I'm still a little ambivalent about mountain biking. Originally I wanted us to use them as a way to get stronger for our long road rides, by using the mountain bikes to climb knarlier hills. But I did create a monster in my husband. I don't like technical at all. The dirt roads are ok. I got through Iceman with a very slow time, and we are signed up to do it again. I can't get around the dread, in fact I hope I live through it! There is one complication, the husband has possibly broken a bone in his foot so there goes my training partner. If I'm not well trained, I'm not gonna try to kill myself doing it.