I'm getting a mt bike!

[Tokie]

Hi to the mt bike girls here...I finally ordered a mt bike today.I'm getting a 13 inch '08 specialized Myka Elite (hardtail) it may be a bit more bike than I'll ever need, but I hope it's an ok bike - it was on sale, since it's an '08. I road a 13 inch Specialized '09 Myka and it felt fine. I'll mostly be honing my bike skills for road and 'cross, and playing with my girl friends in the dirt! I may get out on some local trails too. I've been paying attention to your posts trying to pick up the basics. My main priority - DO NOT GET POISON OAK - it's how you can tell mt bikers here (that, and the abrasions) My bike comes on Monday! I can hardly wait! Tokie

[crazycanuck]

YAY!!!

Just ride & ride & ride is all i say..Have fun in the dirt!

[Aggie_Ama]

Yippee! I have a Scott Hardtail I found on Craigslist and it is a great starter. Someone told me you should start on a HT to really learn the skills needed. I don't know but I am finding the learning curve awfully steep but FUN!

[Gertruda]

Congrats!
I liked Elite a lot,too. And butterflies on the bike look just nice!

I bought Myka Comp thou - there was no good deals on Elite, so I've decided to save some money....

[fatbottomedgurl]

Yay! Have fun! I started on a hardtail myself, but our terrain has a lot of technical areas (rocks rocks rocks) where my full-sus is much appreciated. I just lock out the suspension when I'm climbing.

[fidlfreek]

Tokie, I'm so happy for you. I am debating selling the old Bianchi to get a MTB so the BF will drag me around to his MTB trails.

Tell me how it goes! I'm scared of falling so so much...

[Aggie_Ama]

Fidl- My husband is an avid and improving technically mountain biker but happy to take me on the easy trails. I don't think anyone can be a slower learner than me and I bruise so easy that even if I don't fall I get a bruise. BUT I love mountain biking. A hardtail will be less expensive and plenty for the easier trails and you can have a lot of fun on those. I don't know the DFW trails but I know our area has plenty of easy to intermediate trails to go with the crazy technical stuff I won't try. You should try it!

[Tokie]

Hi fidl and everyone! My new little (13 inch) specialized Myka elite (circa 2008) is alot of fun! It's a trusty little climber, and the descents -er , um - well, I clipout on most of the turns. they are kind of pot-holed and rutted from the downhiller maniacs. I'm not afraid of falling - I got to practice that in my first cyclocross race right before Christmas. Falling in the dirt is WAY better than falling on pavement! )and I'm up to date on my tetanus shot) Of course now I'm training for crits, road races and time trialing (all of which I am a total rookie at) so my coach has me pretty booked up with serious workouts in the gym and workouts on the bike geared towards those skills. I guess I'll have more time to play this summer. Then I plan to train for cyclocross with my little mt goat. If I like 'cross enough, I'll take the plunge and get a Valkerie or one of Margo's Luna bikes. I must say, the appeal of riding with nothing to worry about (except mt lions) (meaning NO CARS!) is pretty appealing. And I've not been up to mt lion country - yet! It's very appealing to ride in natural beauty, and learn how to negotiate the terrain. I am thinking of switching to eggbeater pedals - I keep accidentally clipping out of my frogs, but worse, I never can tell when I'm clipped in. Tokie

[fatbottomedgurl]

Hey Tokie! 13"- that is a small bike! I used to ride a 14" Giant trance and I thought that was small. I still unclip on occasion if I am not quite comfortable or feel I need a quick bailout. I use spd's which are pretty standard for mtb's. Never tried eggbeaters- can you pedal those when you're not clipped? Anyway have fun. When you get to anything scary keep your hand away from the front brake lever!

[Aggie_Ama]

I ride Candies which as supposed to be stupidly easy to unclip but I have trouble with them. I ride unclipped on the left much to my husband's disgust. I plan to buy some new pedals when I have time to properly research them and feel like spending money.

[solobiker]

Fidl- My husband is an avid and improving technically mountain biker but happy to take me on the easy trails. I don't think anyone can be a slower learner than me and I bruise so easy that even if I don't fall I get a bruise. BUT I love mountain biking. A hardtail will be less expensive and plenty for the easier trails and you can have a lot of fun on those. I don't know the DFW trails but I know our area has plenty of easy to intermediate trails to go with the crazy technical stuff I won't try. You should try it!

