Reviews of BetterRide Mountain Bike School, Mountain Bike Coaching and Mountain Bike Camps

Emails from riders after their BetterRide Mountain Bike Coaching session/s and Mountain Bike Camps.

First of all, I wanted to thank you again for such a super weekend.  One other kudo I think you deserve is your obvious interest in staying current–and not  just on mountain biking.  You shared a wealth of knowledge from other sports, psychology, and just how to live a better life.  But you made it all relate to the task at hand.  You seem to stay aware of pertinent trends both on and off the bike.  Despite your vast experience, you do a great job of sharing the knowledge, experience and research of others as well.  It was never like you presented yourself as “Gene the All-Knowing” but rather became a conduit of valuable information arising both from your personal experience and from others.  It was sometimes like we had access to a whole faculty, not just one person.  Very well done.

Thanks again and best wishes for all your future endeavors.
–John Fisch  (for more reviews from recreational riders continue past the next three emails)

“Gene,

The results are starting to trickle in as I have the time to ride some of my local rides that I track my times on.  I’m astonished!  My descending time from the summit of Chimney Gulch to the Beaver Brook cross over dropped from a personal best of 6:51.0 to 5:46.0, for the bottom section it went from a personal best of 13:42.0 to 10:12.2.  Considering that I really haven’t had enough time to practice a lot yet, I’m stunned at the improvement.  I can also say that I felt more in control than I used to and I cleaned a section I’ve never had the balls to even try before.
Again Gene, I can’t thank you enough.  The camp was great.  Your ability to break skills down into digestible parts, watch riders and help them refine techniques, your humility and sense of humor make you a world class coach.  I’ll be taking your next level two clinic this year and probably a refresher next year.”

–Mark Forgy, expert XC racer, mountain bike fanatic Read more reviews from cross country racers

Gene thank you so much for taking the time and energy to put together these clinics. It’s amazing how much there is to learn. You are a very talented teacher.
After 10 years of trying, I can finally do things like a track stand and a wheelie. You are the first person who can explain the little details in such a way that ANYONE can understand and then accomplish the goal of that particular task. The camp was challenging and also very supportive, with encouragement from you and the campers and this environment will only lead to success. I wish I had a similar opportunity to learn these skills 10 years ago! All the new riders to the sport are fortunate to have the opportunity to learn the basic techniques correctly early on, which will hopefully make their riding that much more enjoyable and “effortless”.

Thanks!

– Melanie Swartz,  March 10, 2008 (the day after her camp in Atlanta) Read more mountain bike camp reviews from women

Wow, after years of racing professionally you really improved my understanding of cornering. I am cornering faster and with more confidence”.
Chris Van Dine, Cannondale  Factory team, after just one 6 hour session in Feb. 07 Read more reviews from Downhill Racers

Thanks, Rich Schmit.  June 16, 2010

Gene,

I want to thank you for a great camp; you’re a great coach with the ability to explain and demonstrate skills for easy learning.
When anyone asks how the camp was they get an earful. I was so excited afterwards; it’s like being a kid learning to ride your bike for the first time and wanting to tell everyone they knew. I’m 43 and when was the last time I learned so much about something that I loved to do? I can’t remember when and that’s what was so great about your camp. I’m glad you made it to Bend and I’m sure it will become a regular stop on the Better Ride Tour. I look forward to your next visit.

Sincerely,

– Jeff Ferrell, August 25, 2009 (two days after his camp)

Gene,

Laurie and I were blessed to be coached by Andy and you at the Golden, CO camp this June.  The before and after camp riding experience has been truly transformational in raising significantly our MTB skills, confidence and pure enjoyment of riding.  We are spreading the word that riders need to go your Better Ride Camp as soon as possible to experience this transformation.  I recently met a friend in the middle of a single track course in the Minnesota woods.  He mentioned that he had the good fortune in May of being with a group that hired you for private coaching in Moab.  He was also singing high praise for how you improved his riding performance to an advanced level.

Best regards,
– Mark P. Borman, Sep. 1, 2009

Gene,
Incredible! It’s like night and day. I took my first ride after your clinic, it’s like taking your favorite challenging singletrack and it becomes a four lane highway; you see your favorite trail in a whole new light. Gene, I’m totally serious. I went out this morning, my purpose being to work on your vision techniques. I was amazed at how it helped me in my climbing. I make it up stuff that I know I would of walked up before talking the clinic.

–Heather Anderson,  happy bike rider

From USA Today http://www.usatoday.com/sports/2007-11-26-outdoor07-gift-guide_N.htm
GET SMART: Gene Hamilton’s BetterRide mountain bike camps are all about vision: opening your eyes and mind to become a faster and more graceful rider. In his three-day clinics, Hamilton will re-wire your bike brain with skill drills that help you see the trails like a pro, milking terrain for momentum and carving high-speed turns with confidence and a huge smile on your face. We took a three-day camp earlier this year and immediately felt a difference on the bike. By practicing the drills before every ride and completing his e-mail homework assignments, we were able to keep improving week after week. Hamilton also brings in some of the world’s best riders — we had world champion Marla Streb on hand — to share their tips and secrets on and off the trails.
-USA TODAY adventure sports reporter and 2007 Mountain Bike Hall of Fame inductee Sal Ruibal

Thanks for the homework!  I think I’ll take you up on a couple of these books.

