Casey was very helpful & enthusiastic. Not at all phased when I turned up on a cyclocross bike! Really helpful course - I feel that my riding has improved greatly thanks to it. I managed to keep up with a bunch of far more experienced bikers on front- and full-suspension bikes on my skinny cyclocross tyres for the rest of the weekend with the skills from the class - despite the mud! Thanks!

Hi Tryfan,

I was thoroughly caught up in the coaching session on Saturday. If you 
recall I showed you the spot up on my back where I was feeling it most. I 
believe this was through my general stiffness and practiced poor technique/ 
position. I need to practice what I learned on Saturday. A challenge me 
thinks well worth the time, effort & cost. Without receiving feedback and no 
"wakeup" calls since my previous clinic (my fault for leaving it so long), I 
would have continued with some things tuned in and others... not so much. 
Like a poorly tuned TV channel, not getting a clear signal & not the full 
picture.

I more than happily recommend the skills clinics to folks. I believe that 
having learned to ride when younger, we later as adults pick up a bike and 
after a shaky start strolling down balance amnesia lane, get the hang of it 
again and rekindle the enjoyable the sensation of riding. Fear is soon 
replaced by bravado, ( mostly in men? ), especially when they see the 
technology & perhaps, as I did, find they are now 35 plus, doing stuff on a 
bike which at age 16 they either didn't or couldn't. But the bike can not 
cover up & protect you from your own poor techniques and lousy judgement for 
ever. We desire an element of risk so we continue to raise the bar. The 
practiced bad techniques/habits come back to bite! Why are there so many 
out there who will not MAN UP and have the good sense to say "There just 
might be more to this than meets the eye, let's go & find out." It's the 
same in many other sports like Tennis, golf etc. I am bloody glad my friend 
took a clinic and raved about it which lead me to put my hand up and attend. 
Where others are experts, mistakes have already been made and vital lessons 
learned. Why not learn from others mistakes rather than replaying them with 
yourself in the lead role.

Thank you doesn't really cut it. As thick as my mental walls were you made 
every effort, I suspect maybe even surprising yourself with your ability to 
adapt to breaking said walls down with new ways of getting proper techniques 
across. This is a sign of a great teacher. From one who also teaches please 
take this compliment for all it's worth, I was pretty drained by the end as 
I was completely riveted because time and time again you hit the mark.

How could I not focus when it all made perfect sense!

Role the trails, don’t let the trails roll you.

Trails up. I love this sport!!!
Jamie.

Byron was a fantastic coach and the One on One lesson was awesome. Wish I could do another lesson straight away to do all the skills again but better. Thanks Byron. You rock dude!

Heya Gabs,

I wanted to thank you for all your help the other day and tell you how awesome it is to fly free!!

I am so so stoked.

Riding yesterday and today is the first time I've ever ridden a track the way I've really wanted to ride it - flowing smoothly through the air, as well as along the ground. I've been 'sending' :) all the small jumps and around half the big ones on Huckleberry, and all the jumps on Corners; hitting every available jump into a turn; and doing little mini-hips on two or three of the little humped corners on Corners. And all of this while flying safely and in control. I've also worked up to doing four of those set of six jumps in a row on Huckleberry, and have done one of the bigger jumps with enough height to take me right over into the landing - Sweet !

Actually, I'm amazed how easy and safe jumping is. But I also think that a lot of this has to do with the fact that I've spent so much time building my balance, pumping, manualing and bunny hopping skills. So again - thanks. I think the progression in your clinics and coaching has set me up really well. Now I just need to go to the BMX track and spend time dialing my technique so that I can get more 'air' off the lips of jumps.

Take care,

Simon.

Hi Gabby

We're heading home after having great fun with our new skills. It felt like my cornering has really come together, thanks to your awesome way of explaining things. Today it clicked, I felt a bit like I was on skis. Yay, such fun. A guy followed us down and said he enjoyed following us coz we were doing the corners so well (I was at the back, so perhaps he was talking about me :) Still lots to learn, but loving it.

