Private Guiding and Coaching

Got a couple of new converts to the world of real mountain biking yesterday.  Reckon they probably heard my mantra of 'stand up, weight back and relax' in their sleep last night!

Rock and Ride Outdoors provide mountain bike guiding and coaching services for all ability levels, we've got some unbelievable trails and coaching spots here!  Contact ian@rockandrideoutdoors.com

A chilli Grand Central

The venue

Today I had the pleasant company of being out with Anthony and Emma from Dublin. They travelled up from Dublin yesterday and stayed in the Meelmore Lodge campsite.  The two of them were really keen to look at the techniques involved with multi - pitch climbing, so the obvious choice for this was to head up to Bernagh Slabs.

Emma with her textbook rope management!

Anthony on pitch 1

Upon arriving at the slabs all of our layers came out and were put straight on, it was pretty cold!  A brilliant first multi pitch route is Grand Central a VD that goes up the middle of the slabs.  We broke the route down into 4 pitches and climbed it in series.  This gave both Anthony and Emma 2 pitches each to look at stance and rope management, leaving stances and belaying.  On the descent we looked at a retrievable abseil and got down to the car just as it started to spit!  Thanks guys for a cracking day out!

Don't for get our evening rock climbing sessions start on Wednesday 18th April!  £20 per person for the evening is a total bargain!

Trad is Rad!

Craigy on Castrol R (I think!)

With being so hectic over the last few months it was nice to have a day to get out and do a bit of trad climbing.  The venue for today was Pigeon.  Even though I have done all the routes there multiple times it is nice to get some mileage in at the start of the trad season.

Kahlua's first day out cragging!

Craigy (www.hillerscapes.co.uk) and myself managed 5 route - Phantoms (E1), GTX (E1), Castrol R (HVS), Citroen (HVS) and Yellow Brick Road (E1).  Meet two visiting climbers from America, other than that the crag was quite!  Did see the lesser spotted 

About to ab off Phantoms, note climbing behind on Yellow Brick Road

Jonny Parr out for a wee dander!

'Gearing Up' with Cycling Ireland

Last weekend I had the pleasure of running the first 'Gearing Up Off Road' course for Cycling Ireland.  It's a new scheme designed to teach the basics of Mountain Biking to any beginners over 11 years old (under 11's are catered for by the Sprocket Rocket scheme).  We trained up 14 coaches from various clubs and organisations to deliver the course to their members.

Jay tearing up a corner

14 new trainers!

Cycling Ireland share Rock and Ride's passion for teaching mountain bike skills and they are working really positively to move away from purely performance sport.  If you are a club member or individual who would like to become a Gearing Up trainer, the next course is the weekend of 5th May in Wicklow/Limerick (to be confirmed).  Contact Rachel Ormerod at Cycling Ireland for details.

Evening Rock Climbing Sessions starting 18th April

Wanna learn how to climbing safely, and in the sun?

With the long evenings and settled weather Rock & Ride Outdoors will be running weekly climbing sessions in the Mournes starting on the 18th April. These sessions will start at 6.30pm and will run until it gets dark!  

The price for each individual session is £20, but if you want to book a block we will be able to give you a reduced price.  

The sessions will take place at either Altnadue Quarry, Hen Mt, Pigeon Rock or Spellack.  Each venue will be decided prior to the session and participants will be informed.

The sessions are very much designed to be progressive.  During the sessions the instructor will look at many of the skills covered in our Touch Rock & Resin 2 Rock courses and will be able to tailor the session to the skills you would like to look at.

This is the Mournes, Binnian to be precise!

To book a place drop us an email to info@rockandrideoutdoors.com.

Alpkit Sponsorship and my first blog!

So just after Xmas Alpkit  and myself started a little sponsorship deal.  For everyone that doesn't know about alpkit you should defiantly check out their website.  They are a small web based company that produce, design and sell come really affordable equipment.  With no middle man their prices are better than any shops!

The first bit of kit they send out to me was their Filo Down Jacket.  At £95 it is a total bargain.  It is half the weight of my old down jacket and the cut is very technical.  When I put it properly through it paces (hopefully in the alps this summer) I will do a proper review and write up on it!

Well here is my first official blog with alpkit, and no doubt there will be more to come!

And here is a picture from work this weekend!  Repeat bookings are coming in already!

Site Specific Training

The traverse wall!

Today Jonny Parr was working for Rock and Ride Outdoors. He did a little induction with 6 people looking at harness fitting, tying in, belaying, lowering and other concerns associated with an indoor climbing wall.

The wall was only recently finished by Pat Nolan of Bolder Climbing Walls.  It is not massive as you can see from the pictures but it is a start, and lets hope it gets people in the local area interested in climbing!