Sue’s MTB level 2 Assessment

MTB Level 2 Leadership: Should I Do This?

Me: So, do you think I should go and do this?

M (husband) : You’d be absolutely mad to go and do it…but I know you will anyway…..so for goodness sake book yourself into a B&B so you can try and get a comfortable night's sleep on a good mattress beforehand….

So there I was 36 hours before a Level 2 MTB assessment in a somewhat chilly, stone camping barn with my sleeping bag and my bike in pieces around me practising my trail side mechanics, practising again,  and trying to fill in the theory paper on intermittent wifi having driven for over 6 hours to the depths of Wales questioning my decision making for most of the 260 or so mile journey.

Rewind to February 2022: 

A group of NFORC leaders had spent two days , in the rain,  on British Cycling’s MTB Level 2 Leadership training at Coed y Brenin with Ed from PedalMTB.

At that point , it was great to be in a new learning situation again but I’d found the biking down technical, rocky trails challenging. The terrain wasn’t exactly the New Forest prime flat gravel I was used to. I was trying out suspension and dropper posts on a hire bike as my trusty Surly had none of that. I was learning what a berm and drop were.

I passed the training but in order to progress to the assessment I needed to gain far more experience and fitness on varied mountain biking terrain in a variety of conditions. That meant getting, or hiring, a bike with suspension and spending time in places like Wales or Scotland. And all of that has significant costs attached. That was a barrier.

But the biggest barrier for me was a troubling pain in my left hip and groin which at the time of training was undiagnosed. It was a constant pain that had been going on for several months and was made worse with certain types of movement. I couldn’t run anymore nor swim breast stroke and walking hurt. Sleep was difficult. Fortunately cycling was usually ok if I didn’t over strain.

After many trips to doctors , referrals, consultations and scans I got a confirmed diagnosis in December. I can remember getting back in my car in a hospital car park and crying , knowing that my previous active lifestyle had now been thrown a curveball. I had an inguinal hernia with a potential risk of ‘strangulation’ and osteoarthritis of the hip- no longer any supportive cartilage between the joint. The solutions were hernia repair and hip replacement and in the meantime pain killers and great care with any lifting or activity that would make things worse.

I made the decision then that continuing on with Level 2 MTB Assessment was not going to happen. I needed to rest and look after my body not start shredding singletrack downhill .

However, up to the diagnosis I had made a start on gaining more experience. I’d been on a Katy Curd coaching course which I’d found invaluable. Should have done that before the Level 2 training. I’d been to Glenlivet bike park up in Scotland on red trails. I’d cycled around Aviemore and the Cairngorms. I’d cycled the Dava Way, The Speyside Way, The West Kernow Way, The East Devon Trail , some of The Rebellion Way and in The Forest of Dean.

And since the diagnosis I’d been to the Peak District and Scotland again- The Isles of Skye, Mull and Lismore. And I’d found taking Tumeric was helping with pain control.

Because I do love cycling and I do love exploring and I did still want to guide. I was just being very careful .

Fast forward to end of April 2023: 

 Suddenly an opportunity arose thanks to the connections with Charlotte Inman and to the generosity of NFORC I had the chance to do the lower level qualification , The Fundamentals of MTB leadership with the very wonderful Aneela McKenna along with Robyn, Vee, Emma , Sharon and Vera. No crazy downhill bumps and berms. My body on my Surly managed everything. 

Passing that gave me an enormous confidence boost. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to start their journey into MTB leadership if they are at the beginning of mountain biking experience.

Perfect qualification for me. I could now guide in places like The New Forest which is wanted I want to do.

Fast forward to July 2023- 7 weeks since my general anaesthetic, hernia repair operation in June. I now have stitches and mesh: 

Nic : Sue, there’s a spare place going this Saturday for MTB Level 2 assessment. Do you want to go?

Me: Can we claim money back?

Nic: Nope .

Me:  Is there anyone else that could go?

