• Mountain Biking Taster Day

Mountain Biking Taster Day

One day introduction to Mountain Biking in the Peak District

In short

The Mountain Biking Taster Day is a 1-day course run by Pure Outdoor in the Peak District, based at The Adventure Hub in Bamford, Hope Valley. It costs £109 per person, is open to ages 18+ and runs at a maximum ratio of 1:6. Next available dates: Sat 12 Dec 2026, Sat 9 Jan 2027, Sat 13 Feb 2027.

Summary

Embarking into the world of Mountain Biking can seem daunting. Where do I go? What bike should I ride? How do I do it safely? On this fun and action-packed one day course we'll give you all the tools you need to begin Mountain Biking and then keep you coming back for more.

Mountain Biking Taster Day

Price : £109.00 per person

Location : Peak District

Duration : 1 day

Ratio : 1:6

Minimum age : 18

What's Included :

  • Complimentary refreshments
  • Free parking

  • 10% discount on equipment in our shop

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Highlights

  • Experience some of the best mountain biking trails in the country
  • Expert tuition to improve trail technique and gain confidence
  • Bike hire available

Course Overview

Our Mountain Biking Taster Day covers the core trail skills and is ideal for either complete beginners or for those wanting to progress their mountain bike experience from moderate off-road tracks to more technical intermediate trails. Our experienced guides and instructors will cover the fundamental trail riding skills of body position, footwork, line choice and cornering to get you tackling natural trail features both confidently and safely.


We'll also cover the basics of bike set-up, maintenance and safety to insure you have the right knowledge to head out and further progress by yourself. The Peak District has some of the best and most iconic 'natural' mountain biking in the country with a range of terrain from gentle flowy tracks to rugged and remote trails. With the help and guidance of our knowledgeable local instructors we'll get you riding the right trails in the right conditions to progress your riding whilst ensuring you have a fantastic day out in the hills.


Bike hire is available, however this must be prebooked with our neighbour, The Bike Garage. Upon booking, you will have the option to add bike hire to the order (£30 per day to be paid directly to the Bike Garage). The add-on product shows up as £0, however this just enables the system to forward your details on to the bike shop to get you booked in. They will contact you shortly after booking to confirm.

Course Outcomes

  • Better bike control and understanding of line choices
  • Improved riding position
  • Understanding of how to set up your bike and perform a regular safety check
  • Guided off-road ride: taking you on the best trails in the best conditions

Course Information

YOUR MOUNTAIN BIKING TASTER DAY

9:30 - 16:30

ARRIVE AT THE ADVENTURE HUB

Your instructor will welcome you to our base and outline the objectives for the day over a great cup of Italian coffee or tea. After ensuring everyone has a suitable bike and kit for a day out in the hills (bike and helmet hire is available at an additional fee) there will be a brief introductory session looking at bike set-up, brake use and riding safety.


HEAD TO THE TRAILS

We will head out onto our local trails which will be chosen on the basis of weather conditions, along with the experience and ambitions of the group. We will either strike out from our centre or drive around 15 minutes to an alternative start point.


PRACTICAL SKILLS SESSION

Once on the trails, expect to cover approximately 15-20km during the day. We'll begin by looking at body position and weight shifting in a variety of terrains whilst climbing, descending and cornering; discovering that freedom of movement on the bike is key to good technique. Your instructor will choose appropriate sections of trail to 'session', allowing you to experiment with different line choices, sight lines and feel the benefit of improved technique with multiple attempts at certain trail obstacles. We'll then put it all into practice by tackling some classic Peak District trails. There will be loads of opportunities to chat about where to ride, equipment and suitable bikes.


BACK TO THE ADVENTURE HUB

At the end of the day we'll return to The Adventure Hub for refreshments and to review the day's key points and progression targets for the future.

  • You will need a hardtail or full suspension mountain bike in good working order (these can be hired from 'The Bike Garage' next door to our base for £30 - inc. helmet)
  • Helmet
  • Clothing suited to the weather (waterproofs, warm tops, gloves, etc)
  • Comfortable footwear for riding in
  • A good supply of snacks and a drink
  • Sun cream, and sunglasses (you just never know!)
  • If you have any of your own kit bring it along and we will help you use it appropriately

All abilities welcome, some general cycling experience necessary. 

  • Our well-equipped training centre, The Adventure Hub, is Carbon Neutral.
  • We encourage car sharing wherever feasible.
  • We encourage the use of public transport on all our courses. Bamford Railway Station is 5 minutes' walk and we enjoy direct bus connections to Sheffield and nearby villages.
  • We offer free camping kit for guests staying locally and looking to cut down on luggage.
  • Our staff are trained to prolong the life of equipment used on this course, where it is possible to recycle equipment at the end of its life, we do so appropriately.
  • We operate in small teams at low ratios to reduce our impact on the venues we use and other countryside users.

