Why mountain bikes have suspension

[7rider]

I live near Gambrills... but I'm fairly certain I'd kill myself there currently

Good grief. I don't even like riding a road bike around there. STEEP!

Check out the "Where to Ride" forum on the MORE site: http://www.more-mtb.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=25

For you, perhaps Little Bennett Regional Park or Black Hills or Seneca Greenway. Maybe Greenbriar. I'm only going from the descriptions on the MORE site. I myself have ridden only at Little Bennett, and thought it was fine.

[Cataboo]

Good grief. I don't even like riding a road bike around there. STEEP!

Check out the "Where to Ride" forum on the MORE site: http://www.more-mtb.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=25

For you, perhaps Little Bennett Regional Park or Black Hills or Seneca Greenway. Maybe Greenbriar. I'm only going from the descriptions on the MORE site. I myself have ridden only at Little Bennett, and thought it was fine.

Thanks for the suggestions.

On a road bike - I haven't tried to ride up Gambrill's yet, I just kind of skirt around it road biking along the base, so I get some of the hill climbs or I head over to the area with the covered bridges since it's flatter. I definitely have not done Hamburg or Coxey Brown.

On the mountain bike, I've just done a bunch of trails behind my bf's house, which he claims are baby trails - but they still have lots of logs, hills, and creek crossings.

[Kalidurga]

Catriona: Herrington Manor/Swallow Falls is waaaaay over in the south-western corner of MD. I think the trail I rode definitely classifies as beginner if you have at least front suspension. I didn't come even close to crashing, but got bounced around a lot. And there were two small hills that I didn't even attempt to ride, just because one was a gully full of rocks and the other was covered in tree roots. Otherwise, easy-peasy if you like bouncing around.

As for bike shops, my favorites are The Bicycle Escape (Tom is great, he's been working with bikes since he was a kid and is very easy to talk to) and Bike Dr (I'd second the suggestion to talk to Brian). The place in downtown Fredneck (Wheel Base, I think?) is ok, but they haven't been terribly helpful when I've had questions.

I myself have ridden only at Little Bennett, and thought it was fine.

Hey! When did you ride at Little Bennett? And why didn't you tell me? What's it like? Could I handle it on the 'cross bike? Is it more like Rosaryville, or more like Schaeffer (which I still want to try one of these days, with a good leader to follow *hint *)?

I also still want to try and get down to Cedarville to check that out. The description sounds as if it's even easier than Rosaryville, and I remember from hiking there that it's very pretty. If only this crappy cold weather would go away

[7rider]

Hey! When did you ride at Little Bennett? And why didn't you tell me? What's it like? Could I handle it on the 'cross bike? Is it more like Rosaryville, or more like Schaeffer (which I still want to try one of these days, with a good leader to follow *hint *)?

I rode LB last fall, I think. I did a Ride Like a Girl ride with the great folks of MORE. (n.b., they are not posting rides to the website calendar so much now, as sending out an e-newsletter, so if you'r interested, send them an email.) I tend to look for the "advanced beginner or intermediate" rides. I think the area is a little like Schaeffer, but perhaps a bit hillier (if I recall correctly)? I'd stick to Rosey or Schaeffer on a 'cross bike. I was supposed to ride Schaeffer tomorrow with RLAG, but it looks like it'll be rained out.

Oh...and don't look this way if you're looking for a good ride leader in Schaeffer. You know I can't find my way out of a paper bag! The only reason I didn't get lost on the C&O is that it only goes in one direction! And I had to make sure I didn't back-track when we got off trail, at that!

[Kalidurga]

Oh...and don't look this way if you're looking for a good ride leader in Schaeffer. You know I can't find my way out of a paper bag! The only reason I didn't get lost on the C&O is that it only goes in one direction! And I had to make sure I didn't back-track when we got off trail, at that!

Aw, c'mon, you've led us so well around Rosey! There seem to be nothing but "advanced beginner/intermediate" to "intermediate/advanced" rides being led anywhere in the area. I'm still at the "nowhere-near-advanced-beginner/probably-shouldn't-even-think-about-intermediate" point, and I'm happier being able to see how someone in front of me reacts to the trail.

Somebody up here in MD needs to do some beginner-level women's mtb classes like the one Janice took down in VA last year. Maybe then I'd be more comfortable hitting places like Schaeffer alone.

[7rider]

Aw, c'mon, you've led us so well around Rosey! There seem to be nothing but "advanced beginner/intermediate" to "intermediate/advanced" rides being led anywhere in the area. I'm still at the "nowhere-near-advanced-beginner/probably-shouldn't-even-think-about-intermediate" point, and I'm happier being able to see how someone in front of me reacts to the trail.

Bah! The "avanced beginner/intermediate" rides at a place like Schaeffer (or even Rosaryville) ride the exact same trails as the beginner rides. The only difference there is the pace and how often, perhaps, they stop. Most obstacles have work-arounds or...you get off the bike and hike it over.
Look for "no drop" and "re-group at intersections" - as they always have someone riding sweep. Idiot-proof. That's why I like them!

[Kalidurga]

Idiot-proof. That's why I like them!

"I'm not an idiot, I just play one on tv!"

I've yet to learn even the simplest mtb skills, like lifting my front wheel, so my problem's really a lack of confidence. Oh, and that darned lack of suspension. But if I could survive having my fillings rattled out at Herrington Falls, I could probably survive Schaeffer. One day, when the weather's good and I'm feeling impervious to pain...

[Cataboo]

"I'm not an idiot, I just play one on tv!"

I've yet to learn even the simplest mtb skills, like lifting my front wheel, so my problem's really a lack of confidence. Oh, and that darned lack of suspension. But if I could survive having my fillings rattled out at Herrington Falls, I could probably survive Schaeffer. One day, when the weather's good and I'm feeling impervious to pain...

We seem to be at about the same skill level, so let me know if you ever want someone to go and be clueless with. If you're short, I have a spare hardtail mountain bike. Although, your cycocross bike is probably way nicer.

However, we may just reinforce bad habits in each other.

Braking seems to be a recipe for disaster, yet I can't stop myself from doing it.


I was at the bicycle escape the other day and talked to some guy for a while - I didn't pay attention to his name, but he was discouraging me from buying a full carbon bike and thought I just should adjust the fit on my current bike and put wider tires on it.