First, before we get too far in) let me introduce you to myself and the guys who will be helping me. You already know that my cornering and riding style sucks. What you don't yet know is that I am an ex-rugby player (39 and 6`2" ) with a bad back. I started riding after giving up rugby following a slipped disc and operation to remove the disc in 2005. My philosophy has been that if I am turning the pedals there cant be much wrong.

I have always ridden full sus bike believing (rightly or wrongly) it would be easier on my back. My first bike cost me £200 and weighed in at 24lbs. It was a bit of a steel beast, but it got me around. The guy at my local bike shop referred to it as the "Toys-R-Us special" - nice. I replaced it in Dec 07 with an aluminium Scott Genius.

Since then my riding has improved and I have taken to riding with as many new people as I can find. Admittedly, I am a bit of mountain biking slut, I will ride with anyone.

I met Stan* (name changed to protect the innocent) in summer '08 through a local bike forum that was in the next village down. Stan and I were in the same village and I was tired of meeting the same old guys and doing pretty similar routes week in week out. So I convinced Stan to meet up and go for a ride early one Saturday morning. Little did I know what I was letting myself in for! For Stan is a bit of legend, he rides a fully rigid 29er single speed (actually he has 5 bikes, but we wont go there). Stan used to work in a bike shop and has lived in the same village most of his life.  When he said he would show me a few local trails, I thought there wasn't much I didn't know.  Was I wrong! Rhetorical question - don't bother trying to answer it. Stan opened my eyes to singletrack routes I'd never have dreamed of. If I remember correctly, I took a tumble trying to keep up with him through sandy singletrack with summer high ferns and bracken on each side on my first ride.

Then there is Guido with whom I got setup with by the local Mums club. Guido had recently moved to the area and his daughter is in the same class as my son. I was approached in the school playground by a parent / mum  who gave me his number and said he was new to the area.  Could I give him a call as he is a keen mountain bike rider.  And that was how I met Guido. He comes from Yorkshire but spent a few years in Colorado and spent many a happy day riding in the mountain bike heaven of Fruita and Moab.

Stan and Guido must have been talking about me. I imagine much in the style of "What are we going to do about Buster?" I know this because one frosty Sunday morning we set out and "Lo and behold!" they had only scouted out a great little training run with a few bumps and a nicely bermed left handed corner. It is only about 200m long and the climb back to the start isn't to bad.

The plan was - pay attention here coz this is where you can help or get your buddies to help - that I do the run and Stan and Guido would follow me down and observe. At the bottom of the run we would confer and dissect the contents of my run.

Run 1:

What lot to talk about, eh! Crikey! Mainly Guido complaining that he couldn't see too much around Stan (we won't go there now). Back to my riding.

Problems: I was sitting much, I was braking too much, my feet where nowhere on the corners, I was too rigid on the bike, I was pedalling between sections too much.

Actions: (a)Stand on your pedals more, sitting on  a full suspension bike with bounce you over the handle bars given half a chance, (b) be fluid move you hips

c) relax your arms, shoulders, body (d) Pump with your arms on the down bits! (e) take the bumps on your arms and knees. (e)look ahead.(f) shift weight to rear

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh! What? All great advice but, "Hello! Overload!"

Ok, so we cooled it on the advice and picked out the top 2 to concentrate on for the next run. Cornering and Setup got the nod, so we dropped my seat another whopping inch. This allows you to move your self around and most importantly back without the seat holding you up. I had always liked to have an almost straight leg when on a down pedal, it is now more bent at full extension when sitting.

**Note:

#1 I was to concentrate on letting the bike do all the work below me. I was to ride out the bumps by taking the hits on my slightly bent elbows and knees.

#2 For the corner I was to concentrate on getting my weight onto the outside pedal. So as it is a left-hander that means right foot (and pedal) down. Vice-versa for right-handers! Got it! Still paying attention? This helps keeps the weight in the right place. I will get more theoretical later.

Run 2:

Off we went. I was surer of myself as this was the 2^nd run. Guido went behind me to avoid him making anymore comments about not being able to see around Stan.

Verdict: "Better, but stay off the f****ing brakes!" Imagine that in a Yorkshire accent - not pleasant.

Actually the run did feel better. It was noticeable that the bike was bouncing around underneath me but I was gloriously impervious to it. Good word that - "Impervious " (I must look it up sometime). I took the bumps on my arms and legs - my thighs did start burning a bit as are unused to standing on a bouncing bike too much.

Run 3:

With a furrowed brow of concentration we set off. I can't remember who was next - I sensed the guys had moved on. I took the top turn into the run without braking but did feather the brakes when things got a bit bumpy just before the corner and cocked my foot positions out. I compensated by flying out of the corner at speed and rattling over some bumps consequently I overshot the end of the run.

** Note if you brake at speed it reduces your ability to manoeuvre the bike. Braking stands the bike up! Got it?

Till next week .....