What's the MTB learning curve like?

[VW Beetle]

Glad to have found your site! A nice change from all the little boys that populate those other bike forums!

I have been riding a road bike for 3-4 years now and just bought my first mountain bike (a Rockhopper '05) a few weeks ago. I wanted to add a little variety, and I also thought it might allow me to extend my riding season a bit if I could use it for commuting on warmer winter days and in early spring. I managed to get in one ride the first weekend and then the snow hit, so I haven't been out much yet.

My question is what sort of timeframe can I expect in acquiring intermediate-level mountain biking skills? Being the impatient sort, I hate to feel hemmed in in terms of my abilities to negotiate a reasonable range of trails in the typical state forest mountain biking areas. I know that New England means ROCKS and lots of 'em, and that I'll need to gain practice navigating them, learn how to bunny hop, etc. But, if it's possible to answer this sort of question in the abstract, if I were hitting the trails consistently once or twice each weekend, are we talking weeks....? months...? or years...until one gains reasonable profiency? I am a "young" forty-ish rider, not a super athlete but reasonably fit and up for almost anything.

Thanks!

[texas_emily]

From a rather recent mtb-newbie to another, welcome! I got into mtb this year, but have considerably more experience on the road. I would categorize my learning curve as:

...a couple of months (1-2) to get comfortable and gain confidence, followed by 6 months - years (still in this stage) to gain better technique and lots of confidence.

I'm not getting out as much as I did earlier in the year, due to colder temps and lack of daylight, but I found that if I got out at least once a week or more, I made consistent improvement. One piece of advice that a friend gave me...and something I try to do each time I ride is to set a goal for myself -- clearing a climb or a technical section, getting the courage up to cross a narrow bridge, keeping my feet clipped in as much as possible, etc.

It took me a while to get out of the habit of wanting to handle my mtb like it was my road bike (I even named the mtb "Buck"!), but with practice and reading as much as possible about mtb skills, I got a lot more comfortable with being on the trails.

My big test happened a couple of weeks ago. I ended up on a trail (sort of off kilter and rooty) that scared me to death the first time I rode it. In the course of my "usual" ride, I decided to do some exploring and ended up on that old scary trail. It was only after I'd ridden down it and half way back that I realized it was the same one that had frustrated me so much two months earlier!

Good luck.

[Irulan]

one factor is what kind of learner you and what kind of skills information you have access too. If you have access to any kind of a skills clinic, to show you how to do stuff, you will improve a whole lot faster that if you are learning by trial and error, or just getting thrashed on the trail.

[Dogmama]

As a devoted roadie who ventures off road on an MTB, I can say that the hardest part is riding with the bike and not on the bike. In other words, it is hard to not freak out when you start to slide because sliding on a road bike is usually NOT a good thing It is about confidence, obviously.

I'm exactly one week away from neck surgery, so I'll probably be on my MTB more in the next few months. Everytime I come back from riding my MTB I ask myself why I'm not doing this more often. It's so darn fun!!!

[bcipam]

As someone who has been riding road bikes forever and starting riding mountain bikes (complete rigid) in the 80's I have to say the learning curve is very individual. If you are out riding on a regular basis, and are in good health generally, skills should come quickly but it really depends on your "pucker" quota and ability to risk injury. Are you willing to take risks? I am a good intermediate rider but due to some serious injuries, I no longer push the envelop and may never graduate to the advance level, but then again, I'm happy doing what I do. I was the same way snow skiing. I had good skills but didn't want to be stressed out all the time doing things over my head.

A suggestion, ride with someone who has good skills and watch how they attack obstacles and terrain. Consider taking skills classes. Alot of areas offer them. You can check with your local MTB club. Practice, practice practice difficult terrain. Try going the log over and over. Do the same downhill over and over until you feel comfortable. Bottom line, you have to ride - it's the only way to get better.

[VW Beetle]

Lots of great and detailed information here. Thanks so much. I think I will definitely will check out some skills classes once I get a little experience under my belt.

[Dirt Girl]

In my experience the learning curve will become shorter the more you ride with other people. Ride with as many different people as you can; watch, listen, and ask questions. And like the other gals said, take a class if you can. Ride a lot.

It really is an individual thing as bcipam said. I know a couple of people who have been riding for years and can't get past a certain level. Fear holds one of them back. Fitness level hampers me aerobically (or I like to think it's genetics). I've made great strides on a personal level, but I'll never physically be able to ride as fast as many, many people. I hold my own when it comes to slower, technical riding.

The most important thing is to have fun. Enjoy what you're doing and you'll ride lots and improve no matter what.

Play in the dirt!