Thanks heaps Gabby, 

Janice 

Hi Gabby

Thanks so much for the thoroughly enjoyable day at Makara.  I was buzzing when I got home... in fact I haven't stopped. Can't wait to put the new found knowledge into practise - a trip to Rotorua is called for.

You are brilliant teacher with a special ability to make everyone in a diverse group feel good about what they are accomplishing with their newly acquired skills. I also liked the balance of group and personal instruction and you do have a gift for explaining the physics of it all in evocative memorable imagery.

I look forward to the next clinic.

all the best

Bruce F

Hi Gabby

I just wanted to say that I got heaps out of the phundamentals course on Sunday.  Your teaching methods and practical explanations both to the group and one on one made it all make sense to me who is not technically minded.

After we left you, we caught the shuttle up a couple of times and I was whizzing down those tracks even Billy T using the stance you taught us and I surprised myself completely.  I rode down 95% and felt heaps more confident.  I think the course has turned me into a thrill seeking adrenalist, cos yesterday we did some of the easy tracks and I was a little disappointed there were no steep downhill jumpy bits.  I wanted the buzz.  I've seriously been timid on downhills in the past preferring to get off and walk but now I'm wanting to the steep bits and are loving them - weee heeee!!!

Lastly but most importantly, the adjustments you made to my bike have been heaven for my back - pain-free -  I haven't needed to take anti-inflammatories after a ride which is so much better for my body. 

I can see myself and David signing up for your next course in the not too distant future. I'll be recommending your course far and wide. Now I'm off for a ride up Makara Peak to tackle some of the tracks I was too wimpy to do.

Have a great week.

Cheers

Nadine S

Hi Gabby & Dodzy,

just some feedback for you guys.

I recently "converted" a roadie mate of mine to try out mountain biking. He came out with me 2 or 3 times, loved it and even bought a MTB. I talked to him about taking your Phundamentals course but being a typical bloke was just going to learn as he went.  Finally convinced him and he went on a course last weekend up here at Woodhill.

He loved it - couldn't believe how much he learnt and how much its already improved his riding.  He's already been on to me about when we can next go out so he can practice his new found skills!!!

Sadie took the course and so the feedback for you guys and also for her was that he thought she was fantastic as a tutor/teacher of mountain bike skills.

Best of luck in the middle part of the year

Cheers   

Grant Slade

Hi There

Just wanted to say a big thanks to Sadie for giving me a great day on Saturday – I thoroughly enjoyed the MTB Phundamentals Clinic at Woodhill….. I had a great bunch of ladies to hang with and Sadie was simply fantastic – fun, knowledgeable and even better I think I may just have improved my position on my bike – I promise Sadie !!

Thanks and regards

Amanda Nauer

Hi Gabrielle,

Just wanted to let you know I really enjoyed the women’s phundamentals course last weekend, it has given me the ability to have less fear going down hill. Sadie was fabulous at keeping a group of girls with different personalities and skill levels together. I also like the new changes in bio mechanics of how the body and feet are positioned on the bike, awesome thanks again. I have forwarded your website onto clients.

Kind Regards

Sarndra Walsh

Just completed the questionnaire feed back, but thought some additional personal feedback warranted.

I haven't stopped talking about your course at work today.  As I said on Sunday your style of presentation, your knowledge and obvious enthusiasm makes the course. I went out on Sunday and nailed three corners that have been giving me grief for ages.  I've been clipping out and sliding the back wheel around the corner.  Not yesterday, some front brake and used the question mark.  Still room for improvement but no clipping out to get round and no sliding.  

Thanks Gabby.

Stephen.

Hi Gabby

Well I did it! (Phundamentals last Sat) and the added bonus was I got lots of practice riding through mud and puddles. Just wanted you to know firstly, I had a great time. Annika was great leader, non threatening and made us all feel we could do it. Secondly, the basic stuff we needed to know was taught really well, and even though I have heard some of it before,the way the principles were explained, and practiced mean't I now understand. Just need to get out and do it and do it and do it some more!

Many thanks for fitting me in on the course. When I really get this lot under my belt, I'll be back for Round 2.

