News

The Future:

2010 is going to be a good year!

The addition of Rich to the Cloud9Trails team, means we should be able to run many more UK based weekends, with the emphasis based on high quality skills based training and guiding.

We are now able to offer individually tailored programmes, one-to-one skills tuition sessions and offer detailed race training advice. Both Rich and I currently studying to become one of the Cycle Touring Club’s small group of Leader Trainers, and intend eventually to run CTC skill training and leader training weekends through Cloud9Trails.

The Cloud9Trails website has now split to allow me to spend a bit more time on my second passion after mountain biking, photography. I am available for commissions, and have an extensive catalogue of stock shots. I’ve included a number of examples of work that I’ve had published in both the specialist mountain bike and mainstream media.

Future Events: Spring/Summer 2010 – Skills Tuition Days - North Downs/Peak District/Yorkshire Dales. Small group, or individually tailored, mountain bike skill instruction sessions, set in some of the UK’s finest riding areas. With the emphasis on fun, and using a progressive learning process, you are pretty much guaranteed to improve in skill and confidence. Please email Halfbike@Cloud9Trails.com if you are interested

Feedback

Comments posted on the Shecycles.com forum

“A group of Shecycles girls have done Cloud9Trails.com skills days and managed to improve their riding by leaps and bunny hops! Most of his courses are based in the south (i.e. north downs,) but he does do them oop north as well. Oliver is the guide and has the patience of a saint as well as the ability to make you believe you can do anything! If you contact him via his website you can discuss what kind of course you want and I’m sure he will be able to sort it!” AA

“Hi, I went on one of Olly's courses earlier this year, and was really helpful, gave me lots of confidence. Have fun!” LP

“I know I mentioned how great Olly (Halfbike) is on the thread about the MTB skills days but I'll just repeat it here. He's very patient, encouraging, doesn't mind repeating and helping you do stuff again - so any girls out there don't be intimidated by a strange man. He's only as strange as any of us!” TM

The Past:

Cloud9Trails is now in its ninth year of operation. Since the first Guided Ride, held in cold and drizzly conditions at Coed-y-Brenin, we’ve have run weekends all over the UK from North Wales to the North Downs. We’ve run a mixture of guided group rides, both on ‘man made’ trails and public rights of way, and skills based tuition, both to large group bookings and individually tailored tuition sessions. During this time we’ve covered a vast array of subjects, terrains and conditions.

During the course of Skills Tuition sessions, we’ve looked at areas including bike setup, body positioning, efficient use of brakes and gears, line choice, descending, climbing, cornering (basic and advanced), step ups and step downs, drop offs/chutes/gullies and riding mud/roots/cambered surfaces. From 2006, we used video analysis as an aid to skills tuition. By carrying a compact digital camera, we were able to film clients attempting trail obstacles, show them what they are doing wrong, and them teach them the correct technique. By filming clients both ‘before’ and ‘after’, they are able to see for themselves the improvement in their technique and skill.

last updated Thursday 30/11/2009