Girly first dirt ride...

I had my "mountain" bike, a GT timberline given to me and not the right size given to me years ago... I used it last year to get in shape and this year as a commuter. Well. Got lost riding around one night and had to ride on a dirt road. Now that I knew I could ride the GT on dirt, I decided to map a commute through the management area behind my house up through the woods to a Park and Ride about 8 miles away. This is mostly on a wide dirt track / road, mixed gravel and sand, with ruts, hillocks, mounds and big rocks.

I had a blast.

Now what? I feel like - where have I been?

I have a road bike and I love being on my road bike. I have a cross / touring bike that I also love. I have this freebie GT. How to justify buying a mountain bike except for that I loved the thrill of nearly falling into a big puddle?

Yikes! What fun.
I will keep reading and learning and going out on that old GT into the woods.

Welcome to the club! Riding on dirt is so addictive. I didn't have to justify buying my first mountain bike. It was the second one (full suspension, SRAM X9, light wheels, please) that I had to pull out the good excuses for:p

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Originally Posted by bluebug32

Welcome to the club! Riding on dirt is so addictive. I didn't have to justify buying my first mountain bike. It was the second one (full suspension, SRAM X9, light wheels, please) that I had to pull out the good excuses for:p

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I'm with you Blue. My mountain bike was a necessity, as was my cruiser/townie. And I could even argue that my 'cross bike was necessary; a huge help in training to improve my fitness (for mountain biking, of course), I can keep up with my roadie friends, and I might do a little ‘cross racing this fall.

Now I'm trying to argue that I really, really need a full suspension mountain bike, in addition to the hardtail I want to keep. It's addictive! We’re already out of room in the garage.

So you need help justifying another bike?? You came to the right place!!! I have a road, commuter (my old hardtail mt bike with some road friendly bits), and my mountain bike. I ride each at LEAST once a week when the weather is good! Sounds like it might be time to add to your stable ;)

I'm not surprised you love trail riding! You should get a bike that fits, though (said the girl who's going to look at another bike today ;)). My suggestion...try a cross bike before you buy a new mtb. I can totally see you racing cross (and winning, but that's beside the point :D).

I'm going to use the Giant for Cross purposes if I ever do that. It's got those fat tires on a touring frame and is fairly lightweight.

How do I get past the screechy reaction thing, though? I mean, every slide and off kilter thump had me squealing like an eight-year-old. :eek:

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Originally Posted by indigoiis

How do I get past the screechy reaction thing, though? I mean, every slide and off kilter thump had me squealing like an eight-year-old. :eek:

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Mountain biking is such a crazy thing. I'm a somewhat fearful worrier of a person about most things, but for some reason, I can dance on a thin spot of dirt next to a cliff or hop a sharp rock, and feel how close to danger I am, yet enjoy the addictive adrenaline rush from it. It's the best kind of therapy for me to just let go and trust myself.

On a more straightforward level, a mountain bike has the fat tires and suspension made just for "slides and off kilter thumps." You just have to trust the technology that's underneath you.