Quote Originally Posted by crazycanuck View Post
Catrin, i know you're amazed that mountain biking is different style of riding to roadie stuff BUT remember the following:

The skills you use on your mtn bike can correspond with what you do on your road bike. Think core strength...

Remember you have to THINK whilst mtn biking. The seat is not a sofa!

Momentum & speed are your friend in mtn biking. The slower you go, the harder it can be..in some cases.

Andd.......you don't have to worry about cars! It's trees that don't move on the trail!

When's your skills thingy?
I was just impressed at how different the mountain bike I test-rode felt over my beloved cushy steel tank - and I find the LHT quite comfy!

Thanks for your encouragement and thoughts - I do understand that many of the skills cross-over between the two types of riding. I think that whatever I learn as a rank newbie to mountain biking will only enhance my road riding and vice-versa. Thankfully my personal trainer is a VERY dedicated mountain biker and he knows what I am doing - he has really increased both core and upper-body work.

I think what attracts me the most to mountain biking is you get even closer to nature - and yeah - there is that car thing and not so much wind

My skills clinic is June 12, and thankfully they are very accustomed to having students at my level. Unsure how many just learned how to ride only a little over a year ago, but the organizer who is also an instructor is strongly encouraging me. It helps I know her

Until then I will put a few paved miles on the Dakar, and then find some grass to ride on. There is a short 5-mile crushed limestone trail on the city I can take her on as well. I do think I want to wait until the Clinic before I try to take her on a beginners trail - though I hope to take it to ride a fire-trail with some friends prior to the clinic. I understand it is a double-track that has little in the way of roots and so forth.