exploded. Or maybe when temps

get

Quoted message said:

back UNDER 95F...

Jason Diaz

Yo k. dude. These guys will teach ya all you would want to know and more. Don't waste your money
on classes. austinridgeriders.comaustinridgeriders.comOpen ↗

Cleanbean

"TacomaBoy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Newbie here, and I really want to improve my skills on my MTB and also how to repair/maintain my
MTB. Are there any low priced, decent classes offered in Austin?

There's one class that is not only offered in Austin Texas, but any locale in the world, and that's
just getting out on your bike and exploring and expanding your riding horizons. Find a set of trails
and become comfortable with them and their obstacles, and then challenge yourself by seeking out
other ride areas. You'll see your ability level go up and you'll also be able to go back to your
home trails and impress the hell out of other riders, which is great for the ego.

[email hidden] thoughtfully penned:

Quoted message said:

"TacomaBoy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Newbie here, and I really want to improve my skills on my MTB and also how to repair/maintain my
MTB. Are there any low priced, decent classes offered in Austin?

There's one class that is not only offered in Austin Texas, but any locale in the world, and
that's just getting out on your bike and exploring and expanding your riding horizons. Find a set
of trails and become comfortable with them and their obstacles, and then challenge yourself by
seeking out other ride areas. You'll see your ability level go up and you'll also be able to go
back to your home trails and impress the hell out of other riders, which is great for the ego.

I boldly disagree. Riding around is a lot of fun but learning skills is NOT intuitive for all. The
$150 I spent on a bike camp was an excellent investment me and for many others that I know. If no
one had showed me how to get off the back of my seat, proper braking and many other skills, I'd
still be where I was two years ago.

I'd say for a class, or at least riders that are better than you that know how to share and how much
you get out of it.

penny

<[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"TacomaBoy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Newbie here, and I really want to improve my skills on my MTB and also

how

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to repair/maintain my MTB. Are there any low priced, decent classes

offered

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

in Austin?

There's one class that is not only offered in Austin Texas, but any locale in the world, and
that's just getting out on your bike and exploring and expanding your riding horizons. Find a set
of trails and become comfortable with them and their obstacles, and then challenge yourself by
seeking out other ride areas. You'll see your ability level go up and you'll also be able to go
back to your home trails and impress the hell out of other riders, which is great for the ego.

True, but the best and quickest way to improve is to ride with people better and/or faster than you.

Like, my last ride: I tought my friend how to hop logs a lot better, especially the big stuff, as
well as how to get up onto rock ledges easier (similar technique, he made the connection himself).
He's a hell of a lot fitter than I am, and he's also pretty decent technically (other than the logs,
although he picked it up REAL quickly!), so I pushed myself pretty hard to keep up with him. We both
improved, him more than me, but I still pushed myself harder than if I was by myself, and because I
was with a bud, we both decided to take on our biggest drop yet (about a 3 footer, maybe a little
bit less). I've been meaning to do it for a while, but I was usually alone or with people I just
met, so I didn't have the confidence. With one of my best friends there, bingo! I'm off and riding.

Jon Bond

"Jon Bond" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"TacomaBoy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Newbie here, and I really want to improve my skills on my MTB and also

how

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to repair/maintain my MTB. Are there any low priced, decent classes

offered

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

in Austin?

There's one class that is not only offered in Austin Texas, but any locale in the world, and
that's just getting out on your bike and exploring and expanding your riding horizons. Find a
set of trails and become comfortable with them and their obstacles, and then challenge
yourself by seeking out other ride areas. You'll see your ability level go up and you'll also
be able to go back to your home trails and impress the hell out of other riders, which is
great for the ego.

True, but the best and quickest way to improve is to ride with people better and/or faster
than you.

True, but all you have to do is make acquaintances in your biking community to find someone like
that. I found someone like that buy paying a whopping $5 admission to the Vultures Knob race course,
and between two days of just watching other riders who knew the course well and having a guide from
one of the local shops, I've become a smoother and faster rider.

