MONTYMTB
New member
Is he talking about Tanasi/Ocoee? I'm actually riding there tomorrow, love that place. Never heard of Lake Norman, what's it like?
Any Mountain Bikers on Here?
- Thread starter jbmccul
- Start date
Is he talking about Tanasi/Ocoee? I'm actually riding there tomorrow, love that place. Never heard of Lake Norman, what's it like?
Slowgoat
New member
Lake Norman State Park, North of Charlotte.
It is pretty relaxed, fast flowy rolling trails, you rarely get out of the middle ring. I really like the system. I think there are 18 miles out there total.
Magnetic4R
New member
1engineer
Moderator
I ride WWC, Backyard and Anne Springs a lot every few weeks when I go down there. Great trails but not a lot of climbing compared to my neck of the woods.
Here's my 4runner and bike. 98 3rd gen, armored on 285's and awaiting a dual case setup. And my 2016 Giant Reign Advanced with Raceface SixC build. I also have an Intense Tazer for when Im feeling dirt jumps and a Cannondale CaadX for the road and CX duties.
Give me a Toyota and a good mtb and Im a happy man!
Give me a Toyota and a good mtb and Im a happy man!
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Magnetic4R
New member
1engineer
Moderator
So I went on my normal singletrack ride today. Around 10 miles, 1000 ft of climbs and according to mapmyride I usually average about 6.5 to 7.5 mph. I usually ride 30 to 60 miles a week and I have my riding buddy who usually accompanies me. I push him on the flats and rocks and he pushes me on the climbs. All in all we are a good team.
Well today he was unavailable so I was going to do a solo ride. While unloading my bike and putting on my gear a friend showed up. His normal sidekick couldn't ride today either so we decided to ride together. Even though we are good friends we don't ride together. Why? He is 35 and used to be a pro road race rider. I am 52 and 6'4" and 250 lbs. He is 5'5" and weighs 140 lbs and most of that weight is his calves and lungs lol.
I balked at the idea but he told me he wouldn't hurt me and true to form (he's a great guy) he let me lead everything except the hard climbs. He led there to "get his heart rate up a bit" lol.
Long story short my ride today bumped up to 8.9 mph! His GPS showed 9.1 mph! I felt I rode at my normal pace but obviously not.
Moral of the story? If you get a chance to ride with someone much better than you and they are cool with riding your pace then do it. Just his few comments like "your left knee wants to get wide when you are pushing it" and "watch your cadence through the higher speed sections" really helped.
Well today he was unavailable so I was going to do a solo ride. While unloading my bike and putting on my gear a friend showed up. His normal sidekick couldn't ride today either so we decided to ride together. Even though we are good friends we don't ride together. Why? He is 35 and used to be a pro road race rider. I am 52 and 6'4" and 250 lbs. He is 5'5" and weighs 140 lbs and most of that weight is his calves and lungs lol.
I balked at the idea but he told me he wouldn't hurt me and true to form (he's a great guy) he let me lead everything except the hard climbs. He led there to "get his heart rate up a bit" lol.
Long story short my ride today bumped up to 8.9 mph! His GPS showed 9.1 mph! I felt I rode at my normal pace but obviously not.
Moral of the story? If you get a chance to ride with someone much better than you and they are cool with riding your pace then do it. Just his few comments like "your left knee wants to get wide when you are pushing it" and "watch your cadence through the higher speed sections" really helped.
hikenbike
New member
Great advise. I wish I could ride that many miles per week. Too much commuting for me. Ugh!
1engineer
Moderator
Well, I haven't always been able to ride 5-6 times a week because:
School
Marriage
House
Work
Kids
Now that my children are grown, have been married 32 years, house is paid off, not worried about the corporate ladder anymore that leaves me time to enjoy life. Some fish, some play golf, some cheat on their wives and the vast majority of 53 year olds just sit on their couches eating and drinking and remembering the good old days. I love to ride in the woods. I'm not fast anymore and i can't ride 30 miles of singletrack in one go and I don't look good in spandex anymore (cargo shorts over my bike shorts) and I pause before dropping in to the black features but hey, I'm still pretty good and just love to ride.
I plan on riding until I can't ride anymore and the best part is my wife understands and encourages my hobby.
It's a cheap hobby compared to most like golf or hunting or fishing and something that you can do an hour or two at a time. I don't need a boat or a camp or a 4 wheeler or a membership. I just need a decent bike and a trail.
Life is short. Enjoy every minute.
hikenbike
New member
Amen to that. Enjoy the short time on this Earth we all have and don't sweat the small stuff......right now is as young as I'll ever be again.
I'm almost in the same boat......50 in August...... son graduating college and other son a college freshman.......and I don't own ANY spandex. Love doing anything outdoors and mtb'ing happily came out of the clear blue sky for me.......wish I'd discovered it much sooner even though a major injury is inevitable I imagine........and glad to see some improvement on-trail as I bust my butt off-trail in a gym to get more fit.......much less of me on top of that bike.
Theres something about high intensity cardio group fitness classes with mostly women that I find "inspiring"
1engineer
Moderator
Yeah, about that major injury lol. A few years ago I was doing a solo ride and went through a high speed corner at an even higher speed. Front tire slipped, then caught and I went over the high side and landed on some rocks down a bank. I heard the ribs cracked and I couldn't move my right shoulder. I was four miles from the trail head and two miles from nearest dirt road. I got up and started pushing my bike out. Eventually a small group came by as I was about a mile from the trail head. They helped me the rest of the way out and by luck a fellow rider was there who is an ER doc so I got checked out and confirmed three cracked ribs and a cracked clavicle. Next time I rode was four months later and I was scared every minute lol. Nothing like sleeping in a recliner for eight weeks to slow you down a bit.Amen to that. Enjoy the short time on this Earth we all have and don't sweat the small stuff......right now is as young as I'll ever be again.
I'm almost in the same boat......50 in August...... son graduating college and other son a college freshman.......and I don't own ANY spandex. Love doing anything outdoors and mtb'ing happily came out of the clear blue sky for me.......wish I'd discovered it much sooner even though a major injury is inevitable I imagine........and glad to see some improvement on-trail as I bust my butt off-trail in a gym to get more fit.......much less of me on top of that bike.
Theres something about high intensity cardio group fitness classes with mostly women that I find "inspiring"
Bottom line if you ride long enough something like that will happen. The way I see it you can get hurt doing anything so why not do what you love. Only thing is it takes a lot longer to heal the older you get.
Powder_Hound
New member
You forgot to mention your T4R hobby!?!?!? Lol...
Great stuff and glad to see your still getting after it!!! I'm 5 years younger and still trying to balance all the things you mentioned!!!!
Ride on...
hikenbike
New member
My problem is I get too confident way before I have any right to be. When I have fun or do something I thought I couldn't I go and get carried away......until one day I literally will get carried away. But I think I've honestly had enough scares and bad cuts/scrapes that have almost torn my jersey off to realize I need to chill and remember I'm not 25......while still keeping an edge.
Like you say about recovery, my hockey player sons doctor told him after he injured his knee......"for you, off the ice completely for 3 weeks even if it feels 100%. No exceptions. But be happy, if it was your Dad here, it would be 7 weeks". Thanks Doc.
hikenbike
New member
Did you ever have a really tough hill or trail that you'd never think you could conquer...... and then you nail it???!! I had that yesterday......great, great feeling...... about 200 yards up with roots and rocks and squiggles with a downed foot-wide tree at the very top still on the uphill that you need to get over when you are your most gassed.......when you yell and fist pump victory in the woods when nobody is around, does it make a sound??
