General Chat

[Dirtpilot72]

I have done a bit of research on this by attending a few beginner rides. Not just in AMTRA either. I have found the following.

Shorter rides seem popular. About 5 hours.

Way too many level 2 and up riders go. I think if you have about 15 beginners, have 5 to 6 experienced riders to help.

2 tailmen is good.

Make it easy, most beginners just want a ride to suit them, not a heap of challenges thrown in.

Just my opinion. I think a private property day with a course marked out and experts positioned on obsticles to help would be good thing. Repition and one on one, but this works better on a private property setting, not on a day ride.

Thamkyou for your input,
This is what I am after, this is not unlike what we did last year.
But as you said a fair few L2 riders attend biginner ride's
If you could list some of the things that you think are important to beginner riders
We can work on a course,
Thinking a BBQ lunch
With say log crossing, Water crossing, hill climb, hill decent are we getting close?.
John T

The above plus "THROTTLE/CLUTCH/BIKE CONTROL" is the thing i see needs work (even on level 2 rides ). Also basic bike setup, how to ride slippery tracks and basic bike maintence.

[Dirtpilot72]

Bike control, the ability to know when to open it up and when not to. Clutch control. On a recent level 1/2 ride i went on it was as slippery as i have seen it for a while. I was on a XR200 and ended up on every second corner. All the power of modern 2 strokes and 4 strokes was useless if you cannot get it on the ground, or dont have the skill to control it. The 200 went up all hills without any problems and could be held wide open in most situations. And in single track it was deadly except the low slung footpegs dragging in the ruts.

[john t]

I have done a bit of research on this by attending a few beginner rides. Not just in AMTRA either. I have found the following.

Shorter rides seem popular. About 5 hours.

Way too many level 2 and up riders go. I think if you have about 15 beginners, have 5 to 6 experienced riders to help.

2 tailmen is good.

Make it easy, most beginners just want a ride to suit them, not a heap of challenges thrown in.

Just my opinion. I think a private property day with a course marked out and experts positioned on obsticles to help would be good thing. Repition and one on one, but this works better on a private property setting, not on a day ride.

Thamkyou for your input,
This is what I am after, this is not unlike what we did last year.
But as you said a fair few L2 riders attend biginner ride's
If you could list some of the things that you think are important to beginner riders
We can work on a course,
Thinking a BBQ lunch
With say log crossing, Water crossing, hill climb, hill decent are we getting close?.
John T

yep, happy to come and help and can organise AMTRA barby lunch if committee aprove. Will

Thanks Will.
It should be a goer, I think the BBQ is a good for beginner to have chat at 1/2 time.

[john t]

Ok you need to set a suitable date so we can get organized

Looks like I will work on 4 weeks’ notice, mainly weather dependent
 As this week’s general meeting will give me a chance to  see what the  club is prepared to do.

[Nic103]

 
What a great topic mate! From a beginner here is what I have found helpful

1. Being able to have a chat with the ride leader, and being reassured by more experienced riders.
2. Regular riding: when I first started, I would only get out once every couple of months, then I poo myself when I did get out as I was out of practice and feeling really uncomfortable
3. Repitition of tricky bits: it's great to nail it the second time round, confidence is everything.
4. Getting help on bike set-up: Sometimes the smallest things are really helpful
5. Having the rides relativly close to Melbourne: Im already pretty stuffed after driving for 3 hours to get to a ride, and cos i drive on my own I'm tentative to go too far incase I have an off and hurt myself and can't get home.
6. Patience: I am a real sook when it comes to the downhills, and sometimes (nearly all the time) I get stuck at the top of the hill thinking I can't do it. A patient sweep is worth there weight in gold
7. A BBQ is great - promotes the social side of riding

Thanks for the oppertunity to have my say, I would definatly attend a dalesford day!

Cheers, Nicole   

[john t]

Thank you for all the reply's, they all have good points
So here is my first draft
1/ Held on private property.
2/ 120 odd km from Melbourne.
3/ 2 x  loops graded green, blue, working on a black.
4/ All loops travelling in the same direction.
5/ Small groups with a ride leader for assistance and info.
6/ The longest loop should take around 20min to 30min  to complete.
7/ 1 set of practice hills which can be accessed from the green or blue loops.
    But not part of either loop.
8/ Riders can progress up the loop levels.
9/ Riders can swap ride leaders and do the same loop or do another loop  with
    a different leader as everyone has their own way of look at the same things.
10/ BBQ  lunch 

[DarrenD]

Hi Big Bad John.  Great idea.  I have no bike at the moment but am happy to come cook the BBQ if required.

[2t4me]

great plan John - i reckon you've got it spot on with your layouts...

having just done the yammi off road course again i think it would probably be good to also spend a little bit of time at the start going over body postioning for braking and cornering - allthough seemingly being a basic thing it seemed to be the real "lightbulb" moment for most on the course (myself included!!)

i.e. cornering - weighting the outside of the bike
braking - getting your body weight to the back of the bike...