Adventure Collective
Mountain Biking Skills at New England Outdoor Center - Bangor

Mountain Biking Skills at New England Outdoor Center

Millinocketmoderate

Difficulty

moderate

Duration

6–8 hours

Fitness Level

Participants should have a good fitness level, comfortable with riding on technical terrain.

Overview

Looking to boost your mountain biking skills in Maine’s rugged terrain? The New England Outdoor Center’s clinic offers hands-on training in a stunning natural setting—perfect for riders of all levels.

Burke, Vermont

1 Day Core Skills Clinic: New England Outdoor Center - Millinocket, ME

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About This Adventure

Join our fundamentals clinic to enhance your mountain biking skills, regardless of your experience level. Over two days, you'll learn essential techniques, from body positioning to cornering, and practice on diverse trails. Connect with fellow riders and coaches, culminating in a celebratory toast with your new biking community.

Improve your skills and ride with confidence!

Our fundamentals clinic is appropriate for all skills and abilities. It’s the ‘foundation’ of mountain biking.

Friday Evening:

Join other participants and your Dynamic Cycling coaches at a local venue for a meet and greet.

Saturday Morning 8:30am – 12:30pm:

It’s all about becoming a more dynamic rider. We start by dialing in the fundamentals.
• Stability through proper body position and developing our range of motion.
• Operational controls learning how to modulate our brakes while on trail (trail braking), • Emergency stopping techniques • Proper shifting techniques.
• Cadence and vision and how to read a trail.
• We continue to build on these fundamentals as we learn our ‘ACE’ gear, reading the trail with the ‘now and next; and introduce maneuvers such as a ‘peek n push’ and cornering.
• We end our morning session on different types of corners; applying the fundamentals we learned. We further develop proper body position and angulating the bike, modulating our speed and looking through corners.

Saturday Afternoon (1:30pm- 4:30pm):

We hit the trails!!! Practicing what learned. Sessioning features on trail is essential to becoming a better rider. • We find features that we can allow us to further develop our fundamental skills; rock gardens, rock rollers & steeps, technical climbs/descents, and more! • We practice cornering on trail; Using the different style corners available on trail and how to flow through corners without braking.

We finish back in the parking lot to wrap up the day. After our wrap up we head back to the meet and greet location to have a toast with our new riding buddies.

On trail coaching and sessioning is dependent on the trail network and features available.

Adventure Tips

Start early in the day

Mornings often have cooler temperatures and better trail conditions.

Bring layers

Weather can change rapidly; pack moisture-wicking and waterproof gear.

Check trail conditions

Ensure trails are open and suitable for your skill level before starting.

Hydrate well

Stay hydrated throughout the day to maintain focus and energy.

Local Insights

Wildlife

  • Moose
  • Pine Marten

History

Millinocket’s growth was driven by the paper industry, and the region has a long-standing history of outdoor recreation.

Conservation

The area is actively protected to minimize environmental impact and preserve its pristine trails and wildlife.

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Adventure Hotspots in Bangor

Frequently Asked Questions

Recommended Gear

Mountain bike (with proper suspension and tires)

Essential

A reliable bike suited for rugged trails ensures safety and performance.

Helmet

Essential

Critical for safety during technical bike maneuvers.

Hydration pack

Essential

Keeps you hydrated through a full day of riding.

Gloves and protective eyewear

Essential

Provides grip and protects against debris and branches.