First trail ride

[indysteel]

DH and I took part of the morning to finally ride some of the beginner trails at Brown County State Park--the park where I'll be attending a MTB clinic this weekend. Between travel, bad weather and other obligations, we just hadn't made it out there, despite the fact that I've owned my bike since Christmas.

I have to admit that I was pretty darn nervous when we first started. I almost turned back. DH had been MTBing for a long time, and I bristled at one of the things he said and found myself nearing a panic attack. Finally, I pulled it together and kept riding. From there, I did okay. There were a couple of small sections that scared me to the point of dismounting, but I otherwise rode the trail. We made a few loops before calling it a day. Depending on how you do the loop, there's one section that has a bit of a gentle incline I felt way more comfortable going up than down. The speed going down freaked me out a bit.

So, no falls; no crashes. Yet. I have long put off learning to MTB because I didn't feel I had the personality for it. I'm more of a Nervous Nellie type about some things. With that in mind, I think the ride went pretty well. We had the place to ourselves, which was really nice. I look forward to learning some things this weekend at the clinic. I also really liked my bike (a Specialized Myka). I have nothing to compare it to, but I felt comfortable on it. The thing that bothered me the most was not being clipped in. While I appreciated being able to put a foot down without thinking of clipping out, I am so used to being clipped in that it felt weird. I'll get used to it. I definitely think it's better to use platforms for the time being.

[kimikaw]

Cool for you that you weere able to get a pre-clinic ride in!

The funny thing about the downhill speed is that I suspect you go faster on your road bike. But there's just something about those trees roaring past that makes it seem so much scarier!

Looking forward to meeting you this weekend!

[limewave]

I have long put off learning to MTB because I didn't feel I had the personality for it. I'm more of a Nervous Nellie type about some things. With that in mind, I think the ride went pretty well.

Yay for a pre-clinic ride! That will give you some confidence going into the clinic. You'll do great!

As for the nervous nellie thing--that's ME!!!! I've had that near-panic attack on the trail that you mentioned. I put a foot down or walk a lot of obstacles. In fact, the nervousness is a lot of the reason I wanted to bike so badly--to conquer some of my fears.

I credit mountain biking (specifically racing) with unleashing my alter ego. In a race I go from Nervous Nellie to Speed Demon. In fact, when I recall races, I give myself panic attacks thinking about the crazy obstacles I rode over the high speeds I reached on some of the descents! I would never, EVER do those things on a regular trail ride. It's weird.

I hope you can find your inner Superwoman on the trail! Good luck at the clinic!

[indysteel]

Cool for you that you weere able to get a pre-clinic ride in!

The funny thing about the downhill speed is that I suspect you go faster on your road bike. But there's just something about those trees roaring past that makes it seem so much scarier!

Looking forward to meeting you this weekend!

I go lots faster on my road bike for sure, but I'm usually not aiming in between trees that are six feet apart!!! Eek!

Looking forward to meeting you, too! We checked out our campsite. There were slim pickin's by the time we reserved, so it's not the greatest site, but it'll do. We found a site we really liked, so I'm hoping to reserve that for later in the year.

[indysteel]

Yay for a pre-clinic ride! That will give you some confidence going into the clinic. You'll do great!

As for the nervous nellie thing--that's ME!!!! I've had that near-panic attack on the trail that you mentioned. I put a foot down or walk a lot of obstacles. In fact, the nervousness is a lot of the reason I wanted to bike so badly--to conquer some of my fears.

I credit mountain biking (specifically racing) with unleashing my alter ego. In a race I go from Nervous Nellie to Speed Demon. In fact, when I recall races, I give myself panic attacks thinking about the crazy obstacles I rode over the high speeds I reached on some of the descents! I would never, EVER do those things on a regular trail ride. It's weird.

I hope you can find your inner Superwoman on the trail! Good luck at the clinic!

Thanks, LW. You're a nervous nelly, too? Wow; I never would have gotten that from your posts. You seem so fearless and brave....but you give me hope.

I do feel confident on a road bike, so I'm hoping it's just a question of learning some skills in a concerted way and then gaining some confidence from exposure. More than anything, I would love if DH and I could eventually plan some trips around this. We love being out in the woods and biking, so it just seems like a given, especially after being in Utah. Boy, would we love to go back there.

Poor DH; I think he felt rotten after my near panic attack. I told him well before today that I needed him to appreciate that what might feel pretty natural to him was likely not going to feel that way to me, and to please avoid being patronizing when he gave me advice. Unfortunately, he did just that--and he's not generally a patronizing kind of a guy. So, I got upset. It's not that I can't take or don't want advice; it's all about the delivery. He was really supportive the rest of the time, and I know he was happy for me.

Yay! I'll be honest that I've kind of held off on feeling really excited about the clinic because I was just so nervous about it. I'm allowing myself to get a little more excited now.

