West Coast Style Digital Downloads West Coast Style Mountain Biking Instructional Series uses the latest technology to take your riding skills to the next level. Whether you’re into hardcore freeriding or a gentle afternoon on the trail, this series will help build confidence and refine your skills. These lessons are presented as stand alone videos, so you can choose the skills you want to focus on and learn at your own pace. Each lesson is based on the popular and award winning instructional DVDs, from West Coast Style. Now, with the advent of portable media players such as an iPod, you can take any lesson with you and learn from the location of your choice, whether it be on the trail, driving towards your riding destination, or at home.
The Basics - Part 1 - eBook Neutral Position, Bike/body Seperations, Pressure Control
The Basics give new riders a solid foundation and take experienced riders to a new level of control. Part 1 covers these three Basics: Neutral Position for fore-aft balence. Bike/body Seperation for lateral balance, Pressure Control for weighting and unweighting the wheels.
The Basics - Part 1 - Video Neutral Position, Bike/body Seperations, Pressure Control
Watch the Pros, visualize their moves, complement your learning with the written e-book lesson and master the Basics. This video covers the Neutral Position, Bike/body Seperation and Pressure Control.
The Basics - Part 2 - eBook Braking, Pedal Position, Eye Movement
Part 2 of The Basics we work with Braking, Pedal Position and Eye Movement. We look at brake set-up, braking technique and how to brace the body during braking. Pedal Position shows you how to use your preferred stance, powerstrokes and the "toe-down" and "heel-down" fot positions. With Eye Movement we show how to use the eyes and head to maintain balance and stay on your riding line.
The Basics - Part 2 - Video Braking, Pedal Position, Eye Movement
See how the pros use braking for superior bike control. Get a deeper understanding of eye movement - scan the trail, make decisions on picking the best line and even get a grip on how to hold that line or bail out of an unsafe situation. See how we use different pedal positions and know why the best technical riders choose flat pedals over the clipless system.
The Basics - Part 3 - eBook Gearing and Cadence, Speed, Steering, Timing and Coordination
In Part 3 of The Basics we look at Gearing and Cadence, at Speed and how it directly affects Steering, and at the role of Timing and Coordination in performance.
Staying on Track - eBook Narrow Trails, West Coast Bail, Holding a Line
With a solid grasp of The Basics it is time to ride the single track! This lesson covers ways to stay on narrow trails and narrow bridges and secrets of riding skinnier lines like fallen trees and narrow man-made obstacles.
We also take a look at the West Coast Bail - a way to get off a skinny line by jumping off your bike. This bail is a slow-speed dismount used when you are just a few feet off the ground.
Staying on Track - Part 2 - Video Riding Straight Lines, Skinny Obstacles
Riding straight lines and skinny obstacles is very challenging. Watch world class trials rider Ryan Leech take on some sweet lines while we discuss the secrets to getting on a skinny line and riding the line with success.
This skill was developed by early West Coast riders who were pushing limits on elevated and skinny lines. It is a staple skill - an effective way to jump off your bike and land cleanly on your feet.
Tight Turns and Switchbacks - eBook Turns, Climbs, Decents, Switchbacks
A look at how to move your bike and body so you can ride the tightest of turns, starting with turns on flat terrain and progressing to tight switchbacks on climbs and descents.
Tight Turns and Switchbacks - Video Switchbacks, Tight Turns, Riding Lines, Breaking/Eye Movement
Switchbacks are a challenge for beginners and pro's alike. See how riders position their bike and body in a tight turn, what riding lne they choose and the role of braking and eye movement. All must be used wisely for success.
There are many ways to avoid smnall obstacles. This technique is performed at slow speed - you roll the front wheel to one side of a rock, and then turn sharply to make the rear wheel pass on the other side.
Take a close look at how to manoeuvre the wheels around a rock on the trails and then practice this skill to become aware of the exact path your rear wheel follows when the front wheel follows when the front whell is turned sharply. Also very handy when climbing rocky switchbacks
How do we handle tight situations where the handlebar could clip somethign like a tre or fence that stands close to the trail? With the Tree Dodge of Course.
