STEPPING IT UP

Spring is here and conditions are (hopefully) getting drier; time to take your riding to the next level by tackling more technical trails

- Andy Barlow

As better weather brings drier trails and longer days, it’s time to get prepared for another cracking season of riding. What better opportunity to take your skills to the next level, then? This year could see you taking on new challenges and riding in locations and on trails that you never thought possible.

On the surface, stepping up to a steeper and more technical riding location carries with it some risks. How do people that ride these same locations regularly manage to remain so composed? And are there key techniques or ways of thinking about challenges that can help you to remain confident? After all, the satisfaction of breaking out of your comfort zone is well worth pushing yourself to progress. If tackled correctly, riding at the next level up shouldn’t feel rushed and frantic. It should be composed and neutral. Sound good? Read on to find out more.

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.

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES