Trying to get into MTB

[thekarens]

Finding the women specific Teva Links seems to be a bit of a challenge.

[indysteel]

Here's a lengthy discussion on MTBR's Women's Lounge on shoes/pedals.

I'd add that there are any number of good platform pedals on the market. There are also any number of threads on MTBR about pedals. You can drive yourself crazy with it. One less expensive pedal that comes up a lot with favorable reviews is the Forte from Performance.

[tealtreak]

First of all I would have someone other that your BF asses the fit of his loaner. Having coached many women over the years, I have seen so much frustration because someone was on a bike that was too big or too small to start with. I get not buying a new bike; just make sure it fits.
Here are my other recommendations:
Skip the clipless shoe/pedal combination. The new mountain biking shoes with sticky soles work so well that there's no reason that you should use clipless. You will be much more confident if you can put a foot down any time you want.

Basic skills: Now I don't know what kind of a guy BF is. Some guys are great teachers, others are more of the "don't grab your front brake and just point it down the hill" type. There are a few basic skills that will really make a difference for a beginner.
-Braking: how to do one finger braking, feathering and using modulation (gentle squeezing)
Basic Body Position: is NOT sitting on the saddle. Mountain biking is very dynamic and involves being loose, moving with the bike and terrain, and changing your center of gravity. This video here,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAkB...M&feature=plcp is excellent instruction in body position basics. Don't let the big bikes or big air in the into scare you - what they teach in the video is the very basis for all successful mountain biking.
-last but least, you might look for a basic skills clinic. I cannot underscore the foundational skills for mountain biking success.

I.

Second and third on this good advice- and if you can find a women only clinic that is the most awesome experience ever! I would cast a vote to be open minded about clipping or not- all the Luna chick ladies I have had the pleasure of riding with and learning from ride clipped. Actually, they are the ones who talked me into it, and I would never go back. My sons are evenly divided on that preference- and they all catch much more air than I do (:

[Irulan]

Here's a lengthy discussion on MTBR's Women's Lounge on shoes/pedals.

I'd add that there are any number of good platform pedals on the market. There are also any number of threads on MTBR about pedals. You can drive yourself crazy with it. One less expensive pedal that comes up a lot with favorable reviews is the Forte from Performance.

what's funny is I read that thread, and a lot of other discussion out there in internet land. I learned more from a really good shop guy in Seattle, in ten minutes, than I did from hours of reading pedal discussion.

[indysteel]

what's funny is I read that thread, and a lot of other discussion out there in internet land. I learned more from a really good shop guy in Seattle, in ten minutes, than I did from hours of reading pedal discussion.

I find myself more dependent on the internet for information because we rarely go into bike shops these days. My husband does most of our wrenching and we buy most of what we need on internet. Plus, the best shop for mountain biking is nowhere near our house anyway. So, I end up wading through a lot of threads here, and on RBR/MTBR trying to sort things out. It can be maddening.

One thing is certain: There are a lot of platform pedals on the market. I thought deciding on road pedals was complicated, but it's nothing compared to platforms. Jeez! Which pedals do you use, Irulan?

[Irulan]

(total thread derail)

Here is what I learned in ten minutes with Zeb at Big Tree Bikes in Seattle:

More pins is not necessarily better; too many can push your foot away instead of holding you on ( think of an guru on a bed of nails.... too many pins decreases tension)
Look for a slightly concave pedal that you can press into.
You do not want a lot wider than your foot.
Ease of bushing rebuilt/pin replacement needs will depend on how much you thrash your pedals. IE< if you are going to bash the heck out of them, you many need to replace them before you rebuild them.

I purchased some lightweight Wellgos for $70. I'd been lusting after some anodized Canfield Crampons or Twentysix. I coudn't justify $275 for pedals and the Crampons were just too huge for my girly feet. The magnesium Wellgos weigh in at the same weight as a lot of the magnesium more expensive ones

[indysteel]

Thanks for sharing that, Irulan. As it turns out, I think my Straightlines Amps follow that advice.

[mumbles]

Ouch, what caused your bad crash? I had several crashes that I have no idea what happened, I was just suddenly on the ground. Most crashes when I started were from getting scared and trying to stop in the middle of something. Better to ride it out or get off and walk before you get in the middle of it.

[indysteel]

I googled, but where did you get yours? And how much is reasonable to pay?

I got them online from Modern Bike for $124. You might do a bit of research to see if any of the online vendors have a Black Friday sale on them. I'd note that the pedals were a splurge for me. There are other, perfectly nice, platforms out there for a lot less if you don't really want to spend that kind of money on them.

[thekarens]

I really wanted the Amps, but couldn't afford them right now so I got these from Performance for $40 http://www.performancebike.com/bikes..._1085037_-1___ for their Black Friday sale.

I picked them due to the price and reviews.

[Irulan]

I picked up some wellgo magnesium pedals for $69. Weight and being able to get a color was important to me. I took them out for first ride yesterday....A+. You can sure spend a lot on pedals..