Intro to Mountain biking - REI outdoor school, Nov 1st

Introduction to Mountain Biking - REI Outdoor School
11/1/2008 9:00 AM

Experience the thrill of mountain biking with our instructors as they teach you the proper techniques of shifting, braking, hill climbing and descent, body and pedal position, and navigating minor obstacles on the trail.

This is designed as an educational ride, not a guided tour; we want to teach you how to get more out of your mountain biking experience. We'll start by addressing proper bike fit, making necessary adjustments to improve comfort and performance.

Next we'll demonstrate riding techniques and teach important communication and safety skills to prepare you for the ride. We'll teach you the trail etiquette techniques that mountain bikers can use to help keep trails open and safe for all trail users.

Then it's off for a great ride to practice all the skills you've learned.

Novara mountain bikes provided at no additional cost for those without a bike of their own.

Recommended for those 14 and older, under 18 must be accompanied by parent or responsible adult. NO RIDER IS LEFT BEHIND!

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Upcoming Trips:

11/ 1 at Bailey's Crossroads
1/11 at College Park
1/24 at Bailey's Crossroads

* Location:Trip meets at above locations.
* Contact:Please contact customer service at 301-230-7670
* Cost:$55 member; $75 non-member
* Registration Required? Yes. Please contact customer service at 301-230-7670

I did one of these REI Outdoor School things (Intro to Road Biking --yes, we used road bikes, but we didn't do any biking on roads, just a paved off-road trail) and it was a total waste of time and money. The main focus was promoting the Novara line of bikes in hopes of making a sale. Hopefully this one is better than the one I went to. They had us stay in the same gear so we didn't even learn shifting expect through lecture and we didn't ride on roads, so we didn't get to learn how to ride with traffic or negotiate stop signs or traffic lights. And, yes, I did voice my disappointment to the instructors (they said I should put my concerns in my evaluation), submitted a detailed evaluation, but never received a response from REI . . . :(

Aaarrrgh! Another cool thing that I'd be interested in doing that I found out about after already making plans for that day. I'll be in Philly this Saturday.

I guess I need to be proactive and spend more time searching the intarwebs for this stuff.

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Originally Posted by Kalidurga

Aaarrrgh! Another cool thing that I'd be interested in doing that I found out about after already making plans for that day. I'll be in Philly this Saturday.

I guess I need to be proactive and spend more time searching the intarwebs for this stuff.

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What about the 11th - Veteran's Day - at College Park?

Oooooo....that reminds me....Federal Holiday....dot gov ride at Schaeffer anyone??

Hmmm. On second glance, that actually appears to 1/11, as in January. That I could do. Thanks for the notice, Catriona!

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Originally Posted by 7rider

Oooooo....that reminds me....Federal Holiday....dot gov ride at Schaeffer anyone??

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Blah. Not only do I work in retail, so don't get that holiday off unless I make up for it another day, but I'll be in Florida that week. I'm never gonna get to ride Schaeffer unless I buck up and go do it alone :(

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Originally Posted by michelem

I did one of these REI Outdoor School things (Intro to Road Biking --yes, we used road bikes, but we didn't do any biking on roads, just a paved off-road trail) and it was a total waste of time and money. The main focus was promoting the Novara line of bikes in hopes of making a sale. Hopefully this one is better than the one I went to. They had us stay in the same gear so we didn't even learn shifting expect through lecture and we didn't ride on roads, so we didn't get to learn how to ride with traffic or negotiate stop signs or traffic lights. And, yes, I did voice my disappointment to the instructors (they said I should put my concerns in my evaluation), submitted a detailed evaluation, but never received a response from REI . . . :(

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Huh. I did both the mountain biking and road biking classes a couple of years ago and they were nothing like that. The mountain biking class was fantastic. I rode my own bike, as did about half of the other people. We covered basic skills and had a really good ride. The road biking class was not so great, mostly because the people who had signed up for it had different expectations -- some wanted what you seemed to want, others had no idea how to ride a bike at all. I've noticed that the class descriptions have changed to address that.

In any case, there was no Novara sales pitch and both classes definitely involved changing gears.

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Originally Posted by Kalidurga

Hmmm. On second glance, that actually appears to 1/11, as in January. That I could do. Thanks for the notice, Catriona!

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Oops. Right you are. :o

And, Xeney...I think DivingBiker's mtb-class was an REI one (locally, for you D.C./MD/VA ladies), and she had a similar experience - but I suspect she can fill you in on her experience better than I!

I'm debating whether to try to go this Saturday - I suspect I'll hear all about it from the bf - something to the extent of how girls make it through childhood without learning any bike handling skills at all and have to take classes, while boys just naturally play and pick it all up...

Of course, I've been listening to that all summer, and have developed the ability to bike faster than him which seems to have shut him up ;)

But I've decided he's not very good at teaching me to do anything.

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Originally Posted by 7rider

Oooooo....that reminds me....Federal Holiday....dot gov ride at Schaeffer anyone??

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I could make it, but I think my current skill level would slow you guys down.

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Originally Posted by Catriona

- something to the extent of how girls make it through childhood without learning any bike handling skills at all and have to take classes, while boys just naturally play and pick it all up...

