[Closed] UK Bike Skills - a lesson with Jedi

So basically you were a shit rider before he told you to look well ahead and scan the trail, how to corner properly, and how do ride off a big curb (all of which you can learn for free off the internet)

Money well spent there.

Pretty much, but as I'd only started to ride in Feb this year, I'm not as fussed about "saving" his lesson fee - a bit of learning at the start should make it a lot harder for bad habits to form.

(all of which you can learn for free off the internet)

really? how this? do you set up a webcam with the instructor or something?

was about to post 'cue the naysayers'..... 😆
whatever you think of money spent on coaching, my experience is its many times more valuable than money spent on kit to 'improve' your riding/enjoyment of MTB

flow - is it nice and cosy in your comfort zone there?

So basically you were a shit rider before he told you to look well ahead and scan the trail, how to corner properly, and how do ride off a big curb (all of which you can learn for free off the internet)

Say what you will but if I had only been riding a short while I wouldn't have fancied doing many of the things down the skills trail especially that last drop off into the berm. Tony has a great way of making you feel at ease with riding and moving where you thought your comfort zone was 🙂

I learned to do halfpipe tricks on my snowboard from videos on youtube. Well, I say "learned"; I'm shit.

Still, it beats paying for lessons that would only serve to give me a good grounding in the principles and a solid skills base from which to progress.

🙄

I agree with you Tom he's very good

I agree with you Tom he's very good

(Mr MC posting)

been riding MTBs 18yrs. Not arrogant enough to think I have nothing to learn. Had an outstanding day with Tony, fixed some bad habits, polished up some good ones and fine tuned some fundamentals. Came away a better rider and full of enthusiasm to ride, and to ride well, as did the friends I did the course with.

You can learn to bunny hop with flat pedals from the internet. 'Cept you'd be doing it wrong; I'm pretty sure the likes of Danny McCaskill dont scoop their pedals up with their feet...

Flow, do you have to trackstand to stay on that pedestal?

So basically you were a shit rider before he told you to look well ahead and scan the trail, how to corner properly, and how do ride off a big curb (all of which you can learn for free off the internet)

Money well spent there.

Could you be more unpleasant please? This forum thrives because of remarks like that.

46 minutes?

To be fair, some of those downhill tracks at Stile cop are a bit bumpy.

Jedi is rad, I'm glad you are enjoying your riding more now. Happy days.

Ive tried learning from the internet, youtube and even bought a book on skills - all made bugger all difference. One day with Jedi made a world of difference.

His teaching was tailored to my ability, (or lack of) his video replays and comments all helped. You wont get that from a book or from the internet.

Didn't do Stile Cop - the 46 mins was FTD.

buzz-lightyear - Member
So basically you were a shit rider before he told you to look well ahead and scan the trail, how to corner properly, and how do ride off a big curb (all of which you can learn for free off the internet)
Money well spent there.

Could you be more unpleasant please? This forum thrives because of remarks like that.

+1

How strange that if you buy a £600 set of golf clubs and take a few lessons with the club pro no-one would think it a waste of money yet if you spend the thick end of £4k on a bike people scoff when you have 1 days training with a bike pro? I had the same attitude as 'flow' off a few when I spent some cash to spend a few hours with Scott Beaumont but the increase in confidence in my own ability more than justified it to me, and besides if want to spend the money I earn on lessons then so what?

Unless Flow is that good he earns a living riding ( though even the worlds best pay for coaching) then it sounds like sour grapes to me.

I would consider Tony as a friend, and I have never paid him to advise me, but just riding with him is enough to make you want to learn.
The way he handles and rides a bike, without making you feel bad, makes you want to be a better rider. I remember well some of the rides when some [s]flash ****er[/s] upstart would **** off up a hill & then just be lazy on the downs to re cooperate, jedi can rip them to bits without trying, but he doesn't because he always rides within the group he is with, no bravado, he just rides his bike.

That said I have had my biggest 'off's' whilst under his spell, they were all worth it for the buzz though, MTB & BMX alike, his enthusiasm knows no bounds.

Cheers Tony!

I'm hoping to give this lark a bash... does anyone know a skills course up North - Tyne & Wear?

Nice on Zack & Jedi 😉

Down with the haters sitting in armchairs.

I would and am looking forward to booking a lesson with TD.......

But come on let's not get over excited!!!

1 days training with a bike pro

Hardly a pro though is he

Mmmm? Let me think about that?...

