Ian Holden MTB Coach

Grab a cuppa, sit back & give yourself 10 minutes to watch this great wee movie.
If it inspires you to get out there, give me a shout & I can show you around some bonny places, right on our doorstep.

Changing Gears Mountain biking has always been about more than just the ride. It’s about exploration, confidence, community, and the simple joy of being outside. This new s...

So.... winter blues, aye?
Set myself a wee challenge - improved performance at this years Macavalanche at the end of March. That means 'training'..... right?😱
Set up a Garmin training programme - going great guns since the week before Xmas 👍 Over 240kms pedalled, different intensity levels, feeling tired but good 👌
Then this week - intensity levels drop off........ Garmin says my 'training status' is "recovery" 🤷‍♂️ But Im 'training! I need to work hard...... I need to push myself......no?
Well...... no........not really...... allowing time to recover is really important - thats when your body regroups, repairs and actually grows stronger.
So..... if things are tough, maybe, just maybe, you need to back off a bit and let yourself recover.
Then you'll come back stronger 💪

Chance conversation with a mate & I discovered that Garm can use AI to build training plans for you!
Funny how Ive used Garmin devices for years but never really explored all the stuff they can do! 🤦🏼‍♂️
Anyway, great motivator - over 100kms, off road, covered this year already!
Tonights 'interval session' was a bit sketchy though.... 😱
Water over ice & snow, dropping temp meaning things were freezing as I went...... so concentrated on keeping the pace up but also staying upright!
If you are out riding, stay safe 🙏

At this time of year, everyone is thinking about giving - presents, time with family, friends, etc.....
So, today, along with a couple of other TTA volunteers, I gave some time & love to an old favourite trail.
Backbreaker on Deuchny has always been a favourite trail of mine - from waaaaaay back in the 90's. Recently though, its kinda fallen out of favour, hasnt seen much traffic and became a bit overgrown 😟
But, today we left the bikes at home and instead, we took the saws & loppers up the hill. The vegetation has been cut back, sightlines restored and the trail looks great again! 😁
Home now, tired and looking forward to my tea...... but satisfied - very satisfied that we've made a real difference. A tangible difference for all the riders on the hill.
We all love to ride great trails - but they need looked after.... So, why dont you give up 1 days riding and sign up for a dig day?
Next on our list is the restoration of Daves Line on Mon 29th.
Use this link to sign up :-
TTA Dig Day - Deuchny

Date: 29 dec • 09:00

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tta-dig-day-deuchny-tickets-1977488947675?aff=ebdsshother&utm_share_source=listing_android&sg=cef63d1b370e35ec29f0bda87ee2386fe7ed367e5ef36a215b6d5c806f5605e2cbab97aaa8ae58f09cf942431aef3c833a2ba66acbbcc96beffc09750b1b9b87f51dacd4adc36f5579ffb48d

Jeez! Its been a wee while since I posted 'on the socials'.... 🤦🏼‍♂️
But, I have been busy chapping away with a few bits n pieces though 👍
A wee bit of trail maintenance to help out the trail fairies at and this week, an interesting & very productive session with Kerry working on jumps followed by a nice wee led night ride up the local.
Despite the amount of rain we've had recently, the trails are in surprisingly good condition so Natalie & John enjoyed their wee tour of Deuchny & Kinnoull.
Im expecting to be fairly quiet, on the coaching front, over the next couple of months, but Im signed up for the TTA dig Day at Deuchny on Dec 29th - why not come along & join us to work off some of that Xmas chocolate & spread a little love on the trails.
Sign up details on the TTA pages

Braw wee haul up Dumyat this morning - sooooo good to be out in the fresh air, up above the bustle.
Mountains & bikes really are good for you 😊

Busy weekend again - this time, helping out our good friends at with track hires at Penpont & Newhailes.
Long days but soooooo rewarding seeing so many kids having fun on bikes 🫶👌

Phew! That was a pretty full on weekend...... An absolutely amazing weekend - spent as part of the 'customer experience team' at the Emirates Arena for the Tour de 4 - a cycling event run by Sir Chris Hoy to raise awareness & funds for cancer charities.
Some amazing, heart wrenching, stories from the people I encountered 🫶
Some amazing levels of commitment & effort from those taking part💪
Physically, and mentally, tired..... but....... all worth it to be a (tiny wee) part of something rather special. Something so special that it raised in excess of £2.1 million for cancer charities.

**kcancer🎀

Cracking wee promo for a new documentary by North Third Media on the work Tayside Trail Association do.

Check out this promo reel for the upcoming documentary release. In Scotland, some of the world’s best mountain biking trails began as rogue creations. This documentary follows three passionate volunteers who, armed with just hand tools, transform unsanctioned trails into sustainable trails—balancing thrill, safety, and trust with landowners. Witness the hidden hands keeping Scotland’s trails alive, despite storms, growth, and the ever-present urge to ride something new.