Never EVER been mountain biking?

This FREE clinic is for YOU as long as you have ridden a bike before and can balance and pedal a bike. Our goal is to make sure your first experience is safe, fun, and supported. This is your time to learn, play, and ask all the questions.

You will learn the basic skills and techniques of mountain biking and then apply them on a gentle trail ride. We will have a Q and A session about gear, places to ride, and general best practices to help you on your MTB journey. This is an intentional space created for the first timers to gather to connect with each other!

Skills needed:

Participants in this group should be able to balance and pedal a bike comfortably

Fitness needed:

Moderate amount of leg strength (think holding a squat for 10 seconds or more)

Mild amount of endurance (think 1/2 mile slow jog, 1-2 mile hike, or 3-4 mile gentle bike ride on pavement)

If you are a brand new rider, you can add the First Touch Friday clinic to your Grit Fest registration for FREE.

Body position + braking + shifting

You'll explore the fundamental skills of mountain biking by exploring body position and balance, braking, and gear shifting. This clinic is for all riders looking to hone the essential skills necessary to help you gain confidence and comfort while riding trails.

Beginner/intermediate/advanced

Bike-body separation

Learn to corner in this clinic where you will break down all the components of cornering on flat and bermed turns. This clinic is for beginner, intermediate, and advanced riders.

Beginner/intermediate/advanced

Wheel Lifts

In this clinic you will focus on wheel lifts and timing.This is an intermediate/advanced clinic. Participants should feel comfortable with mountain bike fundamentals.

Intermediate/advanced

In this clinic, you will get your body position dialed to confidently take on small- and medium-sized drops. This is an intermediate/advanced clinic. Participants should feel comfortable with mountain bike fundamentals.

Intermediate/advanced

Learn the 10 fundamentals and 3 essentials of adaptive mountain biking while gaining a better understanding of body movements & cycle response on any bike.

Beginner/intermediate/advanced

Skills covered: Neutral & ready position; bike/body separation; braking

You’re brand new to mountain biking or looking for a relaxed ride. You are okay riding mostly flat with gentle inclines and wide paths.

Expect minimal technical features and obstacles, with frequent stops for instruction and guidance. Suitable for riders of all ages and fitness levels.

Expect to ride 1-3 miles.

You've ridden a handful of times. You are learning the basic skills of keeping level pedals, breaking, and bike-body separation.

Expect to ride 2-4 miles.

You've got the basics. Now it's time to build stamina! Expect to spend a little bit of time on skills like cornering and berms.

Expect to ride 4-6 miles.

You're pretty confident maneuvering your bike. You’re comfortable or getting comfortable with trail features like steeper climbs and descents, tighter corners, and more technical features such as rock gardens and small, rollable drops.

Expect moderate obstacles that require maneuvering skills and confidence.

Expect to ride 6-8 miles.

You have solid mountain biking skills and a good fitness level. You can roll over drops, or you're ready to learn! You're used to taking 1-2 breaks during a ride, or none at all depending on the terrain.

When it comes down to it, you are continually pushing your skills and your endurance.

Expect to ride 8-10 miles.

You came to ride, and ride hard. 8 miles? How about 12 miles? Maybe more if we're feeling good! You're going to take the expert line and you might lose track of time while you're riding. Just make sure to make it back for dinner!

Distance varies, but expect technical terrain