[b]pro[/b]·fes·sion·al

adjective?/pr??feSH?nl/?

(of a person) Engaged in a specified activity as [b]one's main paid occupation[/b] rather than as a pastime

flow why don't you naff off? If you'd been on a course with jedi and had something to say about the experience be it [b]good [/b]or [b]bad[/b] then you might be interesting, otherwise go and find somewhere else to spread your manure. You are just on the way to making yourself someone who is universally reviled.

Some people can learn through reading, some people are kinaesthetic learners and benefit from on the bike tuition. Horse for course innit.

robsoctane - Member
I'm hoping to give this lark a bash... does anyone know a skills course up North - Tyne & Wear?

Hamsterley maybe.

@Captjon: Thanks mate, will search that now. 😀

@Flow: stop trollin.

i would love to go on one of his courses (when funds allow)as i need all the help i can get with bike handling 🙂

kinaesthetic learning = learning by doing (essentially).

Are you sure it doesnt mean "looks good whilst doing".. 😀

Capt Jon I learn well by reading and studying but a lot of what you read around bike skills is just so much horse sh1t, such as the pedal scooping I mentioned earlier.
Love the idea tony isn't a pro. Flimsy grasp of the language there. And flow if you mean pro racer guess what a lot of them pay the likes of tony and rich @cycleactive for skills coaching. The worlds best sportsmen and women can learn from coaching, only the closed of mind can't.

.

Tony's course has improved my jumping by quite alot but my cross country riding has also improved with keeping my head up a little more than I used too. Alpes in 3 weeks, so can't wait ! Thanks Tony. 8)

ltheisinger

He is not a pro, if his name was Steve Peat, or Gee Atherton then he would be a pro, dumbass.

And I'm not trolling. Buy this book and read it. It will teach you everything you need to know, and some. You also get to keep it for ever, and read it as many times as you want, all for a fraction over a tenner!

As an added bonus, its written by a professional cyclist!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mastering-Mountain-Skills-Brian-Lopes/dp/0736083715

I read that book, it took jedi 10 mins to teach me more than that book ever has, does a good job of levelling out me table though

The only dumbass is the person who doesn't understand what the word pro means even after having a dictionary definition posted 🙄

Flow = Cock

I would rather someone watch me and point out what i'm doing wrong, rather than read it, get a small bit wrong and cock up.

Also a quick browse through flow's post history - he/she loves calling people dumbass and acting as condescending as possible to them.

zach, thank you for your kind words and was awesome to hear of your riding improvments.
🙂

The stuff spouted by flow is exactly why many people are put off giving mountain biking a go and also why STW is seen as a place where cocks hang out.

I don't know Tony other than by reputation & his posts, but his enthusiasm & ability to encourage others to progress their riding is something we should all be happy about.
Why some feel the need to make snide remarks about his coaching is beyond me?
If Tony was on here bigging himself up then I could see why people might have a beef but from what I can see he is a very modest man trying to earn a living as a professional coach.

I agree MrOvershoot

In fact, if I were fitter I would consider doing a skills course (alas, as it is, I doubt I would get the most benefit!)

The stuff spouted by flow is exactly why many people are put off giving mountain biking a go and also why STW is seen as a place where cocks hang out.

Have you read any of his other posts on other threads?

Seems he only comes on here to purposefully wind people up, but not even in a "trolling" manner, he actually gets really angry and angers other people too!

Don't need to add any more about Jedi's ability as a coach, other than to say he really knows what he's doing. The theory, putting it into practice, and being able to teach it in a way that anybody will reap the benefits. As an experienced Trainer/Coach (not cycling sadly) I know that what your audience takes in is 80-90% how well it is put across to them in a way they can understand, and it's only 10-20% content and theory. So a good coach is worth their weight in gold!

Now, just imagine a solid gold Jedi... Would look remarkably like one of those Buddha stautuettes I reckon! 😉

Flow if Jedi wrote a book about riding would this makes him a professional author a professional cyclist?
I dont understand why you dont understand what a pro is. You mention only pro racers and only DH at that. It seems a little narrow - I am being polite it is just incorrect.
I would explain to you about the best pedagogy to teach kinaesthetic skills [ its not reading a book]but in you case i fear it would be a wate of my time.

Love the assumption here that you can only coach others if you've performed at the top level. It couldn't be further from the truth. Coaching isn't about what the trainer can do, it's only about what they can get you to do.

