MTB Skills Coaching For 18 years! (Why A “Beginners Mind” has Helped Me)

On 04/19/2017

Wow! My baby just turned 18! Hard to believe I started BetterRide in April of 1999, with the goal of bringing sound, drill based mtb skills coaching to mountain bikiers like you. It is has been an amazing, fun, sometimes stressful and highly educational 18 years. Thank you for sharing your passion and support with me! BetterRide has helped over 3,000 riders greatly improve and I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and coaching four World Champions, a 78 year old who went on to finish the Leadville 100 in less than 12 hours (when he was 80!) and so many passionate mountain of all experience levels.

One of my favorite books is titled, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind and the concept of the book is, with an “expert” mindset there are few possibilities but with a “beginner” mindset you are open to more possibilities. This has been proven over and over again in sports, all the top track coaches and athletes said no one could run a four minute mile, then someone proven them wrong. The “Fosbury Flop” high jump technique was ridiculed by both coaches and athletes until Dick Fosbury won the 1968 Olympic high jump using his technique. Now it is simply the way people high jump.

I’ve always tried to keep a beginners mind and test out new technologies and new technique concepts before dismissing them. There have been quite a few times in my racing and coaching career when “experts” told me I was crazy or wrong about either a new bike set up idea I was trying or new (to me) technique. Heck, even 3 time World and World Cup Champion Greg Minnaar told me I was wrong about a few bike setup concepts I preached, now he has adopted them!

Now, I’m not some all knowing bike genius, again it was my beginners mind that encouraged me to try other peoples/pioneers ideas/inventions. I take zero credit for the concepts below, I learned them from other people much smarter than I.

My first downhill bike that felt unstoppable was Yeti Lawwill Straight 6, then Straight 8, then DH9 then Astrix Havoc. All these bikes were long and slack! I remember fellow racers laughing at my “aircraft carrier” of a bike. “That things so long and slack! How do you turn it! Might be great in a straight line but …” Meanwhile, Nathan Rennie and Marla Streb were crushing the competition on that bike! Nobody cornered better than Rennie (except, maybe Nico Vouilloz who invented the modern, in balance cornering technique that I teach) and he crushed the competition on that bike! Now, 17 years later all bikes are long and slack (except some cross country bikes because XC racers (like the rest of us) don’t like change).

When Greg Minnaar moved from Honda to Santa Cruz Bikes, I told him that his size large V-10 was way to small for him. He just laughed and said, “Who is the World Champion here?” Good point I thought, but your still wrong. Greg is the exact same height as me, 6’3″ and a large Santa Cruz V-10 had the same reach measurement as most other companies mediums. Meanwhile, I was on a Canfield Brother XL Jedi, a full 50mm longer than Greg’s bike. Well, two or three years later they came out with an XL V-10 (only 25mm shorter than my Canfield) and Greg switched to that. I asked him why (given his previous statement) and he said, “the longer bike allows me to get lower and is much more stable” and I replied, “yeah, wait to you ride a REAL XL!” and again, he laughed. Then, they came out with a double XL V-10 (the same length as my Jedi!) and now Greg is on that, except, he runs a 10mm headset spacer making his reach measurement 10mm longer. That’s right, Greg thought a 425mm reach measurement fit him perfect in 2010 now his reach is 60mm longer.

Now, I’m not smarter than Greg and I’m definitely not as skilled or fast, so why did I figure this out sooner than Greg? Change feels weird, that’s why. Think about it? You know the old saying, “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it”? Well, why would a World Champion change was has been working for him. Then Greg started to egt beaten by racers on longer, slacker bikes so he pushed to get the XL made, then the XXL.

At 6’3″ I always wanted bars wider than 28″ but nobody made them! I remember telling bar companies, make wider bars, they will be more stable. But what did I know? I was just some obscure coach and midpack pro racer. Then my friend and former student Chris Van Dine showed me his 32″ bars (way wider than I had ever wanted/hoped for). I quickly order a set and my friends immediately started ridiculing me and asking, don’t those feel weird? They did feel weird, really weird, after spending that was 5-10 years on 28″ bars and before that bars even narrower, 32″ bars felt weird! For my first 6-7 days riding them they felt weird, then they simply felt great and stable. I no longer used my Hopey steering damper any more they were so stable. Still, everyone laughed, especially Greg Minnaar! 30″ is the widest you need to go he told me and my students. Well, now his signature bar from ENVE is 808mm wide (31.8 inches wide!) and he runs them uncut.

Plus size tires are awesome and the best tires for 80% of mountain bikers! They aren’t new though! I raced Nokian Gazzaloddi 3.0 tires in 1999! Nokian was so far ahead of their time it is crazy! Again, everyone laughed at my tires! “They are so heavy (they were heavy!) they roll slow (not true at all, just their perception despite having never tried them) you’re crazy Gene”. Well, I got third at the World Masters Championships on those tires and the guy who won, “Pistol” Pete Loncarevich, he was on them too! Pete and I just laughed at the masses who couldn’t wrap their heads around these incredible tires! They gave you an extra inch of suspension travel, smoothed out the trail and cornered like you were on rails!

