Posts Tagged ‘mtb skills’

Caveman Skills Clinic Groenkloof Nature Reserve, Pretoria

Conrad Stoltz Caveman Skills Clinic parkinglot lessons Surprisingly, the quest to mastering MTB skills starts in the parking lot. Even for a group of  Intermediate riders with a few Cape Epics under the belt.

We spent a lot of time on the tar. Its all about mastering the basics:

Even “Stopping 101” is surprisingly hard at first. Here Deryck shows good form and brake modulation.

And he brought the right bike: Dropper post, chunkier tyres, corner friendly frame geometry and a bit more suspension than your typical XC bike. Too many folks are hell bent on riding the “lightest, fastest most responsive”  XC bike – which is pretty hard to ride well on trail) and overlook the bikes made for trail riding. (Deryck is on a mid level Specialized Stumpjumper FSR (Elite, I think) for about R40k or US$3800)

Conrad Stoltz Caveman Skills Clinic Braking 101

Look and learn. Watching and following are powerful learning tools.

Conrad Stoltz Caveman Skills Clinic Demo

Reuben van Niekerk is an ace Para cyclist with a few Cape Epics under the belt, and as you can see, he now knows how to drop bar and rail a corner. (Also thanks in part, to the “trail bike” as described above)

Conrad Stoltz Caveman Skills Clinic Reuben can corner

Anton never stopped smiling!

Conrad Stoltz Caveman Skills Clinic Anton turns by leaning

The Dreaded Drop off:  First in the classroom…

Conrad Stoltz Caveman Skills Clinic Drop offs 101

Then follow the example

Conrad Stoltz Caveman Skills Clinic follow the leader - drop offs

Then DO IT!   “Hesitation = Devastation!!”

Center of gravity over the BB, off the brakes, look ahead etc…

Conrad Stoltz Caveman Skills Clinic Robrecht drops in

Text message from Robrecht after he got back from “Class”:

Conrad Stoltz Caveman Skills Clinic testimonial

If your Afrikaans is a bit rusty:

“Conrad. Just rode down the stairs by my house for the first time ever. Was surprised how easy it was. Thanks! Robrecht”

Anton drops in on his Enduro…

Conrad Stoltz Caveman Skills Clinic Anton drop off

Jos drops in on his hard tail…

Conrad Stoltz Caveman Skills Clinic Jos drop off

Once we all had a good grip on the skills we hit the Groenkloof trails and put new moves to the test.

Reuben crushing the rock section

Conrad Stoltz Caveman Skills Clinic Reuben rocks

Deryck showing good balance and posture. Elbows up & hips forward!

Conrad Stoltz Caveman Skills Clinic Deryck climbs rocks text book style

As confidence grew, the guys kept requesting harder and harder trails…

Conrad Stoltz Caveman Skills Clinic Robrecht climbs

In fact, we kept riding till we hit Single Track Nirvana

Conrad Stoltz Caveman Skills Clinic Groenkloof single track

There seems to be a great demand for “Free Speed” in the Gauteng area – stay tuned for more Caveman Skills Clinics- I’ll really get into it once my racing schedule calms down a bit later this summer.

#PrincessHotstuff did a great job helping with the coaching (shredding MTB and acing Netball is not far apart!) and for keeping the aid station stocked with cold BOS Sport and  snacks, taking photos, organizing the admin, printing posters and organizing goodie bags: Squirt chain lube, Barrier Balm & tyre sealant and also Enduren products.

Conrad Stoltz Caveman Skills Clinic Bos Sport

Conrad Stoltz Caveman Skills Clinic Squirt lube

 

Hats off to the Groenkloof Nature Reserve, Pretoria for its fantastic trails and wildlife- it was quite a treat, and very far removed from the last time I rode there. Northern Transvaal MTB Champs, 1997 – Fritz Pienaar and I were racing head to head when I (largely due to lack of skill, but also the “single track” was a footpath) tangled in monkey vine and broke my collar bone. And thus put an eternal end to my status as a swimming ace.

Conrad Stoltz Caveman Skills Clinic Groenkloof Zebras Frans

Recon of Groenkloof with Frans the evening before – Africa at its best.

Conrad Stoltz Caveman Skills Clinic giraffe

Caveman Skills clinic this Sunday. Groenkloof, Pretoria

Conrad Stoltz XTERRA Richmond, Mountain bike, Specialized

There are  still a few spots open for Sundays’ Caveman  MTB Skills clinic,

Sunday January 25 – Groenkloof Bike Park, Pretoria

 Time: 07h00 – 10h00

Intermediate – advanced riders.

Clinic includes:

– Bike set up.

– The art of stopping.

– Cornering with confidence.

– Riding obstacles.

– Bunny hopping.

