Poll:why DON'T you mountain bike?

[Irulan]

I'm in a club with 100 bike riders, and very few mountain bikers. I'm trying to find ways to get more gals out on the trails, or to understand why they might not want to do it. So help me out here. ;-) I've posted many beginner and fun and all abilities welcome rides, to no avail.

IrulLAN

[spazzdog]

Had an ex that took me out in the woods once... on mountain bikes (get yer minds out of the gutter).

She had already attempted to teach me to roller blade: she very patient, me on the ground every time I stood up. She attempted to teach me to ski: she skiing backwards with grace and ease, me on the ground sliding down the bunny hill. It was then time to attempt the woods figuring I can ride a bike... no problem.

Off we go. Simple trail in trail terms. I hit every rock, snagged every tree. The only time I was simultaneously moving AND on the bike was on nice flat "running" path parts. I, quite frankly, was a accident looking for a place to happen.

Thus we come to my handle, Spazzdog. Girls, I'm a spazz, a klutz, a directionally impaired goofball. It has been suggested that I should wear a helmet fulltime, because if there's an object I'll hit my head on it. It's become a source of entertainment; a conversation starter (Hey Gena, hit your head lately?), and a lesson to me on what sports NOT to do.

But I'm a roadie, have always been a roadie... yeah, could be a mistake coming back to it after all this time and all the head injuries. Time will tell. But be forewarned; if you see a woman on a zebra bike wearing a neon orange Crash Test Dummy jersey, I weave like McEwen in a sprint (not at his speed, of course).

Trust me Irulan... y'all don't want me in your woods on a bike. Far too much blood and gore.

[pedalfaster]

I love to mountain bike...I just hate to drive. Riding the road is a no-brainer; open the door and pedal out.

As far as getting roadies/triathletes to covert to dirt..I've had some luck by offering "Dirt Virgin" clinics. Usually these take place on nice simple jeep roads, double track and gravel paths. Really...the kind of stuff you probably don't even consider *real* mountain-biking. It's difficult to remember (after you've been doing this for awhile) how scary it can be to go off-road.

With 'cross season is looming, you might try promoting your mtb rides as a way to polish some of those technical skills for roadies hoping to race through the winter.

Better potential riding partners (in my experience): cross-country runners, climbers, soccer and/or rugby players. They seem to have more tolerance for adventure/dirt/risk than the strictly-road crowd.

[MightyMitre]

I'd love to mountain bike but have a big problem - no bike! I nearly got one at the start of the year but didn't and now I'm unemployed so can't really justify spending £500 on a bike while I'm still sitting at home and BF is toiling away at work.:p

However... I have been offered the loan of one from a club mate. Must get myself off by backside and get out there.

PS. MTB in the UK usually involves mud, mud and more mud due to our lovely damp climate. I think the mud factor puts off some roadie girls, (and boys) especially the thought of all that bike scrubbing afterwards.

I say 'Bring it on' - just need a bike!:D

[jobob]

It just doesn't appeal to me.
- Jo.

[Sparrow]

... I have a problem disk way down low in my spine that precludes bouncing and bumping. As soon as disk replacement surgery is available in the US I'm having it done, then we'll see. The dirt does look like a lot of fun!

[Trek420]

I have a mountain bike, just a bottom of the line GT hardtail. It gets used as a back up bike, round town, and on the cycleops since I don't want to mess up the lovely Record on the road bike.

I can see that any off road riding helps my bike handleing skills but I don't bike ride because I'm disgustingly practical. Besides pure pleasure of riding I ride to get from point a to point b, sometimes point a to a if it's a loop but as an alternate to driving.

Also I hate the sight of blood, especially my own, and while with my other sport (Aikido) I take falls for fun, no actual blood is ever involved with that. And like Spazz was saying while people (self included) can be surprisingly uncoordinated although we're athletes...I'm sure it'd be carnage if i went off road.:rolleyes:

[Veronica]

I really enjoy mountain biking now.

When we first started ten years ago, I grew to hate because it I wasn't very strong, I was very nervous and had no faith in my skills.

I don't know if it was just maturity or what, but with some "freakishly strong" legs, that's a direct quote from Thom, I can make it up most hills and I no longer mind walking if I need to. I have a better understanding of my body position and that has really helped. AND hills up or down no longer scare me.

Veronica

[MightyMitre]

I love riding on the road, especially quiet roads and it's a great sensation when you're all riding in group , following each others wheels and moving more like a body than a group of individuals. The flowing feeling is great.

But at the same time the idea of going 'off-road', getting to ride along side nature, rather than kerbs and getting muddy really appeals to me. Must be the kid in me but any excuse to go out and get dirty. It's the perfect anti-dote to having to wear office clothes 9-5 all week.

On another note, where we live the mbt trails have loads of loops and twists, so if you can't keep up / want to take it easy you can simple take the shorter loop while others do a longer and all meet up again pretty easily. If we road ride this isn't as easy to do round here, where the road routes have less opportunity for taking short cuts.

[maryellen]

why I don't mountain bike . . .

1) just took up biking last year . . . one obsession at a time

2) more long term answer: I live in NYC and it's enough of a challenge to road bike. I wouldn't even want to think about trying to get to mountain bike trails. I know folks in NYC do it, but not for me

3) having read spazzdog's response and knowing my own klutziness quotient, I suspect I would be right behind her, hitting every rock and branch

PS Spazzdog, I want (no, need) a Crash Test Dummy jersey. Where did you get it???

Maryellen, checking in from vacation in Provincetown, where unfortunately the pavement is wet

[Cdalekat]

I have a moutain bike, but most of it's use is on road (commuting to work).

I definitely want to spend more time on the trails, but I have a few lame excuses that are currently my mental block:

1 - not enough time on the weekends
2 - i have to bike through 15 miles of idiots to get to the trails (seriously - most of it is following a recreational path along a river that attracts half the city - and all the people that don't know how to share the path - it gets dangerous with the kids running out into the path - I've seen some nasty collisions)
3 - I need to get a trail pass (easy to get, but annoying to do)
4 - I don't have the skills I'd like to have
5 - fear of the sharp rocks causing flat tires (sure, I'll have people with me that can deal with the flat... but it still worries me as I bike on the trails)
6 - the last time I fell on a trail was directly into a very healthy patch of poision ivy - I don't get along well with that plant, and I'm not too interested in having that happen again.


So really, #4 is the only serious reason. From my bike commuting this summer, I feel more comfortable handling my bike, so I'd be more willing to go play on the trails now than I was at the begining of the summer.

[emily_in_nc]

First one being that I don't have a mountain bike! But there are others. I love, love, love road riding and just don't have time to give to another time-consuming sport. I have always been more of a "specialist" than a generalist anyway; would rather get really good at one thing than dink around at many. Also, the thought of falling doesn't appeal to me at all, nor all the bouncing around on rocks and roots. Not sure this 43-year old bod is up for that!

I do ride my Bike Friday (which has slick 1.35" tires and is my touring/travel bike) up and down our 1 mile long gravel road, and it's not a lot of fun. Bouncy bouncy, rocks flying everywhere, tough stabilizing my narrow drop bars (know a mtb would be different and work better, though!), and feeling that unpleasant loss of traction close-to-falling sensation around the rocky curves. Also, I live in an area where there are miles of low-traffic rural roads to ride, but I don't even know of any trails near me, so I'd have to drive to any rides.

So, for all those reasons, mtb is just not something I can see ever doing - unless maybe I moved to a part of the country where there were more trails than roads and mtb was much bigger than road riding (clubs, etc.) The only local bike club near enough where I live and ride is a roadie club.

Emily

[spazzdog]

I don't remember where I got mine, but the following link will take you to a place that sells them.

http://www.branfordbike.com/smmrwear/summer3.html

They are VERY bright orange, with bright yellow and black detailing.

They are made by Aussie. Men's sizes. I bought a medium back in 2000. It's a bit baggier now, but not uncomfortably so.

[Deanna]

Back when I had a work schedule that allowed me a day off during the work week, I would mountain bike during the work week when the trails were relatively empty. Once I started working M-F/9-5 I realized I just couldn't deal with the weekend and after work crowds on the local trails. It's much easier to extend my commute home on the road to get some good bike time in.

[kelrunran]

I actually bought a used mountain bike this year and took it on the trails about three times. I've used it communte to work also. I'm am so no confident in my skills off-road, especially my reaction time. Maybe I would enjoy it more if I could find other new riders to ride with but I usually have a lot bigger learning curve than most. So those are my weak excuses.

I do love running on the trails and riding my road bike though.......some day I'll be more of a mountain biker.

Kelly

[fasteryet]

I like the thought of mountain biking, but I fear I would be too distracted by the scenery and crash often. I have a lot of aches and pains from hitting the racetrack(with horses) a few too many times, and falling, while it comes easily, doesn't appeal to me any more.

