Newbie needs help with singletrack!!!

[emily_in_nc]

Hi all ~

I'm a newcomer to mountain biking after being a roadie for many years. I have been riding fire roads, gravel roads, easy double track and easy singletrack (without sharp turns or steep climbs/descents) for the past couple of months. I've been getting stronger and more confident with each ride, going faster, and hadn't had a fall, so tonight I decided to "graduate" to a local park's singletrack that is rated intermediate.

Wow, it was much harder than I expected! I rode with two friends, one who is an intermediate rider who has been riding these trails regularly, and one who is definitely advanced - he'll ride anything, and very well. These trails were littered with roots and sharp switchbacks, some on rather steep climbs or descents. I realized the limits of my handling skills as I couldn't deal with sharp turns at all, particularly when they threw in some roots on said turns for good measure. The steep descents (also with roots) scared me, and I couldn't manage some of the climbs because of the roots, which tossed my front wheel around and threw me off my line when going slowly. Aerobically, I did fine, much better than on the road, as the terrain was rolling and there were no long climbs, which is normal weakness.

I had to stop numerous times to walk scary sections, and my rear tire felt like it was skidding all over the place (I was probably braking too much). I tried to shift my weight back on descents and forward on climbs but still felt terrified on the steeper descents and walked most of them. I kept feeling like I was going to endo, and just felt very out of control - something I am not used to from riding on the road.

I have a great bike I just bought and fixed up, a used Titus Racer X, so the bike was not to blame in any way, only my skills. I starting the ride confident, but as the difficulty level sunk in, I lost confidence more and more, and my fear level really started rising.

To make matters worse, I had my first (mtb) crash tonight. I have fallen part way many times but always managed to catch myself on a foot, and I fell lightly during a u-turn once at very slow speed, but this was more than that. Somehow I lost my line (probably hit a root) and careened right into a small tree. My handlebar clipped it on the right, and I fell HARD to to the left, immediately. It kinda happened in slow-mo: first my butt hit (hard - I am going to have a major bruise on my left cheek), then my arm/shoulder, and lastly, my head. THUD!! It hit very hard, and I felt my head hit against my helmet inside. My first thought was "I sure am glad I am wearing a helmet!!"

After dusting myself off (my left foot remained clipped in and took a bit of work to release, surprisingly), I realized that I was a bit sore but probably okay. No broken bones, no dizziness, no terrible headache, but I also realized I'd have to ride the trail quite a ways to get back to the car. There was no other option, no way anyone could come pick me up. So, I rode it, slowly, but I stopped a lot because I was quite shaken and didn't trust my skills at all at this point. We were able to duck off the trail early and go the last mile on the road.

So, I've thrown out my helmet (sigh...it looked fine but hit hard, so I don't want to take any chances), cleaned myself up, and it appears that I'm going to be bruised and sore but nothing worse, no skin was even broken.

But how do I dust off my spirit and get back on the horse and try again? Did I bite off more than I could chew? I guess I should drop back to my usual rides (easier) and keep practicing for awhile longer before trying these particular trails again.

I'd love any advice from mountain bikers who have been through the newbie stage and understand what it takes to improve. I need a pep talk, hints, tips, anything to help me feel that I can do this! It's just so much harder than road riding, where building strength and stamina was the main challenge, not how to deal with tough terrain and technical challenges.

I know there are training camps and such, but I've never seen any near here (central NC).

Any and all advice appreciated, and thanks for taking the time to read this looong post!

Thanks so much in advance!

Emily

P.S. I'm out of town tomorrow through Monday so won't see replies for a few days.

[Veronica]

I tend to think falling is part of the game with mountain biking. It's a rare single track ride that I don't crash - that's part of what made my last trip so great - no crashes!

I still freeze up on downhill switchbacks, I get to the apex and have to step off my bike. It's frustrating. The uphill ones aren't so bad.

I wouldn't drop back to the easy rides though - now that you have been out on this trail, you have an idea of what it's like. Keep riding it, so you can see your improvement.

For downhill, sometimes I just kind of let the bike go. Sometimes I go slowly and pick my way. It all depends on what is coming up next. If I can see the trail ahead for a bit, I'm more likely to let the bike just go. For the uphill, I've started staying in my middle ring more. It seems to keep me from spinning out.

Good luck!

V.

[fatbottomedgurl]

You can do it Emily! This ride was just what you needed. Someday you will ride this same trail and be amazed that it scared you once! Don't let the classification set you back, any trail is a beginner trail if you are willing to walk parts of it.

