My First MTB Ride!

[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!

* * *

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.

[fatbottomedgurl]

I laughed looking at our pictures. I can tell you ride singletrack in the woods and I ride in the chapperal. Regardless of how much sunblock I put on I get brown. I bet you have freckles.

[emily_in_nc]

I laughed looking at our pictures. I can tell you ride singletrack in the woods and I ride in the chapperal. Regardless of how much sunblock I put on I get brown. I bet you have freckles.

How'd you know?!

Actually, I am normally pretty brown (for a light-skinned gal of Scotch-Irish background, that is!) this time of year due to road riding and kayaking, but this summer I only just started road riding again a couple of weeks ago and have only been kayaking once. Most of my rides have been in the woods after work, so yes, I am really pale this summer! I actually had a nice brown glow after our two-week trip to the southwest US this May, where we hiked in the canyons every day, but that's all gone. I wear 30 spf but still manage to get some sun - so long as I am out in it!

Emily

[CycleChic06]

I actually have spds on my road bike...I know, to most roadies that's an abomination, but when it came to saving money on my new bike, I figured the pedals were the place. So, if I did try clipless on a mountain bike, I could just swtich them out with the platforms.

But my new problem is trying to convince my friend who's bike I borrowed to go ride again. This is why I'm thinking of buying my own, just a used mtb, probably off craigs list or something. But I don't want to spend a lot, I'm hoping to get a decent bike for a beginner for under $300...is that even possible?