[Lissaria]

I started road biking when I was 14, before mountain biking was mainstream. A friend of the family was a triathalete and helped me pick out a bike and taught me technique etc. I loved it! I rode a lot until college. I moved from the city to a rural area for college, mostly dirt roads. My bike couldn't handle the gravel on the paved roads let alone the dirt roads! So I stopped riding, I didn't have the money for a mountain bike and I had a real fear of falling and getting hurt. It was 9 years after college that I decided I really wanted to start biking again and I could afford a new bike. Now my son is 9 and when deciding on a bike I went for a mountain bike, not thinking I'd like it better but that's what he'd want to do. And I wanted to ride with him.

It's 9 months later and I have to tell you I LOVE my mountain bike! I honestly wouldn't have gone this direction if it hadn't been for my son. I do live in a rural area, with plenty of trails near by and I find more all the time. When I first took my bike out last February I was terrified of the snow and ice, but once I gained trust in the bikes traction I was everywhere this spring usually covered in mud! At some point I may invest in a road bike again, but for now I'm a convert!

[Monica]

Driving an hour to bike does not interest me. Otherwise I might be doing it. Also Calgary has a wonderful pathway network. My bike is a MTB but with thinner and smooth tyres. It is not quite as fast as a road bike but I like it.

Monica

[kimba]

Originally posted by maryellen
I want (no, need) a Crash Test Dummy jersey. Where did you get it???

Maryellen, checking in from vacation in Provincetown, where unfortunately the pavement is wet

Well - I was browsing the web again- and I found this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=58064&item=7100349269

I've gotten stuff from this guy before.No problem...

anyone else have a request?

: D

I dunno- it was weird- I found both jerseys tonight- and I wasn't even looking for them!

see how much I love you guys??

Kimba

[spazzdog]

Way to go Kimba... and I though I was a research geek (and I mean that in a very admirable way)

I've never used Ebay... something about it makes me a little crazy. Too many choices, none of them "known". I don't know...

spazzdog

[Irulan]

Originally posted by fasteryet
I like the thought of mountain biking, but I fear I would be too distracted by the scenery and crash often. I have a lot of aches and pains from hitting the racetrack(with horses) a few too many times, and falling, while it comes easily, doesn't appeal to me any more.

That's why I ride slow. I saw a really cool camoflaged salamander in the trail the other day.

This has been really interesting to read all your repsonses, gals. Thanks for the replies.

Irulan

[Roadrunner]

I've done some off road biking and it's okay, but I prefer going along quite roads where the scenery changes from time to time. The last off road I did was in a forest and there was nothing to see except trees (yawn)

[smurfalicious]

Originally posted by Margaret
The last off road I did was in a forest and there was nothing to see except trees (yawn)

Yawn!? Yawn!? Oooh my gawd the trees are so beautiful!!! Okay, so I'm a forestry major, but even still. I love coming over the the Portland area and seeing different trees than I have at home, I love taking in their characteristics, and calling them by their names, I love how ones that I don't know don't seem to mind, I love going home and curling up with my tree books, trying to identify this new tree or shrub, I love the huge old growth junipers of the Badlands, and the dry canyons. I love the smell, breathing in the fragance of the trees, especially after a rain. And speaking of rain, nothing is better than being out on the trail, on horse or bike, in central Oregon.

I heard the greatest quote, on This American Life on NPR. A gal was talking about how she differed from her hiking partner, in that she needed a name for all the plants and he could care less. Her conclusion, "I've come to relase what I love most about nature is her indifference to who does the appreciating."

love and cookies
-smurf
Future Forest Resource Manager

[biknjen]

..always been a roadie. When I'm out in the woods I like to "stop and smell the pine.." so to speak. Have been nearly run over by mountain bikers, crashing through the woods on the trail And off and have been turned off by their inconsiderate ways. I'm sure there are LOTS of considerate mountain bikers out there who have respect for others, the wildlife and environment. As for me I will, when I have the chance to be 'in country', continue to hike and hopefully enjoy the quiet solitude of the wilderness.

[Roadrunner]

Yawn!? Yawn!? Oooh my gawd the trees are so beautiful!!!

Don't get me wrong I love trees and the smell was wonderful but a lot of forests in Scotland are man made forests, so to speak and every tree is exactly the same, no variation.

