If you’ve ever felt a bit unsure on the trails, from braking and cornering to just knowing what to do when things get a little more technical (and rooty around here), you’ll be in very good company.
This 4-week skills clinic is designed to help you feel more comfortable, more confident, and more in control on your bike. You’ll start having way less “oh god, oh no, oh no” moments and way more “yaaaaasss that felt soooo good” moments on your bike!
We meet riders like you where you’re at and help you build skills in a way that feels comfortable and doable, whether you’re just getting started or looking to feel more confident.
We focus on the fundamentals that actually make a difference, in a supportive, no-pressure environment where you can learn at your own pace and have a good time doing it.
Good times > bad times always!
Who this MTB skills clinic is for
This clinic is designed for adult riders (18 years+) who want to feel more at ease and more capable on the trails. You don’t need to be a certain kind of rider to show up here, just someone who wants to feel better on their bike.
This is likely a great fit for you if:
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You’re getting started on trails and want to build a solid foundation
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You feel a bit unsure on descents, corners, or uneven terrain
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You brake more than you’d like or feel tense while riding
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You’ve ridden some trails but want to feel more consistent
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You want to understand what to do and why it works
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You’re looking for guidance in a supportive, no-pressure environment
Most riders who join this clinic are somewhere between “brand new” and “feeling confident.”
You might be brand new to trails and feel nervous about things like going down a hill, getting around a tight corner, or even just riding on uneven ground. That’s completely okay, and a very common place to start. We’ve been there before!
You might feel confident in some situations and unsure in others. You might have tried certain things before, but not felt consistent yet. That’s exactly the kind of rider this clinic is designed for.
If you’re not quite sure where you fit, we’ve put together a simple guide to rider levels to help you figure that out.
And just as important: this isn’t only for “beginners”
Even if you’ve been riding for a while, you can still get a lot out of focusing on the fundamentals. We’re still out there practicing the basics too… because it turns out cornering, braking, and not panicking when something goes awry are lifelong learning opportunities!
Many riders find that refining things like braking, body position, and gearing efficiently makes a huge difference in how confident and in control they feel on the trails.
Sound like something you'd be into? Book your spot now!
What we work on over 4 weeks
Each week builds on the last, helping you feel more comfortable, more confident, and more in control on your bike as the skills start to come together.
We keep things simple, practical, and focused on skills you’ll actually use every time you ride, and we make sure it stays fun and low-pressure while you’re learning!
We take bikes seriously, but not ourselves.
Week 1: Foundations That Change Everything
We start with the fundamentals. These are the things that make the biggest difference right away.
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Body positioning (how to feel stable and in control)
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Braking (how to control your speed safely)
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Straight-line riding/looking ahead (so you’re not reacting at the last second)
This week tends to be a bit of a lightbulb moment, even if you’d spent time on the trails before. Small adjustments to things like stance and braking can make a big difference in how stable and in control you feel on your bike, while also being more aware of what’s happening around you.
One of the best feelings is when the “don’t mess this up” play-by-play in your brain fades out and your riding just starts to feel more comfortable!
Week 2: Climbing, Gearing, and Technical Terrain
This week focuses on the parts of riding that tend to feel the most challenging.
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Climbing position
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Climbing technique
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Gearing efficiently (so you’re not fighting your bike uphill)
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Applying everything together on trail
You’ll start to feel more capable on a wider range of terrain, especially on climbs that may have felt intimidating before. This is where a lot of riders notice things feeling less effortful and tricky climbs more attainable.
Katie will be the first person to tell you she loves teaching this lesson, because it’s extremely rewarding to see a rider finally start efficiently using all the gears they paid for!
Week 3: Cornering, Confidence, and Flow
Now that you’ve got the basics, we start building on them.
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Cornering technique
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Terrain awareness
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Line choice
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Piecing skills together on the trail to get more flow
This is where things start to click a bit more and where you’ll begin to feel more in control of your bike. You’ll start to notice practical improvements, like smoother cornering and better control through turns, along with a growing sense of confidence that carries over into every ride.
(Before Emma got to this lesson stage as a participant, every photo of her was tongue-out, maximum concentration engaged, and super serious. Then something clicked, and suddenly it was all big, slightly unhinged, [sometimes almost maniacal] grins.)
Week 4: Descending, Steeper Features, and Putting It All Together
In the final week, we build on everything you’ve learned and introduce a few new skills.
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Refining everything you’ve learned so far
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Descending with more control and confidence
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Roll-downs and wheel lifts
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More trail time to practice it all!