– Single track riding & reading trail aka “Building Free Speed”.

plus

–  Q&A

–  Goodie bag. Incl Squirt lube, BOS Sport & Enduren

–  ’Signed poster for your ‘laaitie’ or yourself 🙂

Snack, drinks & ice provided

For bookings and more info, contact: liezelstoltz@me.com

For info on the Caveman: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/REALCaveman

Technical mountain bike climbs and descents in Colorado. Lee McCormack and Conrad Stoltz

Conrad Stoltz Caveman Specialized Epic Sworks 29er Video Technical single track Hall Ranch

Caveman Skills Clinic- Paul Roos Mountain bike team

Back in March we had a few Caveman Mountain bike Skills clinics in Jonkershoek outside Stellenbosch.

Princess Hotstuff and I really enjoyed teaching, inspiring and making new friends. Its amazing how quick the youth and newbies is to soak up knowledge. (And shun fear!)

Fun was had, much was learnt and we hope to see riders young and old of all abilities prosper and grow in their riding.

Conrad Stoltz Caveman MTB Skills Clinic Mountain bike skills Specialized  Paul Roos MTB team

Group of mostly Paul Roos Gymnasium MTB Team. Some XCO and XTERRA talent brewing in the ranks…

Conrad Stoltz Caveman MTB Skills Clinic Mountain bike skills Specialized Cornering basics

We learnt to carve corners

Conrad Stoltz Caveman MTB Skills Clinic Mountain bike skills Specialized Bunny hop

Hop over bunnies

Conrad Stoltz Caveman MTB Skills Clinic Mountain bike skills Specialized High speed rocky cornering Caveman

And dive high speed into loose corners…

Conrad Stoltz Caveman MTB Skills Clinic Mountain bike skills Specialized  Watching friends learn

Learning from each other

IMG_3018

and showing them how its done.

IMG_3019

“Speed is your friend”

Conrad Stoltz Caveman MTB Skills Clinic Mountain bike skills Specialized No hands balance practice

And the toughest part is going real slow. Or balancing on the spot- no hands

Conrad Stoltz Caveman MTB Skills Clinic Mountain bike skills Specialized Paul Roos Mountainbike Team

We talked tyres, racing tactics, training, motivation and even nutrition.

(2 weeks later I met with the Paul Roos MTB Team for a follow up- same skills, different terrain & some XCO racing starts)

Conrad Stoltz Caveman MTB Skills Clinic Mountain bike skills Specialized BOS Sport drink BosTee

And then we got thirsty. Cold, refreshing  BOS Sport to the rescue.

Conrad Stoltz Caveman MTB Skills Clinic Mountain bike skills Specialized Jonkerhoek Valley

What a backdrop!

Stay tuned for more Caveman Skills clinics to come.

Conrad Stoltz Caveman Skills Clinic Jonkershoek Stellenbosch March 14&15

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Cavegirl on the way!!!

Cavegirl on the way!!!
Liezel and I are happy to announce our baby girl on the way! We are 23 weeks in, #PrincessHotstuff is fit and trim, and for me, time is not moving fast enough!  Due date 15-5-15. Suuuuper excited prix viagra en pharmacie! With these genes, she’ll be shooting hoops while wheelie-ing at the age of 3. […]
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Being the Caveman is hard work- have been busy…

Being the Caveman is hard work- have been busy…
As you all know, its easy to overindulge and pack on the pounds during the festive season, so Cross Training is a key ingredient to keeping the Caveman fit and flexable. Gotta keep on top of skills training too. Breakfast sure wasnt pretty. But its all part of the food chain… Like I said, being […]
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Caveman wins in mountain region of Scanno at XTERRA Italy

Caveman wins in mountain region of Scanno at XTERRA Italy
XTERRA Italy has the most amazing course! Parts through the old mountain town of Scanno. To the tune of "eye of the tiger" (thanks DJ Jack!) Caveman wins XTERRA Italy by 4 minutes. XTERRA Italy made is debut in the idyllic mountain town of Scanno, in the province of Abruzzo. In terms of the culture […]
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Caveman’s specialized equipment choices in quest for 7th World title

Caveman’s specialized equipment choices in quest for 7th World title
#aeroiseverything #soisfattyres #dittohorsepower ITU Cross Triathlon Worlds 2013 Long version Cross Tri Worlds Highlights. (Short version- 2.40) Racing through the dunes, stairs and sidewalks of Holland proved a fertile ground for innovative equipment choices.  From the video you can get a feel for the course- but the real test was the long sections of deep, […]
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a Caveman car for a Caveman situation…

a Caveman car for a Caveman situation…
Caveman’s Stellenbosch Kelfords Ford Fietsta Ambiente 1.4 [Open letter to friend and owner of Kelfords Ford and Mazda in Somerset West, South Africa] Dear Tristan, Thank you very much for the use of your wonderful little Ford Fiesta. We love the fuel economy, (5.9L per 100km) the nippy handling, the voice activated, hands free phone […]
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Cheers to a remarkable 2012

Cheers to a remarkable 2012
18 races, 1 World Title (ITU Cross Tri), my 10th XTERRA USA Series title, 10 victories, 16 podiums and many many special memories. My sporting highlight was winning my 2nd ITU Cross Triathlon World Title in Pelham Alabama, USA. a Personal highlight was sharing the entire year and all the remarkable experiences with my gorgeous […]
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