"TacomaBoy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Newbie here, and I really want to improve my skills on my MTB and also how to repair/maintain my
MTB.<snip>

Contrary to misinformation posted in this thread by another newbie, take a "dirt camp" type class
this Summer. A search on the web coud garner something close to you. Also, join a bike club. Club
rides usually have all levels of rider and you can learn a lot from riding with others.

JD

JD thoughtfully penned:

Quoted message said:

"TacomaBoy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Newbie here, and I really want to improve my skills on my MTB and also how to repair/maintain my
MTB.<snip>

Contrary to misinformation posted in this thread by another newbie, take a "dirt camp" type class
this Summer. A search on the web coud garner something close to you. Also, join a bike club. Club
rides usually have all levels of rider and you can learn a lot from riding with others.

JD

yes.. the trick is that you go out with folks that aren't testosterone poisoned and just try and run
you into the ground, but that will let you stop and work on something, show you a few things and
make sure it's about fun.

Penny

TacomaBoy said:

Newbie here, and I really want to improve my skills on my MTB and also how to repair/maintain my
MTB. Are there any low priced, decent classes offered in Austin? Someone told me UT offers a class,
but I figure its pretty costly... I am still working on my endurance and losing weight, but I want
to learn riding tricks and techniques, balance, hopping, how to repair maintain and upgrade my
bike, etc. I have just recently re-started riding my bike, and have been riding every day for the
past 3 weeks. I love it, and find myself slowly improving, though there is alot of room left to get
better. I'd like to save some money by repairing my bike myself, since I weigh 230, I am sure, I
will need to frequently repair my bike. Also, I want to learn how to ride correctly, to prevent
damage to it. Any ideas are gretaly appreciated. Thanks all! Eventually I want to start riding with
others... once I can break the 10 mile barrier without feeling like my head exploded. Or maybe when
temps get back UNDER 95F...

Jason Diaz

OK, second time to say this, but it certainly applies here.

Post up on the mojo board. I'm leading a series of clinics at various venues here in Austin (TEXAS<
BAYBEEE!!!) We hit City Park for technical work, and I want to add in some bike handling/fit and
speed work at Walnut Creek.

We've had heaps of fun, and the people are all pretty goodly folk.

A

"Anthony Sloan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

TacomaBoy said:

Newbie here, and I really want to improve my skills on my MTB and also

how

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to repair/maintain my MTB. Are there any low priced, decent classes

offered

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

in Austin? Someone told me UT offers a class, but I figure its pretty costly... I am still
working on my endurance and losing weight, but I

want

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to learn riding tricks and techniques, balance, hopping, how to repair maintain and upgrade my
bike, etc. I have just recently re-started

riding

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

my bike, and have been riding every day for the past 3 weeks. I love it, and find myself slowly
improving, though there is alot of room left to

get

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

better. I'd like to save some money by repairing my bike myself, since I weigh 230, I am sure, I
will need to frequently repair my bike. Also, I want to learn how to ride correctly, to prevent
damage to it. Any ideas

are

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

gretaly appreciated. Thanks all! Eventually I want to start riding with others... once I can
break the 10 mile barrier without feeling like my head exploded. Or maybe when temps

get

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

back UNDER 95F...

Jason Diaz

OK, second time to say this, but it certainly applies here.

Post up on the mojo board. I'm leading a series of clinics at various venues here in Austin
(TEXAS< BAYBEEE!!!) We hit City Park for technical work, and I want to add in some bike
handling/fit and speed work at Walnut Creek.

We've had heaps of fun, and the people are all pretty goodly folk.

