New to Mtn. Biking

[Waverly]

Hi all I have recently joined the "dark side" aka Mtn. Biking - as my local LBS calls it I am wondering a bit about my competency on the trails. I have ridden three rides so far. All of these rides are on a local reasonably easy trail. The first ride I fell once, the second ride I fell three times - I was definitely sore the next day, and then my last ride I didn't fall! I have enjoyed the experiences very much -even when I fell. I just don't really know what I can do to get better. My last ride I rode pretty slow in order to protect myself from falling, but I had so much more fun when I was going fast! As a side note - I also had the company of a small black cat that ran in front of me for half of my ride. He was hauling tail, I think I scared him to death but then he picked me up later down the trail. It’s so odd I was in the middle of the woods and ran into a black cat? Anyway any input would be appreciated....thanks for listening.

Jessica

[li10up]

Why are you falling? Riding too hard of a technical section, ie. roots, rocks, too steep? Not used to clipless pedals and can't get out in time? Balance issues? Bike handling issues? Depends on what is causing the problem.

Mtn. biking is fun but hard work. I like the road and yesterday was my first or second mtn bike ride in about a year and a half. I fell once but had a couple of near falls. You do improve in time. I'm just a bit rusty right now.

[chickwhorips]

i think you need to stay away from black cats and you'll do great!

[rocknrollgirl]

I wish I had an easier solution, but time in the saddle should solve those problems. Falling is part of the sport. It does not happen all of the time, but it does happen, to everyone.

Practice, ride, practice.....

[LBTC]

Hi, Jessica! Welcome to the dark side!

I have enjoyed the experiences very much -even when I fell.

This makes me think you are here to stay! Really, there are so many possible reasons for falling, at high speed it could be from hitting an obstacle you didn't see (done that), in the rocks or roots, it can be from braking too hard or going too slow (done that), on corners it could be your tires not gripping enough and washing out (done that),
poorly timed shift (done that), trying a steep section getting scared and trying to slow down (done that)

I could go on and on. I've been riding for long enough to know that falls happen. As long as you're still having fun, it's not a problem!

More time in the saddle is definitely the way to get better. Ride with more experienced and nice riders who can give you pointers and help you "see the line" in technical sections. Ask here or look for written information online about specific things you're having trouble with. At first, in any difficult section I would talk myself through many of the things I'd read and learned....and eventually the things I would tell myself to do would come naturally.

As for speed....go fast where the trail allows you to now. Speed is fun! But remember....you have to get smooth before you get fast. As you get better, ride more, feel more comfortable, you'll find more and more sections where you can go faster and still do well.

It will come! And, as long as you're having fun, it's totally worth it!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[tattiefritter]

Agree with everything everyone else has said but particularly the part about riding with other people. I wasn't sure from your post if you were riding in company or not but riding with people who are more experienced than you will certainly help as you can watch what they do. You may need to ask people to ride sections so you can see them but it is definitely worth asking people to show you, most people will be flattered. Following someone you trust and who knows what they're doing is a lot easier than riding it by yourself as you can follow their line and really just concentrate on your bike handling, you know if they've gone down/over it then you probably can. Just don't ride right up their chuff, I've seen some nasty crashes that way. Give yourself a space between to react if they crash and that you can still see the trail properly to make final decisions on line choice as you may not always like theirs.

I've been riding lately with just a couple of girlfriends of mine who are a lot less experienced than me and I've really enjoyed helping them tackle things (makes me put my money where my mouth is!), it forces me to evaluate what I do when I ride which is a good thing.

Its good that you like going fast because speed is most definitely almost always your friend* when MTBing, especially when you've got the experience to handle it. A good dose of confidence to let your bike do its thing coupled with some momentum will get you through a lot.


*(except when its not, but the ground is normally the real villain of the piece then)

[Waverly]

Thanks for all the responses. I think I fall for a host of reason....going to fast, too slow, and last night because I hit a huge stick I hadn't seen. I flipped right over the handle bars...ouch! I got up and kept riding though...that's half the fun. I have been riding with people some and by myself some. I like to fall in private if possible! I think I just need to learn the way to hit the "technical" parts. I think I am going to slow sometimes and sometimes I feel like my tires aren't gripping. I asked a couple of guys last night their opinion on how to hit this one particular downhill I have been to scared of so far, and they said speed was necessary to make my ride smoother? I am sore today I may head out again his weekend though......

Jessica

[Irulan]

skills tips & beginner tips
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/pen...g/ridetips.asp

[fatbottomedgurl]

One thing you might look at are your tires. Do you have the right ones for your terrain? Are they knobby enough, grippy enough? And what about tire pressure? If you are a road rider you probably pump those tires up to maximum pressure, right? Well your mtb tires may say "to 65 lbs" but you really only want to be running around 35#. This will eat up a lot of bumps and help keep you from bouncing around and in contact with the ground, hence less crashing.

Riding alone is not a good idea.

[bcipam]

Key issues - (1) speed is your friend not your enemy. Most of my worst crashes happened because I was going too slow. Now I'm not talking a gadzillion miles an hour but you should be moving smartly forward. (2) Also keep a light hand on the bars - not too tight. Need to be able to flexibly control your direction. (3) Also, I tend to be off the back of the saddle as opposed to forward, light touch on the bars and the front wheel should go over most obstacles like branches and logs. The toughest thing is to learn to trust your bike. It really can go over most anything if you let it. (4) Make sure as mention that tire pressure is correct. I generally run my 2.2's between 35 - 40 psi. My 2.3's at 30 - 35. (5) Also I like pedal with a platform so if things get alittle iffy and I ride unhooked and able to bail quicker. (6) And most important - learn to fall correctly. Need to keep arms and legs tucked in even though your head will tell you to put your arms and legs out. Don't - they will get broken! Once you learn to fall correctly you are less likely to be hurt seriously.

I love mountain biking... nothing brings me back to childhood quicker!

PS: I do ride alone alot (like tonight I plan on going out) but I always let a friend know where I am going and I do wear a Road ID. I don't tackle any difficult or serious terrain if riding alone. I leave that for group rides.

And falls happen even for the expereinced. I had a bad fall Saturday - too embarassed to tell you all how it happened.... just know it is part of the sport so learn to fall correctly!

[Waverly]

I appreciate all the tips. I rode again last night but it was a group thing and I did NOT fall. I had fun though. The fortunate thing about where I ride is it is pretty popular and I know a lot of people around. Not to say I know everyone there, but I think if I had to beg for a dr or something I could find help! I am too chicken to try the hard stuff by myself. I have yet to go down this one section. I just imagine pain every time I start to do it! I am having a lot of fun though. I will check the tire pressure thing a friend pumped them up for me so I am not sure what they are pumped to at present.

Jessica