What kind of mountain biker are you?

[Irulan]

There are more mountain bikers here than I thought! lots to choose from, what do YOU Like? Answer as many as you like.

[Kpicha]

We have lots of technical singletrack here in VA, which is nice. But, I do wish there was more fast, flowing type singletrack so I could go on all day long epics. That technical stuff can give you quite a beating sometimes! :)

[waterlilli]

What a great question! I do not know? I love climbing, I love fast decents, It is a blast to race, but I am not a racer. Ladders scare me, but I give them a try. What am I?:p

[gapgoil]

climbing..eek!! I prefer to ride the lifts...or shuttle.
Lovin' the downhill though, or a nice quick singletrack ride on a nice summer's day...

[Irulan]

I love climbing. Does that make me wierd? :D
I really in particular like kicking guy's butts on long steady climbs. This is one area where fitness pays off, and spinning in particlur gives me a 6 week head start over where i'd be if I had to rely on climbing for climbing conditioning. I live in the mountains too and not too much has access for shuttle. So you HAVE to go up to go down.

Actually what I really like is the satisfaction of getting to the top by my own power. If I can make it all on the bike that's the bonus as is the view from the top.

There's a teetertotter in our bike "play" area that I'm trying locate now THAT sounds like fun. The builder like to hide that stuff.

If you like ladders go to this site
PeteFagerlin.com (http://www.petefagerlin.com) and download the "Northshore" video. Those guys are amazing. It will really inspire you.

Irulan

[waterlilli]

I agree climbing rocks! I just love kicking the boys butts up the hill.

[pedalfaster]

Epic rides, climbing, technical singletrack and xc racing. But not necessarily in that order ;)

[sempre]

Seems like a lot of us are into climbing - twisted bunch aren't we! I have to admit that I love it too, as well as singletrack (easy or technical) and those epic cross country rides. I'd love to enjoy downhill more, but at the moment it just scares me far too much for it to be safe!

[Irulan]

I like the DH portions of some of the XC trails I ride. But I sure can't see myself doing a lot of it!! As my skills build tho... I"m thinking that it'd be fun to try out on the right kind of bike that's built to take it, just to try it for a easy run or two.

I"ve got armor that I wear when attempting difficult technical stuff anyway. I find that it's helped my confidence immensely. If we're going to an area that I know may have tricky bits I'll just wear the armor for that portion of the trail, especially if we take the time out to work on that section.

Irulan

[Kpicha]

Gosh, all this talk of climbing is making me want to go out and tackle some killer technical climbs! :eek: Nahh, too muddy right now. :)

I thought about getting some armor too but don't you get awfully hot? SOme of the trails here are literally handlebar width and I got a good smack on my forearm the other day from bumping off a tree.

I recently switched pedals from 959s to Time Zs and what a difference its made in my confidence. Plus, having a new bike helps too. I haven't crashed once yet! :) (Of course, I probably just jinxed myself now) :rolleyes:

Cheers,
Kristina

[Irulan]

Originally posted by Kpicha


I thought about getting some armor too but don't you get awfully hot? SOme of the trails here are literally handlebar width and I got a good smack on my forearm the other day from bumping off a tree.
Cheers,
Kristina

I just wear elbow pads from Fox and 661 4x4 leg pads. Not full body armor!!! They bundle up real nice and strap onto my camelbak and I don't even know they are there when I"m not wearing them.

I got this stuff last year when I was wrecking a lot. It's nive to have them for when I want to try something... just for a bit of confidence. An example might be this one nasty switchback that's full of gravel and off camber. I have a lot more confidence to try it over and over again with armor. Then take it off later!!


661 4x4 (http://www.pricepoint.com/product565.html) fox elbow guards (http://www.pricepoint.com/product886.html)

Irulan

[TwoTiredGal]

I'm the exception here I guess... I really don't like climbing. I do love the feeling of completing a climb that I just cussed and grunted my way up. I LOVE the downhills and fast up and down xc! Seems like I ride mostly with good climbers and scared downhillers so they take off and I catch up on the downswing. It all works out in the end but it sucks to be at the back of the pack on a climb wondering if I can ever catch up to those disappearing butts. For the most part, as long as I'm riding... I'm a happy camper. :D

[Irulan]

Originally posted by TwoTiredGal
I'm the exception here I guess... I really don't like climbing. I do love the feeling of completing a climb that I just cussed and grunted my way up. I LOVE the downhills and fast up and down xc! Seems like I ride mostly with good climbers and scared downhillers so they take off and I catch up on the downswing. It all works out in the end but it sucks to be at the back of the pack on a climb wondering if I can ever catch up to those disappearing butts. For the most part, as long as I'm riding... I'm a happy camper. :D
now this may not apply to you at all... but for me the better I became at mountain biking, and the better my fitness... both of those contributed directly to liking to climb as compared to tolerating it...

Irulan

[TwoTiredGal]

Originally posted by Irulan

now this may not apply to you at all... but for me the better I became at mountain biking, and the better my fitness... both of those contributed directly to liking to climb as compared to tolerating it...

