MTBers of TE Unite!

[CyclChyk]

I'm going to be taking the boss out mountain biking sometime (eeehehehehe) he's not really a mtb-er. He "Has a Schwinn with the spring-y thing in front"... this'll be too much fun.

Geez even I know its a shock and I'm stooopid!! Be kind to him, Kit... remember who butters your bread...

[velogirl]

Yes, it gets much better. I've been road riding for years but just started mtn biking about three years ago. I was scared of everything. Roadie mentality -- gravel is loose and scary, tire pressure should be high, don't fall into ruts, etc.

The past year or so I really started riding my mtn bike a lot and I learned a lot too. The biggest thing that helped was riding with a lower psi in the tires. It made the bike feel so much more stable and I could just roll over everything. The other big lesson was that yes, you can roll over just about everything as long as you keep a bit of speed up. It's not necessary to look down at the trail (and it's bad for your balance and weight distribution). Just roll over it.

The more you ride the more you learn. Don't be afraid to be a beginner. If you need to walk, that's cool. Mtn bikers are pretty casual in that respect, so have fun, build your confidence, and you'll be nailing it in no time.

[7rider]

Wow. That looked fun.

I suck at mtb'ing, too.
DH says my issues are all in my head...that I psych myself out of so many things.

Various people have tried giving me pointers, and they boil down to 3 basic things:
1. Speed is your friend. At Kitsune pointed out, momentum carries the day for lots of trail obstacles.
2. Pedal, pedal, pedal. This is closely tied to 1#. Also, "don't give up."
3. Don't look AT the obstacle. Look at the line you want to take. Your bike will go where you are looking. If you look at the rock, that's what you'll hit (ouch!). Incidently, I've found #3 works for downhill skiing, too.

[rocknrollgirl]

That is some nice looking single track in that video. Yes, it will get better, and time in the saddle is what will make it better. I recommend the book Mt. Bike Like A Champion by Ned Overend. It gives lots of tips and instructions on all aspects of mt biking.

have fun!

Ruth

[spokewench]

Don't worry, it will get better. You have no idea how many stories I hear from ladies where their DO or hubby takes them out on a ride and it usually is too hard for their first time. Almost everyone I know that got taken out by a man/boy/guy the first time has the same type of story! The guys never think the trails are very hard, BUT, they usually are for your first time. It's not that they don't like us, they just don't get it!

So, like I said don't worry. You will be fine! If you need to walk, walk. Don't feel bad. Slowly but surely you will get the feeling that you can ride it and then you will. Challenge yourself a little each time. Have fun, keep loose, and look way ahead of yourself don't look down right in front of your wheel and whatever you do don't look at the thing you don't want to hit! If you look at it, you WILL hit it!

spoke

[Trekhawk]

That is some nice looking single track in that video. Yes, it will get better, and time in the saddle is what will make it better. I recommend the book Mt. Bike Like A Champion by Ned Overend. It gives lots of tips and instructions on all aspects of mt biking.

have fun!

Ruth

Love Ned, he also has a DVD called Performance Mountain Biking which SadieKate recommended. It really is full of great info for new mountain bikers and has helped me lots. The tip from Velogirl about tyre pressure is a good one. When I went out with SK she laughed at how high my tyre pressure was (still thinking road riding I guess and pumped them way up). Once I had a lower pressure things seemed a little easier.

That trail looks like fun. I love the downhills unfortunately you need the up to do the down and this I dont like quite so much.

Good on you for giving it a whirl. Stick with it you will get better and dirt is so much fun.

[fatbottomedgurl]

Thats the sweetest piece of singletrack! Just wait til you can catch some air like like that! That looks like a great place to learn. And you will. BTW I would rather crash in the dirt than pavement any day of the week

[bcipam]

Just a suggestion... what really helped me get over the "what the H*LL I'm doing on a mountain bike" fear is asked a good friend who is a strong and skillful rider, to take me out and just go over skills with me. We practiced attacking descents, climbing, going over obstacles, negotiating whoop-de-does, etc. Once I realized the bike does most of the work and I'm not going to fall and kill myself, then I got more confidence. More confidence means more speed, more speed means the bike is able to work better etc.

Tell the DH you loved the ride, and want to improve would he mind just spending an hour or two with you reviewing skills before you start a ride. Or if you come across something "scary", stop and ask for him to show you how to attack the "scary", practice it a few times and move on. He'll love and appreciate your enthusiasm.

Stick with the sport - it's just so much fun. And I've learned, even if I fall, I'm less likely to be really injured like a fall on a road bike (dirt and sand can be soft!).