You might want to take the trail in sections. Stop and look and pick your line. Sometimes speed helps you over the stuff, and sometimes you need to go more slowly and pick your way through it. Switchbacks are hard, I still walk some of them. I also will unclip one foot if I am not confident. And I have my clips as loose as they can go.

A skill you can work on at home and your easy trails is track standing, slow stopping and starting and changing directions, back-pedaling to position your cranks so you can avoid roots and rocks, all without touching the ground.

I rode a trail today that I rode a few months ago when I was starting out. It terrified me. No ride through the woods, this single track has a lot of technical rock sections, and exposure (basically riding on the side of a cliff, not straight down, but close. Today I cleared a lot of the rocks, walked some, but wasn't even concerned about falling down a mountain. See, it can be done. You can do it!

Y

[Dirt Girl]

As V said, falling is pretty much a given in mountain biking. It's a matter of when, not if. For me, it's a two steps forward, one step back thing. I build my confidence, I fall, I lose a portion of my confidence, I ride, I build up the confidence, I fall...in an endless cycle. My falls usually teach me about something I need to learn or remember and I try not to make that mistake again. Your first fall! Welcome to the sisterhood! I'm glad you were able to get back up and ride back. There is a huge mental component to mountain biking. Doing exactly what you did--toughing it out and doing what you had to do--will make it easier to try again the next time. The old phrase "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" is so very true on the mtb.

Keep doing some easier rides as they will help to maintain and boost your confidence, but also ride that singletrack again and again. When you reach a section you are not ready for, walk. Some of the most important things someone taught me as a newbie were that it is okay to walk anything you are not comfortable with. Push yourself a bit, but listen to your gut and know when it's time to try something new or more difficult and when you just need to get off the bike and walk it. Respecting your limits helps you from getting hurt. As you ride the more difficult trails over and over, they will become more familiar and you'll gradually find yourself ready to try more and more. Remember, the bike is designed to go over all that stuff. Trust it in and you will be amazed at what it will do for you. I remember the first time I rode a narrow, rocky, exposed trail. I repeated over and over to myself: The bike will go over the rocks. Momentum is my friend.

Same thing is true for roots. Try to hit the roots with your tire perpendicular to them especially if they are wet. A little bit of mementum will help you. Just give yourself some time to acquire the skills you need, and you'll be amazed at how you'll be riding something that once seemed impossible. Ride with and watch as many different riders as possible and don't be afraid to ask for advice from them.

I usually say to myself that I will ride as well as I possibly can for that day. Some days I surprise myself. Other days I'd rather forget. But if you try your best each time that is all you can ask of yourself. The thrills come when you're riding along one day and you just finished a section of trail and think to yourself, "Where's the hard part?" It does gradually become easier and as your confidence builds so does your enjoyment. Think positively. Embrace the mental challenge. Give yourself time. Ride, ride, ride. Most importantly, have fun!

[Trekhawk]

Welcome to the Newbie crashing club Emily.
I havent been lying in my past posts when I said I seemed to spend more time off my mountain bike than on it. Keep riding and watch your experienced mountain biking friends ride any parts you find difficult. I did this when I went mountain biking with SadieKate and it was amazing I didnt fall off once. It really helped having someone more experienced give tips. Riding sections of the trail over and over can help nail the harder parts.

Sending staying upright wishes your way.

Trek - Vertically Challenged mountain biker - hawk

PS I think mountain biking is a combination of terror and exhilaration.

[mtbdarby]

Emily, I hearby welcome you to Club Dirt. I sometimes feel I didn't try hard enough if I didn't crash!

I know the feeling well because I still consider myself a newbie. Learning to relax on new terrain is tough because Trekhawk is right - it's a combination of terror and exhiloration. Try not to keep a death grip on your bike. Let yourself become "one" with the bike and don't fight it (kind of like I always thought riding a horse would feel like). If there's a bike club that does rides that's a great way to find some extra expertise on the trails.

You don't have to bite it all off at once. Practise certain skills each time. Logs and rocks one night, steep descents another. Remember to breath and have fun!

Keep us posted on your progress - look at how much progress you've made already!

[SalsaMTB]

Keep heading out there! So much of it is mental. I'm willing to bet if you head out again, prepared for the chellenging trail but really motivated to ride it, you'll ride a ton better. I can ride a trail one day and have an awful ride where I'm riding all skittish and scared, then the next day get my head together and just plow through everything. I find it good to start off slow, warm up the legs, get into the mental zone of focusing about 10 feet ahead and then just flowing with the bike. It's important to not look at the root you want to avoid. Trust me, the more you look at the scary stuff, the harder it is to go over or avoid. I still catch myself occasionally looking at the things I want to avoid (especially on new trails) and it always leads to a rough ride.

