We regularly get comments asking if we can take a complete beginner mountain biking, so we did it! Meet Natalie, she works for the GCN+ documentary team. In this video our ex Downhill pro, turned skills coach, turned GMBN presenter Neil Donoghue coaches her on a ride at our local trail centre… will she survive?
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38 Comments
Makes you realise how some of us that think were rubbish really aren't. Just don't realise how daunting it is for a beginner something as simple as a berm never mind drops, jumps and rock gardens.
no point going through parts on an mtb to a beginner as digesting the shape of a full suspension is enough to baffle mist beginners…….
FOD is the best, verderers is great for beginners, even my Mum can do it 😅
make this a series. we want to see her Jump in the future!
Excellent video, there are so many videos of excellent mtb’ers hitting doubles and swooping around berms (not jealous at all). It was a confidence boost to see that people do need to start from somewhere and that speed will come with experience. Would love to see follow up to this 👍
Absolutely No offence but the coaching wasn’t great at all, said the right things but the lady just sat down the entire time without level pedals… if it was me id be coaching her to actually drop BOTH heels and learn the boss stance before going near a blue trail! Love Neil and I agree with alot with what he says no disrespect intended but not a great coaching session in my humble opinion
I'm fairly sure she survived. If she died you would not be posting this episode. Right? Better watch it anyway, to be sure she didn't.
Natalie you did awesome, but get into a car park that is flat or some flat open ground and practice what Neil has said. Practice using your dropper, practice your braking in a straight line both front and back, practice moving around on your bike. Trails are not the place to start your practice because there are too many variables. Maybe check your bike setup. Natalie don't give up and above all have FUN!!
I think she need more fun than technicue from the beginning. The tech is coming later.
Haha nice vid
Keep going Natalie! Verderers is a great trail to learn on, hopefully see you out there one day
this is a great format! love seeing people progress and conquer their fears. Would love to see more of this type of content, puts the skills discussed in a context that is more visible and relatable.
Would be nice to see a series like this covering beginner topics, but teach an actual beginner and see their progression/setbacks.
This is great. Really good to remember back what we were all inexperienced and see what it took for us to get there and where at this point we all now take for granted of what feels natural now. She is a real trooper for being on film as she tries to learn. She has a great attitude and looks like she is going to be another member of the mountain biking world!
You have to be willing to enter the world of pain. When you see guys shredding can you imagine how many times these warriors have crashed? They break bones like I break bread! Happy trails and stay safe. Aloha
Great video, made me smile😊 It just shows how we take it for granted how easy it is to just get on our bikes and ride the trails. Seeing a beginner riding a trail for the first time is an eye opener! Well done to Natalie for getting back on the bike after a couple of tumbles!
John M Cornwall
I think bike park berms are a bit too much for absolute beginners. One should come in there with enough speed and confidence to be able to ride on the slope, as the gravely bottom can be very unsafe when riding slow and lacking the proper body position and technical finesse in general.
It would be better to do a pumptrack session as preparation for this.
Good job, would be nice to see her progression over the course of a few weeks. PS Welcome to the MTB family
wow, they took a newbie out in the woods while it's raining. I wouldn't leave my couch with weather like that. True Brits.
TMI for the poor lass, he's gone all technical on her and I reckon she could fall off my turbo bike on it's rocker plate…. Not sure I saw the saddle once at the right height either especially going uphill…
Dropper post and move ya bum back sometimes is probably enough advice for a start. How wide are those handlebars?
Go go go 🙏🙏🙏
It would be great to follow Natalie’s progress in Mountain Biking. This would make a great series.
Such graceful falling over…. and still smiling. If Mountain Biking is this much fun we should all get out there and do it. Great job Natalie; keep going and let us all know how you’re getting on
Such graceful falling over…. and still smiling. If Mountain Biking is this much fun we should all get out there and do it. Great job Natalie; keep going and let us all know how you’re getting on
would def say launch pad is scarier than you think when your new, gets steep in places. countdown is nicer; can get my wife down that, but she won't touch launch pad
Totally new here as well. My ride is in the mail atm. Videos talking about the techniques like this are awesome. Would be nice if there was a series where it progressed you through the techniques from beginner to the more advanced stuff. Taking the viewer along one step at a time so they can then apply the same techniques on their ride.
One thing that newbies usually misunderstand is that speed is your friend (until it isn't). It is very difficult to balance the bike while (almost) standing still. A bit more speed and the bike keeps itself upright, you should only point it in the right direction.
Is this Forest of Deane bike centre?
wtf please…
she would find a way to fall on a parking…
It would be great to see her progression in the short and long term. I would great for new riders that watch this channel.
Love the bike design https://www.youtube.com/post/UgkxHL1v1R3NE5x4KiYfyt8dnQmyNYz7qi5L and functionality. It is hard to align the front tired to center the disk brakes. The brake wheel touches the stationery side of the brake caliper and pad. I aired the tire up to 40 psi as the markings say 40-60psi. Left the house for a few hours and came back to an exploded innertube.All in all it seems to be a good bike. Have not ridden it yet though so that's the max of my knowledge. Update, put a new innertube made sure the tire was set properly and it did the same thing in under 20 minutes as second pic shows.
I wish I was her seat 😂
She literally didn't listen to any of his advice
I had fun watching this, same attitude as my teen when she falls… All smiles, let's go on!
Ive not long got back into biking and now my son is taking an interest. These are excellent bits of learning for the lad whilst I finish his first build. Love this channel
I wouldn't mind going fast on those because there aren't as many bumps or steep declines, unlike at my family's farm where there's rocks, downed trees, stumps, branches, etc.
She did really well for first time.Considering she was being filmed.That can be intimidating.She'll do well in the future with more riding.The more fun you have ,the more you relax and pick up all the skills easier. Neil looks like a good teacher.!!