[KkAllez]

I did mountain bike, for years. Never lived anywhere near a paved road. Was terrified of a roadbike. Got brave and rode a roadbike, finally when we got on pavement, and loved the speed. So now.....after spending a fortune on road bikes, time to get a good mountain bike, cause I do have a nice mesa to fart around on, about 13 sections of land. I figure the mountain bike will be the winter bike. Or just a change of pace. Apples to oranges. Kinda like when I would ride my husband's quarter horse after miles and miles on my Arabians. Or Coke over coffee. It is a mood thing with me and hey, as long as people bike I don't care if they do it on a Radio Flyer tricycle as long as they JUST DO IT! :D

[CorsairMac]

why don't I mountain bike?.....becuase I was born N raised in Michigan/Indiana and a) we didn't have mountians there and b) mountian biking is a relativly new sport compared to me and I never knew anyone who did. I still don't except thru places like here. I would LOVE to mountian bike but living in Albuquerque re:foothills of the Rockies, I think it would be a BAD idea for me to try it alone. Right now I don't even own a moutain bike nor would I have a clue how to even go about purchasing one. I've checked the NM Cycling Clubs and I didn't see one for mountian bikers either. I figure - I'll try that sport one of these days - heck I've tried just about everything else! The older I get (46) the more I wanna try! But caps off to you Irulan - you keep biking for us!!!

[moonfroggy]

i don't have a good mountain bike, but my hybrid would work for some stuff, mostly i don't cuz i have no one to ride with and cuz i don't drive so getting places would be sorta hard, i would have to ride the bike to where i was gonna mountain bike

[smurfalicious]

Originally posted by Kim
Or just a change of pace. Apples to oranges. Kinda like when I would ride my husband's quarter horse after miles and miles on my Arabians. Or Coke over coffee.

Hee hee, this just made me giggle. I grew up on a fast as all get out, scare the pee out of ya, turn on a dime and toss back change morgan/arab cross. Now I ride a purely functional, 82% foundation QH gelding that is a built like a sherman tank. I love him, don't get me wrong, but every now and then I need the fix of running bareback weaving through trees, or chasing cows on my beloved arab/quarter monster at my summer job. Yes folks, this is my thinly veiled plea for Pine Mountain to hurry up and sell the road bike rentals.

[KkAllez]

The thing about riding the quarter horse was that he was so nice and calm and sane. The downside was that he was so broad he made my hips and legs ache for a week after riding him. The Arabians were like riding uncontrolled rockets and felt like straddling a fish! :D

The BEST thing about my bike? I don't have to take shots to ride it. I'm not allergic to the air pump either like I am to hay.

[snowtulip]

CorsairMac,
Just in case you decide to try mountain biking in ABQ here are a few links. The first one is for general riding in New Mexico, the second is for womens mountain biking in Albuquerque.

http://www.swcp.com/~nmts/clubs.htm
http://www.unm.edu/~bon1972/

I find that the foothills are a perfect place to start learning (or the bosque) and as you progress you can eventually hit the mountains (sandia's or cedro).
Enjoy,
Snowtulip

[fultzie]

becuase I was born N raised in Michigan/Indiana and a) we didn't have mountians there

ack! i get the weirdest looks when i tell people that i'm going to a mtn bike race in illinois/wisconsin/indiana/michigan.

my last race was in wisconsin, and it was amazingly technical! some of the guys on my team are used to biking out east (Pennsylvania, NY, Mass, NH, Maine) and said it was pretty comparable. lots of rocks. lots and lots. 1/2 the people in the men's intermediate field dropped because of mechanicals!

there are some pretty decent trails in MI, especially in the northern LP and UP. one of the biggest mtn bike races in the country is in Traverse City, MI in November... Subaru's Iceman Cometh (i tried to register, but it was closed for this year... next year!!)

this isn't to say that there is any sort of climbing here like there is out west, but the trails here can be pretty technical and tons of fun.

anywho, just thought i'd clear up the confusion regarding the flatlands :D

[CorsairMac]

Showtulip!!...you rock...do you live in Albuquerque also??......I haven't ridden the Bosque yet - I just discovered the Southern side of the North Diversion Channel yesterday! OK...so I'm a little slow on these things. I want to try the Bosque one of these days - I just need to find time to fit the cycling in amongst the running, hiking, workouts. Right now I"m a commute biker. And I'm a solo rider as right now I don't know any other bikers cept my roommate.
And Go M Blue!......when I lived in Mich mountain biking wasn't even a gleam in its mothers eye! When I lived in Indy - by the time it was born my ex-hubby was into road bikes so I became a roadie - ya know..that whole I'll share your sport with you!.....now hes an ex and I"m still a roadie - a much Happier roadie!.....keep this up ya'll...you'll psyche me into the mountain biking yet