A

I plan on it.. lemme look more at it now, its kinda intimidating to be honest, but I really oculd
use some friends who bike 🙂

TacomaBoy said:

"Anthony Sloan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

TacomaBoy said:

Newbie here, and I really want to improve my skills on my MTB and also

how

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to repair/maintain my MTB. Are there any low priced, decent classes

offered

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

in Austin? Someone told me UT offers a class, but I figure its pretty costly... I am still
working on my endurance and losing weight, but I

want

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to learn riding tricks and techniques, balance, hopping, how to repair maintain and upgrade my
bike, etc. I have just recently re-started

riding

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

my bike, and have been riding every day for the past 3 weeks. I love it, and find myself slowly
improving, though there is alot of room left to

get

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

better. I'd like to save some money by repairing my bike myself, since I weigh 230, I am sure, I
will need to frequently repair my bike. Also, I want to learn how to ride correctly, to prevent
damage to it. Any ideas

are

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

gretaly appreciated. Thanks all! Eventually I want to start riding with others... once I can
break the 10 mile barrier without feeling like my head exploded. Or maybe when temps

get

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

back UNDER 95F...

Jason Diaz

OK, second time to say this, but it certainly applies here.

Post up on the mojo board. I'm leading a series of clinics at various venues here in Austin
(TEXAS< BAYBEEE!!!) We hit City Park for technical work, and I want to add in some bike
handling/fit and speed work at Walnut Creek.

We've had heaps of fun, and the people are all pretty goodly folk.

A

I plan on it.. lemme look more at it now, its kinda intimidating to be honest, but I really oculd
use some friends who bike 🙂

I can understand that. But overall, I have fouind it to be a bit more "real" than other online
boards, this one included.

I think the key is that if you spend any time there, you meet and ride with most of the people
there. That kinda cuts down on the posturing and trolling.

They's jest folks, y'know?

I'm headed to Colorado at dawn tomorrow. When I get back, let's hook up for a ride.

A

"Anthony Sloan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

TacomaBoy said:

"Anthony Sloan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

TacomaBoy wrote:

>Newbie here, and I really want to improve my skills on my MTB and also
>
>

how

Quoted message said:

>to repair/maintain my MTB. Are there any low priced, decent classes
>
>

offered

Quoted message said:

>in Austin? Someone told me UT offers a class, but I figure its pretty costly... I am still
>working on my endurance and losing weight, but I
>
>

want

Quoted message said:

>to learn riding tricks and techniques, balance, hopping, how to repair maintain and upgrade my
>bike, etc. I have just recently re-started
>
>

riding

Quoted message said:

>my bike, and have been riding every day for the past 3 weeks. I love

it,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>and find myself slowly improving, though there is alot of room left to
>
>

get

Quoted message said:

>better. I'd like to save some money by repairing my bike myself, since

I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>weigh 230, I am sure, I will need to frequently repair my bike. Also,

I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>want to learn how to ride correctly, to prevent damage to it. Any

ideas

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>
>

are

Quoted message said:

>gretaly appreciated. Thanks all! Eventually I want to start riding with others... once I can
>break the

10

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>mile barrier without feeling like my head exploded. Or maybe when

temps

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>
>

get

Quoted message said:

>back UNDER 95F...
>
>Jason Diaz
>
>
>
>
>
>
OK, second time to say this, but it certainly applies here.

Post up on the mojo board. I'm leading a series of clinics at various venues here in Austin
(TEXAS< BAYBEEE!!!) We hit City Park for technical work, and I want to add in some bike
handling/fit and speed work at Walnut Creek.

We've had heaps of fun, and the people are all pretty goodly folk.

A

I plan on it.. lemme look more at it now, its kinda intimidating to be honest, but I really oculd
use some friends who bike 🙂

I can understand that. But overall, I have fouind it to be a bit more "real" than other online
boards, this one included.

I think the key is that if you spend any time there, you meet and ride with most of the people
there. That kinda cuts down on the posturing and trolling.

They's jest folks, y'know?

I'm headed to Colorado at dawn tomorrow. When I get back, let's hook up for a ride.

A

Awesome, enjoy beautiful Colorado!