Elaine 

Just a note to tell you how yesterday's Dunedin MTB course was appreciated by all participants. Anja was a great instructor and answered all questions with intelligent and well considered replies. She was patient and encouraging. It was great to have an instructor with a sound knowledge of physics and able to pass on advice so lucidly. The bike set up was a great start to the course and the instructor was obviously much in her element here too. The course was run efficiently with no time wastage.

I did the Phundamentals course a while back, and just wanted to say the improvement to my racing has been undeniable.. The single biggest thing I picked up was to have my weight over the bike more balanced on singletrack and for fast cornering to have a bit more weight over the front wheel. I just completed the MTB Nationals and the confidence I have in the downhills now is so much more a year ago I would have nearly got off and walked some of them.

Thanks for Saturday. Wish I had done it years ago. Loved being on a learning path again and congrats on the course. You guys have a good thing going on. Went for a ride on Sunday around local tracks and found that a real eye opener applying new techniques. I think I have been trying to muscle the bike around for years. Created a real hunger to learn more.

Just wanted to say thanks so much for an excellent clinic Sunday, worth every penny and more.  Can’t wait to do the next level.  Really pleased with the instructions – time spent talking about pros and cons of technique and then the practise.  At the end I went back up the Codgers trails and tried what I had learnt and the really cool thing I found was that my confidence level has lifted a lot because I now know how to balance myself, descend and corner with confidence.  Will definitely pass the word on – that’s how I found out.

Thanks for an excellent Phundamentals on Saturday. I thought the substance and structure of the course was excellent.  It is easy to pass on tips.  But proper teaching demands much more than tips.  It requires each item to be explained in context, as part of an overall package.  If students understand how each bit works in with the other bits, they're much more likely to understand them and be able to implement them properly.  And that is what Phundamentals did for me.  I came away with an understanding not only of what to do, but why it is important to do it.  And that has made going out and doing it much easier.

After 14 weeks off the bike and carrying about 6kg in ‘travel weight’ I decided that the rec grade of PNP would be a good test of my current state of fitness, and an opportunity to test the new skills.  Not wishing to be labelled a burglar I went on my SS (Giant XTC NRS – so I still had full suspension) to even things up a bit.  Needless to say with my lack of saddle time, a hot sunny day, and a low ratio – I really suffered on the uphills.  And my goal for the downs was to put my skills into practice. Biggest indication of success came on a particularly fast open down hill, straight down a moderately sloping ridge into a grassed area left hander than got more off camber the further round you went till it disappeared into single track.  Two riders in front of me that started braking as they entered the corner, I decided to try out my new skills, and stayed off the brakes.  Taking the outside line around them meant I would be even more off camber, but my tyres were good and the grass was grippy, so I decided to push my luck.  Concentrating on my position and braking all my old rules, I dropped the ankles, got my weight centred, and just looked at the gap in the trees.  .  .  .  .  . The bike felt stable, yet I’m sure there was understeer? Perhaps there was a bit of 2 wheel drift happening, I’m not sure, and as the bike felt so planted I just corrected for the understeer and stayed off the brakes.  I flew past the other 2 riders remarkably quickly, though I was probably more surprised than they were.  Nailed the gap into the trees dead centre and carried that speed right through the next section of single track. The old me would have braked, got the weight back, and carried far less speed as a result.  Even though I walked most uphills on the second lap (and some on the first) I still came away with second place thanks to my new found skills.  Can’t wait to try them out in Masters grade once I get my fitness back.  I’ll never be a real racer, but I can now ride with more confidence, which makes it more fun.

I just wanted to let you know that you have made mountain biking so much for more enjoyable for me since attending 3 of your clinics! My new riding position(s) have meant that I have so much more traction and control, even in the wet. This might sound a bit strange, but I now love corners! Corners are fun! Yesterday, I jumped off my first proper drop, which was too big to nose off. I felt safe and in control, right through the whole manouvre. A little later I came across a gnarly, rooty, steep section (the sort that I always got off and pushed down). Well, I was able to drop into "devensive" position, and very safely negotiate my way down. Not a moment of sketchiness. Oh, and on long, juttery down-hill sections, no more arm-pump or sore hands! So its just wins all around! :-) 

For the first time I feel like I deserve to be riding my nice bike!