Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Mountain Biking (Face-to-Face)

ORPT 1241-01

Course: ORPT 1241-01
Credits: 1
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PEHP
CRN: 31408

Course Description

This is a beginning to intermediate level mountain biking class focused on developing awareness. Classes will consist of mountain bike rides, skill development drills, basic maintenance, and more. No mountain biking experience is needed. Students must have a properly functioning mountain bike and biking-specific helmet available for the entire duration of the course. Students should already know how to ride a bike before taking this course and should recognize that biking is an aerobic activity that can be physically taxing. Our goal for each class session is not to cover a lot of miles, but to cover skills and drills to become more effective bikers. In that process we may ride from 3-10 miles of trail while gaining from 100-600 feet of elevation. 

Required Texts


Mastering Mountain Bike Skills by Brian Lopes & Lee McCormack 3rd Edition


 

Learning Outcomes

  • Become aware of and implement the Riders Responsibility Code.
  • Be introduced to and become familiar with the six basic skills of riding a mountain bike.
  • Become aware of online resources and apps available to mountain bikers for getting information on mountain bike trails.
  • Learn to do basic bike set up including suspension, seat height/angle/position, bar roll, brake lever angle, and tire pressure.
  • Learn to do basic bike repairs and maintenance such as flat tire repair, resolve shifting issues, and proper lubrication.
  • Demonstrate proper pre-ride bike and safety checks before each ride.
  • Become aware of the varied riding styles and accompanying bike types available within mountain biking 

Course Requirements


Goals for this class
Create at least two goals specific to mountain biking to pursue this class session and two stepping stones per goal for how you will work towards each goal.

Personal Weekly Ride For this assignment you need to go on an hour long ride once a week outside of class. To get credit, on Canvas each week by Sunday night at 11:59 pm submit a Word document telling me what skills from class you applied during your ride, where you rode, who you rode with*, and how it went. You’ll also need to submit a picture that includes you, your bike, and the location you rode. (*you are not required to ride with someone else but I highly encourage you to). 

Video Discussions For this assignment click on the video discussion assignments, watch the video then make a comment by the assignment due date and time. You may comment on whatever you thought or the things that stood out to you or other student’s comments.

Goals Report Report on how you progressed towards your course goals. 

Course Outline

Each number correlates with a class session (this is a 7 week course)
  1. Bike Fit & Set-Up

  2. Basic Maintenance

  3. Braking

  4. Turning

  5. Scanning and Planning Ahead

  6. Getting Over Objects

  7. Drops and Jumps


Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Each assignment will be given a due date and time. If you turn an assignment in after that it will be graded as though turned in on time, then whatever grade earned will be reduced by 50% (i.e. if you got an 84% you would only be given 42%) . After 72 hours the assignment will be given an automatic zero (0).

Attendance Policy

Please come to class ready to ride, you are expected to attend each class session. Each class session is worth 10 points, failure to attenda clas session will mean you do not earn those points. You will not be penalized for excused absences. If you know ahead of a class session (for an excused or unexcused absence) that you won't be attending, please notify the instructor. 

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.