New to mtn biking- some advice please

[griffsmom]

I started mt. biking about 10 years ago, although I too have been out of the saddle--almost 5 years for me following the birth of my son. I vowed to get back into it this year and have been really enjoying myself rediscovering how much I absolutely love being out on the trails!!

Regarding your pedal question: I would go straight for the clipless pedals. You're a roadie, so I'm assuming you're already familiar and comfortable with clipless. You'll reap the same efficiency benefits mt. biking with clipless that you do on the road. I'd skip cages completely. They're not as efficient as clipless and if you miss getting your foot in a cage at a crucial (i.e., technical) moment, the cage can spin around so that it is now dragging on the ground and could scrape and catch on something and send you off balance and down onto the ground--something I personally learned the hard way when I was first starting out oh so many years ago!

[bcipam]

Look for a pedal with a platform - Crank Bros makes the "Mallet". I use Time "Z Control". SPD's also have one. So much better for mountain biking.

[psycholist]

HI to all
Wow, it always amazes me how I can come on here and find the answers to my questions. I am new to biking but have learned so much from all y'all. The info I just got off this thread was exactly what I was getting ready to ask. Thanks to all.

I did laugh when I read about the rock thing - cuz that is EXACTLY what I do! Tomorrow I will NOT look at that stupid rocdk ~ HA!

Thanks again ~Janice