My First MTB Ride!

[fatbottomedgurl]

Welcome to the Dark Side! I love mountain biking. I used to hike a lot and this lets me cover ground so much faster (and less work than owning a horse). Today I was climbing really steep single track and at one point bailed sideways off my bike and thankfully there was enough brush to stop me from going down the mountain. Then a little while later did a back-o onto my feet (so glad I got unclipped in time!) I love it. Even what scares me challenges me to do better next time. Keep it up!!!

[CycleChic06]

I have to really wonder how you all ride clipless pedals while mountain biking. My friend was riding with them and seemed to do alright, but I guess unless you're really experienced, clipless is not the way to go. Maybe when I get better I'll give it a try and switch my clipless pedals from my road bike.

[sandy45]

i am fairly new to mountian biking and i have changed to clipless. i had to pracitce a while on the trainer and very soft ground. but once i was use to getting in and out i was fine. it has actually helped me more on the bike. i feel like i have more control and that i am not struggling as much. i just make sure that i start slowing and unclip my most comfortable foot at the same time. i keep it in the 6 to 5 o clock position and make sure i sift my weight to the foot i have uncliped. i enjoy riding much more with clipless...it really isnt that scary.

Sandy

[fatbottomedgurl]

I really need clipless for climbing. We usually climb for several miles and then get to ride downhill. No rolling terrain here. Without being clipped in I would never make the steep stuff. I like the connection with the bike, but when things get really dicey and technical downhill I will often unclip one foot just in case. I place my foot so the pedal is just behind the cleat. But I am working more and more on keeping clipped. They are set pretty loose so I can disengage almost without thinking about it.

[emily_in_nc]

Maybe I'm crazy, but I started right out mountain biking with clipless pedals because I've been using them so long on road bikes I just wouldn't feel right without them. I am afraid my feet would fly off the pedals, and I don't think I could do climbs, either. But yes, there is a lot of in and out of the clips and stopping and starting, so at times I curse them!

Emily

[DirtDiva]

I hate flat pedals!

[bcipam]

I live with my "bike shoes" in both the roadie and mountain bike worlds... I love them both equally for different reasons. No reason not to do both (and I do) but I finally conceeded to the fact I need to devote more time to mountain biking if I want to improve my technical skills more. I'm a strong rider, got that from my roadie rides, but technically I am lacking. Just climbing steep long hills requires new skills. So you might find yourself spending more time initially mountain biking and trying to improve skills but it will be worth it.

Nothing nicer than riding in late afternoon, especially in the Fall, with the Sun's light all caramel, crimson and golden, casting long shadows on the ground, the trail's perfect, hardpacked, fun twisty singletrack, Fall flowers blooming and trotting along side you is a coyote or bobtail looking for the his evening's kill. You can smell the evening flowers starting to open and the air is cool and fresh. Ahhhhhhhh, nothing like that out on the road!

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Re clipless pedals - gotta have them for mountain biking. A suggestion - consider some of the platform pedals like EggBeater Mallets or Time Z Control. They offer a platform to help get started on steep climbs or to use if uncertain about terrains but also have that two-sided cleat so easy in and out.