Balance MTB Skills Coaching

Well, we've managed to sort out the Active and Healthy Program for the next 12 months - exciting times!

I won't get a chance to post the events onto Facebook for a week or two but if you'd like a sneak peak (or if you just want to book in now) head over to:

Balance MTB Skills Coaching - Book Now Book into one of our latest skills development programs, clinics or trail familiarisation rides and start improving your mountain bike riding now.

I had actually declared I was retiring from coaching and group rides. But life had other plans.

Trail Mates reminded me how much I enjoyed riding with people and helping them get better on the trails. It wasn’t the riding that was draining me — it was everything else around it.

So instead of walking away, I changed jobs. And Trail Mates is continuing.

Quick update here:

I Was Going to Walk Away… Then I Changed My Job Instead I thought I was done.A while back I was pretty set on stepping away from coaching and running group rides. Between work, life, and trying to look after my own head, it felt like the right call. I’d said as much to a few people.But here’s the truth — I missed it. I missed riding with other peop...

Well, it was a small group of us that braved the trails for the 'riding in the wet' Trailmates session. That didn't stop us from having a whole lot of fun though.

Once we got used to the puddles and relaxed, we found ourselves having a blast out on what was an absolutely stunning day for a ride. A bit of a climb up Elevator got the heart pumping with us finishing off chasing Noah down Casuarina Explorer.

With no incidents and completely caked in mud we finished off with a nice warm cuppa at Cadence Cafe for a bit of a chat.

If you missed out on this ride but were still keen to get out into Nerang, don't worry. We're in the process of organising the next few months of Trail Mates rides.

I'm going to throw in a few changes so stay tuned - I should have more to announce soon!

Ironically Saturday ended up being a nice day to ride.

Yes, the trails were a little damp in places, but the great thing about the Nerang MTB trails is that they withstand the rain better than a lot of other places.

Anyway, hope you managed to get out and about this weekend while the sun was out. Look forward to riding with you in two weeks time. 🤘

Well, unfortunately the rain has been relentless this week. And with more forecast for Saturday, we've decided to postpone the next Trailmates session so you don't have to ride in conditions similar to the photo (or worse!)

The next Nerang Trailmates ride will now be on Saturday, 30th May at 8am. Hope to see you (and the sunshine!) there 😊

PS - don't forget to book a spot so we know to expect you!

Trail Mates Social MTB Ride: Nerang Forest Reset 🌿🚲

Our next Trail Mates ride is heading back into Nerang Forest for a relaxed social spin through the mountain bike park.

We’ll ride a mix of green and blue trails, keeping the pace cruisy, social and no-pressure. The aim is simple: get outside, ride bikes, reset the brain, and enjoy some trail time with good people.

This ride is ideal for riders who already have basic MTB skills and want a friendly, supportive group ride without the intensity of a full send suffer-fest.

After the ride, we’ll roll back towards Cadence Cafe for a morning drink and a catch-up.

Ride details:
📍 Meeting point: Nerang Velodrome, Hope Street, Nerang
📅 Saturday 30 May 2026
⏰ 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
⏱ Approx. 2-hour social ride
🚲 Suitable for riders with basic MTB skills
✅ Working mountain bike, helmet and water required

Trail Mates rides are about connection, confidence and getting outdoors, especially for anyone using riding as a way to support their mental health or reconnect with others.

Come along, have a pedal, and let the forest do its thing.

Book here: https://www.balancemtb.com.au/book-now

So… my sons have convinced me that entering the 24hr Hells Bells Adventure Race is somehow a good idea. 😐

At the moment we’re one person short for the team, so I figured I’d throw this out there and see if any friends are interested before I fully realise what I’ve agreed to.

It’s basically 24 hours of mountain biking, trekking, navigation, paddling, sleep deprivation, poor decision making, and questioning your fitness choices somewhere in the middle of the night. Which honestly sounds terrible and strangely appealing at the same time.

We’re not taking it ultra seriously. More the “have an adventure, don’t die, collect good stories” approach.

If anyone’s interested in joining the suffering voluntarily, send me a message. 🚵‍♂️🌙🧭

Details here if you want to see what sort of nonsense this event involves:

Mountain Designs Hells Bells 24hr Adventure Race — Wild&Co Adventure Racing Australia’s longest running and biggest 24hr adventure race. > EVENT DETAILS

Unfortunately due to no bookings the ride from Currumbin to Coolie today has been cancelled.

Hope to see more of you at next month's Trailmates ride.

Our next Trail Mates social ride is on next weekend and this one’s a good one.

We’ll be rolling from Currumbin to Kirra and back, covering around 15km of easy coastal riding on the shared paths. Kerry and I checked the route out last weekend and it’s a really cruisy ride with plenty of beach views, ocean air, and good spots to just settle into the ride and have a chat.

These rides are not about pace or pressure. They’re about getting out, moving the body, clearing the head, and enjoying some time with good people. A social reset on two wheels.

Ride details:
📍 Meet at Thrower House, Currumbin
🗓 Saturday 18 April
⏰ 8:00am to 10:00am

You’ll need:

a working mountain bike
a helmet
water
basic riding skills

If you’ve been meaning to come along, this is a great one to start with. To join the ride, make sure you book in here: https://www.balancemtb.com.au/book-now

Cruisy social ride incoming.

This one will take us from Currumbin to Tugun, and possibly on to Kirra, before heading back again. We’ll be sticking to the footpaths, so the pace will be easy, the ride relaxed, and there’ll be plenty of chance to chat while taking in some of the best beach scenery the Gold Coast has to offer.

This ride is more about getting out, moving a bit, meeting good people, and enjoying the coastline than it is about charging off and blowing lungs up.

If that sounds like your kind of ride, come along.