Nic: I’ve tried but probably no. I know you can do it. No pressure though.

Me: If only you could use an E bike!

Nic: You can

So after talking to family , to fellow NFORC leaders and talking to Ed at Pedal about the medical exemption and E bike use, I decided to join Grace, Leonie and Pat .

Was it going to be the right decision?

I went thinking I could do many of the aspects involved - the navigation, the leadership and communication but knew that the technical skill was going to be an issue ( especially as I hadn’t even ridden for 7 weeks)  and I desperately needed to brush up on trail side repairs even though I’d taken every opportunity to watch and learn when mechanicals happened on NF rides and I’d been to NF mechanics workshops run at Cycleworks.

I decided that the way to mentally approach the weekend was as another marvellous learning opportunity, a chance to spend time in a supportive environment with friends for a couple of days in Wales and was realistic in expecting not to pass. But going into something thinking you will fail is not necessarily a good tactic either.

So I did pack my bravest pair of pants with the aim of giving it my best shot.

I went up a day early to try out on a full suss E bike for the first time.

I started on the carefully graded practise area of the Coed y Brenin bike park. I’d recommend doing that to warm up.

However, I fell off on the red section after only 30 minutes on the bike. And the 23kg bike fell on top of me. I was pinned on my bad left side to the ground unable to get the bike off me.

Every negative thought I’d been trying to fight came rushing back as I was telling myself this was indeed a stupid idea. E bikes are brilliant but sometimes the lowest power

is actually just too fast for certain bump arrangements. And an E bike is heavy.

I somehow got back to the car. Found the ice pack from my lunch bag and applied it. Took painkillers . Elevated leg. Had a cup of tea and a Twix. Sat for an hour administering my own first aid for bruising and shock and googling ‘what does a fractured thigh bone feel like?’

Me: Should I be carrying on with this?

Me: No.

Me:  Yes, if I can move after 90 minutes of resting here.

I went back out. It hurt but I could move. I tried the Forest fire road trails. I could cycle. I tried a bumpy singletrack with E bike power off going downhill. More control.

I tried a harder trail. I fell off on a tight bend because I’d forgotten to turn power off. I landed on my right side this time and my helmet hit the rocky ground. And got a dent.

Me: Should I be doing this assessment tomorrow?

Me: What’s the worst that can happen?

Me: I can hurt my body badly.

Me: I now need to walk back to the car, try and buy a new helmet, take more painkillers and have a serious think about my life choices.

Saturday morning of the assessment arrived after broken sleep on my camp bed.

It had been raining all night and forecast rain all day. What are the chances in July? At least we had trained in the rain too. Nevertheless , lots of decisions to make about what to wear for 5 hours outside in the mountains as it wasn’t freezing cold this time but a balmy 12 degrees.

Me: Should I be doing this?

The nerves appeared. I couldn’t manage all my porridge and blueberries.

Me : Should I be doing this?

Well…. I decided I was here now and I wanted to at least cheer the others on as I knew they could do it.  I would pull out at any point if my crumbling bruised body was at risk of further battering.

You may know the end of the story. I passed. And so did the others.

You may not know that I shed a tear, that I pushed myself mentally and physically further than I thought possible down black trail, slippery single track and that I swayed back and forth between a whole bunch of negative and positive emotions throughout the day.

I didn’t do everything perfectly but I did enough to pass and to begin my MTB Level 2 guiding journey with my new knowledge, skill and confidence.

Me: I hope this might show others that they are never too old to try something new and push themselves further than they ever thought possible.

Me: Don’t ever go down black trails again, especially in the rain.

My very grateful thanks to :

My fellow NFORC ride leaders for the support, encouragement and care.

The NFORC Club and everyone who has supported an event that helps fund these qualifications.

Ed at Pedal MTB for the rigour, the advice and feedback, the understanding of individual needs and the support and encouragement.

And to Nic for having the vision and determination to get so many of us qualified so that we can add to the diversity in MTB guiding.