"Penny S." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

JD thoughtfully penned:

Quoted message said:

"TacomaBoy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Newbie here, and I really want to improve my skills on my MTB and also how to repair/maintain
my MTB.<snip>

Contrary to misinformation posted in this thread by another newbie, take a "dirt camp" type
class this Summer. A search on the web coud garner something close to you. Also, join a bike
club. Club rides usually have all levels of rider and you can learn a lot from riding with
others.

JD

yes.. the trick is that you go out with folks that aren't testosterone poisoned and just try and
run you into the ground, but that will let you stop and work on something, show you a few things
and make sure it's about fun.

Penny

Which in essence is what I said when I said "and that's just getting out on your bike and exploring
and expanding your riding horizons." When you come up to obstacles such as a fallen log/tree, to me
there are only so many ways to conquer it. If you feel you have to pay $150 for a weekend for
someone to show you how, then more power to you, but I'll save that $150 and use it for gear or
components.

[email hidden] thoughtfully penned:

Quoted message said:

"Penny S." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Which in essence is what I said when I said "and that's just getting out on your bike and
exploring and expanding your riding horizons." When you come up to obstacles such as a fallen
log/tree, to me there are only so many ways to conquer it. If you feel you have to pay $150 for a
weekend for someone to show you how, then more power to you, but I'll save that $150 and use it
for gear or components.

I have a really hard time believing that the first time you came upon a fallen 8" tree you knew
exactly how to hop your bike over it. I can see it now... forget picking the bike up, I'll just do
some cool wheel lift moves and be on my merry way...

I'm glad you have the kind of brain that just learn everything intuitively and by osmosis. You just
keep right at it.

Some people don't learn that way. just to refresh your memory... here's what I got at bike camp,
and not everything is on the list:

front and rear wheel lifts quarter pedal turns level wheel lifts manuals turning: counter steering,
high speed and outrigger turns. climbing: crouch climbing, standing climbs, push-pull climbing' soft
pedal shifting descent and bail techniques feathering and modulating brakes switchbacks, stairs,
plants and drop offs. appropriate skidding gourmet food, hot tub and good company. World champ gals
as coaches, 1/3 coach student ratio.

but you needn't bother - I'm sure you know all this stuff you just didn't know it had names.

penny

Penny S. said:

[email hidden] thoughtfully penned:

Quoted message said:

"Penny S." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Which in essence is what I said when I said "and that's just getting out on your bike and
exploring and expanding your riding horizons." When you come up to obstacles such as a fallen
log/tree, to me there are only so many ways to conquer it. If you feel you have to pay $150 for a
weekend for someone to show you how, then more power to you, but I'll save that $150 and use it
for gear or components.

I have a really hard time believing that the first time you came upon a fallen 8" tree you knew
exactly how to hop your bike over it. I can see it now... forget picking the bike up, I'll just do
some cool wheel lift moves and be on my merry way...

I'm glad you have the kind of brain that just learn everything intuitively and by osmosis. You
just keep right at it.

Some people don't learn that way. just to refresh your memory... here's what I got at bike camp,
and not everything is on the list:

front and rear wheel lifts quarter pedal turns level wheel lifts manuals turning: counter
steering, high speed and outrigger turns. climbing: crouch climbing, standing climbs, push-pull
climbing' soft pedal shifting descent and bail techniques feathering and modulating brakes
switchbacks, stairs, plants and drop offs. appropriate skidding gourmet food, hot tub and good
company. World champ gals as coaches, 1/3 coach student ratio.

but you needn't bother - I'm sure you know all this stuff you just didn't know it had names.

penny

Jesus, You all really have generated some whipping boys here, eh?

Everyone learns in diferent ways. So far I haven't seena bad idea offered up in this thread.
Sometimes a skills camp is best attended after one has been out on one's own for a bit.

A

--
My hands are full of thorns but I can't quit groping for the rose.