  • The physical and mental benefits of outdoor activities are numerous and well documented, we firmly believe that those benefits should be available to as many people as possible.

  • If you are interested in experiencing any of our activities but feel unable to do so then please contact us to discuss your specific needs, we will always try to find a solution that works for you.

  • There are a range of simple adaptions we can make to our scheduled courses such as choosing venues with minimal walking or easy access to toilet facilities, providing cold storage facilities for temperature sensitive medications, allowing additional time or arranging for participants to be accompanied by a trusted aide.

  • When participation as part of an open group isn't appropriate we can arrange private tuition. This allows for a more tailored approach and a much wider range of adaptions such as assisted climbing and abseiling techniques for participants with significant physical or mobility issues.

  • If private tuition is unaffordable then we can sometimes offer subsidised places to bring the price back in line with our scheduled courses .These are provided by the Pure Outdoor Foundation whose goal is to bring as many people as possible into the outdoors, please enquire about availability.


  • Clear communication before the activity is crucial so, as well as telephone and email conversations, we can also arrange to meet participants directly at a venue days or weeks beforehand to identify any specific barriers and begin addressing any anxieties.
FAQsFAQsFAQsFAQs

FAQs

Start time: 09:30 - Finish time: . Please note, these times are approximate and could be subject to minor changes. Please leave plenty of time when booking public transport.

Anyone aged 13 or over can attend any of our scheduled courses with the exception of Mountain Biking and Winter Skills where the minimum age is 18 unless accompanied by a parent.

We hold an AALA license and are able to take out children who are younger than 13, however we only offer this on a private guided basis. See our private guiding rates, as this can work out very competitive, especially when booking as a family. There is no maximum age, if you feel young enough to attend then you are very welcome!

For our mountain biking courses, we give participants the option to bringing their own bike or hiring one. If you aren't sure about the suitability of you bike, please call us to discuss. Any modern and well serviced hardtail or full suspension bike should be suitable. 

Bike hire is in addition to the course fee and costs £30 for a full day or £25 for a half day.
Almost all courses begin and end at our base, The Adventure Hub, where you will have access to complimentary tea and coffee. 

We do not provide food as part of our courses and you will need to bring a packed lunch along for each day. There is a cafe on-site that can provide you with sandwiches, cakes and drinks. If you pre-book a lunch with them they will deliver it fresh to our offices first thing each morning. Taste Buds cafe can be reached directly on 01433 208008.
Yes of course, you are welcome to leave anything (luggage) at the training centre during your course with us.
It is essential that you let us know about any medical condition or injury when booking and that you also let your instructor know on the starting day of your course. This information will remain completely confidential but is essential to allow us to tailor our activities to suit you and to ensure the safety of other group members.
We are exceptionally lucky to be located a 5 minute walk from Bamford Train Station on the railway line that links Sheffield to Manchester. This also means we are very easy to get to from London.

We have noticed that the first connecting train from London is often around 09:36am, and courses often start at 09:30am, if you let us know that you are coming in on the train, we will happily delay the course start to suit.