I thought your “camp” was awesome.  I don’t know when I’ve experienced so many emotions and thoughts all in three days!  The camp was like a microcosm of Life itself.  Fun, challenging,  frustrating … overwhelming, exhilirating…you name it.
I went out the Wednesday following the camp, did the drills then rode the Sport loop out at McDowell three times.  Do you remember that darned hill at the end?  I had NO PROBLEM making it up the hill every time.  Funny because I watched a couple guys struggle and pop off as they practiced for the race!  HA!  They got to watch me use technique and easily make it up the hill.
On Saturday, I met Celia and we practiced the drills…then rode the Pemberton trail.  It was great.  We used each other to remind ourselves of the skills you taught us!
On Sunday…..I rode with a couple of my friends who have been riding awhile.  They took me to a new park called F.I.N.S. (Fantasy Island North Singletrack).  It is located at the base of the Estrella mountains.  Let me tell you…it was challenging.  Lots of exposure, switchbacks and climbing.  While some of the switchbacks took me out…I climbed every hill great!  I even made it up what they call Grunt Hill and shocked my friends.  They couldn’t make it up the hill.  What an awesome day.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.  My riding has improved 100%.  I am grateful for your patience with us…and me.  I look forward to taking another camp from you as I’m sure it will truly “sink in” the concepts and techniques.

Keep sharing your knowledge, it truly is a gift!

– Lynne Hulvey, Jan. 23, 2008, a week after attending a BetterRide Camp in Phoenix, AZ

I have to say a big THANKS for the great camp a couple weeks ago.  I’ve been practicing my drills, and this past weekend I hit two of my favorite trails (Hall Ranch and Walker Ranch).  I was able to wheelie up stuff that I’d never even tried before!  The cornering skills were amazing in the swoopy section on Walker.  And I *finally* made it up a hard technical climb that has confounded me for years …

–Tara Peltier, August 2008

Hello Gene,
First off thank you for an excellent training experience. I have to tell you I woke up this morning and felt like I was missing something not heading to camp this morning.  Here are a couple of quick thoughts I had on the way back about the camp.

1) 3 days is the perfect amount of time, it allowed me to shut out the rest of the world and focus on biking, by the third day I really felt a clear focus and as I mentioned above, I was bummed out this morning when I got up and realized camp was over.

2) You did a great job of getting to know everyone by first name, that was very important to me for a number of reasons
- Each time you called out my name to tell me I did something right I felt really good inside and it allowed me to stamp that feeling in my head. Also the excitement and happiness in your voice when you noticed one of us doing something right was very noticeable. Thinking back right now I can clearly remember you telling me I nailed the rear wheel lift or how smooth and calm I was on the downhill switchback. Oh yea and I remember seeing the fear in your eyes when I almost went over the handlebars during the braking section…

- Since you were continually calling out our names, it was easy for me to remember the other students names. Which made the camp even more fun because I was able to connect with the other riders easier.

This was by far the best use of both money and time in regards to my mountain bike training. Its 3 days of my life I will never forget…
–Jim McCullen  June 1, 2009 (the day after his camp)

Hi Gene,

I just wanted to let you know that I’ve had big improvements in my racing this year after taking the betteride course (about 10 minutes improvement from last year).  I got 2nd place in the beginner category at Eldora, then placed 15th out of 35 in the Sport category at Winterpark in my first ’sport race’.   I passed people on the downhill for the first time in these two races, and am feeling much more confident on the downhills (I hit 31.5 mph max on a tight singletrack in the Eldora race).

Thanks for the help,
– Jonathan Jones

I wish I could tell you I was sent to test your teaching skills by “acting” difficult but then I wouldn’t be telling the truth. I have always been a difficult person to teach because, not only am I impatient, but I expect to be an expert immediately. I also am horribly competitive, so if I have a “team” of people, I want to kick their asses and be the best. (Believe me; you do not want to play Charades with me…ever). However, I was really impressed with your coaching skills and your ability to put humor into my attitude. You have a unique ability to explain technique to a diverse group of people and keep it interesting and clear. As you said, every group is different, but it is easy to tell that you have no problem meshing random people together to make them feel like a real “team”. I also thought your use of stories and personal experiences were good tools that you utilized when everyone started thinking too hard about the task at hand.
I really feel that the core of your program lies in all the drills you taught. Already I feel more confident on my bike and understand some ridiculous mistakes I had been making in the past. I think that everyone who even considers MTB should really take your clinic, and I can also see how there is great potential for repeat customers and further training. You have a lot to offer riders and your energy and enthusiasm creates a wicked inspirational atmosphere that makes me personally want to challenge myself and realize my potential.

I wish you all the best and hope I do get the chance to study under you again.
Truly, Carien Hughes