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Aye. Boys learn with frequent trips to the hospital emergency room. Girls are smarter than that! ;)

How's your cardio?? Schaeffer isn't so technical that you can't get by without some good cardio skills and work around the technical stuff. Besides. We'd wait at intersections.

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Originally Posted by 7rider

Aye. Boys learn with frequent trips to the hospital emergency room. Girls are smarter than that! ;)

How's your cardio?? Schaeffer isn't so technical that you can't get by without some good cardio skills and work around the technical stuff. Besides. We'd wait at intersections.

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I'm not sure, when my older sister was 15 she somehow hit a rock while riding a bike and ended up getting stitches in her privates. She hasn't been on a bike ever since... she just recently expressed interest in getting a bike to ride with her daughter (it's been more than 20 years...) I left an old bike at my Mom's for her, but she's yet to pick it up. I guess she was smarter than going to the emergency room twice!

Cardio's fine - I've been road biking a ton lately. I won't promise not to get chainsuck on hills or something stupid, however.

Speaking of cardio, I should go get on the trainer... Left work thinking I'd brave the temps and wind to ride tonight, but then the rain started...

The mtb rides we've done at Rosaryville have been at a relatively moderate pace with, as Regina mentioned, stops for everyone to catch up and catch their breath. I was a singletrack virgin the first time we rode there and I survived, so I've been wanting to give Schaeffer a try. A little muscle here, a little cardio there, good reflexes and paying attention seem to be all it takes for the easier trails. And if you hit technical stuff, you just get off and walk.

I really wish I could join you all.




Stitches in her privates??? Man, no wonder she didn't get on a bike for 20 years!

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Originally Posted by Kalidurga

The mtb rides we've done at Rosaryville have been at a relatively moderate pace with, as Regina mentioned, stops for everyone to catch up and catch their breath. I was a singletrack virgin the first time we rode there and I survived, so I've been wanting to give Schaeffer a try. A little muscle here, a little cardio there, good reflexes and paying attention seem to be all it takes for the easier trails. And if you hit technical stuff, you just get off and walk.

I really wish I could join you all.

Stitches in her privates??? Man, no wonder she didn't get on a bike for 20 years!

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Yeah, she still goes off about it every so often. I'm surprised she lets my 9 year old niece ride a bike. I brought my niece some roller blade last weekend, so I should call and check that she's still in one piece.

Sounds like I'm in for Schaeffer on Veteran's Day unless something comes up.

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Originally Posted by xeney

Huh. I did both the mountain biking and road biking classes a couple of years ago and they were nothing like that. The mountain biking class was fantastic. I rode my own bike, as did about half of the other people. We covered basic skills and had a really good ride. The road biking class was not so great, mostly because the people who had signed up for it had different expectations -- some wanted what you seemed to want, others had no idea how to ride a bike at all. I've noticed that the class descriptions have changed to address that.

In any case, there was no Novara sales pitch and both classes definitely involved changing gears.

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That's really good to hear. Guess I just got a bum class. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by 7rider

And, Xeney...I think DivingBiker's mtb-class was an REI one (locally, for you D.C./MD/VA ladies), and she had a similar experience - but I suspect she can fill you in on her experience better than I!

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Actually, mine was put on by the Bike Lane, a shop in Burke, VA. It was good, and no sales pitch at all!

I'm up for the Veterans Day ride at Schaeffer. But how are we going to find our way out of the park, since we're directionally challenged???

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Originally Posted by divingbiker

I'm up for the Veterans Day ride at Schaeffer. But how are we going to find our way out of the park, since we're directionally challenged???

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DH may be with me (us)....thus the comment on the cardio! :D
I'd love to get a group together...we have a friend who just bought a mtb, and to the best of my knowledge has not taken it in the woods yet. I might even see if I can get some of the newbie 'cross racers from the LBS to join us - a little off-road bike handling and obstacle jumping skills session for them. :cool: That should be entertaining!

My fellow bike commuter Kitty (she rode with us at Rosaryville one time) would like to join us also.

Although if the group is a bunch of hammerheads, I'm not so sure I'd be comfortable. I could hang off the back as long as people don't stop and wait for me all the time.

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Originally Posted by divingbiker

Actually, mine was put on by the Bike Lane, a shop in Burke, VA. It was good, and no sales pitch at all!

I'm up for the Veterans Day ride at Schaeffer. But how are we going to find our way out of the park, since we're directionally challenged???

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I'll bring a GPS and then we can be GPS and directionally challenged. :)

We can do what my bf did when we went backpacking Columbus day weekend - didn't put in a waypoint at the car, and the GPS coordinates he'd gotten off the internet were wrong - making the GPS marginally useful.

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Originally Posted by divingbiker

My fellow bike commuter Kitty (she rode with us at Rosaryville one time) would like to join us also.

Although if the group is a bunch of hammerheads, I'm not so sure I'd be comfortable. I could hang off the back as long as people don't stop and wait for me all the time.

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No hammerheads. You know how DH rides...you've ridden with him before. You'd do fine on any ride that I'm on. These folks may be hammerheads on the road, but add dirt...well....let's just say, the playing field will be leveled.

