Poll: Best advice

[limewave]

Never let on how much you're suffering (especially important when riding with men)

Bring a snack

Don't wear cotton underwear

[SalsaMTB]

Hmmm....so many of these are great.

Couple of different ones that really helped me...

1) In the sand...keep your speed, shift down and pedal like mad to get through. Do not turn the handle bars to change direction. I used to be really cautious at sandy bottom hills and would fall all the time!

2) First started mountain biking...SHIFT!!! Shift all the time

[runnergirl]

Ride with people who are faster and will drop you. I find that when rides that regroup I don't push as hard to stay with them. And, depending on the group, think like a guy-otherwise you'll drive yourself crazy.

[SnappyPix]

Great thread!

From my D.H.: "We don't stop on hills, we just slow right down and slog away 'til we get to the top".
Second the advice about sitting back in the saddle.

[bikerchick68]

1. eat every 15-20 miles on any ride over 20...and drink in small sips continuously... taking big gulps doesn't give your body time to absorb the fluid... resulting in the need to pee frequently

2. put your extra tube in a ziploc with some baby powder... the tube then slips into the tire easily and reduces the chance of a pinch flat!

3. always keep your core covered as that is where your power comes from... will reduce the risk of injury, and always cover your knees in temps below 60 degrees (these two from John Howard!)

[Irulan]

"the saddle is not a sofa. Get off the sofa" (mountain biking)

[profàvélo]

...for your contributions. This has been fun to read. They're all great tips. Here's mine:

My husband kept telling me to go out to our local weekly group ride, but I was too intimidated. (Around 100 people show up each week, and break up into three groups, two of which do practice races.) Anyway, I finally went at the end of last summer, met some WOMEN to ride with, and have been riding a lot ever since. Five of us have become regular riding buddies, and that has made a huge difference. I can almost always find someone to ride with me. (And we still do the weekly group ride, as well.)

So, if there's a group ride like that near you, try it. It's a great way to meet other cyclists who go your speed.