BIKE PARK CODE OF CONDUCT and GUIDANCE NOTES

“Sender Sports Ltd recognises that mountain biking is an activity with the danger of personal injury or death. Participants should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions and involvement, especially when riding new (unfamiliar) and challenging features at our Bike Park”

You must follow these codes of conduct for the safety of yourself and others. You may be asked to leave (without refund) or be banned from the park if you behave irresponsibly or dangerously.

When you practice Mountain Bike / Cycling Skills and Techniques and especially when speed increases and your wheels leave the ground the RISK level also increases. Crashing is an integral part of improving and developing you’re riding. Although we try to avoid crashing the outcome can result in severe physical and mental harm whilst also damaging your bike and equipment. You should not ride at this Bike Park OR try to improve your skills and techniques if you do not accept the inherent increase in risks.

As a guide we recommend that you consolidate on smaller features first by completing at LEAST 25 successful and controlled repetitions before progressing to the next level. In reality 100 + repetitions may be required BEFORE you can claim mastery of a feature and even then a crash cannot be ruled out.

We have designed the Bike Park to offer you graded progression which gives you every opportunity to develop as safely as possible. Where appropriate, we have used this grading system to help you identify and choose the best entry level features and next levels. You should ask staff for help if you are unsure or even better book onto a coaching course which will give you good foundations to progress with more confidence.

Please be aware that you can still have significant crashes even on GREEN graded features!

GREEN – Small entry level features that provide an introduction to a specific bike skill and techniques

BLUE – Challenging medium sized features that provide progression

RED – Committing larger features requiring good bike handling skills, additional speed and agility

BLACK – Difficult XL features that require confidence and experience

ORANGE – Expert features with significant size ONLY suitable for very experienced riders

** BEWARE OF PEDAL STRIKE ON THE EDGE OF PLATFORMS WHEN YOU ROLL IN **

1. You must warm up on features within your ability before attempting harder features. Practice and consolidate your skills and techniques.
2. You must be friendly, courteous and respectful at all times. You must ride with a positive and encouraging attitude towards other riders especially beginners who may need / appreciate help and assistance. Give other riders EXTRA Space and Time. Be patient and WAIT YOUR TURN by ensuring the landing area is clear and be aware that other riders may make unexpected changes of speed and direction
3. You must inspect and look at features before you attempt them. Leave your bike in a safe place. Stand where you can be seen and get out of the way of approaching riders. Do not obstruct features and you must never stand in landing areas especially where you cannot be seen.
4. Make other riders aware of your presence if you are approaching a feature and never overtake.
5. Pedestrians have right of way. Riders must give way in mixed areas. Dismount and walk with your bike if it is busy. However, pedestrians must be aware of riders at all times and stay within safe areas and behind barriers where they exist. Pedestrians must NEVER enter active rider areas. The golden rule is; people and riders ahead of you have the Right of Way. It is your responsibility to avoid them.
6. You must not SCHRALP / ROOST or purposely damage corners and berms. You should use controlled braking and NOT SKID unless in an emergency. Schralping / Roosting is where a rider manoeuvres sharply in a corner which causes the tyres to spray dirt and gravel as a consequence.
7. Do not ride under the influence of drugs, alcohol or medication which may impair your judgement or performance. You must be medically, mentally and physically fit before riding. Seek advice if unsure
8. You must wear your Bike Park Participation Band at all times given AFTER registration is complete
9. You must wear a compliant and PROPERLY FITTED bike helmet EN 1078 (for adults) or EN 1080 (for children). We strongly recommend gloves, eyewear and knee pads as a minimum but welcome riders with full face, neck braces and other body armour. You must choose the level of protective cover suitable for your experience.
10. You must have the ends of your handlebars PLUGGED!
11. You must arrive with a fully serviced and well maintained bike suitable for use in the Bike Park. A pre ride “M” check must be conducted before you ride. Visit YouTube for examples of “M” Checks.
12. Bikes with Child carriers such as Shotgun seats, Rear Seat or Tow-alongs are not permitted.
13. Ebikes limited to 25 KPH are allowed at this Bike park but throttle controlled or delimited / chipped Electric or Petrol Bikes are not.
14. Wind, Rain, Sunshine and other ground and air conditions can significantly affect the experience. Adapt your riding and goals to the conditions.
15. You must report defects / damage / concerns immediately to staff and follow all signage
16. Please place litter in the bins provided. Throwing litter around the park will result in a ban. No Fires are allowed at any time.
17. In an emergency – immediately stop oncoming riders to protect you and the casualty. Then, send for help to inform Bike Park staff who will take control of the situation.

BIKE PARK AGE AND SKILL RESTRICTIONS

Riders MUST be able to PEDAL and COAST Standing UP with the saddle down!

1. Over 18’s must sign the waiver and provide an emergency contact name and number if they are riding alone
2. One Adult can sign for two Under 18 Riders.
3. Children aged 16 and 17 must have a waiver signed by a parent, guardian or responsible adult and provide an emergency contact name and number. Responsible persons must also remain / live within a few minutes drive from the Bike Park AND be ready to respond quickly in case of an emergency.
4. Children aged 6 to 15 must have a parent, guardian or responsible adult ONSITE at all times. Children aged 4 or 5 MAY be allowed to ride in the Bike Park IF they can prove they meet the skill requirements.

BIKE PARK FEATURES EXPLAINED

Jump – Normally made from wood or shaped gravel. These straight or curved (transitioned) take off features are normally landed onto flat ground but occasionally onto a wooden landing ramp. Gap Jump – A wooden or gravel Take OFF ramp which has a space to clear before the landing. Tabletop Jump – This is a wood or gravel shaped Jump where the landing is joined to the take off by a solid section where you can land if you don’t have enough height or speed. Double jump – Similar to a Gap Jump where the take-off and landing are separated by a space. Sometimes a Double can be rollable (always look before you leap) Pump Roller – A rollable wood or gravel features shaped like a hump which allows you to generate speed. Berm – A shaped corner which gives good support to a turn. Flat Corner – A corner with NO support. Rock Garden – A tricky collection of jumbled rock blocks of different sizes which can deflect the bike wheels. Drop – These can be small kerb height step downs to a lower level or house sized, so look before you leap and check the level of commitment and skill needed to survive “The Drop”. You can also get multiple drops (some less than a bike length apart) or concave swoops which cause the bike and body to compress.  Cannon – A long straight ramped feature which may need pedal strokes to generate etra speed BEFORE dropping / jumping off the end. We are always happy to explain / show / describe features if you are unsure of terminology. Combinations of the above are possible – LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP!

SENDER BIKE PARK IS A TRADING NAME OF SENDER SPORTS LTD – A COMPANY REGISTERED IN SCOTLAND