Plus size tires give you so much confidence! Yes, they weigh more, so what! The single most important thing when riding or racing is confidence. I know I can corner faster, ride rough trails smoother and faster, ride steep, loose trails better when I have more traction. I love my 3.0 tires! If you have steep, loose, rough or root filled trails where you ride you will love these tires.

In 2002 or 2003 at the Mammoth Mountain NORBA national I saw a guy with this seatpost that went up and down remotely! It was called the Gravity Dropper and I tracked down the owner/inventor, Wayne Sicz and told him I was super impressed by his invention and wanted one badly! He sent me one and I started PREACHING their benefits to all of my students (most thought I was nut’s, too many gadgets, you don’t need to drop your seat (? really? are you insane?) well, now most bikes come with a dropper post!

Keep a beginner’s mind and learn to at least accept change and try new ideas and concepts. Learning and growth is fun and you will never become a “master” without a beginner’s mind.

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Rider Reviews

Thanks again, you were a great part of my succees for 2005. I had the best year of my life. Part of which at the age of 52, I entered numerous mtn bike races, podiumed 5 times and won the Texas Mountain Bike Racing Association series for my division.

Your instruction, professsionalism and emails went above and beyond all expectations.

Kent Wells
2016

Thanks Coach Gene for your time the last 2 days! Your coaching is spot on! I’m so lucky to have had the chance to spend this time learning from the most passionate mountain biker out there – one who cares about the sport and all the techniques that go into it! Total respect! That’s all I have to say! If anyone is questioning or “thinking” about signing up for his camp- DON’T , just do! Thank you Gene!!!!

Gretchen Wavro

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, BetterRide Camper

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

Just wanted to give you an update and let you know that I am starting to experience the delayed effects of your camp. I knew when the camp ended that I was leaving with some new skills that were helpful immediately. But I also knew there were other skills that were going to take more practice, patience and time. Well, I’m starting to see them.

I’ve been practicing descending the way you instructed us but until the last couple of weeks, I knew I was still faster descending the way I always had – I was just more comfortable that way. But in the last couple of weeks, it all kind of clicked.

I’m not winning any downhill races – yet – but all of a sudden (and it really did seem to happen pretty suddenly) your techniques took over and instead of just using them at low speeds only when I thought about it, I was using them all over the trails and feeling pretty comfortable. Now I find myself only reverting to my old techniques when I come into a corner already off balance. Anyway, thanks, it’s a great feeling – can’t wait to use them on race courses this year!

Sarah Kaufman
Top Pro Endurance Racer

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).

Jonathan Jones

Tonight was the first night of practice cyclocross races. The cornering techniques I learned in you camp last weekend rock on the cross bike. I was able to carry speed through the corners and off cambers that I could only dream of last year!

I actually found myself cranking up the speed before the corners instead of braking. Nobody else is using this technique. I found my self keeping pace with stronger riders just on cornering skill alone. Imagine after I’ve a had a few weeks to practice.

I had best time of my life on a mountain bike at your camp, and look forward to doing another one next spring.

Chris Cornelison
September 24, 2010

I took your Neshaminy clinic in June. I wanted to fill you in on my race results. I raced all season in the Midatlantic Super Series in Women’s Sport. I won the overall championship! I am so happy that I won! I will be moving up to Elite next year.

I’ve been doing the drills you taught for 20 minutes, twice a week. I almost always preride my race courses. I work on hard sections to figure out the best lines. Since the clinic, I have noticed that my balance has improved tremendously.

So, Gene… thank you for the clinic. I still tell all my riding buddies about it. Especially how you break down the mechanics of everything that you teach. I let them know how you explain the physics behind the techniques. I tell them that the learning environment you provide is the perfect way to learn something, practice it, and really get it. I’d love to do a refresher course.

Angie Wallace
September 15, 2009

Attending Gene’s camp in Sedona was one of the best decisions that I’ve ever made. You can read skills articles and watch the youtube videos all day, but these will never engrain the skills needed to become a good mountain biker.

Gene’s course teaches you all of the primary skills, and then he drills them into you. You repeat these drills under his watchful eye until the become engrained. It’s been about 9 months since I attended the course and I still hear Gene correcting me if I’m going about an obstacle or turn in the wrong position.

I still make every ride a learning experience because of what he taught, and my riding has improved immensely as a result. Thanks Gene!

Steven Peyton
August, 2018

Just wanted to show you what your lessons made me do this past weekend! If you click on the photo or link to the photo album look through the album and on the 2nd page, bottom row, there’s a great shot of me doing what you taught me to do with my elbows-totally Brian Lopes style.

I was impressed to see myself doing that-a big change in my riding style and I know it’ll make me faster in the long run.

So thanks and I may have some time coming up where I can make it to one of your camps-I’ll let you know.

Amanda Riley, Kenda, Titus, Hayes Team
Winners of 2008, 24 hours of Old Pubelo

Thanks again for holding the camp last weekend. I was finally able to get out and ride yesterday on the falcon trail (loop that goes around the Air Force Academy). There are two sections that I have had problems with in the past. One is a tight turn with two drop offs that are oddly spaced and the landing slopes off into some bushes. I’ve ridden the trail a dozen times and walked that section most times. Once I tried it and endo‘ed into the bushes. When I rode it yesterday, I cleared it with confidence.

