Trail riding is a big part of what we are about at Steppng Stanes. At a trail riding session you'll be split into ability groups on arrival and placed into the hands of our qualified Trail Cycle Leaders. After sign-on and bike checks are completed, almost the whole session is out on the trails with regular stops to catch our breath and consider techniqes and tactics for enjoying our local trails at their best.

Trail riding is suitable for all riders who have a reasonable amount of stamina and are capable of riding forest fire roads and basic singletrack. More advanced groups will ride further, faster and more technical trails.

Please try to arrive on time so we can place you in the correct group. Parents are welcome to join us on trail rides where numbers permit.

Skills
coaching sessions come in a number of forms but are focussed on developing the skills of all our riders and are the best type of session to come to if you are just starting out in mountian biking. For some riders its about negotiating obsticles without having to walk, while for others its all about shaving off those few extra seconds in a race. We do our best in these sessions to cater for all abilities. Skills coaching usually takes place at Heathhall Forest or the David Keswick Centre under the floodlights. The focus of these sessions is definitely coaching and we hope that everyone leaves being just a little better than when they arrived.

Please try to arrive on time for coaching sessions to allow groups to be made, late arrivals are frustrating as they make the start later for everyone. Also, please note that in the winter, use of the Keswick centre incurs a cost of about £1.50 per session for use of the track.

Race Coaching sessions are sometimes run as a block and occasionally run as one off session to prepare rides for race events in the near future. These sessions give riders the opportunity to try out the course and glean important advice from the coaches on both race tactics and skills.

The club also organises races in which we encourage non-members and members of other clubs to compete alongside our own riders. Riders enter events based on
age and there is usually a chance to ride the route before races begin, but be early to take advantage of this. Races will usually incur some cost (usually less than £5).