This week is about helping you leave feeling confident, capable, and excited to keep riding, with the tools to continue building your skills long after the clinic ends!
Looking for even more detail? We’ve put together a quick guide that walks through what being at a skills clinic is actually like.
I had a great experience working with Emma. Going into it, I was feeling unsure about my riding and lacked confidence, but Emma quickly created a supportive and encouraging environment. She is kind, knowledgeable, and really meets you where you’re at—always willing to move at my pace while also knowing when to challenge me in a way that helped things truly click.
MEG G.
What our Good Time riders are saying
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I went from having never ridden a mountain bike to excitedly riding blue trails!
Hard things felt doable with Katie and Emma in my corner. Equal parts skill, patience, and humor. I’ve taken many sessions of lessons with them and can’t wait to ride with them again!
LINDSAY O.
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Katie was a super fun coach, you can feel her passion for riding and all things bikes. She was extremely knowledgeable and encouraging, a great coach and person to share a ride with!
KIM D.
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💪 You actually get to practice and put everything together on the trails
Each session includes time to learn, practice, and then apply those skills on real trails.
That combination is what helps things stick. You’re not just hearing about technique, you’re trying it, adjusting it, and feeling how it works in real time, and getting feedback on how everything is coming together.
By the end of the four weeks, you won’t just know more, you’ll feel different on your bike.
Confidence on dirt = good times on the trail.
💕 A supportive, no-pressure, good vibes environment
Learning something new can feel intimidating, especially on a bike.
We keep things relaxed, encouraging, and focused on progress over perfection. There’s no pressure to keep up, no expectation to “send it,” and no judgment if something feels hard. Everyone is working on something a little different, and that’s part of what makes it such a good environment to learn in.
There’s usually a lot of laughing, a few “ohhh that makes sense now” moments, and a steady build of confidence over the four weeks. One of our favourite things is when the coaches’ group chat lights up with “you won’t believe how far so-and-so has come” or “guess what they did tonight.” That kind of progress is what makes this so rewarding for our whole team—we love to sit down over beers and gush about all of you!
What makes our clinics different
There are a lot of ways to learn mountain biking skills. You can watch videos, ride with friends, or just figure things out as you go. And all of that has value.
What we offer here is something a bit different: real-time feedback, thoughtful coaching, and a supportive environment where you can actually practice and understand what’s happening on your bike.
We’ve found that a mix of actionable tips and lighthearted callouts like, “quick question, are your elbows allowed to bend?” goes a long way.
🫡 Good Time Ride Co. instructors meet you where you’re at
Our team brings a combination of technical knowledge, real riding experience, and an ability to explain things in a way that actually makes sense on the trail. We also keep things fun and light along the way. You don’t get to be our age without collecting a few “wow, that felt condescending” learning experiences… so we’ve made a point of never putting someone else in that position.
We're not here to push you past your limits or overwhelm you with information. We're here to help you understand what’s happening, make small adjustments, and build confidence at your own pace. That means paying attention to how each rider is doing, offering individual feedback, and creating space for everyone to learn in a way that works for them. You’ll get cues that are simple, memorable, and actually useful when you’re out riding on your own.
🤝 Learning in person works better than YouTube
Watching a video and trying to apply what you watched on the trail are two very different things.
In a skills clinic, you’re not guessing whether you’re doing something right, you’re getting feedback in the moment. Small adjustments to things like body position, braking, or where you’re looking can completely change how something feels.
Instead of trying to piece things together on your own, you get clear guidance, time to practice, and the chance to ask questions as they come up.
2026 Spots Are Limited
We keep our coach-to-rider ratio small so everyone gets the attention and feedback they need.
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4 weekly sessions, 2 hour duration (Wednesdays)
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Small group coaching
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Real trail application each week
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$240 per rider
Includes coaching, structured sessions, and plenty of time to practice, ride, and ask questions along the way!
Dates
Every Wednesday
6:30pm – 8:30pm
MAY: May 6 – May 27, 2026 SOLD OUT
JUNE: June 3 – June 24, 2026
JULY: July 8 – July 29, 2026
Instructors
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PMBIA Level 1 Certified Instructors
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First Aid and CPR Certified
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Several years experience coaching in the Edmonton River Valley
Details
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Meeting locations change weekly, you will be notified in advance
A quick note on scheduling:
Our week-by-week plan may shift slightly depending on conditions. Edmonton weather can change quickly, and trail use is always dependent on safety. Heavy rain, lightning, wildfire smoke, or overly wet trail conditions may require us to adjust the order of skills taught or reschedule a session.
We’ll always communicate any changes clearly and make sure you still get the most out of your time with us.