Teaching My Dog to Mountain Bike With Me
The best training partner I have does not look at power meters.
My dog just wants to be next to me.
This is how I taught my dog to run trails beside my mountain bike. And why we figured most of it out in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Visit Charlottesville and Oakhurst Inn hosted our stay, which gave us a lovely place to come back to after a day figuring things out on the trails.
Start before you ride
Teaching a dog to run with a bike is a running skill first.
We did weeks of walking the same trails together. Then easy jogs. Then jogs with the bike rolled alongside.
I picked one cue and never changed it.
"With me" means run at my side. No sniffing detours.
We stopped before either of us was ready. That was hard at first, but it meant my dog was excited to head out again the next time.
Pick the right classroom
Save technical singletrack for later. Start on wide, flowing trail.
Preddy Creek Park was our classroom. It sits north of the city and holds about 16 miles of multiuse trail.
It is flowy, forgiving, and low on elevation. That is exactly what a first riding partner needs.
Visit Charlottesville calls it a great option for entry-level riders, and I agree.
Dogs stay on leash at Preddy Creek. Horses ride here too, and that becomes a lesson of its own.
Let your dog set the speed
Your pace is not your dog's pace.
The safe ceiling is a steady trot. If a session needs a sprint, the dog is not ready yet.
I watched tongue, gait, and tail. When any of them flagged, the day ended.
Bring water and a collapsible bowl.
Check paws after every ride while the pads build up.
Virginia humidity is real. On hot days we went at dawn or not at all.
Yield like you mean it
Horses come first. Always.
When I hear hoofbeats, I stop, call my dog to heel, and step us both well off the trail.
A calm dog makes a calm horse.
Say thank you. It costs nothing and it keeps trails open for everyone.
The same rules apply here that apply on any shared trail: ride open trails, control your speed, and leave no trace. I like the IMBA rules of the trail as a starting point.
Waste gets packed out. Double bag it and carry it all the way to a bin, even when the car feels far away.
Leash rules are not a suggestion. On most of these trails, leashes are the rule. Train for that too: run with the leash loose but attached whenever the rules ask.
Where we rode
Preddy Creek Park for flow and space.
The Rivanna Trail wraps more than 20 miles around the city. Some sections favor hikers over bikes. We picked the shared sections and kept it mellow.
Walnut Creek Park added creek crossings and real singletrack.
Mint Springs is a shorter loop and a good skills day.
Both parks collect a small entrance fee between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Much of this riding exists because volunteers build and maintain it. The Charlottesville Area Mountain Bike Club keeps these trails honest. Join a work day if you visit.
Where we stayed
The Oakhurst Inn sits directly across the street from the University of Virginia grounds.
It is four historic residences from 1913, renovated into a boutique inn.
They keep a limited number of pet friendly rooms, up to two dogs. Call the front desk to reserve one, since they are not bookable online.
Mornings started with breakfast and coffee at the Oakhurst Inn Café before we drove out to the trails.
After a trail day, the pool deck was for me. The shady lawn was for my dog.
They are dog friendly in the best way.
A ball was waiting in our room when we checked in.
My dog carried it around like a trophy for the rest of the stay.
If you are planning a trip
Visit Charlottesville rounds up the mountain biking routes and a guide to exploring the area on two wheels.
Book the pet friendly room early. Ask about it by phone when you reserve.
What I learned with my dog
Start on foot. One cue. Short sessions.
Pick flowy trails. Yield to horses. Leash where the rules ask.
And let your dog decide when enough is enough.
A dog that leans toward the trailhead is the finish line. Speed is a bonus.
With thanks to
