Bike park riding 101

Pump tracks and bike parks are popping up all over the Front Range — and for good reasons. They're not just for the BMX kids and Extreme Shredders. They're fun and beneficial for every type and level of mountain bike rider.

Maybe you're bike-park curious, but you don't know why bike parks are great for you, and you don't know where to start.

This class is for you!

Hi! My name is Lee McCormack. I've been a professional mountain bike author, inventor and instructor for more than 20 years. I've written 11 books, taught more than 11,000 mountain bike riders and trained 2,000 volunteer mountain bike coaches. My cohesive system for bike fit, riding skills and training is used by thousands of riders worldwide. I've been proudly teaching at Valmont Bike Park since it opened in 2011.

Check out my Google Reviews.

Sampling the Valmont goodness:

Proudly putting on the Team USA jersey at the UCI Masters Downhill World Championships this past May.

(We progress one logical step at a time, and I never allow riders to take risks. Assuming you're ready, you'll learn all of the following.)

- How to assess a bike park and decide which trails or features to ride.

- Bike-park etiquette.

- How to enjoy the non-linear, fun vibe of bike-park riding. This is less about charging from point A to point B and more about exploring your capabilities and enjoying your friends. Yes, having fun is a skill, and I'm a master fun-teacher!

- How to pump bumps to gain control and speed. Pump tracks are the ideal gym for mountain bikers. Get a great workout without driving to the mountains. This pumping motion is the master skill for all mountain biking.

- How to rail banked corners. When you can do this, every day feels like a powder day.

- How to soar off ledges and drops. (Within reason.)

- How to jump! Impress your kids! People often say they don't want to catch air because it's dangerous. I beg to differ: When you fly correctly, flight is often the smoothest, easiest and safest option. Plus it feels sweet.

The attitude and skills you develop at the bike park improve your trail riding in a profound way. Have you noticed that every BMX kid and bike park shredder rides trails with smooth confidence? Come get some of that for yourself.

When you ride a trail, you're looking at new things and managing random turns, bumps, drops, jumps, ups and downs, often in complex combinations. The variety and sudden changes are super fun — like playing extemporaneous jazz.

As you might have noticed, trail riding is stressful and awkward when you don't have a mastery of fundamental bike control. At the bike park, you ride the same piece of terrain over and over. Everything is clean and simple. A bump is just a bump. A berm is just a berm. A drop is just a drop. A jump is just a jump.

This simplicity and repeatability lets you really hone your skills. This is why all bike-park riders make such great mountain bikers. When you ride the bike park, it's like mastering your scales and musical theory. This way when you ride a random trail you can flow like you're sitting in with a jazz band.

You cannot improvise unless you have muscle memory. You cannot build muscle memory by riding random trails. You build muscle memory in a bike park!

Ride any mountain bike that fits you and is in good working condition. Bring your normal riding gear. If you don't have a bike, email [email protected] and I'll see what we can arrange.

This class is for adults who have the ability to ride a bicycle.

Class runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a lunch break (BYOL).

Price is $250 for the 4-hour class.

Class size is limited to 6 riders. I'll accept more if needed. If class is full, please add yourself to the waitlist.

After the 4-hour class, you are invited to hang out until 5 p.m. and play with me on Valmont's world class trails and tracks. We will have fun and burn that sweet muscle memory into your body. Extended play costs an additional $150. When you sign up, opt for the Extended Play ticket.

Questions? Email me at [email protected].

I'm stoked to show you a new way to enjoy your riding!

Lee

Host or Publisher Lee McCormack, Lee Likes Bikes