Kids and Youth Mountain Bike Coaching

We are excited to support the next generation of mountain bikers through our kids and youth sessions.

Is your son or daughter looking for that next level up? Parents, unsure how to support your little one progress on their mountain bike?

ALine has you covered.

The ALine kids and youth sessions are designed to take your youth/junior riders through to the next level with catered and supportive sessions that help them advance, develop and grow in confidence as a rider with other like minded MTB crazy youths. We do this through proven and structured methodologies and by creating a social and physical environment for them to thrive.

Is this course for your young rider?

Firstly, it is worth noting these sessions are not a ‘learn to ride’ course. Attendees are required to be able to ride and negotiate their way down blue or red grade trails (depending on the session booked and not including doubles or drops), including descending, and riding back up to the top again (note: this is of course within reason and appropriately paced). Riders need knowledge of how to use brakes, gears, a dropper seat-post if fitted, and be able to descend a trail whilst in a stood up position on the bike (i.e., not sat down riding).

Parents are not supposed to accompany the rider, however you are encouraged to stay local, perhaps go for a ride yourself. If you or your little one is nervous, please get in touch and we can discuss your or their concerns and how we can mitigate these. Please feel assured, no rider will be asked, nor put in a position where they feel pressured into any mountain bike feature they are not comfortable with. A fundamental philosophy at ALine is that we learn best through positive experiences, and so this will continually drive session aims and plans. ALine has 10+ years of designing appropriate mountain bike coaching sessions, and we pride ourselves on getting this balance, just right.

Age range: This is difficult to say as kids grow at such different rates, however 8-16 is a guide. Essentially, they need to be able to comfortably fit and control a 24” wheeled mountain bike or above. If you’re unsure, please reach out and we will be happy to discuss.

What to expect from any session?

• All sessions are mountain bike descend/skill focused - this is not an XC or fitness focus

• Solidifying the skills needed to navigate rollable jumps, berms, and technical sections and help confident riders take their skills to the next level.

All riders will need to be self-sufficient for each coached session. This includes:

• be comfortable to be with the group for 1-2 hours through the session

• wear appropriate clothing

• have appropriate protective equipment, including a helmet, knee pads and gloves as a minimum. All additional protective gear is highly recommended but not essential.

A backpack (or a way of transporting listed items themselves) that includes:

• snacks and hydration

• a basic bike repair tool (e.g., multi-tool)

• bike specific spares such as inner tube and/or puncture repair kit and a pump

Pre-requisites

• Can ride blue or red grade terrain (depending on which sessions are booked), not including the main features. For example, can safely get down the tracks at Lady Cannings, Parkwood (blue grade trials), or Grenoside (red grade trails) without hitting the jumps, but wants to progress their mountain bike skills. Each session will be supported by one or two coaches depending on how many riders are booked onto the session. Each session has the opportunity to be adapted where needed.

• Be willing to learn in a group environment, up to 10 riders (x2 coaches).

Riders WILL NEED

• A fully functioning bike fit for purpose, including brakes and gears - all in good working order.

• Appropriate safety gear including a helmet, knee pads and gloves.

Session Details

Back to Basics Sessions - BLUE

The Blue sessions are for young riders who are new to mountain biking or want to solidify their fundamental riding skills. These sessions will focus on Blue Grade terrain.

Session content: Back to Basics sessions will be tailored around core concepts of riding a mountain bike, including riding position, cornering, pumping and bike control. These sessions have no one specific set criteria of content for each session, rather attendees can decide on what they’d like to cover, appropriate to the course level - Blue grade content.

Session location: Parkwood springs.

Session time - Wednesdays: 6pm - 7:30pm

Session Dates: 6th May / 23rd May / 3rd June / 1st July

Session Costs: £12 per session per rider

For cancelations, a minimum of two weeks is needed for a full refund*. If you cancel within this time, the booking may be transferable to another ALine product or get a full refund* ONLY if the place can be filled by another rider, otherwise we will will not be able to offer any refund. Any queries, please contact ALine. Cancelations made once the first session has been run will not be able to be refunded.

Note: * all course refunds are subject to a small admin fee of £2.

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Who is running the course?

James and Joe are new to ALine but not new to supporting Sheffield’s youth progress on a bike. They have volunteered at the Hillsborough Pump Track for a few years, supporting those not lucky enough to have their own bikes access the free equipment and use of the track.

They are both very approachable and have a wealth of knowledge the young riders will be able to soak up. They are both British Cycling trained and have shadowed ALine extensively to ensure that everyone they coach gets an authentic ALine experience, however with their own twist.