Stinking at singletrack...will it get better?

[snowtulip]

All good suggestions from everyone! I'm constantly adjusting my seat up and down and don't even snap that some people don't have a quick release on the seat! I have my seat post marked to the spot that I prefer to have it when I go downhill, makes it quick and easy to find the right spot.

Also, play around with your tire pressure. I prefer to run my tire pressure a little lower than most, but it really helps me with stability and in case anyone is wondering, no I do not get a lot of pinch flats.

And remember, everyone's body geometry/bike geometry is different, so your friend might not have to adjust her body as much as you because of her bike/body relationship. Also personally have noticed a difference between steel vs. aluminum bikes, and how I use my body with the different material. I love steel! Believe me, I've seen it.

I'm so glad you are really enjoying mountain biking and just keep practising!

[fatbottomedgurl]

Caligirl if you ever come up to Ventura County we'll take you on a great ride! Believe me I don't always make those switches! Last week I did a kinda sideways back-o going up one of these but thankfully landed on my feet.

When I had my hardtail I had a quick-release seatpost and would put the seat lower for descending, but on my new bike it's an allen wrench collar so I don't move it at all. Either way it's somewhat of a hassle. Plus, I have heard it said that if you are running a carbon seatpost you should not use a quick release collar, or adjust up and down constantly, it's hard on the carbon and you can damage it by over-tightening.

Emily you might just try bringing your seat down a smidge and leaving it there. I know you're a roadie and probably have it up pretty high. I set mine so when my heel is on the pedal at the 6:00 position there is a very slight bend at the knee.

PS: In the last six months my awesome riding buddy has only crashed once-- and that was on a slimy root coming out of a creek bed!

[emily_in_nc]

Hmmm...quick release seatpost. I don't have that. Maybe something to look into for next season. Right now things are winding down because daylight savings time is nearly over, which means no more weekday rides after work starting the week after next. And I won't be riding that much on weekends b/c the trails I ride with my friend from work are a long way from where I live, and my DH doesn't like MTB (imagine!) So, we'll probably mostly be hiking this winter as we're hoping to get into backpacking/camping next year. And I'll be riding a road bike on the trainer very soon now, and running on the treadmill at the gym at work and on trails on our property, so lots of cross training until daylight savings time starts again next spring!

I do run my tire pressure low (thanks to some earlier tips when I had such problems on my first ride on these same trails) and I think my saddle is a smidge lower than on my road bikes, but probably not as low as I should descend with) -- just don't want to hurt my knees by keeping it too low for a whole ride, so the QR sounds helpful. There are only two really steep descents (to me anyway, might not faze the more experienced dirt girls here!) that I could maybe lower it for without having to be up and down the entire trail.

Emily

[caligurl]

FBG..... that would be fun!!!! the more i ride my mtb..... the more i like it.... but i'm still kind of a scaredy-cat!

emily.... i have a quick release seat too! when i ride in the desert here.... my seat is up and down... up and down like a roller coaster or window! lol! cuz, for me, going down the rocky hills is less scary when i'm lower!

p.s... FBG.... YOUR design is still my dream mountain bike! i talk about wanting that pink mtb ALL the time!

[telegirl]

Hey Emily -

Take heart - it sounds like you have a similar attitude as I have had (and had to adjust)....."Sheesh, I have been riding a mountain bike for X months and I should be more of an expert by now." I think that I would get frustrated because I was riding with people who made it look so easy and I felt like I was barely making it! Especially if they started riding around the same time or a little earlier. I just had to realize that there was a lot to learn and some people have things in their background that help them to pick it up quicker.....Don't get discouraged, as it will get better. Doing things like checking your seat, air pressure, learning little tricks like getting back....everyone is different! The other thing that I have started doing (this is the end of my second year on a mtn bike) is that I have set up a little obstacle track in my yard....things to practice on. It helps me figure out where I need to be on my bike when confronted with a rock, a root, a downhill, a tight corner, instead of looking at someone else. And just as I have come to love hills on my road bike, I have come to love roots on my mountain bike.....if it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger!

[CyclingKat]

I have to laugh because I am in the same boat as a beginner at mountain biking. I have been riding road for several years and have done some pretty tough century rides (Solvang and Tahoe). Mountain biking is a whole different experience. I stand at the top of a rocky downhill and have to talk myself into the saddle. Then talk to myself all the way down "just let the bike roll ... don't brake ... put your butt back over the saddle...just be calm ..." I have a great bike (WSD Trek Fuel EX 9), so I have no excuses! It is fun to take on a new challenge and I applaud all of us who are doing it and am in awe of everyone else who can tear down hills with utter fearlessness!

[fatbottomedgurl]

So what part of Socal are you from? And how do you like that Trek Fuel?? I am waiting for mine still.

[CyclingKat]

I'm in Irvine, so have ridden Peters Canyon a couple of times, Aliso Woods and Fullerton Loop. The last one should have been the first ride ... great for a beginner. I love my Fuel! Can't blame my downhill trepidation on the bike! If I could be as good a rider as the bike is a bike, I'd be singing!

[Pebble]

Well I won't be giving any advice on switchbacks.

As far as quick release seat clamps go they are fairly cheap & very easy to install yourself. Just make sure you get the correct size (depends on your bike but it's to fit the seat tube so won't be the same size as your seatpost).
Basically you remove the seatpost, take the old clamp off and slide the new qr one on. That's about as hard as it gets.
My bike came with a bolt on clamp & I purchased a qr one, but as I haven't needed to adjust the seat much for my rides I've put the bolt on one back on, still have the qr sitting there as a spare in case I want to pur it back on again. It cost me about $15 Australian.

Of course if you go get a Salsa one or something it will cost alot more!