Mountain Biking Details
What do we do in an average Mountain Biking session?
Why Mountain Bike in the Lake District?
Mountain Biking Premium Days
Mountain Biking Holidays/Courses
Mountain Biking Availability
Pictures
At River Deep Mountain High we divide mountain biking into 2 forms: Mountain Biking and Trail Cycling. Both Mountain Biking and Trail-cycling are on off-road terrain but Mountain Biking has bigger ups, more full on downs, can be more remote, requires choosing a line and can be faster i.e. it has more technical terrain to heighten the challenge and excitement. (If you’re not sure where you fit into trail cycling and mountain biking, simply let us know your aims and previous experience and we’ll be happy to advise.)
See the Trail Cycling page.
A day out riding with River Deep Mountain High will mean that you are guided around great single track routes without you needing to find where the bridleways are, what’s good, where the bogs are or how to get back to the car. If your have done some biking but feel you need to work on your technique then a trip out with a Mountain Bike Leader will give you the coaching you’re after.
Our guides are all SMBLA qualified to Trail Cycle Leader or Mountain Bike Leader level as appropriate for the session. This means you can be sure of their ability to coach you and improve your skills, lead a group, manage an emergency, navigate, handle a bike, understand bike maintenance and a range of other skills.
In general, all our outdoor activity sessions aim to include elements of fun, learning new skills and going on a journey. However, each session will generally have one of these elements as its main focus either because the activity naturally suggests it, (eg. Walking a journey), or to tailor the session to the groups aims. Be sure to let our office/your instructor know if there is something you would like to do or learn (or not learn as the case may be!). We will always remember that you are doing the activity as part of your time off and so your enjoyment will always be our priority.
An average mountain biking session will be a journey with challenge, technical terrain, single track and rocky paths. During the journey, your instructor will coach skills by a combination of personal pointers along the way and looking at specific skills with the group according to the needs of the group. Skills you could learn include drop-offs, bunny hops, river crossings, rock steps and much more.
Whilst there are some great man-made trails in Wales and Southern Scotland, you can’t beat the Lake District (especially the south lakes) where it is laced with bridleways that offer true cross-country mountain biking, freeriding, rocks not mud, great single track and up to 6km downhills. The scenery is spectacular and it’s all only 3 hours on the train from London.
Our premium days are defined as such because they generally require a more highly qualified instructor, offer a higher quality experience and require an extra level of service e.g. transport on a linear journey.
This ride starts in Troutbeck, east of Windermere and ends at the north end of Ullswater with a drink in the pub at Pooley Bridge. A good level of fitness is required as there is a steep climb up from Troutbeck up to Thornthwaite Beacon at 784m. This has a degree of carrying but gives amazing views of Windermere and the Coniston Fells. You then follow the old roman road that is High Street. The effort is well worth it though as before long you will be on miles and miles of continous awesome downhill riding that will leave you with a huge grin on your face. Length: Height Gain: Max group size: 6
This experience is designed for beginners, so don't worry if you've never tried mountain biking before - you're in safe hands. The aim of the day is to get you totally comfortable over rough terrain, and the focus of the coaching will be around developing balancing skills, effective braking, descending without fear and ascending without pushing (oh yes - there's going to be a lot of hills involved). You'll also get coaching on navigation and bike maintenance. You'll be provided with a bike and helmet (whether you don tight-fitting lycra is up to you). By the end of the day you'll probably be aching in muscles you never knew you had, but you'll have had loads of fun and you'll know why mountain biking is one of the country's fastest-growing sports.
Mountain Biking focused weekendsShort term availability of dates for all activities are now on our Availability Page
For more pictures take a look at our flickr pages - River Deep Mountain High Flickr Photostream
