Newbie needs help with singletrack!!!

[fatbottomedgurl]

Who doesn't have problems with steep climbs, with curves, that are sandy?

[Quillfred]

I took Trekhawk's advice and got the DVD from Ned Overend "Performance Mtn Biking". It reinforces many of the techniques and advice I learned from my Boot Camp. It would be a good adjunct to practice and having a good rider give advice.

Quill

[Trekhawk]

I took Trekhawk's advice and got the DVD from Ned Overend "Performance Mtn Biking". It reinforces many of the techniques and advice I learned from my Boot Camp. It would be a good adjunct to practice and having a good rider give advice.

Quill

Hey Quill - glad you like it. LOL - SadieKate was the one that put me onto Ned's DVD - got to pass the good advice on.

[bouncybouncy]

After the first few (of many,many, many) falls my sweet hubby commented "Well, at least you know HOW to fall!!!"

I seemed to have spent the first 6 months of riding with bruises on one or both my upper/outer thighs...and most of it was because of a root! Nasty little buggers!!! Soon with experience/confidence you will be rolling over them with little thought (OK...you need a little thought...especially if they are wet) With added experience/confidence you will pick up speed which helps that fancy little bike of yours do its job...ROLL!!!

I spent all of my learning right behind another experienced rider...following the line. Soon I dropped back a little bit at a time paying more attention to the line...why that route was chosen...then picking my own line...learning what works best for me. Turns out I tend to pick a smoother line now than my mentor (sweet hubby) ever did, but it is said "that is because I am a girl" ...and girls tend to pick smoother lines

Anyway, these girls have said what I would have said...so I will leave you with:

WAY TO GO!!!! Bruises are cute!!!! and NO shame in walking!!!!

[littlegrasshopp]

just wanted to say I've been there. I bet we all have. I'm totally a beginner but am already riding stuff that I thought I'd NEVER attempt. To say I'm a conservative rider would be an understatement. I only go slightly outside my comfort zone. But with constant riding, I'm watching that zone expand and I'm trying all kinds of stuff and learning to let the bike roll. It's HARD sometimes to just relax and be....but in those times when I can do it....wow!! That's why my fiance is so bike crazy........I get it now (then I usually hit a tree...like I said - total beginner!

[littlegrasshopp]

BTW - you're not far from me - what trail were you riding? if you don't mind the drive, Craptree and Harris Lake, both around Raleigh, would be great trails to ride for a weekend 1/2 day trip. It would be about 45 minutes for you and both trails are wonderful for beginners and getting you use to all kinds of trail conditions. There are drops, log crossings and steep hills but most things have trails around them too (not the steep hills...we have to do those).

[wavedancer]

Lots of good advice on this thread for another beginner with a great bike (same Titus Racer X), hoping to become a better rider. I went to a mtb camp this weekend at Coyote Hill in Vermont. Learned lots and got to practice some skills in a series of practice drills and then out onto some varied single track. Had LOTS of falls. Some were because I was pushing my limits and some were because I just couldn't seem to get my *^&% left foot off the pedal to catch myself! I experienced a lot of frustration...a few tears, but took away some more experience and things to work on.

One of the most important things I need to work on is the slow-speed balance stuff. Most of my falls happen on up hill technical stuff (except for the failed log-clearing crash). It was pointed out to me that if I could improve my slow-speed balance I would have more time to pick my line on the technical stuff, and could probably choose when to unclip and save myself from a fall, if necessary. I tend to get so focused on getting thorugh a section that I'm not prepared to bail when I need to.

I also need to work on climbing out of the saddle in a higher gear. I sometimes get into too low a gear and then end up losing momentum.

We did some practice of shifting our weight on the bike, not just forward and back, but also side to side, which really helped me with downhill cornering.

The falling-down stuff can be really confidence-depleting, and I came home with lots of bruises and probably a cracked rib But I still love it!! And I am looking forward to working on the dance some more.

Thanks to everyone for all your advice and encouragement to us newbies!

Linda

[emily_in_nc]

BTW - you're not far from me - what trail were you riding? if you don't mind the drive, Craptree and Harris Lake, both around Raleigh, would be great trails to ride for a weekend 1/2 day trip. It would be about 45 minutes for you and both trails are wonderful for beginners and getting you use to all kinds of trail conditions. There are drops, log crossings and steep hills but most things have trails around them too (not the steep hills...we have to do those).

It was Crabtree. I'd read online that there are beginner and intermediate trails there, and markers for "more difficult" and "less difficult" where they cross. With my two friends, we went on all the trails there; I never knew when we were on one of the less or more difficult ones, because they all seemed to have easy parts that I rolled over just fine, and more difficult parts with rooty switchbacks and/or steep descents/climbs with roots. Without the roots, I would have been fine!

We had been riding at Umstead (primarily Turkey Run) prior to this, and I also have trails on my own property which have a few rocks and roots but are quite a bit easier than Crabtree - no switchbacks and nothing too steep. I'd gotten pretty fast and comfortable on all this terrain so thought I was "ready" for Crabtree. I have heard that Harris is easier than Crabtree, but it's a long drive for me, so I've never made it there (I work in RTP and ride with friends one day a week after work - then at home on weekends).

Thanks for all the GREAT advice everyone has offered! I've still got some ugly bruises from last week's fall (and my neck was really sore for several days due to the head snap), but I feel fine. (I've been out of state over the weekend and did two road rides but no mountain biking.) I guess I just have to get back on the horse and try again. I do think that not staring at those roots I'm about to go over is a great tip and may well keep me upright. I had a hard time keeping up with my friends, so they got a bit ahead of me. As a result, I often couldn't see their line to know how best to pick my way over the tough parts. Hopefully the next time will be better!

Thanks all!!!
Emily

[anneimall]

Embrace it. All of it, the falling, the fear, the skidding out, the walking down the really scary bits, or losing all your power and walking up the steep bits. Isn't that part of why we love to mountainbike in the first place? Finding your limits and pushing past them?

Just keep at it. And don't be so hard on yourself. Of course you can go back and ride that trail, and others. Maybe tomorrow it will still seem difficult and scary, but it wont stay that way.

And, one riding tip that helps me a lot ... keep your head up and ride through as much as you can. After all, we go where our eyes lead us. And if you can't and need to get off, regroup, walk it up or down, then have fun knowing that you are out on the trail. Soooooooooooooo beautiful!