Like the Rock Dodge the key to success with this skill is correct use of bike/body seperation. This viedo features a young, expert trails rider dodging a tree positioned at the peak of an A-frame on one of British Columbia's finest technical trails.
This skill will save your head from hitting low branches, blowdowns, spider webs and even gates used to block road access to vehicles. Useful on the trail and good for some friendly competition.
Ducking Limbo - Video Dodging, Bike/Body Seperation, Balance
Take a look then challenge yourself to see how low you can limbo - on your bike. This is extreme bike/body seperation and as you'll see, balance is key.
This classic balance skill takes hours of practice but with it you will balance your bike at stoplights and most anywhere on the trail. You may never put a put on the ground again.
There are three fundamental skills for the sport of trials riding: the Trackstand Hopping and Rocking. Each one will elevate your mountain biking to the next level. Here Joan Jones reveals the secrets to a Trackstand.
Remember hopping around on a pogo stick as a kid? Hopping may remind you of those good times. Follow our quick guide to hopping and learn to move the bike forwards, backwards, to the side, up slopes, down steps and off obstacles.
In this video you get a close look at hoppin with tips on how to master this skill. Then we take you to the trails and to some amazing technical trail features TTF's, and show you how to really impress your riding friends.
A more difficult skill than hopping but much more versatile. As with Hopping, the brakes are fully locked but, when rocking, you are able to reposition the front and rear wheel independently. This opens up a world of options for manoeuvring the bike in tight spaces .
The final, the most challenging and the most useful of the three fundamental trials skills. Watch and listen and let the pros show you how rocking is used to ride lines that are otherwise unrideable.
We take an in-depth look at three types of climbing: Seated Climb, Standing Climb and Crouched Climb. Use these three skills wisely and love the climbs you used to dread. We also look at three skills you’ll need when climbing: Shifting on a Climb and Restarting on a Climb.
Climbing Skills - Video Crouched Climb, Shifting, Dismounting, Restarting
This video shows riders how to modify the seated climbing position as the steepness of a climb changes. We take a brief look at the crouched climb and a closer look at shifting, dismounting and restarting on climbs.
Cornering - eBook Pedal Position, Braking, Pressure Control
We explain how to use your bike and body when cornering. Look at how Pedal Position, Braking, Pressure Control and counter-steering are used to increase traction and speed. We also look at how to ride the bermed and off-camber corner.
Cornering Basics - Video Pedal Position, Braking, Pressure Control
Have you ever found yourself sliding out of a corner, nearly going off the trail as you exit, frantically braking as you realize you simply can’t handle the speed? These are common problems that won’t go away without good technique. This video shows you the form you need to stay in control.
High Speed Cornering - Video Eye Movement, Braking, Riding Lines
High speed cornering is one of the most important skills in mountain biking and even the pros work hard on their cornering skills. We start eye movement, braking, riding lines and bike and body positions through the turn. Next you learn how to corner faster with proper pedal position, countersteering and pressure control.
Descending with confidence and control require a solid grasp of all the Basics. We look at each of these and show you how to descend with confidence and finesse. Included is the Descending Bail - a slow-speed dismount used to stop safely on a descent.
Descending Tips and Descending Bail - Video Descending
Former Canadian downhill champion and video host, Elladee Brown, gives key tips for surviving rough descents on for effective braking on different types of terrain. The video concludes with an essential skill for survival on technical, slow-speed descents - the Descending Bail.
Descending with the Basics - Video Descending, terrain, Bike/Body Position
This lesson talks about how to ride downhill safely and efficiently, while maintaining awareness of your terrain. These tips help you move smoothly through any terrain as you absorb and adjust your bike and body position for maximum flow.
We look at the difference between lifting and unweighting the front wheel and show how to get the front wheel over small obstacles and up short and steep pitches on the trail. This lift is very useful and easy to learn.
