MOUNTAIN BIKING COURSES:
With 90km of the best Mountain Bike Trails in the country Kilfinane OEC is the new home of Mountain Biking in Ireland.
As the leading Centre for Mountain Biking in Ireland we have designed a skills pathway to help you get to grips with this exhilarating sport. Our courses are designed in 1 Day modules in such a way that you can join in at the appropriate level. We also run courses and skills clinics on demand for groups of two or more so please call us to discuss your needs.
KILFINANE OEC MOUNTAIN BIKE SKILLS PATHWAY
INTRODUCTION TO MTB1DAY | ½ day skills session at Kilfinane OEC and ½ day trail ride.Content: Bike set-up & safety checks, braking, gear selection, emergency stopping, weight shift bike handling skills, Intro to core skills. Entry Level: No experience required |
STAGE 1 -CORE SKILLS LEVEL 11 DAY | Skills session & trail ride Content: Bike set-up & safety checks, recap of Introductory skills, front wheel lift, power assisted front wheel lift, rear wheel lift, track stand. Bikes & equipment Entry Level: competent gear selection, braking & steering, experience of trail riding and ability to comfortably ride for 3-4 hrs. |
STAGE 2 -CORE SKILLS LEVEL 21 DAY | Trail ride with skills Content: Bike set-up & safety checks, recap of Level 1 skills, Step ups, step overs, ascending & descending steep ground. Bikes & equipment Entry Level: be competent in Level 1 skills, ability to comfortably ride for 3-4 hrs. |
STAGE 3 -MTB SKILLS LEVEL 31 DAY | Full Day ride – Trail & Cross Country BikingContent: Bike set-up & safety checks, Revision of ascending & descending steep ground, off trails skills, basic navigation & mountain safety, higher level bikes & equipment Entry Level: be competent and practiced in Level 2 skills. Have your own bike & be comfortable biking for 5+ hours and should be self sufficient in terms of biking equipment, repair kit & personal gear. |
We recommend that participants get some practice rides in between training stages and where possible we organize practice trail rides after courses.
All courses run from 10am to 4.30pm each day. Participants should bring a pack lunch & drinks
Please email us for a course syllabus for any of the above courses ( available shortly as downloads)
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Trail Cycle Leader Course
The Trail Cycle Leader award is the appropriate award for leading groups of bikers on trails such as the Ballyhoura MTB trails. It is the ideal qualification for staff in Outdoor Education Centres, Adventure Centres, Schools, Youth Groups, anyone leading groups within a club or for bikers who just want to improve their skills.
The course consists of two days training. Participants must then complete logbook requirements and then attend for a one day assessment. This award is certified by Scottish Cycling and is recognised by Cycling Ireland.
Pre-Entry to SMBLA Trail Cycle Leader Training
Candidates must be over 18 years old and have log book experience of at least 20 mountain bike rides of 1.5 hr duration in a variety of terrain and weather conditions. Longer runs of 2 to 3 hrs duration, with at least one being 6 hours and 2/3 detailed route cards should also be included. The terrain covered should be appropriate to the level of award sought.
Candidates should also register with the SMBLA and British/Scottish Cycling.
Evidence of having acted as an assistant mountain bike leader with a group is recommended (but not essential) to help acquaint the candidate with the skills and issues covered by the course.
Our next TCL course will be in January or February 2010. Please email us to register your interest for this course.
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Click here to visit our downloads page for a full course outline & booking form back to top >>
MTB Training for Individuals/ Small Groups
Kilfinane OEC will be pleased to provide MTB training for groups of two or more on request. Prices include provision of mountain bike, helmets and protective pads.
| Activity | Duration | Description | Fee per person |
| MTB Trail Day | 6 hours | We start off with a skills session at our bike skills park in Kilfinane OEC and then head out to the Ballyhoura MTB trails for a trail ride. Skills sessions and trail rides are adjusted to suit your level ensuring you get the most out of the day whether you are a complete beginner or have plenty of experience and just want to improve your skills. | €90 |
| MTB Trail session | 3 hours | 3 hours biking on the Ballyhoura MTB trails. If it's your first time out we'll start with a basic skills session to get you going before we get out on the trails. For those with more experience we'll help you get the most out of the trails and come to grips with the core skills of biking. | €60 |
| MTB Skills Session | 2.5 hours | Our MTB skills session is based at our bike skills park in Kilfinane OEC. We'll teach you the core skills of biking like wheel lifts and track stands. This is a great activity for all the family (14+) |
We can also provide one to one tuition at an additional cost. Please contact our office for information.
