new to off road riding!!

[tinkerbell]

Ladies,

I could use a little help!! I've been roading it for about a year and a half now and feel totally comfortable on the road bike. However, I just picked up my brand new mountain bike, and I'm a little nervous as I have never ridden off road at all, nor do I know anyone who mtn. bikes that can show me the ropes. So, I'm wondering...what does a girl need to know before she hits a beginner trail for the first time?! I've heard people say I should know how to hop up and down a curb on the bike--well, how does on go about doing such a thing? Down doesn't sound hard ;) but up?!? I've looked around at different bike shops to see if they offer beginners clinics, but have had zero luck in finding anything. I've found some rides for different levels, but I don't want to be clueless when I show up to my first one...any tips, tricks, rules of the (off)road?! Any help would be extremely helpful! Thanks

[Irulan]

Originally posted by tinkerbell
Ladies,
I've heard people say I should know how to hop up and down a curb on the bike--well, how does on go about doing such a thing? Down doesn't sound hard ;) but up?!? I've looked around at different bike shops to see if they offer beginners clinics, but have had zero luck in finding anything. I've found some rides for different levels, but I don't want to be clueless when I show up to my first one...any tips, tricks, rules of the (off)road?! Any help would be extremely helpful! Thanks

If you are a beginner, forget the hopping stuff for now. The main things ( I belieive ) are:
* look down the trail where you WANT to go
* get off your saddle: the neutral/attack position is feet at 3/9, butt off saddle, eyes down the trail. This will help you to be dynamic, use your body to help you, instead of just bouncing along taking the hits with your butt. Even ifyou have full suspension, this is a basic skill.
*get comfortable with speed, no need to always creep along.
* get comfortable with your brakes. Braking power is 60% from the front brake. Learn to be gentle and easy with your brakes.

* when going downhill or down an obstacle, if you are in the attackposition it's easy to move your weight to the rear of your bike where it needs to be.

* don't panic grab your brakes.

Don't be afraid to be a newbie on rides, just find out what level the ride is and if they have a no-drop policy.

Book: Mountain Bike like a Champ by Ned Overend... excellent reading.

Irualn

[tinkerbell]

Ha! The author of a mtn. biking book is named "Overend" I'll probably be going end 'overend' on my first ride, but hopefully not! Yeah, I have summers off and apparently have too much free time on my hands ;) Seriously though, thanks Irulan, I'll look forward to feeling up some of my free time by reading the book!

[Irulan]

go ahead and play with curbs just for fun. It takes some getting used to, to get that you CAN just ride up a curb and your front shock will take the hit. Also practive riding off htem, get up in to the neutral position so you can feel your body working with the bike.

Irulan

[gapgoil]

as always, Irulan, you have great advice.
To second her though, look where you want to go.... ahead....not infront of your wheel.
- speed: IS YOUR FRIEND

enjoy yourself, stay relaxed and go at the pace that you are comfortable with. I have said this a million times, I ride with other women, I enjoy the way that they can help my style and allow me to be the rider that I am. Try to find some other riders at your LBS, and I am sure that you will be hooked in no time.

Enjoy!

[Irulan]

the deal with looking at where you WANT to go is that the brain does something called "target acquisistion" Essentially what you are looking at, or where you are looking is where you will go. Down the trail is much preferable to into a tree or over the edge ( don't ask me how I know, ok?)

irulan

[waterlilli]

A video that really helped me see things is Westcoast Style. It is by Joan Jones, and is great for breaking down the moves. I got it in Canada, but if you search the web you can find it. I have watched it so many times every time I need a new skill help I rewatch.

[MightyMitre]

Cool tips.

I'm a roadie at the moment but just recently I've been thinking about expanding into off-road, thanks to you mtb ladies on this website.:)

Irulan - I think that pic you posted of yourself the other week, riding down a big rock, really inspired me. I'd love to think I might be able to do something like that one day. The lack of traffic and increase in mud is also appealing!

I'm also hoping it might help me with my road riding as my descending is still very cautious.

I've currently got a mtb bike but I think it must be made out of scaffolding poles as it weighs a ton, but while I'm saving up for a new one I might check out Ned Overends book ( great name!)