Irulan

I would say that early in the season that is a main contributor. But even when I was in the best shape ever with 10% body fat and strong legs, I just never could get in to the climbing until I got to the top and realized how happy I was to have made it. I then gained a bit too much weight and climbing got even more difficult. But I've slimmed down again and maybe that will help me both psychologically as well as physically this season. :)

[Terry]

I'm really thrilled to see so many women kicking butt after working inside on spinning this winter. I'm having the same experience (even though my riding season is winter).

I've become a better climber because my endurance is so much better since I started spinning. Also, I've learned to "glide" over rocks by using a large gear so that my feet do not scrape rocks.
The guys...well, I'm finding that they are climbing much slower than I'd like to go these days. I can't pass them on an up-hill single track, but, I'd love to yell out "on your left" and just do it if the terrain would permit.

I'm having a hell of a good time since my endurance and skill level has risen...just practice and spin so far.

Thanks for the tip on body gear, Irulan. I'm ready to take on the downhills. Any tips on riding in deep sand down hill? I've only had one experience with a long down hill grade that was all sand...and deep, too. The 50 Year Trail in the Catalina Mts. north of Tucson...anyone tired it? (we actually had to walk up the sand because no one could ride it).
Terry

[Irulan]

Originally posted by Terry

Thanks for the tip on body gear, Irulan. I'm ready to take on the downhills. Any tips on riding in deep sand down hill? I've only had one experience with a long down hill grade that was all sand...and deep, too. The 50 Year Trail in the Catalina Mts. north of Tucson...anyone tired it? (we actually had to walk up the sand because no one could ride it).
Terry

I use the armor more for trying out rock moves and other technical stuff. There's a particulary nasty switchback I've been trying to get for two years now and I"ll put my guards on an just have at it.

Tips for sand... I run into sand and deep gravel at the bottom of gullies. When I encouter sand pits, it's MOMENTUM than will keep you going. For steering it's kind of like powerslide and countersteering...counter steeing is sort of like pulling a car out of a skid, you actuall turn against the way your front wheel wants to go. You have to keep movong, for the gullies sometimes I stand up for an extra push

Irulan

[tablerock]

Hello,
I am so happy to find this place. I lurk around mtbr.com but it is so much guy talk and it is awesome to find so many female mountain bikers. Wish you all lived in the southeast because I spend every weekend riding with "the guys". Though it is fun, I think women have a different mtb philosophy and much more style & finesse. Look forward to learning from you,
Caroline
Oh--I love long climbs and long rides (25 miles or so) and lots and lots of technical. If I am not on my bike at least 10 hours over the weekend I don't feel like I have done anything....We bike in Pisgah forest in NC and there are so many trails around there that you never get board.

[Kpicha]

Irulan-thanks for the sand tips! There's no sand on my regular rides around here but I went out of town a couple of weeks ago and encountered some and was completely stopped in my tracks. I felt like I was trying to run on the beach!

Tablerock- I know what you mean about the guys and Mtbr but I post over there fairly frequently they seem to be pretty accepting of me and my "foibles" :). I think they enjoy the occasional woman's version of things, too.

Mt. Pisgah sounds like a lot of fun. There aren't any really long climbs in the Northern Virginia area. Just lots of short, steep things but I would love to give a long climb a shot some day.

[Adrien]

Yay! My non-biking friends are so tired of hearing me talk about this. I love, love, love twisty fast singletrack and technical singletrack (lots of that in VA).

I'm learning to love climbing because nothing makes me feel more accomplished than making it up to the top of a huge hill. I've also been doing some beginner women races for the challenge and comaraderie, as I mostly ride with men.

[Kpicha]

Adrien, have you been to Poor Farm? I was just there a couple of weeks ago. What a treat that place is! Lots of fun, fast, twisty singletrack. That was nice for a change! The majority of stuff around here is rock & root ladden.

Racing sounds like fun! What class do you race?

Good Luck!

[Adrien]

I'm actually riding at Poor Farm tomorrow after work! It's my favorite place to ride and I actually feel safe being there by myself.

I've raced there a few times too, which is loads of fun because that fast flat section is usually at the end, so I know I can use my big chain ring and just crank. I've been racing as a beginner and I'm going to do a couple more beginner races this spring, then (hopefully) move up to Sport class in the fall.

[Kpicha]

Lucky you!

It takes almost an hour and a half for me to get there but its well worth the drive. I would feel safe going by myself, too. I'll probably head down there on one Saturday morning to do some exploring, depending on my son's soccer schedule. You're welcome to join me if you'd like.

I don't have my big ring anymore since there's so much technical stuff around here, I never used it and found more use for a bashguard (not for my head, missliz ;) ) so, you'd probably blow me away on the flats.

Sounds like you'll be moving up in the ranks in no time! Good Luck! and post your results, too! :)

Cheers,
Kristina

[Adrien]

I'll probably head down there on one Saturday morning to do some exploring, depending on my son's soccer schedule. You're welcome to join me if you'd like.

I'd love to! My email address is in my profile, so let me know when you're free and I'll meet you there!

[Kpicha]

Yeah! I'll send you an email as soon as I figure out my schedule.

Speaking of races, have you heard of the Cranky Monkey series? It might be too far out of your way but if your husband is an avid rider, too this might spark some interest.

http://thebikelane.com/site/intro.cfm

[Adrien]

Thanks for the link- I'll check it out!