Newbie needs help with singletrack!!!

[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

[fatbottomedgurl]

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!

That's not even close to minimum! Especially because you weigh, what, 105? I don't go out higher than 32, and lower is even better except that you may get a pinch flat. I just started running tubeless and am trying even lower than that.

It's funny you girls talking about roots because most of where I ride there is nary a tree in sight. Have a few canyon trails through the oaks and sycamores and I might hit a root crossing creekbeds, but for the most part "technical" where I live is rocks- lots of them! Rock gardens, steep descents through sandstone, all in the hot So Cal sunshine. I'll take some pictures (and of my new bike) when my #@%* camera gets back from repair.

http://mountainbike.about.com/od/tip...e_pressure.htm

[SadieKate]

I agree on the tire pressure thing. I run mine at 32 also. Teensy bit higher if the trails are smooth and gummy. Experiment - If you bounce off stuff or feel like the tires are skittering around, lower the pressure. Once they pinch flat, increase the pressure a tad (1-2 lbs) and you've probably found the ideal pressure for those conditions.

[emily_in_nc]

That's not even close to minimum! Especially because you weigh, what, 105? I don't go out higher than 32, and lower is even better except that you may get a pinch flat. I just started running tubeless and am trying even lower than that.

It's funny you girls talking about roots because most of where I ride there is nary a tree in sight. Have a few canyon trails through the oaks and sycamores and I might hit a root crossing creekbeds, but for the most part "technical" where I live is rocks- lots of them! Rock gardens, steep descents through sandstone, all in the hot So Cal sunshine. I'll take some pictures (and of my new bike) when my #@%* camera gets back from repair.

http://mountainbike.about.com/od/tip...e_pressure.htm

Thanks so much for this information! I just figured that since my tires say "40-60 PSI" on the sidewalls, 40 was the bare minimum even at my weight. That said, I didn't pump them right before last week's wicked ride, so I have no idea how much I actually had in them - whether 30 lbs. or 40, but I am very sure it was no more than 40.

I'll try going even lower for my next try at Crabtree. I don't relish risking a pinch flat on the trail, but it's worth it if I get better control. I decided to drop back to the easier trail at Umstead for tomorrow's ride til I'm all healed from my last week's accident - I don't want to get bruises on top of my bruises! I figure I can gain confidence on this ride and then try Crabtree again next week. With low tire pressure!

On roots....how I wish I didn't have to deal with them! I'm not minimizing your difficult rocks at ALL, but Crabtree is roots everywhere. I'll keep working at it!

Thanks again for all the wonderful tips, all!

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