3.4 REVIEW OF THE TEN FUNDAMENTALS – Wiederholung der 10 Fundamentals

As the Ride Leader, we are focused on the Three Essentials, as skills instructors, we now dig deeper and improve our rider’s ability to perform the skill with proper use of the Ten Fundamentals.  The Ten Fundamentals are the first things instructors should observe when starting a ride or lesson. For instructors, this means taking the rider to non-technical terrain and assessing their skills with a Pre-Ride Assessment Session.

The Pre-Ride Assessment Session will take about 15-25 mins to perform.

As the instructor it is important to observe everyone demonstrating the following skills:

1. Neutral Position/Ready Position/Ready State
2. Bike/Body Separation – Forward and Back
3. Bike/Body Separation – Side to Side
4. Braking

This process allows instructors to make basic corrections and build a rider’s confidence before introducing them to more advanced skills or taking them on a trail ride.

Note: If you are instructing returning riders, you can customize your Pre-Ride Assessment Session to reflect the skills you will be working on that day. This should only be done if you are familiar with the riders and are confident in their abilities with the core skills listed above.

Example: If your day’s session is focused on Cornering, you might use Bike/Body Separation Side to Side and Braking as a warm-up/assessment.

It’s always good practice to quickly touch on the core skills, even if it’s with a “Simon Says” type of warm-up game where the riders are moving through the skills quickly.

What to observe – Pre-Ride Assessment Session

• Are the eyes scanning ahead and picking lines?
• Are the fingers resting on each brake lever at all times?
• When braking, is the rider increasing pressure gradually and releasing pressure gradually? There should be no “grab,” “let go” or other “panic moves” during braking.
• Is the rider maintaining a balanced position?
• Is the rider using bike/body separation for front-to-back and side-to-side stability?
• Does the rider coast and descend with equal weight on the pedals?
• Is the rider using appropriate steering?
• Are the muscles engaged and active or are they rigid and locked up?
• Is the rider using the best gear and cadence for the terrain?
• Is the rider staying within their comfort zone for speed?
• Does the rider have the timing and coordination needed for the ride or skill session?