Safety Toolbox Summary

How does riding at coaching speed affect certain trails / features? Thank you all for you input in the tool boxes and all the safety discussions in the morning meetings. These talks are designed to create conversation and awareness about safety concerns within the Bike School. We have had some great insight from all pods. At the weekly supervisor meetings we share the main points brought up so we can pass on any ideas to other areas. Here is a summary of past Safety Toolbox discussions.

How does riding at coaching speed affect certain trails / features?

When coaching students, the speed can differ from the speeds we are used to riding. How does that speed difference affect how a trail or feature rides?

• Cornering
  • Braking points/amount would change
  • Line choice will be impacted. Slower speed --> lower on the berm
  • Steepness of berms. Slower speed --> steeper a berm will appear (less grip)
• Complacency
  • Riding at slower speeds we can lose focus, mind wanders off task
• Traction
  • Slower speed could mean less grip
  • Roots, rocks have a bigger impact at lower speeds
• Timing will change depending on speed
• Jumps
  • Timing and amount of press will change
  • Decision whether to jump or absorb
  • Normally you would double the rollers, but slower speeds lead to rolling them
• Slower speeds means certain trails will take longer to ride, fatigue might play a factor

How do you assess your students on trail while still focusing on your own riding?

When riding you can only have 100% focus. So if you are 30% focused on assessing your student, you only have 70% focus on your own riding. So how can we adjust this sliding scale of brain power (focus) so we can ride in a safe manner while still assessing our students.

• Stop and watch - rock rolls, specific berms, jumps/drops
  • Session features so you can give 100% focus to assessment
  • Video features to watch and assess with students later
  • Stop on trail and have students go by to a designated stopping point
• Have the appropriate spacing between you and your guest when following them down the trail
  • While student is doing the feature, you are still before it
    • Jumps - student should have landed before you get to the POC
    • Corners - students should have exited before you start braking
    • This way your focus can be on assessment and then shift back to riding when you get to the feature
• Think about areas where you can assess a specific feature or skill
  • Only use certain parts of the trail that highlight the skill or type of feature you are developing
• Ask/direct them to a feeling - one thing that resonates with them
  • Give external and internal cues
  • This gets students involved in their own development - self assessment with question style feedback
• Have something specific you are looking for when following a rider
  • You're not trying to "find" something
  • Minimizes the time you are looking/assessing
• For high end riders, once the feet are on the pedals - no longer coaching, just focusing on own riding.
  • All coaching is done before and after section
  • Experiential learning style
• You don't have to ride at the level of the trail/student when following/assessing
  • On Aline/Crank It Up if watching the client ahead of you, you don't have to clear the jumps
    • Land on the top of the jumps, or roll them, as long as you are ready for it.
• Avoid or at least minimize shoulder checks
  • Follow riders instead, switching the order of the group
  • Use natural trail features to help look at students
    • Switchbacks
    • Exit of corners