Bring on the mud...:D

[zen_grrl]

Originally posted by Irulan
It takes some getting used to, to get that you CAN just ride up a curb and your front shock will take the hit.

You might want to be a bit careful with this especially if (1) you don't have a front shock - and yes there are still mtb's without them! and (2) you're not confident in the travel on your shock/ body position etc, because if you get this wrong you can damage yourself and your bike. You'll be far better off learning how to lift your front wheel onto the curb...

Generally though just try to relax, don't push it too hard when you first start, and remember to have fun!

[Lv4Tunes]

* get comfortable with your brakes. Braking power is 60% from the front brake. Learn to be gentle and easy with your brakes.

Yikes! It seems that every time I use my front brake, I end up over the handle bars - so I have been using my back pretty exclusively.

I might add that I am in the flat lands - most of the challenge here is with drops of roots

Any help would be appreciated.

Can you elaborate?

[Irulan]

braking is a skill you just have to practice. Find a place on a trail that goes down rather steeply, or even a road somewhere. Now, using only your front brake, ,see how how can control your speed using ONLY the front brake.

If you are endo -ing... you are doing panic grabs. There are sitations where you do not want to front brake of course!! ( like drops, gullies) but even then you can use it and be gentle. Trying using just one or two fingers on the front brake and not your whole hand. They can be adjusted also to not be so grabby.

Irulan

[TwoTiredGal]

Welcome to the wonderful world of MTB! Once you get over most of your nervousness, you'll see what a BLAST it is! There is some trail etiquette that you should be aware of.

When approaching someone from behind, whether they are on bike, foot, or horse, announce yourself by saying "On your right" or something like that so they know which side you're on. If it's a horse, do so early and wait to see how they will let you pass.

When approaching other bikers head-on, the person going uphill has the right-of-way. So when you encounter that blazing trail hog who thinks he should be able to blow past you because he's going downhill, you actually do have the right-of-way.

Head-on, hikers ALWAYS have the right-of-way. However, when I've slowed down they always step off the trail and allow me to pass.

Head-on, horses also have the right of way. I don't know much about horses but my partner does and she has always either slows to walking speed or completely stops to let them pass so the horse doesn't get spooked by our weird appearance.

ALWAYS say thank you or somehow acknowledge when someone with the right-of-way lets you go. There are lots of conflicts between various trail user groups and since we're the bottom of the food chain, we have to be extra polite.

Stay on the trail!!! When a rock or erosion bar is too high for you. PLEASE do NOT ride around it. That widens the trail and makes people very angry with mtn bikers. Walk over it if you have to but don't go around.

One last rule of etiquette I can think of right now is if you're with a group and you approach someone on the trail. Tell them how many people there are or that you have a group behind you. That is so they don't have to start and stop several times while the group passes. If you're last, tell them there are no more in your group.

The slang or abbreviated announcements people use are a little different depending on your location, so listen to what others are saying and go with that.

I hope that helps! You'll see most of this in action and will learn by example as you go. So don't worry about memorizing every little "rule." Mainly it's just common sense.

The main rule is to HAVE FUN!! Let us know how your first ride goes! :D

[tikigrl]

Hey Tb, it's always nice to hear about another -grl that joins us in the dirt!
The curb thing can sometimes be an issue in group rides; I've found from past experiences that when I didn't know how to jump the curb, my dab or walk-over would disturb the group flow if I didn't stay in the back. So I learned to jump them (after quite and embarrassing endover).
You may want to start with very low curbs or even a block of wood in your yard that simulates a curb. Make sure you're in a soft landing area in case you accidently grab too much front brake; but the way I learned was to consiously watch where my hands were on the bar so I wouldn't let them grab the brake levers. Again comfortable momentum is your friend here. Anticipate the curb and in the split second before, or right when the front wheel contacts the curb, lift the wheel slightly and guide it over the curb. You might have to press on the front shock slightly to get enough rebound for the wheel to lift. If you have a rigid fork then just gently lift. Remember, these are very subtle motions...too much and the bike will retaliate.
I hope you learn faster than I did, it took me about five years after my bloody endo and subsequent solo riding to learn the technique. Good luck!
-Tg
:D :D:

[wavedancer]

I am also just getting into mountain biking. I haven't had a chance to get out much yet as it is too darn cold here in the North East right now, but I have started just getting comfortable on the bike on some dirt road trails that I am familiar with and playing around in my yard.