I kept repeating to myself “Do or Do Not – There Is No Try” I relaxed, saw the line I wanted to take, found my balance and went through the section very controlled – it was great!

The next section is a steep switchback climb with a ton of sand. I have never made that turn, although I have tried to every time I’ve ridden the trail. This time I approached the switchback using the techniques and strategy you taught us. The result – made it! No problem!

The last thing I noticed is that the whole ride was smoother. I focused primarily on the vision techniques – and body position skills. The ride felt slower than what I normally ride, but it was actually six minutes faster! Absolutely amazing!
Brad
Oct. 8, 2008 (5 days after his 3-day coaching session)

My son took your camp in winter park at age 14. He is 16 and just completed the Laramie Epic (30 miles) last weekend. He placed 2 in the age bracket 0-29. He continues to use your techniques and tips. Smooth is fast! Your worksheets are worn out and weathered from continued use! Worth it….you bet!!!

Sheila Palmer
July 2019

Your camp gave me the confidence to go out and try a few races this summer. My first race was in the beginner 40 to 45 age class in the “Point to Point” cross country race in Winter Park. While I certainly did not break any records – I at least had a respectable finish and more importantly had a total blast.

My second race was a Super D (much more my style in that there is MUCH less uphill cranking) at Winter Park where I got a second place finish in my age group. 3rd race was a Mountain States Cup Super D race in Copper where I came in tenth. Again no records but still having a total blast.

My friends the same age as me think I am crazy doing this stuff but I think they are crazy to be sitting on their arses. Again, thank you for giving me the confidence to go out there and try some racing and hopefully in the near future I will be in another one of your camps!

Will Edgington
September, 2009

Thanks for the e-mail. By the way, after completing your camp in Arizona, I dropped 5 minutes off my previous best lap time at the 12 hours of Temecula mountain bike race (59 to 54 minutes). Obviously, this was a significant breakthrough.

I’ve also noticed that by being a smoother and more efficient rider and by decoupling my body from the bike, I exert less energy and travel faster. “Looking to victory” works like a charm. Most importantly, the basic skills I was exposed to in your camp (and continue to develop) have made mountain biking more enjoyable.

Keith
January 2008

I’ve been wanting to pass on a personal success story. I participated in my first mountain bike race in Copper Harbor, MI. I placed 6th in my age group (over 6 min. behind 3rd place) on a very technical course. Considering the field, I was happy with the results.

My goal after the BetterRide camp was to be in the top 3 in the same race with a similar field. With my new found skills I placed 1st this time with 2nd place over 7 min. behind. I tore it up! Thanks, I’m always telling people that no matter how much they think they know how to ride a mountain bike, they owe it to themselves to attend one of your camps. A year later I still practice my skills every time I’m out.

BTW, a while back you suggested some reading material. I chose Body, Mind Mastery by Dan Millman. (in audio book form). Not only do I feel it helped my mountain bike skills with things like, how tension is counter productive and how the “opponent is not the enemy, but instead the teacher” it also helped me in my own personal life. Good recommendation!
Keep up the good job.

Rich Schmit
April 2011

Gene and fellow BetterRiders!
I have been smiling all day long today, thinking about our rad weekend together! I taught 4 of my kids how to do wheelies today and they thought I was super cool for a solid 5 minutes until they had it completely mastered and were smoking past my on their rear wheels.

Thank you forever, Gene, for sharing your passion and deciding to teach. An empowering, motivating, completely exhilarating weekend. I feel like a little kid on Christmas morning with my new toy. It was a total honor to cross paths with you all!

Currently standing on one leg while I brush my teeth and dictate this email…
Jen

Friends took the 3 day a while ago and really enjoyed it.

I didn’t think I was ready for that but I hired him privately for most of a day. Best experience going. It helped my skiing also. Eyes, eyes and balance via movement on the bike.

Steamboat in the rain…..

John Rostenbur

MTB Skills Camp in Fraser, CO. It was amazing. Phenomenal skills coach, Coach Gene Hamilton, literally broke down the fundamentals of mountain biking in 3 days. Super fun fellow campers. Enjoyed every bit.

Now I need to practice and strengthen some new neural circuits. If you want to improve your MTB skills, no matter your level, take a course from Better Ride.
Patricia George

Thank you, Gene! I thoroughly enjoyed your skills camp. One of the most effective learning environments I have experienced to date. Now it is all about due diligence!

I am interested in a “day with Gene in Moab” and future course offerings.

Ryan Bertram

Gene, The first thing I did was buy some cones. My drive way is pretty steep so can do switch backs there. My pedal wheelies are coming along. Yesterday I had a bit of a breakthrough ride with my vision. On a ride with some small drop offs I realized by using the vision technique I was more balanced, more comfortable and jumped further without trying.

That was the best clinic I have ever done. Thanks for the reading list. I’ve read a number of those books but I now have more to read.

Don Leet