I may have you on being a slow learner. And if someone looks at me funny I can get a bruise. Sometimes I have bruises that I have know idea where they cam from. DH and I are considering upgrading our MTN bikes this year. Ours are from the early 90s. I have not gone MTN biking in a very long time so it should be an adventure.

[emily_in_nc]

Too bad a bunch of us can't get together and ride the easy trails!

I've had my mtb since 2006 and have not advanced passed the beginner stage; but I still enjoy it and haven't fallen for a year or so now because I decided not to take risks doing stuff above my skill level. A bit of a cop out, but like I said, I'm having fun. When I first got my mtb I tried trails beyond my skill level, and while there were exhilarating moments, there was a lot of pain too. I got tired of nursing injuries -- still have a slightly cranky rotator cuff from a fall 2 years ago, so taking risks just isn't worth it to me any more. Easy trails for me!

[Aggie_Ama]

I may have you on being a slow learner. And if someone looks at me funny I can get a bruise. Sometimes I have bruises that I have know idea where they cam from.

I love Colorado (been once but I loved it), I should come visit and we can have a bruise off. Seriously, I told Jobob when she bought a bike I bruise just by looking at me. Some mornings I awaken with bruises, I assume I kick myself because we have a king size bed and DH stays away from me since I am a violent sleeper. I am learning but I still consider myself very new.

Emily- I love the trail some people consider too easy in the area. I am having fun so who cares what they think? Sometimes I find the jeep trails they find boring to be great fun, it is my ride so they can just live with it.

[Miranda]

Too bad a bunch of us can't get together and ride the easy trails!

I've had my mtb since 2006 and have not advanced passed the beginner stage; but I still enjoy it and haven't fallen for a year or so now because I decided not to take risks doing stuff above my skill level. A bit of a cop out, but like I said, I'm having fun. When I first got my mtb I tried trails beyond my skill level, and while there were exhilarating moments, there was a lot of pain too. I got tired of nursing injuries -- still have a slightly cranky rotator cuff from a fall 2 years ago, so taking risks just isn't worth it to me any more. Easy trails for me!

That would be fun. The thing with the guy pals is that it has to be all about a macho fly as fast and hard as you can. AND bonus, if you come close to killing yourself or going to the ER you get braggin rights. I'm sorry, but I can't drive my kid to school very well if both my legs are broken. And *gasp* I sometimes will even dismount to look at nature if someone's not on my wheel.

[Miranda]

Tokie... Congrats on your new bike! It sounds like you are going to have a lot of fun riding her. And yes... not dealing with cars in the woods on the trails is WONDERFUL!

Tokie, I'm so happy for you. I am debating selling the old Bianchi to get a MTB so the BF will drag me around to his MTB trails.

Tell me how it goes! I'm scared of falling so so much...

fidlfreek... MTB can be a lot of fun. It sounds like your BF is a good guy and could be of a big help in your learning. The mtb trails unfortunately have their own version of hammerheads. But, overall I think mtb folk are more practical than the roadies can be. The hardest part for me (and I still consider myself a beginner) was learning the concept of "trusting my bike"... letting the bike guide me, vs the other way around on the road riding. It's really nice to have the variety in riding.

I ride Candies which as supposed to be stupidly easy to unclip but I have trouble with them. I ride unclipped on the left much to my husband's disgust. I plan to buy some new pedals when I have time to properly research them and feel like spending money.

Ama... I have done a lot of blabbing about pedals on here. Maybe you can try and limit your search with my post name and pedals. I have been working on switching up my pedals with bikes. Well, now my bikes too lol.

BUT, I would think on the issue with the Candies might be the platform interferring with some of the eggbeater 4-sided entry. I have not personally ridden them. Some love them. But, just a thought. When I tried the eggbeaters (& liked them), I had the release angle set to the quickest turn to get out. I think 15degrees. I had/have ds spds now and with those I use muti-release cleats. It works pretty similiar to the eggbeater 15degree release concept. Easy to get out.

I personally do not like how SpeedPlay products engage (& SP frogs use this). That step straight down on the circle is not all it's cracked up to be IMO.

Lastly, I find that my riding is effeted by my neurological disease in two ways: 1) my reflexes are not as fast to work my body (aka get out of pedals), 2) my balance is effected (aka effects bike handling skills overall).

BACK FROM THREAD DRIFT, TOKIE... HAVE FUN ON YOUR BIKE lol.