To ride rough and technical terrain requires front and rear wheel lifting skills. We give you all the moves needed to lift or unweight the rear wheel and show you how to get over obstacles, do “puddle stomps”, “tail-whips” and smooth out rough sections on the trail.
Rear Wheel Lifts and Tail Whips - Video Weighting, Unweighting
Correctly timed weighting and unweighting of rear wheel adds finesse to your riding and gives you the natural riding style of the pros. To do this you must handle the rear wheel with the form used when riding flat pedals. If you aren’t already on flat pedals make the switch and up your skills. Watch this and master the skill of lifting the rear wheel when your shoes are not clipped into pedals.
Level Lift - eBook Singletrack, Level lift, Riding Line
A Level Lift is lifting the front and rear wheel at the same time. Use it on fast singletrack to jump your bike over small obstacles. This lesson also shows you how to perform a “Level Lift to the Side” . Use it at any speed when you want to change your riding line or ride off the side of an elevated trail feature.
We start off with the movements needed for this lift, take a look at some easy ways to have fun with it and then get into many of its advanced uses: bigger drops on the trail, different types of drops and several types of technical trail features that all require this lofting of the front wheel.
Manual Front Wheel Lift Part 1 - Video Lifts, Lofting, Drops
We begin with lofting the front wheel over puddles and depressions on the trail. From this relatively easy use of the manual front wheel we progress to Drops or "Hucking" LEarn ways to start safely with small platforms, then progreess to larger, more difficult drops.
Manual Front Wheel Lift - part 2 - Video Lifts, Jumps, Transitions, Landings
Part 2 of this Lesson continues with a more in-depth look at different types of jumps, their transitions and landings, the best choice for speed and more.
Far more difficult than the Level Lift as riders must get both wheels in the air starting with a Manual Front Wheel Lift and then, while the front wheel is in the air, lifting the rear wheel. Add some explosive energy to these moves and see how high you can go.
From basic to ballistic! The world record for this advanced skill is well over 40 inches. We show you how to get started then world famous trails rider Ryan Leech shows you how he uses the bunny hop to go higher and higher and higher...
Dirt jumping can be intimidating or fun and addictive. Start with easy table tops and learn to love those steep take-offs and landings. Dirt Jumping is for experienced riders so before this lesson please check out Lessons 1, 14 and 15. Jay “Hoots” also gives the 411 on Dirt Jump lingo. Find this in the “Dictionary of Terms” - free from West Coast Style.
Dirt Jumping Hooties Hot Tips - Video Dirt Jumping, Hoots
Jay “Hoots “is a dirt jumper, instructor and builder of dirt jump parks throughout Canada. He shares some great tips with his unique perspective on body positioning, protective wear, and ways to bail out when the need arises. Also watch Jay “Hoots” demonstrate a few dirt jump tricks that will inspire you put style into your jumping.
Punch Front Wheel Lift - eBook Slow Speed, Power Stroke
The Punch Front Wheel Lift requires a short powerstroke with the forward foot to lift the front wheel and accelerate the bike. It is used at a slow speed to get over small obstacles and off the side of elevated trail features.
Using pedalstrokes for wheel lifting can be confusing and very challenging. Joan Jones shows you why we use the forward foot in this skill and where to put the lift to good use on the trail.
Half-quarter Front Wheel Lift and Pedaling Front Wheel Lift - Video Pedalstrokes, Wheelie-drop
We explain how riders use pedalstrokes to get over big logs and onto larger obstacles, again when speed is slow. We progress to the “Wheelie-drop” where a 1/2-1/4 sequence of pedalstrokes is used to loft the front wheel off the end of drops.
Half-quarter Front Wheel Lift - Video Wheelie-drop
This may not be easier than the Punch Front Wheel Lift but is so much more useful. We show you how to get over big logs and how to conquer the famous West Coast “Wheelie-drop”.