And C - the trails are blazed - and loops. There are maps every so often at major intersections. The most important one, in my view, is the trail mark labelled "P" - which points the way back to the parking lot!

I'd love to go. Anybody got a real mtb they could lend me? However, I've been having pain in my left wrist and after I see the doctor tomorrow I could be in a splint or cast with no riding for a while. Wait and see.

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Originally Posted by 7rider

No hammerheads. You know how DH rides...you've ridden with him before. You'd do fine on any ride that I'm on. These folks may be hammerheads on the road, but add dirt...well....let's just say, the playing field will be leveled.

And C - the trails are blazed - and loops. There are maps every so often at major intersections. The most important one, in my view, is the trail mark labelled "P" - which points the way back to the parking lot!

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You underestimate my abilities to be clueless or get lost.

But yes, I could probably manage that one.

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Originally Posted by MDHillSlug

I'd love to go. Anybody got a real mtb they could lend me? However, I've been having pain in my left wrist and after I see the doctor tomorrow I could be in a splint or cast with no riding for a while. Wait and see.

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Hope your wrist is ok!

And if it is, I'm storing my neighbor's early 90s MTB in my basement, and it's probably about your size. It's a Specialized Rockhopper I think, with a rigid front fork. I used it on my first MTB ride, and it worked fine, and got me hooked.

So if you can ride, I'd be happy to bring it.

MDhillslug,

If your wrist is okay, if I have my mtb bike finished by then (need to get it a high angle short stem, non oversized bar), and if I haven't sold my trek, and if you're short and fit a 14" frame, I have a front suspension bike you can use.

Anyone have a 90 or 100 mm stem with about a 16 degree rise that fits skinny bars they don't need or want to sell?

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Originally Posted by Catriona

MDhillslug,

If your wrist is okay, if I have my mtb bike finished by then (need to get it a high angle short stem, non oversized bar), and if I haven't sold my trek, and if you're short and fit a 14" frame, I have a front suspension bike you can use.

Anyone have a 90 or 100 mm stem with about a 16 degree rise that fits skinny bars they don't need or want to sell?

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I've got a 100mm but I think it's a 10 degree rise. I'll check tonight.

Thanks for the bike offers. I should know a lot more after tomorrow morning.

The extra 10mm might make the 10 degrees work. I'll look at the bike more this weekend. I've got a 16 degree 90 mm stem that's oversized and a 100 mm 6 degree stem, so between the 2 of them I should probably be able to figure out where exactly I want the handlebar.

I guess I could just buy a new oversized handlebar, but the stem seems like a cheaper part to switch.

I have no apparent fractures. It could be tendonitis but the doctor thinks it's a ganglion cyst. I go for an MRI next week and then we take it from there. If it is a cyst I could be looking at surgery. For now, I'm free to do whatever I can tolerate. This ride could be a go!

Yay! Glad to hear it. Sort of. Glad you may be able to ride, but I hope you don't need surgery. My sister had surgery for a ganglion cyst.

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Originally Posted by MDHillSlug

I have no apparent fractures. It could be tendonitis but the doctor thinks it's a ganglion cyst. I go for an MRI next week and then we take it from there. If it is a cyst I could be looking at surgery. For now, I'm free to do whatever I can tolerate. This ride could be a go!

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I'm glad it's not a fracture!

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Originally Posted by 7rider

Yay! Glad to hear it. Sort of. Glad you may be able to ride, but I hope you don't need surgery. My sister had surgery for a ganglion cyst.

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How did that work out for her?

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Originally Posted by MDHillSlug

How did that work out for her?

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Okay, I guess....she was a dental hygenist...had to retire on a disability because of it (repetitive use issues). Now, she's got her master's and she's a grade school math teacher.
But the wrist is okay -- some ergonomic adjustments needed around the home with her computer and such, and her mtb has front shocks to cushion the wrist. ;)

I guess the fact that the outdoor school classes can be tailored to the needs of each specific class can be a good and bad thing. The motto is "no rider left behind" so sometime instructors have to make the choice not to take the class on the roads with traffic, or not to complete the trail for the mountain bike class.

It would be really surprising to me that the instructors would try to be sales people on the outing. Even on the sales floor the specialists are not pushed to up-sell or sell anything that the customer doesn't need. They don't get commission or have any incentive to sell Novara (REI brand) bikes. However, many students are interested in buying a bike of their own and ask what to look for, or want to know details about the equipment they are using in the class. I think most instructors give their honest opinion, rather than just over promoting REI products.

:)

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Originally Posted by 7rider

Oooooo....that reminds me....Federal Holiday....dot gov ride at Schaeffer anyone??

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Is this going to happen? Do we need a separate planning thread?

Is the holiday actually on the Tuesday and not the Monday?

Yes, Tuesday.

The January 11th intro to mountain biking class is this weekend :)

So is the Cartoon Fest at the Weinberg Center :D

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Originally Posted by Zen

So is the Cartoon Fest at the Weinberg Center :D

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I'd totally go to that, but I'm flying out Saturday