Learn to ride a Mountain Bike April 2025

This event is subsidised by the Gungahlin Village Community Kickstart Grant.

Join us for one of these exciting new courses that will get your children (and you!) riding off road, just in time for the beautiful Autumn weather. 

Courses are suitable for ages 9 and older and include 4 sessions, 1.5 hours each on 15, 16, 22 and 23 April. You can choose three different starting times at check out, 9am, 10:45am or 12:30pm on each day. Please be aware we may need to move you to a different time if your preferred time doesn't reach minimum number of participants.

The course will cover: 

* Bike safety and readiness checks 
* Foundation MTB Skills: 
          -Stability and balance:  Body position for riding flat, climbing, and descending 
          -Controls: Cadence, using brakes, gear selection. 
          -Terrain awareness: Setting the right lines, and identifying features and obstacles on and off the trails.
          -Direction control: maintaining direction when riding, obstacle avoidance and cornering at low and higher speeds. 
* Foundations manoeuvres that will enable MTB riders to safely and confidently clear obstacles on a trail will also be covered, including: 
          -Front and rear wheel lifts 
          -Hopping 
          -Pedalling wheel lift 
          -Roll downs on small obstacles.  

Location 

We will be utilising the Centenary Trail’s single tracks and fire roads between Forde and Hall. 

The meeting point (start and finish) is at the Centenary Trail Entrance in Taylor located on Harry Seidler Cr between Alistair Knox Terrace and Berry Mann View. See map here .

Parking: Free on street and off street parking on Harry Seidler Cr.  

Note: no toilets or water are available at the location.  

Participants will need: 

1. To be able to ride a bike safely and confidently on hardstanding, bike paths for at least 2km. 

2. Have a serviceable bike that is the appropriate size for the rider, and suitable for riding green level MTB trails. This includes working front and rear brakes (caliber or disc - no pedal brakes), gears (no single speeds), cross country tyres (no road tyres) and ideally at least front suspension fork.  If your bike doesn’t meet these specifications, you may be able to borrow a suitable one from our Bike Library, depending on availability from donations and whether we have a bike in your size.

3. An ASNZ Standard approved helmet. 

4. Gloves and footwear (light weight rain coat, if rain is likely). 

5. To bring a filled water bottle (that can carried on the bike), sun protection (sunglasses recommended, sunscreen applied if required) and any snacks the participant requires. 

Parents are welcome to participate with their children, but they will also need a ticket, bike and all the gear. If children are dropped off, they will need to be collected promptly after the course ends as there is not childcare offered as part of the course. 

IMPORTANT: Bikes, helmets and footwear will need to be inspected and cleared by the mechanics at the Bike Library (100 Sutherland Cres Taylor), see here for opening hours. If you can’t attend the Bike Library prior to the course starting, please let us know and we will have one of the trainers meet you early on the first day of the course. However, please note that if your bike, helmet or other equipment are not up to standards you will not be allowed to ride and potentially miss the first day of the course. 

About the Instructor 

Tony (Tone) Watson recently retired from the Australian Army after 30 years of Service. He is a qualified Mountain Bike Instructor through AusCycle and a Level 1 Professional Mountain Bike Instructor through the International Professional Mountain Bike Instructor Association (PMBIA). Tony has been racing MTBs since 2016 and has competed in a number of cross country and gravity enduro races in Australia representing the Australian Defence Force Cycling Team. Tony is also a qualified personal trainer and studied Sports Science as part of his initial university studies. Tony holds a Working with Vulnerable People Card in the ACT and is experienced with supporting children and adults with autism and ADHD. Tony is a resident of the Gungahlin area and regularly rides the Centennial Trail where the course will be conducted.