trade-offs

[Miranda]

Have you ever had to give up one aspect of riding that you enjoy to excel in another area?

OK, here's the deal...

I am training for my first century on my road bike. I've never officially trained for anything before. New adveture for me. Lots of things to consider. Like this... avoiding injury...

Over the holiday, we are camping at a park that I take both my bikes (road & mtb). Nice local road club map to do outside the park. Great trail inside. Bike w/e heaven. I'm a humble mtb, and would consider myself primarily a roadie. However, I love this tral. It's rated a lesser skill level, but still plenty challenging and fun for me.

Day 1 trail run I'm so thrilled. I nail some obstacles that last season I was so close to getting, but didn't make it back to the park to do. Day 2 trail run, feeling stoked with confidence, I decide to nail something I know from past experience hurts pretty bad to crash on.

Approaching the obstacle, this foremost voice in my head says, "...NO 1 foot down, Miranda... just GO FOR IT!!". I do. Well... the next story frame is me in the fetal position lieing in a pile of boulders with my mtb on top of me. My precious pedaling knees are wedged between rock, and bike metal. In a word: ouch.

After I get myself outta the pile, wrench my bike rideable, I look back at the obstacle. Same voice saying... "there's only one thing to do... "GO AGAIN!". BUT, suddenly outta no where chimes in a new voice. "The Training Voice"...

The training voice says, "OH NO, Miranda!!! Don't do it!!! How will you ever stay on schedule for your road event with compounded mtb injuries???... ride on, GF, ride on...". So, *sigh*, I do.

I guess I'm re-evaluating here. Thinking about that I have to give up mtb, or any advances at least in my skills, in that area of riding, to protect myself for my road training? Though, "yes", crashes happen on the road too. However, crashing a lot seems to just be 'the nature of the beast' in trail riding more so.

Just feeling a bit torn. Yet another new experience in riding.

TYIA for any TE wisdom.

[Tri Girl]

Ouch!
No wisdom, but I share your off-road... ummm.... pains. Last year I tried to mtn bike more, but I kept crashing every time I went out. I got to where I had NO confidence on the mtn bike on trails and I stopped riding. This year I won't even touch my mtn bike because I'm afraid of crashing (again) and I know that will derail any road goals I have.
If I wasn't so accident-prone I might not have to choose between the two.

[Biciclista]

welcome to life!
I am constantly choosing one activity over another. You can't do it all; not all at the same time anyway. That little voice is wisdom!

[Miranda]

Ouch!
No wisdom, but I share your off-road... ummm.... pains. Last year I tried to mtn bike more, but I kept crashing every time I went out. I got to where I had NO confidence on the mtn bike on trails and I stopped riding. This year I won't even touch my mtn bike because I'm afraid of crashing (again) and I know that will derail any road goals I have.
If I wasn't so accident-prone I might not have to choose between the two.

With the crashing for me, it's not even so much the actual pain of crashing... it's the length of time it takes my body to heal and recover. Once you do figure out how to nail something, it's almost like mtb-crack. The blast of confidence of "I DID IT!" is so strong, it's like a natural high that makes you want to go at it again. Well, in my world anyway lol. I improved in a lot of ways with tips from the mtb girls here on TE. Plus, they also suggested skills workshops. Which I don't have any close by that I've found. But, yes... confidence the mtb TE crew reports is a big factor.

welcome to life!
I am constantly choosing one activity over another. You can't do it all; not all at the same time anyway. That little voice is wisdom!

lol... oh my, well put! I guess if I have to choose and prioritize, completing the road century is most important to me at this point. Though, I will say while at the park, I had my first ever inspirations to seriously become better at mtb beyound just 'fun'. A time trial race event was posted for the following w/e. Interesting... the mens cats were broken down into various levels. 'Beginner' to 'expert'. Then for females, it just said "all women". Guessing not too many ladies racing the trail. Come to think of it, I have never seen another woman on that trail at all any time I've been there. I thought "hey! maybe I could place since I know the trail". Just another goal to look forward to. When I figure out the boulders that is. And complete my century broken leg free.

[crazycanuck]

Psst..why not try an mtb enduro event? Pssst.;.they're much more exciting than road ones and harder!

Do they have any in your state? Many of the enduros down this way offer 25km,50km or 100km options. That distance might not sound hard but on the Ottway odessy, it's mainly UPHILL .

Come on over to the awesome dirty side of cycling . Many many tracks to explore, many trees to maneuvre around or hit & log overs in corners to swear at..

[Tuckervill]

I say "live to ride another day". It is contrary to my goals to do something that will disrupt me to a point where I can't exercise or be active the next day. Being sore is one thing, but being injured is quite another. Those boulders will always be there. Try them again when there's not so much to lose.

Karen

[Crankin]

I guess I would rather not be injured, and not be able to ride my road bike, so I hardly ever mountain bike. I love being out on the trails/in the woods, but I am so nervous and terrible at mountain biking, that it's probably not the best sport for me. Anything where getting hurt is routinely part of the plan, I don't know. For awhile, I was getting pretty good at it, but since it's something where practice is key, I never progressed. I feel guilty taking time away from my road bike, though not so much now as in years past.

[SadieKate]

With the crashing for me, it's not even so much the actual pain of crashing... it's the length of time it takes my body to heal and recover. Once you do figure out how to nail something, it's almost like mtb-crack. The blast of confidence of "I DID IT!" is so strong, it's like a natural high that makes you want to go at it again.

+a million.

I've been completely neglecting my road training because not only do I prefer time in the woods, I've recently made some huge breakthroughs mentally and am riding obstacles and descents that always caused me to brain-fart (think of a horse shying at a jump). I have the physical skills, but the mental skills are horrible and I'd just freeze at some very easy obstacles. Conquered a few more just yesterday.

Add on top of this a late wet spring with a long period of lightening storms and the training plan has gone to heck in a handcart. The Crater Lake Century is looking more and more like a tour of the rim only.

I wanted to take the Sugoi Dirt Series this weekend but by the time my summer calendar shaped up the camp was full. Oh well, I'll ride sweep for them both days and maybe pick up stuff by osmosis.

I'm with you on trade-offs and the time on the dirt is winning.