MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDING SAFETY, SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES

Helmets:
Should be put on before you do anything else
Make sure it is tight enough so that when you shake your head it doesnt move
They can be adjusted at the back of the helmet and the jaw strap.
Get helmet checked by a staff member
Once checked to do not unbuckle the helmet, it must remain buckled up until the end of
the ride
Brakes:
Dont use more than two fingers to lock breaks
Use both brakes to slow down. Do not jam it on. Use it early and slowly.
If you slam on your back break you will skid, lose control and fall off
If you slam on your front brake you will end up going head first over the handle bars
Brake before you get to a corner
Do not break in sand, water or muddy sections
Gears:
Use your index finger and thumb to change your gears up
and down
Use a low gear to go uphill
Change your gears in preparation for changes of terrain
Use a low gear to make it through sand, water or muddy
sections
The right hand lever operates the rear gear
The left hand lever operates the front mechanism, which shifts the chain from one chain
wheel to another
Other Tips:
Look where you want to go and your body will follow look ahead
Lift your bum off the saddle when approaching a rough section; keep your elbow and
knees bent, as this will help your body maintain suspension
Weight distribution is critical, on steep down hills move your weight backwards
Land your front wheel on top of logs, so there is enough momentum for your back wheel
to go over as well
When riding on a road, we ride single file
Dont grip the handlebars too tight, it will make you tense and tire you out quicker
Communication:
As we will be travelling on single trails it is important that you communicate with the
riders behind you
Messages about upcoming terrain will need to be passed down the line
Calls often used are downhill, uphill, right, left, rough, log, jump
It is important you communicate with the people behind you so they can prepare for the
upcoming change in terrain
The most common calls used are Stopping and Slowing. This is very important so
people do not crash into each other

Year 9 Outdoor Adventures

Mountain Bike Riding Camp
2014

Camp Objectives:
For you to gain experience in outdoor camping. To learn new skills such as setting up
tents, cooking on trangias and packing for an overnight outdoors camp. Practice minimal
impact strategies and further develop your understanding of the importance of these in
your camping practices.
To increase your knowledge and experience of mountain bike riding. Learn and practice
the different skills involved in riding on trails. Discover areas within your local
community that you can go hiking, camping and mountain bike riding.

Contents:
Itinerary2
Equipment List.3
Food List4
Trangia Stoves5
Cleaning Up.6
Leave No Trace Camping..6
Tents..6
Mountain Bike Riding Safety, Skills & Techniques7

Cleaning Up
For the camp we will use a Leave No Trace Group Clean up practice where the whole group uses
the same wash up water.
We will use:
2 Wash tubs (1 for trangias, 1 for crockery/cutlery)
Washing detergent
Scourers/steel wool
Rubbish bag
1. Heat water and fill two wash tubs
2. Add detergent to wash tubs
3. Scrape food scraps from dishes and place in bag (you can also just lick your bowl really
clean!)
4. Take some water with wash detergent and clean. Do not dip dishes into tub as this keeps
the water cleaner for longer
5. Repeat this stage to get rid of stubborn stains
6. If clean dip in to rinse dishes
7. Dry all dishes with a dry tea towel

Principles of Leave No Trace

These are 7 principals you can follow to reduce the impact you have upon the environment.
Plan Ahead and Prepare
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
Dispose of Waste Properly
Leave What You Find
Minimise Campfire Impacts
Respect Wildlife
Be Considerate of Your Hosts and Other Visitors

Tents
Guidelines to setting up a tent:
Lay out inner section of tent
Put poles together, and connect to fly
Put pegs into corners of tent (they should be on a 45 degree angle)
Attach fly using all ties
Peg out the fly and the tabs on the fly
Packing up a tent:
Make sure the tent is dry
Clean out the tent floor (sweep with brush & shovel)
Take out fly pegs
Remove the fly and fold into fours long ways, then roll it tightly together
Take out remaining pegs
Remove poles
Fold tent into four keeping the bottom of the tent on the outside
Put poles on end of tent and roll tent around poles.
Pack all parts of tent- poles, fly, inner tent & pegs into bag and zip it up