We try to stick to our published course finish times but occasionally conditions on the day mean we overrun slightly. If you are travelling home by train please ensure that you have left sufficient time after the course end time and inform your instructor on the day of your travel plans.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Mountain Biking Taster Day cost?
The Mountain Biking Taster Day costs £109 per person. It includes complimentary refreshments, free parking and 10% discount on equipment in our shop.
How long is the Mountain Biking Taster Day?
The course lasts 1 day.
When are the next available dates?
The next dates with spaces are Sat 12 Dec 2026, Sat 9 Jan 2027, Sat 13 Feb 2027, Sat 13 Mar 2027, Sat 27 Mar 2027. Live availability and all dates are shown in the booking panel on this page.
What is the group size and instructor ratio?
This course runs at a maximum instructor to client ratio of 1:6, so you get plenty of individual coaching.
Do I need any previous experience?
All abilities welcome, some general cycling experience necessary.
What equipment do I need?
You will need a hardtail or full suspension mountain bike in good working order (these can be hired from 'The Bike Garage' next door to our base for £30 - inc. helmet)HelmetClothing suited to the weather (waterproofs, warm tops, gloves, etc)Comfortable footwear for riding inA good supply of snacks and a drinkSun cream, and sunglasses (you just never know!)If you have any of your own kit bring it along and we will help you use it appropriately
Is the course accessible?
The physical and mental benefits of outdoor activities are numerous and well documented, we firmly believe that those benefits should be available to as many people as possible. If you are interested in experiencing any of our activities but feel unable to do so then please contact us to discuss your specific needs, we will always try to find a solution that works for you. There are a range of simple adaptions we can make to our scheduled courses such as choosing venues with minimal walking or easy access to toilet facilities, providing cold storage facilities for temperature sensitive medications, allowing additional time or arranging for participants to be accompanied by a trusted aide. When participation as part of an open group isn't appropriate we can arrange private tuition.
When does the course start and finish?
Start time: 09:30 - Finish time: . Please note, these times are approximate and could be subject to minor changes. Please leave plenty of time when booking public transport.
What's the minimum/maximum age for participation?
Anyone aged 13 or over can attend any of our scheduled courses with the exception of Mountain Biking and Winter Skills where the minimum age is 18 unless accompanied by a parent.We hold an AALA license and are able to take out children who are younger than 13, however we only offer this on a private guided basis. See our private guiding rates, as this can work out very competitive, especially when booking as a family. There is no maximum age, if you feel young enough to attend then you are very welcome!
Shall I hire a bike or bring my own?
For our mountain biking courses, we give participants the option to bringing their own bike or hiring one. If you aren't sure about the suitability of you bike, please call us to discuss. Any modern and well serviced hardtail or full suspension bike should be suitable. Bike hire is in addition to the course fee and costs £30 for a full day or £25 for a half day.
Do the course prices include food and drink?
Almost all courses begin and end at our base, The Adventure Hub, where you will have access to complimentary tea and coffee. We do not provide food as part of our courses and you will need to bring a packed lunch along for each day. There is a cafe on-site that can provide you with sandwiches, cakes and drinks. If you pre-book a lunch with them they will deliver it fresh to our offices first thing each morning. Taste Buds cafe can be reached directly on 01433 208008.
Can I leave kit at the centre?
Yes of course, you are welcome to leave anything (luggage) at the training centre during your course with us.
Do you need to know about medical conditions?
It is essential that you let us know about any medical condition or injury when booking and that you also let your instructor know on the starting day of your course. This information will remain completely confidential but is essential to allow us to tailor our activities to suit you and to ensure the safety of other group members.
How can I get to you on the train?
We are exceptionally lucky to be located a 5 minute walk from Bamford Train Station on the railway line that links Sheffield to Manchester. This also means we are very easy to get to from London. We have noticed that the first connecting train from London is often around 09:36am, and courses often start at 09:30am, if you let us know that you are coming in on the train, we will happily delay the course start to suit. We try to stick to our published course finish times but occasionally conditions on the day mean we overrun slightly. If you are travelling home by train please ensure that you have left sufficient time after the course end time and inform your instructor on the day of your travel plans.
Can I buy this course as a gift?
Yes. You can buy this course as an e-gift voucher from this page, and the recipient chooses their own date.
Do course customers get a discount on kit?
Yes, every Pure Outdoor course includes a 10% discount on equipment at The Adventure Hub shop (in store and at adventure-hub.com).
Booking & general
Do I have to pay in full when I book?
Not always. Places are reserved by paying either the specified deposit or the full fee. The balance is due no later than 6 weeks before the course starts. If you book within 6 weeks of the start date, the full fee is payable when you book.
What if the weather is bad?
Our courses run in a range of weather, that's part of learning in the UK hills, so come prepared for the conditions. If the weather is genuinely dangerous we may modify or cancel a session, in which case you'll be offered a refund or an alternative date.
What is your cancellation policy?
Cancellations must be made in writing (email is fine). Charges are based on the original course start date: more than 4 weeks before, 25% of the total course fee; between 4 and 2 weeks before, 75%; within 2 weeks, 100%. As courses run on fixed dates, the statutory 14-day cooling-off period doesn't apply.
Is there parking?
Yes, free parking. Park next to The Adventure Hub building if there's space, or use the overflow area in the back corner of the main Hope Valley Garden Centre car park, about 200m away.
Can I get there by train or bus?
Yes. Bamford railway station on the Hope Valley line is about a 5-minute walk from The Adventure Hub, and the nearest bus stop is 'Shatton Lane' (see traveline.info for times). Course times are arranged to fit public transport timetables where possible.
Do you need to know about medical conditions?
Yes. Please tell us about any medical condition or injury when you book, and let your instructor know on the first day. It's kept confidential, and it lets us tailor activities to you and keep the group safe.
Do I need my own insurance?
For UK courses we strongly recommend your own personal accident insurance, including cancellation cover. For overseas courses you must have specialist rescue, medical and repatriation insurance, and send us the details by the final payment date. The BMC and Snowcard both offer suitable mountaineering insurance.

More answers in our FAQs or call 01433 424164.

Enquire

Our instructors can be booked privately to deliver this course. Benefit from private tuition, pick a date that suits you and your instructor can design the day to suit your needs. You can hire one of our instructors from just £250 inc vat per day. (Click here to book a private course)

£109.00 per person

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