QC Women’s Outdoor Club offers beginner mountain biking skills clinic -- Sunday, April 21, 2013

Are you interested in riding mountain bike trails – the kind that take you through the woods, up and down hills, over rocks, roots, logs and creeks? Or, do you already ride but want to learn to ride faster and more confidently, corner more smoothly, and handle small obstacles while mountain biking? Look no further! The QC Women’s Outdoor Club is offering a FREE women’s off-road (mountain biking) skills clinic designed for beginner riders. The clinic is open to any woman 15 years of age or older.

WHEN: Sunday, April 21, 2013 9:30 AM
WHERE: Sylvan Island (1st Street and the Mississippi River, Moline, IL)

What do I need to bring? A working mountain bike (a HYBRID BIKE WILL NOT WORK) and helmet are mandatory, gloves and water recommended, and elbow and knee pads an option.

What should I do prepare for the clinic?
  • Set proper seat height: If you can reach the ground while on sitting on your seat, the seat is set WAY too low. Your seat should be set so that your knee is almost straight while seated on the bike and the pedal is at the bottom of the rotation (6 o’clock).
  • Set brake levers: Your brake levers should be positioned on the handle bars so that while seated on your bike with your hands on the grips, the brake levers should be in line with your arm from your shoulder to your hand.
  • Set tire pressure: Mountain bike tires may be rated for 50-70 pounds of pressure, but you don’t want that much. Set your tire pressure at 36 psi. This will be a good start for most riders.
What you will learn: Body positioning on your bike, standing while riding, balance (side to side / fore and aft), proper braking, pedal position in corners and over obstacles, proper gear selection, cornering and managing switch-backs, use of momentum, riding narrow bridges, negotiating drop-offs, front-wheel lift over obstacles, and wet weather considerations.

Please arrive in time to have your bike unloaded, you ready to ride, and the waiver paperwork signed so we can begin promptly at 9:30 AM. Participants under the age of 18 must have a parent/legal guardian present to sign a waiver.

*In the event of rain on April 21st or the 24 hours preceding the event, please check this thread to verify that the clinic will still be held. We will do everything possible to proceed, however this event is dependent upon dry trails.