Women and mountain biking

[sashadieken]

Thanks to all the encouragement and answers to my questions that I've found here, I've been riding several times a week for the last month. I'm up to about 22 miles now and loving it, but am beginning to think about adding mountain biking.

I have an old mtb that I haven't ridden for at least 10 years but I got it down and pumped up the tires yesterday. I hope my son will be able to check it out before I go, since I haven't ridden it for so long.

In our local weekly paper there was a small article about a women's mtb meet up and when I emailed to find out more this was the reply: "We meet once a week, and range from age about 40-65. We are trying to do different trails, but we take our time and work on skills as we ride."

Now I'm really excited, particularly because there will be another 65 yo there! And working on skills together sounds exactly like what I want/need.

Do I wear my same bike pants with the chamois?
I have a gel pad on the bike seat--I thought I read somewhere not to do that.
Same helmet as my comfort bike riding?
Same gloves?

-Shelley

[Irulan]

Gel pads really contribute to saddle soreness. That is reason enought to get rid of it.