Newbie needs help with singletrack!!!

[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

[Crankin]

Linda, I hope your rib is OK. I was interested in the advice you got. I think I also approach some hills in too low a gear because i always just spin up hills on the road and i can do that quite well and not so slowly! I find it hard to stand when I climb, it kills my knees. I always bail at the same point on a hill with obstacles; i just feel like I am going to fall over. I usually unclip one foot before i start, just in case. The thought of having that heavy bike on top of me doesn't thrill me. Plus, all this stuff about picking a line... at first I didn't know what the **** people were talking about. I get it now, but it seems like I tend to change my mind about where to go as I go, or my bike is changing its direction because I'm a sucky rider! At least I am getting used to staying clipped in except on the really scary stuff.
Hope you feel better.

Robyn (who also has no slow speed or any other speed balance)

[littlegrasshopp]

I know what you mean about not being sure what level trail you are riding on at Crabtree! It can be a confusing trail system! I finally rode the entire trail system without bailing on anything. I celebrated A LOT!!! for that victory (buying a better fork!). You'll be amazed at how fast your progress at Crabtree! In about two weeks I was riding things that I didn't think I EVER would try.

I haven't ridden Turkey Creek but I hear the climbs will whip you into shape Good luck!! There are beginner rides that do crabtree and Umstead on Mondays or Wednesdays too if you every wanted to hop onto those. I haven't ever joined one....just found out about it.

[velogirl]

Hi Emily! Good to see you back on the bike. I remember you from Trish Albert's email group, don't I?

All good advice from the other women. The only thing I'd add is make sure your tires aren't over-inflated. One of the biggest mistakes that roadies-turned-dirt-divas make is to put too much air in their tires. It's taken me three seasons of mtn biking to finally "get it." Once I started putting less air in my tires, my technical skills went way up. No more bouncing around on the trails. Just for kicks, try a ride with the minimum tire pressure and see how stable you feel. It's a good thing.

[emily_in_nc]

Hi Emily! Good to see you back on the bike. I remember you from Trish Albert's email group, don't I?

All good advice from the other women. The only thing I'd add is make sure your tires aren't over-inflated. One of the biggest mistakes that roadies-turned-dirt-divas make is to put too much air in their tires. It's taken me three seasons of mtn biking to finally "get it." Once I started putting less air in my tires, my technical skills went way up. No more bouncing around on the trails. Just for kicks, try a ride with the minimum tire pressure and see how stable you feel. It's a good thing.

Hi VG, yep, that's me!

I'm pretty sure my tires were already at minimum pressure. I had read that it was wise to do that for the trails and also because I am a lightweight. I will check them before I go out there again, just in case, but I do think I had just 40 pounds in them. Too bad I can't blame that for all my mistakes!

Thanks,
Emily

[Blueberry]

(I've been out of state over the weekend and did two road rides but no mountain biking.)

Emily-

No mtb experience or advice to offer - I'm too chicken

Glad to hear you're continuing on getting back out on the road, though..... Let me know if you get the inclination to ride any evening/weekend. Depending on the storm track, we may be headed out of town for the weekend, but otherwise we're usually around...

We're still counting down to the bike friday delivery date - think we caught them at one of their longer delivery periods as had we decided 1 week earlier, we could have had bikes 1 month earlier....ah well

[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!

[IntenseRide]

I found that when I replaced my 115 mm stem for a shorter stem (100) my turning radius was tighter and more controlled. This helps with switchbacks, especially when climbing. Also, riser bars instead of flat bars will help you out on descents. Fine tune your fork for your weight and check your rebound and damping. Tire pressure...trail conditions and the type of trail tell me what to inflate to. But I never go over 40 pounds. Also, take a look at Kenda Nevegals, a wider more aggressive tire that will truly help you on descending and bite in good for climbing. I've ridden Pisgah, Bent Creek, Tsali, Dupont, and some trails around Ashville and its tough riding, very technical and I had smaller Continental Explorer tires that had great rolling ability, nice and light, but I wish I had my bad Nevegals back then. Keep your clips looser, but not too loose that you pop out of them when lifting up with your feet. Learn to get off your saddle and behind it and hold on to your handlebars. When you go over logs or roots, you hold on and you tell the bike where its going. I can't tell you how many times I've crashed because the bars got away from my grip. Learn to stick your opposite knee slightly out when going around tight turns to balance yourself. Take a section of trail at a time and clean it, then move on, when you ride try and do one new thing each time and be happy with that victory. Momentum is your friend, you will crash more going slowly then if you had the speed to roll over the obstacle. Going over logs and coming to a stop, if you can't balance or track stand you are going down, and remember if its a big log set, pedal over it! Don't think you can float over everything, sometimes you need to pedal and dig in. Speed and body english will get you over the logs or rocks, and there is nothing wrong with dabbing your foot down to push you over something. You will get better each time you ride. Whew....so much more, but I just wanted to get out the stuff I learned early on. And...it helps to ride with someone who is really good, so you can follow their lines.

[tattiefritter]

I love my Kenda tyres, I ride Nevegal on the rear and Blue Groove on the front and they cope with most trail conditions I put them at: mud, lots and lots of rocks, roots...I find they give me confidence to throw the bike around on the full-suss and the big air volume of the 2.1s makes for a more comfortable ride on the hardtail. I'm so evangelical I'm convincing some of our riding group away from other tyres.

If you find that you have to have your clips really loose to be confident in getting out then keep in mind Crank Bros pedals. I used to set my SPDs loose so I could be confident of getting out when I wanted, unfortunately that meant that they were so loose that on the various very rocky descents round here my feet would pop out of the pedals involuntarily which is not a good thing. Since I changed to Crank Bros Candys I find I can get out really easily while my foot is held very securely into the pedal when riding. The trade off is that I find them a bit more faffy to clip in.

[emily_in_nc]

If you find that you have to have your clips really loose to be confident in getting out then keep in mind Crank Bros pedals. I used to set my SPDs loose so I could be confident of getting out when I wanted, unfortunately that meant that they were so loose that on the various very rocky descents round here my feet would pop out of the pedals involuntarily which is not a good thing. Since I changed to Crank Bros Candys I find I can get out really easily while my foot is held very securely into the pedal when riding. The trade off is that I find them a bit more faffy to clip in.

Yeah, I used Candies starting out and had a heck of a time clipping in with my second foot on bumpy trails. I switched to Speedplay Frogs and never looked back. Easy in, easy out. Perfect!

Emily