RideOttawa

05/30/2026

Beautiful in the woods this morning!
Perfect for jumps later.

Trail crew is out today working on #2 and others. Be sure and give high-fives.

(Bug spray for the win)

Forêt Larose Forest Professional Mountain Bike Instructor Association - PMBIA
Ottawa Mountain Bike Association Ibis Cycles Chris King Precision Components

05/29/2026

Does Just Riding More Help You Improve?

Every ride is worth doing. Because we love biking, trails, and friends.

The question is: does riding more actually help you improve? Have your skills changed in the last year — or have you just become more comfortable with the same trails, following the same riders?

Most riders can’t answer that honestly. Riding more gives you fitness and trail familiarity, but it doesn’t give you the chance to slow down, isolate a movement, and build something new through repetition. You need focused practice time for that — and most riders never schedule it. Because we’d rather just ride.

A lesson or two each season can change the equation. A coach watches you ride, finds the patterns holding you back, and gives you specific things to work on. Over one season that’s noticeable. Over consecutive seasons it compounds into a different kind of rider.

Trail time is always good. But it doesn’t guarantee improvement. Don’t ride year after year assuming you’ll eventually get better.

Hope is not an effective learning strategy.

https://www.rideottawa.com/sjtor

Professional Mountain Bike Instructor Association - PMBIA Ibis Cycles Chris King Precision Components Bike Instructor Certification Program Race Face Performance Products

05/26/2026

Weekend Spots
Ready to ride? Our beginner groups are suitable for 14+. If you are eager to learn but not sure about trails, Larose is the perfect place. Flowy and fun, mostly flat, great trees

Camp Fortune drops will run in the secret location with our wooden features. One person had to rebook so there's a spot open. After you can sit under the tress or head over to the jump park if you didn't get enough airtime. (you will though)

It's time to ride!

Beginner Group (2 spots) - 14+
Saturday May 30th 10:00am
Larose Forest
https://www.rideottawa.com/2jz0g

Drop Clinic (1 spot)
Sunday May 31st 1:30pm
Camp Fortune
https://www.rideottawa.com/dw15b

Professional Mountain Bike Instructor Association - PMBIA Ibis Cycles Race Face Performance Products Bike Instructor Certification Program Global Syndicate of Mountain Bike Coaches - GSMBC Forêt Larose Forest Camp Fortune

05/20/2026

Added 2 few more spots to Sunday's drop clinic for those who emailed to say it was full.

Drop Clinic Level 1 - Sunday May 24th - 1:30pm

Learn to take drops with confidence on our custom built progressive drop in a safe controlled environment. As one of the two maneuvers on a mountain bike that get your wheels off the ground, drops require a solid understanding of specific techniques and a progressive approach for safety and consolid...

05/18/2026

Riding progressively harder trails requires a few key skills and drops is one of them. Faced with step downs and bigger ledges what do you do now? Brake and slow down - or do you move with precision and and sail smoothly ?

We work on the basic skills you need to develop 2 techniques that will help you flow through small to medium drops. There are no shortcuts to getting comfortable with drops. You need to build timing, movement and precision. It takes practice, not just the occasional send. Come out with us an you'll do more drops in a single afternoon than you do in an entire season.

Time to fly.

Drop Clinic Level 1 - Sunday May 24th - 1:30pm
https://www.rideottawa.com/dw15b

Professional Mountain Bike Instructor Association - PMBIA Ibis Cycles Chris King Precision Components Bike Instructor Certification Program Smith Global Syndicate of Mountain Bike Coaches - GSMBC

05/17/2026

When students talk about riding harder and steeper features, often the idea of conquering “fear” comes up. One of our goals in rolls is to turn “fear” into something more like “feeling challenge” or “anticipation”. We do this through preparation and practice.

We break things down into 3 or 5 steps, give everything conscious wording, intention, and sequencing, and start putting this into practice on small features where we can safely experiment with these new ideas and skills.

Confidence comes from having a plan, practicing those skills, and making good judgements for yourself on every ride.

Good hunting.

Professional Mountain Bike Instructor Association - PMBIA Ibis Cycles Chris King Precision Components Bike Instructor Certification Program Race Face Performance Products Global Syndicate of Mountain Bike Coaches - GSMBC

05/16/2026

No plans tomorrow afternoon?

One spot left 1:30pm in Roll Downs at Camp Fortune. Come ride Switchback better.

https://www.rideottawa.com/collections/advanced-skills-clinics/products/roll-downs-descending-level-1-2hr-group-lesson

Professional Mountain Bike Instructor Association - PMBIA

05/10/2026

So Long Instinct #2. We had lots of fun together l, but now you’ll join Instinct #1 out on that rock known as Newfoundland.

This was a B.C. Edition of my own making with 160mm upfront and longer travel coil out back. 30mm riser carbon Chromag bar rode smooth and helped with greater movement on the front. Love this mini-enduro set up and probably the only 29” setup I grew to love. (I’d still ride 27.5” if it was practical)

Highlights of our rides include last year’s SAGA run, Jedi laps at Silverstar, and top-to-bottom Growler runs last summer.

Probably one of the most adjustable, adaptable and capable platforms out there.

Enjoy the ride.

Rocky Mountain Bicycles Chris King Precision Components Chromag Professional Mountain Bike Instructor Association - PMBIA Bike Instructor Certification Program Global Syndicate of Mountain Bike Coaches - GSMBC

05/09/2026

Group & Private Larose Day!

The first day of groups is always a bit stressful. But today we were totally browsed with a great group of enthusiastic newbies. I’m not sure any of them actually qualified as ‘beginner’ riders, but everyone came with very open minds and eagerness to learn skills. The lesson quickly upskilled with a longer than normal trail ride and a long whoops!!! and smiles as we hit the famous Larose dips and put ready position and trail scanning to the test. Lots of happy smiles post ride. (Gotta remember to take pictures !)

The afternoon was a clinic in angulation and vertical movement as we hit corner after corner and every Pumpy and Lumpy trail section we could find including the Le Jump wall. Larose is still the best trail network to Practice scanning, cornering, pumping and manuals. (Don’t think it’s hard enough? Leave your seat down the whole ride)

Still the BEST place for beginners and families and Vélo Express is on-site weekends for rentals, service and parts.

More course coming up.

Read more:
https://spark.adobe.com/page/H1lOIXxhwb0bw/

https://express.adobe.com/page/bu4pl5wnt3ADb/

Trails:
https://www.trailforks.com/route/larose-clockwise-trail-1-to-9/

Ibis Cycles Professional Mountain Bike Instructor Association - PMBIA Chris King Precision Components Bike Instructor Certification Program Smith Global Syndicate of Mountain Bike Coaches - GSMBC Quick Cranks @