Three mountain bikers riding and standing on rocky trail in a forested area with tall trees and green foliage.

WELCOME TO THE GSMBC BLOG!

Dig in below to all the articles about our 20 year history that led to the creation of GSMBC and all the latest news, technical articles, coaching tips and updates!

GSMBC is an independent organization and is not affiliated with PMBIA or its programs. Any references to past contributions are intended solely to reflect GSMBC’s history and experience in the industry.

Your Brain Needs a Warm-Up Too
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Your Brain Needs a Warm-Up Too

Discover how elite MTB riders use pre-run rituals—like breathing, visualization, and mental walkthroughs—to boost confidence and focus before a race run. Backed by neuroscience, this blog explores how coaches can apply neural priming and state-dependent learning to help athletes perform under pressure.

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Knowing When Not to Race: The Psychology of Pulling Back
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Knowing When Not to Race: The Psychology of Pulling Back

In mountain biking, the toughest call isn’t always whether to send it — it’s knowing when not to. When Loïc Bruni and Tahnée Seagrave both chose to sit out the last race of year they proved that restraint can be the smartest form of strength. This post dives into the psychology behind those decisions, the “culture of risk” in sport, and how coaches can teach riders to recognize when holding back protects long-term performance.

Read the full piece and explore strategies from the GSMBC Reference Guide on building awareness, resilience, and smart decision-making.

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The Tomato Timer
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The Tomato Timer

Mountain bike coaching isn’t just about drilling skills on the trail—it’s also about managing energy, focus, and recovery. That’s where the Pomodoro Technique, a time-management method born far from dirt tracks, becomes surprisingly relevant. By breaking sessions into short, focused bursts followed by intentional breaks, both riders and coaches can sustain sharper concentration, improve skill retention, and reduce fatigue.

For riders, this means progressing faster without burning out. For coaches, it means protecting their own energy so they can plan better lessons, give more thoughtful feedback, and stay sharp across long days of teaching. As GSMBC outlines in its training frameworks, the best lessons balance structure with flow, and the Pomodoro approach reinforces exactly that—focused effort, then purposeful pause

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What Makes GSMBC Coach Education Different?
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What Makes GSMBC Coach Education Different?

At GSMBC (Global Syndicate of Mountain Bike Coaches), we’re always evolving—and one of the most exciting areas of growth is in how we train and educate our coaches through high-quality coach education and certification courses.

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WHO WE ARE… WE GOT YOU!
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WHO WE ARE… WE GOT YOU!

Mar 24, 2025

Written By Paul Howard

A NEW CHAPTER IN MTB COACH EDUCATION - GSMBC is an independent organization with no affiliation to PMBIA or other certifications, but it’s built by the same experienced team that helped shape modern mountain bike instructor training. With over two decades of industry leadership, our founders—including the former PMBIA Technical Director and key members of the technical team and trainer network—are bringing their passion and expertise to GSMBC.

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PINKBIKE PRESS RELEASE - LAUNCHING GSMBC!
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PINKBIKE PRESS RELEASE - LAUNCHING GSMBC!

Introducing the Global Syndicate of Mountain Bike Coaches (GSMBC): The Next Evolution of Mountain Bike Coach Education & Certifications

After nearly two decades of shaping globally recognized coaching standards and certifications under the Professional Mountain Bike Instructors Association (PMBIA), the founding team—including the former PMBIA Technical Director—has transitioned into a new organization: the Global Syndicate of Mountain Bike Coaches (GSMBC).

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