We will start the practice in the parking lot with a 15-20 minute communication game together as a team.
After the game, all groups will continue to work on communication during the ride while we learn/review the best way to pass while riding. Since we did intervals on Monday, we will stick to a conversation+ pace. Nice and steady, keep the groups together and use the time to practice passing with the leap frog game.
Leap frog game: Person in the back passes everyone in the group one at a time using good passing communication. Once they make it to the spot behind the ride leader in front, call back down the line for the next person in the back to start their passing. Obviously, the ride leaders in the front and the sweep stay in the same place, the other ride leaders in the middle can participate in the game as an example of good passing technique or to learn how to do it if it’s something you’ve never tried before. Safe places to pass on single track: places where it widens for several feet, long straight sections. Never make a pass or allow a pass around a corner, in technical spots, or during fast descents.
Things to teach about passing:
- Person passing asks “can I pass you?”
- Rider being passed replies yes and then tells them when is a good time to pass and on which side to pass “sure, right after this turn. Go ahead and pass on my left.”
- Rider passing communicates when and on which side they are passing. “Passing on your left.”
- Rider passing needs to pedal harder to make a clean and quick pass.
- Rider being passed should move to the side of the trail but should not have to slow down, pull over or stop for the passer.
- Don’t forget to say thank you and good job or have a nice ride!!!
- For the groups that feel more nervous passing on the single track or groups with new riders, ride the fire road in a single file line and practice some passing on the way up the fire road first before you get to the single track.
Off Limit Trails:
- Limelight (Rush)
- Jacob’s Ladder
- Levitate / Zooropa / Vertigo
- Maple Hollow DH
- Any trail where riders in your group intentionally jump their bikes. This means if riders jump, that trail immediately becomes officially off limits to that group until the group gets permission from the head coaches.
Trails only Pink, Black, Silver and Red can do:
- Upper Rush (which is the section from the Peakview Trailhead down to the upper intersection with Canyon Hollow by the s-curves and bridge, and includes the following named trails: Rush Flow, Through the Trees, and the upper part of Exit Stage Left)
- Middle Rush (which includes the section of Exit Stage Left from the intersection with Canyon Hollow by the s-curves and bridge down to where Rush crosses the lower part of Canyon Hollow)
- Lower Rush (which includes the section from where Rush crosses the lower part of Canyon Hollow down to the five-way intersection)
PINK / BLACK
Pink and black may consider riding together for the beginning of practice so there are more riders to practice passing. Then separate after a few leap frog games if the two groups want to go different speeds for the remainder of practice.
ALL GROUPS
Enjoy your freedom! Ride whatever your group wants to ride (excluding the off limit trails of your group level). Keep it fun with on the bike games that promote communication. Every group should try to get a few rounds of leap frog in to practice passing technique.
- Leap Frog Game: Instructions above.
- Telephone Game: Pick a topic (favorite dessert, food, activity). One rider starts by stating their favorite item. Each rider in line adds their favorite while repeating all the previous favorites from the riders that went before them. Last rider (usually either the ride leader in front or back) has to remember the whole groups list.
- Story Game: Make up a story as a group. One person starts the story with one or two sentences. Next rider in line adds to the story with a few more sentences for as long or as short of a story you want.
- Friendliest Rider: Who can be the friendliest rider to the other trail users? Add an element of competition by adding 5 push ups at the end of practice for every “missed opportunity” (a rider forgets to communicate with another trail user).