Looking forward to finding out in a couple of weeks! 8)

Lopes has always come across as a bit of an arrogant tit. It appears that one can learn the same trait by reading his book.

I think Tony is very effective in the way he coaches. I had a day with him earlier this year. It was with a mate of mine who had only been mountain biking a few months. My own technique and confidence improved a lot, but what was impressive was how well he had my mate riding in a couple of hours. There is no way you would improve that fast from reading a book. It costs a bit of money, but I think it's well worth it for the extra enjoyment you'll get out of your biking.

UK Biks kills is the complete package - fantastic coach, perfect venue.
I have the Lopes book at home, but never really got much out of it,now with my new jedi improved mindset I think the book may be more useful.

A month after my coaching day and I'm definitely a better rider, just need to practice with the tools I've been given. Can't wait to go back to Herts!

Given the choice of Tony or any 'pro rider' to teach me, I would have to go with the pro coach. Personally I don't find arrogance very inspirational, enthusiasm on the other hand is.

Flow - are you allowed out at weekends?

Why would he want to go out, other than to the library? Weekends are the perfect time for sessioning "Mastering Mountain Bike Skills" by Brian Lopes.

It's a good book to ride the sofa with

I went along with my wife and kids. We all ride, to varying levels, but none of us were any good at jumping. A decent session with Tony any we were all significantly improved, to the extent that Mrs F was clearing the tabletop by the end, something I didn't expect to see. Better yet, we were all thoroughly enjoying it, despite the torrential rain.

Tony's not a 'pro' in the sense that he has no coaching badges, isn't a racer, and uses no complex theories to try to explain what he wants you to do. That said, he uses simple instructions, and after years of doing things wrong, and wondering why I was such a clumsy oaf, I can now approach and land jumps without problems. I've read magazine articles and books, but had never been able to translate that into ability on the trail.

Thoroughly recommended. And I'll certainly be back there in the autumn.

😆 sooooo easy

Nothing better to do?

As one of Tony's mates I know a bit more about what goes on behind the scenes, and we've had bike companies falling over themselves to give him stuff. He's now coaching some higher level xc race people and some of his younger riders who he's been coaching for years are now getting hooked up with pro-sponsorship contracts. None of which Tony would ever make a big deal about because he's not that kind of bloke.

I might add that a big (and I mean really big) US bike company wanted to put Tony on a bike deal last year, and he turned them down as he didn't think it was a good fit. Tony isn't a pro in Flow's terms because he doesn't want to be.

Yeah plenty.

Clocked up over 100 miles on the MTB last week, had a few fun sessions at the jump and pump track, got out on the road bike a few times, but then what would I know about riding a bike 😆

Edit: I'm not knocking Tony or UK Bike Skills, just winding these bunch of couch potato wannabe MTB'ers up.

just winding these bunch of couch potato wannabe MTB'ers up

Forum rules:

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just winding these bunch of couch potato wannabe MTB'ers up.

It funny I cannot see any anger or wind up, just a bunch of people calmly telling you to go away. Anyway carry on and you'll get sent away.

It funny I cannot see any anger or wind up, just a bunch of people calmly telling you to go away. Anyway carry on and you'll get sent away.

This thread has reminded me that I really must try and get some coaching.

Yeah plenty.

Clocked up over 100 miles on the MTB last week, had a few fun sessions at the jump and pump track, got out on the road bike a few times, but then what would I know about riding a bike

Edit: I'm not knocking Tony or UK Bike Skills, just winding these bunch of couch potato wannabe MTB'ers up.

Wow, that must've made you feel [i]really [/i] clever 🙄

Let us know when you reach adolescence. You might need help getting through it.

I had coaching from jedi, I enjoyed it, I ride noticeably better now (friends have noticed the difference) and enjoy my riding more because of that. Money well spent.

Flow - Thanks.....that's a compliment coming from you! 😀

Edit: I'm not knocking Tony or UK Bike Skills, just winding these bunch of couch potato wannabe MTB'ers up.

post hoc ergo propter hoc innit

Try drinking out of a glass backwards CaptJon

Damn, you lot have no sense of humor, or is it the way I write it?

Have you considered: you. just. ain't. funny ❓

I don't think it's the way you wright it 'flow', i think its the fact that you keep writing such stupid and wrong statments.

I have never had any coaching from Jedi but i have considered it and after reading all the praise for him in this thread it has made me more likely to do it in the future.

