General course information
Equipment
To take part in our mountain bike and downhill courses you need:
- a functioning mountain bike (hardtail, all-mountain, freeride, downhill, e-bike)
- Helmet (half-shell or full-face helmet)
- Long-finger gloves
- Protectors recommended (knee and elbow protectors, possibly also back protector); can be hired
- Shoes (no hiking shoes – preferably sports shoes)
- Backpack (drink, energy bar, first aid, mobile phone, money, ID cards, wind/rain jacket, spare clothes)
- Tools if available (pump, repair kit, multi-tool, derailleur hanger, brake pads, tyre levers, cable ties)
- Spar inner tube
- Medication (if necessary)
Level 1
MTB Basic
Cycling skill: “beginner”
- No experience with an MTB off-road
- Ground: you are confident on the road and have some experience of cycling on wide forest roads/woodland tracks.
- Turns: sweeping curves
Stamina: “occasional cyclist”
- Kilometres: 5 to 15 km
- Difference in altitude: up to 250 metres of difference in altitude (e-bike: multiplied by 2)
- Speed: low
Level 2
MTB Intermediate
Cycling skill: “moderately advanced”
- You are already confident on easy single trails and blue flow trails.
- Ground: asphalt, gravel, forest paths, minor obstacles (roots, stones, small steps), anti-skid surfaces
- Turns: wide hairpin bends
Stamina: “leisure cyclist”
- Kilometres: 10 to 25 km
- Difference in altitude: 250 to 500 metres of difference in altitude (e-bike: multiplied by 2)
- Speed: low to medium speed
Level 3
Advanced
Cycling skill: “advanced”
- You’ve been riding an MTB for a long time. You enjoy riding off-road with good single trails, but you also see potential for improvement in your skills.
- Ground: flowing single trails with moderately difficult obstacles (root stretches, stones, steps), ground no longer compacted
- Turns: narrower hairpin bends
Stamina: “ambitious”
- Kilometres: 15 to 45 km
- Difference in altitude: 500 to 1,000 metres of difference in altitude (e-bike: multiplied by 2)
- Speed: medium
- Short pushing stretches possible
Level 4
Expert
Cycling skill: “enduro fan”
- You have been riding an MTB for a long time and are good at it, but would like to improve your skills, such as turning hairpin bends or wheelies.
- Ground: single trails with major obstacles, such as stones, steps, longer root stretches, loose ground possible
- Curves: tight curves and hairpin bends (good for practising)
Stamina: “athletic”
- Kilometres: 25 to 75 km
- Difference in altitude: 900 to 1,800 metres of difference in altitude (e-bike: multiplied by 2)
- Speed: medium (no race)
- Pushing and carrying stretches