MTB Boot Camp

Friday, 16 September 2011

One of the main reasons we went to Forrest was to have a go at the purpose built mtb track network which has been built relatively recently.  The trails wind their way around a wide range of terrain and vegetation and it's all really really cool. Which meant we had to get out into it at every opportunity. As I mentioned having mum along made this way more feasible than it would otherwise have been and we are really appreciative of that.

Anyways whilst Jon rides a zillion times a week and has lots of mtb fitness and skills, I almost never ride, have no skills,  and the most difficult track I ever go on is the pipeline trail at Fern Tree (it's pretty flat and mostly a fire trail).  So - to go from effectively zero hours a week to one gad-zillion has been quite hard.  Not only that,  but these awesome tracks at Forrest have had … and I know you'll find this quite shocking…. obstacles - as in bumps, rocks, logs, tight corners and all sorts of other stuff which occur in the outdoors.     Which is why Jon signed us up for lessons with Jess and Norm Douglas from mtbskills.com.au.   (Norm has been racing bmx bikes since the 70s & Jess (in picture) is the current world 24 hour solo champion).  So fast forward through a lot of bruises and bumps and chumpy falls and as just as many really cool moments of success, and I'm now a whole new rider!  I can go over stuff, and up stuff, and down stuff, and around stuff.  Not big stuff mind you, but stuff. And most importantly I know what I'm trying to do and what techniques will help me enjoy riding.  Yay!   So if anyone is planning a trip to Forrest or the You Yangs I thoroughly recommend lining something up with these guys - it's well worth it.