I consider myself a pretty decent rider already. I race dh, xc, gravity enduro and pretty much anything else that involves a stop watch and wheels and i generally do pretty well in these events.
But there is nothing wrong with seeking help from someone with jedi's knowledge and experience to improve even more.

I am going to go out on a limb and guess that you have never been on any coaching days and so your opinion on this subject is worthless so it's for the good of all that you go and do some rad skids or general gnarly riding and read Mbuk, yes i imagine you are there target demographic, a proper douchebag

A discussion i had with Bullheart this weekend.

Some people fuelled by hype and media promotion think nothing on spaffing hundreds of pounds on a bike/product thinking it will make them a better, faster rider and when new five hundred pound 140mm forks don't quite do it, they sell them for 250 and buy a new set with a further 10mm, maybe even a new frame, brakes, wheels..the list go's on..

In this world, it's thought easier to buy a material product that's considered right to improve your ability in lifes adventures and in some cases that's certainly true.

How many riders on bling bling sex wee machines, have been out ridden on trails, by someone on a shonky old HT?
They have two options to change this IF they wish to..Buy a better bike/component...well that's not worked? Or be a better rider and learn better technique, change bad habits. How you go about gaining that knowledge/ability is up to the person.

I take it the person who say's they can learn it all from the internets, watches pron to improve his performance as a lover, as opposed to those who pay for great tuition from those who ARE great lovers.

Shameless plug.[url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/uk-bike-skills-a-lesson-with-jedi/page/2 ]WWW.UKSEXSKILLS.co.uk[/url] 😉

How many riders on bling bling sex wee machines, have been out ridden on trails, by someone on a shonky old HT?

Me..

It was in morzine, my first time there, ok I was on my giant nrs with 1.95 tires and crap magura julies, but a pair of scottish blokes on early 90's canti braked no suspension rockhoppers flew past getting massive loads of air and basically being rad.

But I've maximised my chances of it not happening again by having skills training and a sex wee bling machine..

Yawn

I think we should all accept now that Flow is a tool and is trolling! He clearly has no idea and probably rides like a 3 year old with stabilisers but he's going to learn as he bought a book.

DezB - Member
Try drinking out of a glass backwards CaptJon

pmsl

(Mr MC posting from her account)

I disagree with MC about trolling.

Flow has been what the americans refer to as a douche, has been roundly (and politely) called out by the STW collective, and is now trying to play the "oh it was troll, look at my smiley face" defence.

Does the Lopes book teach you how to backpedal?

I know, I will post some vids of me riding, and you lot post yours, then we will see who needs tuition.

Bearing in mind this is 2 years old, and I'm a hell of a lot better now after reading the book 😆

can we not just compare scars and then see who can wee the furthest?

No obviously not, after calling me shit I would expect you to prove that you lot are better, which I would expect to be pretty easy if you have had tuition from a "pro".

can you quote where I said that? I said you cannot learn kinesthietic skills as easily from a book as from doing - see you read that and yet you have forgotten it mmm interesting.

I was talking to [b]you lot[/b] as a collective. If you had read the post properly you would have seen that. No wonder you need tuition.

you could do with keeping your feet on the pedals more, and all that stuff at ukbp is pretty easy to ride

Can someone explain to me why flow has posted a video of Tinker Juarez?

I can't believe how ignorant some people are - either that, or then trying to play it off as an wind up.

IMO, you are never too old or too experienced to learn something. I've been riding and riding well IMO for 10 years, yet jedi revolutionised my riding in four hours.

Not only during conversation did he humbly admit he himslef learns something new every day, he demo'd some of those skills on his 'shore for me to see.

In my years, I've never met a "teacher" like Jedi - he lives for what he does, practises what he preaches and gives you a feeling of pure faith in his abilities - and then you get assimilated to do the same with a noticable difference ie:

Singletrack run no 1 = 19 seconds. Run no 2 (after 5 mins of advice and help) 14 seconds. Proofs in the pudding......

I didn't say it wasn't easy to ride, its the only vid I have of me riding anything half decent.

Awaiting your vid 5lab

Flow have you got a logic deficiency? You came on here saying coaching was a waste of time, and now you are saying that we all need tuition, so which is it to be? I think most people on here who have been to coaching admit that they need coaching, that's the point of the thread. No one has asked you to have coaching, indeed you don't seem to want it so I don't get your presence here..