<![CDATA[Marr College - Ten Go Mountain Biking]]>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 08:46:19 +0000Weebly<![CDATA[Week 3]]>Fri, 24 Nov 2017 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.marr.sayr.sch.uk/ten-go-mountain-biking/ten-go-mountain-biking-week-3
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Two new members joined our mountain bike programme this week including an additional member of staff Marie Forrest from Community Learning and Development (CLD). As usual we checked our bikes which were all fine and road worthy.

We didn’t go to Fullarton Woods this week but instead we went across the golf course and headed to Dundonald Woods. Due to the different terrain this week we were able to learn how to go down big hills safely and to push ourselves up bigger hills using the gear skills we had learned last session. There were one or two tumbles along the way…someone fell off their bike…luckily nothing too serious but Ross was able to use this as an opportunity to use First Aid if such a situation were to happen in the future. P.C. Harrower was particularly impressed with the way we worked together to come to our fellow comrade’s assistance.

If someone falls off their bike in a road you try and block off the traffic without moving the injured cyclist and to always check their injuries to see the degree of damage.

One of the main skills we learned this week was how to use the ‘attack’ position properly. This involves leaning forward on the bike standing up on the pedals keeping your left leg down and right leg up to stop injury on rough terrain.

By the end of this weeks session everyone returned to school safely with only minor injuries *cough* and some sore bottoms!

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]]><![CDATA[Ten Go Mountain Biking Week 2]]>Fri, 17 Nov 2017 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.marr.sayr.sch.uk/ten-go-mountain-biking/ten-go-mountain-biking-week-2The group met in the morning excited about what this week’s session would bring. As last week we carried out the ‘M’ check that Ross had explained last session. This is a safety check to ensure that the bike is fit for use. It involves checking the:
  • Back Wheel
  • Chain
  • Seat
  • Handlebars
  • Front Wheel
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And of course that our helmets fitted perfectly and were secure.
We headed off on the cycling path and stopped for our first lesson of the morning. This week we were learning about use of the gears on the bikes. Lowering the gears when going up hills and increasing again when going down or on flat. We tried this out ourselves gauging the best gear for the terrain towards Fullarton Woods. Now we had a basic understanding of the gears Ross was able to show us how to reconnect the chain without getting our hands oily.
At the woods we stopped for a break then continued on some rough terrain using the gears to help. Some people found this a bit tricky and managed to fall into a ditch!
Ross asked us to imagine we were cycling in the Tour de France and showed us how to look left and right behind us to check that there are no other cyclists behind you.  Not so easy to stay steady! I’m sure none of us will be wearing the yellow jersey anytime soon but we can dream…We’re all becoming more confident at handling our bikes including new skills such as ‘cornering’ where your position on the bike affects your balance.
Due to the weather this week we certainly experienced much more mud than before but that’s all part of the fun. All in all it was another successful session with only a few knocks!!
]]><![CDATA[Ten Go Mountain Biking Week 1]]>Fri, 10 Nov 2017 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.marr.sayr.sch.uk/ten-go-mountain-biking/ten-go-mountain-biking-week-1
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On Thursday 9th November a group of 8 S3 students embarked on a ten week programme called Go Mountain Bike.
Go MTB is a progressive mountain bike achievement award that enables people to advance their technical riding skills as well as learning how to look after themselves, their bike, the environment, and other people.
Go MTB is for anyone who wants to develop their skills and experience in off-road riding, from those learning basic bike handling skills to riding long technical routes with advanced features.
There are four themes to the Award and five levels within each theme. These cater to all levels of experience, from novice to expert. The themes are:
  • Riding Skills
  • Sharing the Outdoors                                                                  
  • First Aid
  • Being Independent and Self-Supporting
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The group was led by our campus police officer P.C Andy Harrower and Ross from the Adventure Centre for Education in Girvan. Over the following ten weeks we will be joined by a selection of staff volunteers who will be put through their paces.
The general feeling was of anticipation as the group headed out but everyone started to relax and enjoy the experience. Skills introduced in the first session included ‘slalom’ where we had to weave in and out of objects while keeping control of the bike and braking exercises – travelling downhill and stopping between two lines. Not as easy as it looks! Who knows what we're in for over the next few weeks! 
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