Look ahead, pick a good line, and keep looking ahead. Your bike can definitely handle everything, you just need to build confidence in it.

For the uphills, try to pick a line around the roots if possible. Also, if you see an uphill coming, get some speed going into it, shift and try to maintain it. I find it helps sometimes to get out of the saddle and just mash the pedals over the roots on a quick, steep, rooty climb.

For the downhills, I recently found that thinking to get my weight back isn't enough, I need to remind myself to bend the elbows and get my torso down. Previously, I would just push my butt back and go down, and feel like I would go over. Now, I think butt back, elbows bent and my torso low and it's much more stable on the downhills. Give it a try! It definitely helped me a lot!

Good luck!

[chickwhorips]

all i want to tell you emily is don't give up. the girls are right about try, and try again. you can do it. just remember that.

what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.

[Crankin]

Thanks, Emily, for saying what i feel when i try more advanced trails. My problem is that i don't mtb enough to get good at it! I'm a cautious road rider to begin with, but road riding feels pretty effortless to me at this point. I think one of the problems is that besides being scared to death half the time I am on a trail (:eek) ,it just takes so much concentration (look this way, get back on the saddle, hold your line, etc) that I end up sticking to the same easier trails where I enjoy being out in the woods and i don't feel so stressed. But secretly, i want to conquer this. It's mostly fear, but I am not really great with balance or technical skills in anything, so it takes me a long time to "get it." I would love to go to a camp next summer. There is one in Vermont; all the rest seem to be out west. I don't mind falling or getting dirty, but I have a lot of trouble with steep climbs, with curves, that are sandy. I am a good climber on the road, so strength isn't a problem. Well, I guess I will keep trying. I tend to mtb more in the fall, so I am looking forward to that.

[fatbottomedgurl]

Who doesn't have problems with steep climbs, with curves, that are sandy?

[Quillfred]

I took Trekhawk's advice and got the DVD from Ned Overend "Performance Mtn Biking". It reinforces many of the techniques and advice I learned from my Boot Camp. It would be a good adjunct to practice and having a good rider give advice.

Quill

[Trekhawk]

I took Trekhawk's advice and got the DVD from Ned Overend "Performance Mtn Biking". It reinforces many of the techniques and advice I learned from my Boot Camp. It would be a good adjunct to practice and having a good rider give advice.

Quill

Hey Quill - glad you like it. LOL - SadieKate was the one that put me onto Ned's DVD - got to pass the good advice on.

[bouncybouncy]

After the first few (of many,many, many) falls my sweet hubby commented "Well, at least you know HOW to fall!!!"

I seemed to have spent the first 6 months of riding with bruises on one or both my upper/outer thighs...and most of it was because of a root! Nasty little buggers!!! Soon with experience/confidence you will be rolling over them with little thought (OK...you need a little thought...especially if they are wet) With added experience/confidence you will pick up speed which helps that fancy little bike of yours do its job...ROLL!!!

I spent all of my learning right behind another experienced rider...following the line. Soon I dropped back a little bit at a time paying more attention to the line...why that route was chosen...then picking my own line...learning what works best for me. Turns out I tend to pick a smoother line now than my mentor (sweet hubby) ever did, but it is said "that is because I am a girl" ...and girls tend to pick smoother lines

Anyway, these girls have said what I would have said...so I will leave you with:

WAY TO GO!!!! Bruises are cute!!!! and NO shame in walking!!!!

[littlegrasshopp]

just wanted to say I've been there. I bet we all have. I'm totally a beginner but am already riding stuff that I thought I'd NEVER attempt. To say I'm a conservative rider would be an understatement. I only go slightly outside my comfort zone. But with constant riding, I'm watching that zone expand and I'm trying all kinds of stuff and learning to let the bike roll. It's HARD sometimes to just relax and be....but in those times when I can do it....wow!! That's why my fiance is so bike crazy........I get it now (then I usually hit a tree...like I said - total beginner!

[littlegrasshopp]

BTW - you're not far from me - what trail were you riding? if you don't mind the drive, Craptree and Harris Lake, both around Raleigh, would be great trails to ride for a weekend 1/2 day trip. It would be about 45 minutes for you and both trails are wonderful for beginners and getting you use to all kinds of trail conditions. There are drops, log crossings and steep hills but most things have trails around them too (not the steep hills...we have to do those).