I find it helpful to get some visual images of what I am going to do, so I have been doing some reading: William Nealy's "Mountain Bike" has fun cartoon illustrations and lots of technique info. "Women's Mountain Biking" by Jennifer Kulier has a lot of general info and some technique discussions.

I also got a very good DVD that shows some off-trail drills with Sue Haywood: Wildflower Mountain Biking for Women. <www.wildflowermtb.com>

And I plan to do a clinic in June with WOMBATS. Other clinics are available at the NORBA Nationals in various locations: http://www.mtbchick.com/clinics.html

I am sure that the most important thing is to just get out there and have fun, and I appreciate all the tips and talent that I have been reading here. Let's go get dirty!:D

[melissam]

Wavedancer,

The WOMBATS are cool!!!! I went to two of their clinics last spring, as a beginning Mountain Bike rider.

Jacquie Phelan is a hoot and a very, very good rider. She's also a great teacher -- very good at describing what to do, and very patient when you don't quite get it right.

Braking tip (which I learned at a WOMBAT clinic): shift your weight backward before braking -- heck, even lift your butt up and behind the seat. It helps maintain the balance; the back wheel won't pop up when slamming on the front brake.

Happy cycling!

-- Melissa

[Irulan]

if you are up the Northwest neck of the woods, there are some awesome clinics for women in BC.

Red Mountain ( town of Rossland) and Rossland Mt. Adventure both put on clinics. I've been to the RMA one and it was some of the best $$ I've ever spent on myself.

Irulan

[melissam]

Here are a couple of Mountain Biking books that you might enjoy:

William Nealy's Mountain Bike! A manual of beginning to advanced technique This book is illustrated with some very charming cartoons -- educational and entertaining!

Mountain Bike Magazine's The Complete Guide to Mountain Biking Skills This book has a series of articles. The beginning has a great story of a roadie getting his first taste of mountain biking -- something most of us can relate to.

Have fun!

-- Melissa

[Irulan]

Originally posted by melissam

Braking tip (which I learned at a WOMBAT clinic): shift your weight
backward before braking -- heck, even lift your butt up and behind the seat.
It helps maintain the balance; the back wheel won't pop up when slamming on
the front brake.


while weight back descending and braking is always a good thing, I have a little trouble with the slamming on the front brake part, especially in a thread for a new rider. Grabbing your front brake is a sure recipe for an endo. You were really taught that technique? Not that we all haven't done a panic grab with a "save" at one time or another...

the ideal way to use your powerful front brake is gently, modulating it. The front brake is very powerful, 70% of your braking power. Modulating is applying gentle consistent pressure to achieve your desired result ( stopping) Modulation could be defined as, "The ability to smoothly increase braking power with modest changes of pressure at the brake lever. The opposite would be toggling, as in locked up or not locked up."

when I was at bike camp in Canada, training with a 5x Canadian women's DH champ, the thing that were taught about front braking were: feathering, one finger control, modulation, and descending *very* slowly with NO skidding.
We basically got screamed at if we grabbed our brakes.

Here's Cindy Devine, demonstrating descending using front brake only to control speed of bike. OK,so I'm not a great photographer, I have other talents.
http://www.cet.com/~pennys/images/modulation.jpg :

[melissam]

Irulan,

Ah, I was in a hurry and didn't phrase the braking tip as well as I should.

The drill was a panic stop (in a safe, controlled area, not on a trail) which illustrated that if you shifted your weight back, it helps to keep the back tire down. The takehome lesson was to respect the front brake, but not be afraid to use it, as it has most of the stopping power.

-- Melissa

[Irulan]

Yes, we've all had those "panic stop" moments where you thank god that you WEREN'T airborne!! I've had a few where unfortunately I wasn't able to save, either. :eek:

That's a great idea to practice panic moves in a safe enviroment.

I never realizied how critical braking technique was until I did that camp. It was scary how many of us raised our hands when asked, "how many of you have been told never to use your front brake?". So we spent a whole morning on it. Now, I just need to get discs...

Irulan