[Susan]

Wow, that doesn't sound bad for your first experience
Something strange will happen - while still being nervous, you will fall in love with riding trails too. I'm always torn between my anxiety and love for mountainbiking. It feels great if you get over your fears.
Speaking of nervous nellies, I just chickened out of my MTB clinic because it says "Beginner DOWNHILL course" which sounds too "hardcore" for me

[Catrin]

Whooohooooo Indysteel, this is great! Did you ride Pine Loop or Limekiln? I've wanted to ride Pine Loop before the clinic but didn't want to go by myself the very first time, especially before the clinic. This is the one with the entrance down by the west gate entrance.

The fire trail I rode at BCSP gave me a little taste that I really liked, but that isn't the same as the actual mountain bike trail

[SheFly]

I credit mountain biking (specifically racing) with unleashing my alter ego. In a race I go from Nervous Nellie to Speed Demon. In fact, when I recall races, I give myself panic attacks thinking about the crazy obstacles I rode over the high speeds I reached on some of the descents! I would never, EVER do those things on a regular trail ride. It's weird.

Me too! I have a LOT of confidence issues with bridges, stone walls and steep downhills. When I ride, I compensate. When I race, I don't even think about these things, and am amazed at what I have accomplished by the end! I find the same is true for night riding - if I can't see it, it doesn't freak me out as badly .

Indy - the spouse filter is a hard thing. Your DH, of course, meant well, but when we are out doing something that we are afraid of, the spouse filter goes into full effect. What they say may be something like "If you do this, then..." but what we hear is "You suck!". The clinic will be great - while your DH can teach you lots, you will learn more productively from someone else .

Have a blast for all of you going! Can't wait to hear about it (and we want pics!).

SheFly

[Catrin]

Have a blast for all of you going! Can't wait to hear about it (and we want pics!).

SheFly

We will try out best to supply pics - there are at least 4 of us going that I am aware of so there should be plenty of opportunities!

I am excited and nervous all at the same time

[indysteel]

Whooohooooo Indysteel, this is great! Did you ride Pine Loop or Limekiln? I've wanted to ride Pine Loop before the clinic but didn't want to go by myself the very first time, especially before the clinic. This is the one with the entrance down by the west gate entrance.

The fire trail I rode at BCSP gave me a little taste that I really liked, but that isn't the same as the actual mountain bike trail

I did the Pine Loop. I did it once counterclockwise and twice clockwise. I preferred the latter for the most part. The part I strugged with is near the end going clockwise. There's a slight decline toward a left turn. Immediately after the turn, there's a bridge over an embankment. I kept psyching myself out so I just dismounted. I'm sure I'll do it at some point, just not yesterday.

[Catrin]

I did the Pine Loop. I did it once counterclockwise and twice clockwise. I preferred the latter for the most part. The part I strugged with is near the end going clockwise. There's a slight decline toward a left turn. Immediately after the turn, there's a bridge over an embankment. I kept psyching myself out so I just dismounted. I'm sure I'll do it at some point, just not yesterday.

I will remember this, one of the reasons I am driving down Friday is so I can hike Pine Loop, I haven't seen it yet.

Several have told me that I should just skip Pine Loop and head straight for Limekiln, but that one is almost 3 miles long (and it isn't a loop) and has a section in the middle with a few hairpins and a kind of scary rock water crossing. I asked Jonathan and Tania about it and they confirmed that Pine Loop needs to be my first trail. The others were just trying to be helpful, but they probably don't remember what it was like the very first time.

Limekiln is still considered a beginner trail, but Pine Loop is even more so - and I am quite sure it will be challenging enough for my first trail ride

[indysteel]

I know that I was quite content to start with Pine Loop. We talked about doing the North Tower Connector (which splits from from Pine and is also a beginner trail), but Brian was afraid some of the drop offs would freak me out (and he was probably right).

I'd say this, too. No matter how easy a trail reportedly in, if there's a section beyond my skill level or comfort level, I see nothing wrong with dismounting and walking. While I certainly see the point of challenging myself, I also see the point in respecting my gut reaction to things. Bit by bit, I'll get there.

[Catrin]

I know that I was quite content to start with Pine Loop. We talked about doing the North Tower Connector (which splits from from Pine and is also a beginner trail), but Brian was afraid some of the drop offs would freak me out (and he was probably right).

I'd say this, too. No matter how easy a trail reportedly in, if there's a section beyond my skill level or comfort level, I see nothing wrong with dismounting and walking. While I certainly see the point of challenging myself, I also see the point in respecting my gut reaction to things. Bit by bit, I'll get there.

That sounds like a good approach to me, following our gut is quite often the best approach.

I keep forgetting about the North Tower Connector, I will need to hike that one as well on Friday