British Cycling launches Trail Smart videos with tips and advice for mountain bikers

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British Cycling has today launched its Trail Smart campaign - a series of videos designed to help mountain bikers gain essential skills and enjoy Britain’s mountains and trails.

Focusing on technical skills to open up the outdoors and helpful advice for a trouble-free trip, the beautifully shot videos follow our Race Smart, Ride Smart and Commute Smart resources. This time it’s all about off-road after a YouGov poll, commissioned by British Cycling in 2016, revealed that over half of respondents wanted to cycle in the countryside more often.

The 2015 Getting Active Outdoors report, commissioned by Sport England, also revealed that of the 8.9 million of us who are active outdoors, 1.9 million (21%) take part in mountain biking. And almost a further million (11%) stated that they wanted to ride off-road in the future.

Watch the videos

Filmed in a unique way with stunning scenery as a backdrop, each video features a technique presented in a 180 degree frozen moment. This allows viewers a clear understanding of correct rider position on the bike and breaks skills down into each of the movements required.

The series consists of 14 videos, all narrated by former world champion and mountain bike icon Martyn Ashton. They were filmed in locations throughout Snowdonia, where we owe thanks to Natural Resource Wales for access to Penmachno Mountain Bike Trails and outdoor centres Plas y Brenin and Nant BH.

The videos see riders tackling a wide range of terrain using the following skills and preparation tools.

These are just half of the resources available from the Trail Smart series, which will help riders to open up new sections of trail and gain confidence to improve flow:

  • How to climb
  • How to wheelie
  • How to descend
  • What to carry
  • How to corner
  • Trail etiquette: how to behave on mountain bike trails
  • How to perfect your bunny hop

British Cycling’s director of cycling, Jonny Clay, said of the series: “As the governing body for cycling in this country it is our responsibility to ensure that British Cycling members and cyclists in the UK have the resources they need to ensure they get the most from their cycling.

“Whether you race, commute on the roads, ride in sportives or head out into the countryside on your mountain bike, we want you to enjoy your cycling experience as much as possible – and continue to cycle for years to come.”

The launch of Trail Smart coincides with British Cycling’s ongoing campaign to open up more of Britain’s countryside for cyclists.

Visit the Trail Smart page to explore all 14 videos – and start planning your next adventure in the outdoors.

The Getting Active Outdoors report can be accessed via Sport England’s website.

The YouGov poll, commissioned in June 2016, asked nearly 2,000 people their views and understanding about cycling in the countryside. The survey showed that there is currently a massive demand – despite only 6% of people currently cycling regularly in the countryside, half of the survey’s respondents said they would like to cycle there more.