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 Tool

We 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 £145.

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