CAR PARK SKILLS PART 3

Endos,roll-backs and skids are more than tricks; they can prove seriously useful out on the trails

- Andy Barlow

Hopefully, as these episodes come out they are encouraging you to make more of your idle moments by just mucking about and having fun. Spending time learning how to play on your bike will mean that, once out on the trails, you’ll benefit from an increased level of control.

This month we’re going to look at using a combination of braking forces, and how moving your weight to get your wheels off the ground will give you more control and balance. With a little practice you can then use this to get round steep, tight corners, or feel like you have more balance and time to react at slow speeds. You can then take that to steeper trails or loose ground and enjoy a better level of control.

THE COACH

ANDY BARLOW

Before joining Dirt School Andy liked to win things — races like the Scottish XC Champs and the Scottish Downhill Champs. Since 2009, though, he’s coached some of the world’s best riders with Dirt School and helped bring on the BASE MTB course at Borders College in the Tweed Valley. But what Andy really likes to do is communicate those pro techniques to everyday riders.

Try moving your weight forward to load the front wheel and raise the rear end, but move it back again once you’re off the ground to help balance the tip

THE ENDO

This is a skill that you can practise almost anywhere with stable ground. It shows good control over your braking and will be a great way to learn how to move your weight to achieve different things with your bike and balance.