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Which would most add to your enjoyment of all things bike?
The mrs has offered to pay for a course and I don't know which one to do.
Mostly ride on my own so not worried about keeping up with others (and don't generally get left behind much when I do). Done a couple of races but nothing serious.
Really enjoy working on bikes, volunteer at the [url= http://www.thebikestation.org.uk/ ]Bike Station[/url] weekly and can do most things, but never built a wheel.
Help me decide.
Wheel building is becoming a bit of a redundant activity these days for most bike shops and individuals, as with the onset of cheaper good quality ready made wheelsets from the likes of Hope, Shimano and Mavic, people tend to buy off the shelf these days. I've built my own wheels for almost 10 years, but my last wheels I purhased were a set of Hope Pro 2's on Stans rims, built in their factory. They were loads cheaper than if I built them myself!
Can highly recommend a skills course though. I recently went on one taught by Jedi of this very forum (google his company, it's called ukbikeskills), and I learnt more in a few hours than I have done in a decade of riding! The best bit was thy I had the ability already, it was just piecing all the things together, and he taught me how to do that very effectively. Totally worth the time, effort and cost IMO!
I would say that wheelbuilding seems the kind of thing you can teach yourself given a few wheels from the local dump and some time / the internets.
A skills course is for the kind of thing that you havent picked up from just riding so would need to be shown, for me it would be the skills course.
However one of my LBS' is Wheelcraft - the wheel builder there is:
- cheap as chips.
- superb.
- truly superb.
- friendly.
- did I say superb?
So I dont need to learn to do wheelbuilding 🙂
Buy Roger Musson's book yourself http://www.wheelpro.co.uk/wheelbuilding/book.php (£9) and then ask to be put on wheels at the Bike Station for a bit of practice.
Then get the Mrs to pay for the skillz,
I got some hope hoops, all the tensions where shagged, had to rebuild them properly after a couple of months. But as above buy the book and teach youreself.
Skills courses are well worth the money.
Coming up to my 40th In July and have asked the missus to book a day with Jedi hoping I might get to 41 with fewer injuries.
I'll most likely get a book token but I live in hope.
Ok, that seems fairly definitive.
Will buy the book and book the course forthwith.
Looking at going with [url= http://www.dirtschool.co.uk/ ]Dirtschool[/url] - any other recommendations?
Did a skills course with Jedi, it improved my enjoyment of mtbing (and I liked it a lot to start with)
Should have said, I'm in Edinburgh. I think Jedi's a lot farther south?
Dirtschool are excelllent, i've been twice and really noticed a benefit.
Thanks all, really helpful.
Jedi is looking to come to GT in June to give some coaching if there is enough demand. He is a great coach.
You've made the right choice I think.
For me skills coaching wasn't about keeping up with people (though it helped with that I think), but about helping me enjoy riding more.
I ride alone mostly as well, and it's just good to feel more in control of the bike.
I can recommend Mark at the Break Pad, Kirroughtree. He also teaches at Mabie or Ae.
Had an brilliant day with him last year and going back for more next month.
You can learn how to build wheels online quite easily. I built my first ever wheel following the G-Sport wheel building guide and its still being used by my friend about 4 years later (bmx as well so its not like its weak)!
I have done a session with Jedi and a day with Dirt School (Rowan Sorrel)
Both were excelent but very different would recomend both.
Bazzer
skills day without a doubt.
did one with jedi earlier this summer and i has improved my riding no end.
taught myself to build wheels to a passable standard last year.
i use skills every ride. i only build wheels a couple of times per year.
Skills day, definitely
If you're in edinburgh, do a course with the Girls @ the Hub at Glentress, I did a course there it was excellent. Improved my riding no end
Look us up at http://www.mtbskills.eu for skills session around the Mabie Dalbeattie area (we do vouchers for half day and full day bespoke sessions), either or you cant go wrong and will get a whole load from a skills session.
thank you for the kind words guys 🙂
Did the wheel building course at Edinburgh bike co-op for a birthday present and it was ok but I've learned a lot more just by doing myself and from web. Roger Musson's book is fantastic and an utter bargin as already mentioned.
Definitely the skills course. In fact I think I'll look for one myself Jedi let me know if you come to Oz 🙂
mmmmmmm oz......