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back to home page An introduction to Forest Freeride coaching courses Guided rides & trips

Helping you to get the very most
out of your mountain biking

Accommodation available here and in the area FAQ button Reciprocal links of interest tree lined track
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deserted trails mountain biking in wales

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How much actual riding distance will we cover on a skills course, I'm not that fit?
The distances ridden will be kept to a minimum. On a training course the real objective is to develop your skills, riding 3km from one section then 2km to another and back again eats up valuable training time. All our training areas are close by, so don't expect to cover much more than 3km on a 2 day course.

Is mountain biking dangerous?
As with all outdoor pursuits, a certain level of risk is involved but we make every effort possible to minimise the danger. We ask all riders to take responsibility for their own actions by acting in a safe and responsible manner whilst riding. But just incase... all instructors/guides hold a REC first aid certificate.

Do I need to bring a bike?
That is entirely your choice. If you don't have a bike or aren't bringing your own, we will lend you one, free of charge, just let us know in advance.

Do I have to wear a helmet?
YES... no helmet, no riding. It's that simple. We have spare helmets if you haven't got one.

I've got some body armour / leg guards will I need them?
If you've got them you might as well bring them. Armour is a personal thing, if you feel comfortable wearing it out riding then there's no reason not to wear it here.

Do you have a minimum age limit?
No, we've instructed people as young as 8 without any problems. Obviously children (just like adults) are all different, so you'll have a better idea than anyone whether your children will enjoy the experience‚ if you've any doubts give us a call.

I ride clipped in, should I change to flats for the course?
If you ride clipped in and are confident doing so, then don't change. If clips are a new thing to you or still cause you the odd 'moment' then packing a pair of flats and suitable shoes may well be worthwhile. We can make the swapover here.

What happens if the weather's bad?
It's a sad fact that riding in the UK will at some point involve getting cold, wet or muddy, so we won't cancel or postpone a course for rain, wind or general weather. However, for safety reasons we may cancel or postpone for snow and/or ice. In these situations we'll try to give you as much warning as possible. You can find a link to the local weather forecast on the links page.

 

Do I need to bring spares, tools, etc?
If you're coming on a training course then it's worth bringing a couple of spare tubes just in case but I wouldn't advise bringing anything you wouldn't take on a normal ride. We've a fully equipped workshop so if you do break something chances are we'll be able to repair it. If you're coming on a Wilderness ride then pack your usual spares and tools, again nothing extra should really be required.

I'd like to join a Wilderness Ride but don't know if my fitness will be up to it.
It's always difficult to judge yourself with regard to fitness as it's a very relative thing. Bear in mind that the terrain in the Cambrians means ride time is more of a consideration than distance‚ don't ask yourself if you can ride 25 miles, ask yourself "how long can I ride for at a steady pace"?

I want to do something which isn't listed on the web site.
If you've any specific requirements that don't seem to be covered by our usual courses and rides, feel free to get in touch. We aim to be as flexible as possible and will do what we can to accommodate you or your group.

How do I book?
Either ring Stuart on 01650 521301 or email Forest Freeride to discuss available dates and request a booking form.

What form of payment do you accept?
We request payment in full at time of booking. You can pay on-line with your debit/credit card or Paypal account via PayPal's secure payment page from our on-line booking form (you don't need a PayPal account). We will email you the form once your chosen course date has been confirmed.

Our cancellation/refund policy is:
1 month or more before course date - FULL refund
Less than 1 month before course date - 75% refund
Less than 1 week before course date - 50% refund
Less than 24 hours before course date - NO refund

If Forest Freeride cancel your course at anytime you will be given a full refund.

Should you need to change your elected date due to unforseen circumstances, we will happily re-arrange it at no further cost.

 
Where are you based?
North Powys in mid Wales. We are approx 22 miles north west of Newtown, Powys, 13 miles north of Llanidloes, 15 miles east of Machynlleth, 34 miles inland of Aberystwyth and 34 miles south of Coed-y-Brenin (approximately). Our postcode is SY19 7BH (put this into Google Maps or any other postcode search facility). OS Explorer map 215, grid ref: SN871975. Detailed directions will be sent to you with the booking confirmation.

Map of Wales
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If you have any questions not covered, no matter how strange, please feel free to contact us and we'll do our very best to answer them.
Telephone 01650 521301 or email us

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Forest Freeride, Ceulan, Pennant, Llanbrynmair, Powys SY19 7BH
Telephone: 01650 521301
Email: [email protected]

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