Trangia Stoves
What are they: Simple to use cooking device fueled by methylated spirits.
Hazards: Burns caused by
- refueling a seemingly spent burner
- spillage of hot food or water
- the flame igniting a fuel bottle
- resultant panic
- as a result of a trangia being knocked over
- picking up hot bowls and trangia stove parts
- attempting to blow the flame out
Trangia Stove Use
Camp kitchen- we will have a trangia circle (our dining table for camping)
Trangia stoves are placed around the inside of the circle
Cookers sit on the outside of the circle
No one is to cross this circle at any time (You do not walk over your dining table at home
therefore you DO NOT walk over our camp dining table- always walk around the circle)
Trangias can never be left alone while burning
Metho Tree- will be set up away from the circle
You must bring your burner to the methylated spirits to fill it up
Methylated spirits are not to leave this area!
Lighting the Flame
*Make sure there is a staff member supervising the process.
*The flame is difficult to see during daylight so if you need to test for heat, use the back of your
hand.
Extinguishing the burner
*If you are going to use it again; place the closed simmer ring over the burner.
*If simmer ring is in use, the operator will need to remove the ring from the burner with the billy
grips, allowed to cool, reclosed and then placed over the burner.
*The closed simmer ring may not seal the burner and billy grips may be needed to locate the ring
better or to slightly lift the ring.
Instructions:
- Once the stove is alight all pots must be handled with billy grips and stored within the NO
GO ZONE.
- The fry pan/lid should be used to quicken cooking however good practice is to consider
the outside as unclean placing it on the stove inverted and then on the ground outside
down.
- Prior to packing up the stove all fuel is to be burnt from burners
- Cleaning; upon returning to the tub all stove parts must be clean and dry.

Mountain Bike Riding Camp Itinerary

Thursday May 21st
8:55am- Meet at HFC Basketball Courts
9:30am- Depart MFGSC
10:15am- Arrive Eumeralla Scout Camp, snack time
10:30am- Campsite orientation, unpack trailer, tent and camp set-up
11:00am- Unload bike trailer, adjust bikes/helmets
11:30am- Lunch
12:00pm- Mountain Bike Ride around Eumeralla to Jarosite Mine.
4:15pm- Return to campsite
5:00pm- Dinner, cook Entre, Main & Dessert
7:30pm- Night activity
8:00pm- Reflection
8:30pm- Free time
9:30pm- Bed time

Friday May 22nd

8:00am- Wake up, pack up inside of tent
8:30am- Breakfast
9:00am- Pack trailer
9:30am- Mountain Bike Riding
12:00pm- Return to Eumeralla, pack bikes onto trailer, Pack up tents
12:45pm- Lunch at Anglesea shops
1:45pm- Depart Anglesea
2:30pm- Return to MFGSC to unload trailer, scrub trangias, dry/put
equipment away

YEAR 9 OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

Equipment List
School provides:

Tent
Mat
Trangias
Fuel (metho)
Toilet paper
Dishwashing liquid

Clothing:

Beanie
Gloves/mittens
Jumper (polar

fleece/wool

Rainjacket
Socks x 3 (at least 1 pair
of warm
socks/explorers)
Runners
Underwear x 2
Pants x 1
T-shirts x 2
Leggings/ Shorts x 2
Casual shoes (optional)
Thermals
Sleeping gear:

Sleeping bag
Pillow
Blanket

Cutlery/Crockery: Knife
Fork
Spoon
Mug
Plate
Bowl
Chopping board
Matches
Scourer
Tea towel
Toiletries:

Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Deodorant
Hairties
Allergy tablets/travel
sickness tablets
Plastic bag (for
wet/dirty clothes)
Baby wipes

Other:

Aeroguard
Bag (no suitcases)
Torch/ headtorch
Cards (optional)
Tarp
Money (Day 2 lunch)
Helmet (optional)

Backpack:

Hat
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Lip balm
Water bottle (minimum
600ml that will fit in
bike drink bottle holder)
Camera (optional)
Personal First Aid Kit
*Rain jacket * (wind &
water resistant)
Snacks
Lunch

FOOD LIST
For a meal you need:
Sustenance, nutritional value
Lightweight
Fresh
Food that travels well
Nice things
Food is very important, bad food will mean a bad camp usually.
Lunch: Roll/wrap
Snacks: Scroggin (dried fruit, nuts, chocolate, lollies)
- Muesli bars
- Fruit
Dinner: (Entre)- Soup, dip & biscuits/carrots, nachos, caesar salad
(Main)- Pasta Cacciatora
or Risotto
or
Stirfry (Pre-cooked & frozen)
- 250g vegeroni
- 1 Tblsp Tomato Paste
- 1 Zucchini
- 1 Carrot
- 1 Onion
- 2 tsp Spices (Basil, Oregano, Garlic & Parsley)
- Cup Grated Cheese
- Oil
- Meat- eg: kabana, salami, smoked meats or dehydrated meats (optional)
(Dessert)- Instant pudding, choc dipped strawberries/marshmallows, truffles, fruit
salad & custard
Breakfast: Oats & Fruit, Muesli, Cereal, Longlife Milk, Hot Chocolate, Bread & Spread,
Pre-cooked pancakes & spread
Shopping List:
Day 1
-

Day 2
-