Mountain Biking info

Beat up shins and small cuts on the legs are a norm for mountain bikers. I just got use to it. The only time I wear my shin/knee (Troy Lee) guards is when I am down hilling locally or at Northstar. Otherwise pinstripe on.
 
j_shoe99 said:
and that's good advice above, from 1Engineer

If your main goal is to not get hurt.......your main goal should be to not CRASH. That means riding within your ability. Ride trails made for your ability, ride a safe comfortable speed, and don't do anything too crazy. There's no shame in walking a section you are not comfortable with riding. Maybe, eventually after you gain more experience, you'll be able to clean it.

Take baby steps, and don't overdue it! = live to ride another day. (and allows you to go to work the next day and bring home a paycheck to pay your mortgage)
:thumb3:

PS: Be sure to get a decent pair of cycling specific glasses(to protect your eyes. You only get one set!) and gloves(to protect your hands/fingers. It's the first thing to hit the ground usually)
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Listen to this guy!

One other piece of advice: Find a riding buddy. My worst wrecks seem to be when riding by myself. Don't worry if you have no experience as most mtn bike riders are some of the nicest people on the planet and will help you out.

Every now and then I will ride with a guy who is 20 years younger and used to race (track and road race) professionally. This guy can beat me up one side and down the other. His cool down rides are usually faster than my starting rides lol. We enjoy riding together though and he teaches me something every time I ride and I have been riding for a looonnnggg time. Even though you think you are the only one in your area you will find many around you will be riders too.

Oh, a few years ago I went to NYC with my wife to catch dinner and a show. I called a friend of mine who rides and lives there. While my wife was shopping I borrowed one of his bikes and we rode from that park near the statue of liberty to times square. What a ride!

Notice I said one of his bikes. Once you get into this sport you will upgrade lol. I have several wirh my latest being a single speed Trek with Fox front suspension. It's what I have been riding for the last several months. Have fun!
 
Mtn Biking

I lived and road mtn bikes and road bikes for over 30 years in the Sierra's of Northern, CA. All I ever wore was a helmet, gloves and clip in shoes. Got banged up from time to time, but that is part of the sport. Besides, if you are riding in hot weather all of the other protection just causes you to overheat quickly. I quite riding when I moved back here to Delaware, due to age, and the fact everything around here is completely flat and extremely boring. No challenges!
 
Some very good points have been made and I won't repeat them all. Key for me is to just know your limits. I've been riding for over 15 years in the AZ desert and I've been fortunate to avoid serious injury. For me I avoid the shin guards etc (never ride without a helmet, clipless shoes or gloves) because I get a false sense of security wearing the armor and start doing stupid stuff. That and after many years of soccer my shins have no feeling and I hate shin guards...

Keep the tire side down and have fun.
 
veloindy said:
whatcha wanna mtn bike for? Overrated IMO! :banana:


IMG_3103.jpg~original
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Looks like Mount Crested Butte in the background to me.

OP, if you are riding cross country rather than down hill, pinstripping is something you suffer through. You can were socks taller than ankle heights, but that is about it in my opinion.
 
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Me at Northstar

I would agree with most of the other posters here. I will gear up differently depending on the ride. When I'm DH'ing i will wear Carbon full face, carbon Leatt, upper body armor, hip armor, knee shins and gloves. I will subtract pads for less gnar stuff for sure. When i XC i will wear just an open face, gloves and still my knee shins. I like to ride hard even on my XC bike and i like the fact my knee shins protect from thistle and poison oak(better then nothing). I also will slip pedals sometimes and have slammed my shins hard into the pedals where im thankful for the shin protection. I also find the biggest upgrade to my gear i made was buying some 5.10 shoes. If your not clipping in the 5.10's stick like glue to your pedals. Its actually unbelievable how sticky the shoes are. You have to lift your foot off the pedal to adjust your footing they grip so much. They are on sale on huckandroll .com right now.

To answer your question me and my friends all swear by the Fox Launch kneeshins. And the poster who mentioned the 661 evos for just knees is on the money, i heard for just knees that they are good.
 
SubyGuy said:
p4pb8461470.jpg

Me at Northstar

I would agree with most of the other posters here. I will gear up differently depending on the ride. When I'm DH'ing i will wear Carbon full face, carbon Leatt, upper body armor, hip armor, knee shins and gloves. I will subtract pads for less gnar stuff for sure. When i XC i will wear just an open face, gloves and still my knee shins. I like to ride hard even on my XC bike and i like the fact my knee shins protect from thistle and poison oak(better then nothing). I also will slip pedals sometimes and have slammed my shins hard into the pedals where im thankful for the shin protection. I also find the biggest upgrade to my gear i made was buying some 5.10 shoes. If your not clipping in the 5.10's stick like glue to your pedals. Its actually unbelievable how sticky the shoes are. You have to lift your foot off the pedal to adjust your footing they grip so much. They are on sale on huckandroll .com right now.

To answer your question me and my friends all swear by the Fox Launch kneeshins. And the poster who mentioned the 661 evos for just knees is on the money, i heard for just knees that they are good.
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I wear the Sam Hill 5/10's and they are very sticky. Also use Grind pedals with adjustable tread risers. I could not imagine wearing shin and knee guards on a 30 mile ride though.
 
Here's a shot of me at one of my last races.
Skittles.jpg~original


I also wear 5.10 shoes when I'm not clipping in. I have the freerider pair in blue and black zebra. I also speak highly of the quality of their shoes and tacky soles. I use the crankbrother 50/50 pedals with adjustable risers and they have been great. If you have the money, you can't go wrong with a set of straightline pedals though. Those things are sweet.

When I clipped in for dh racing I had a set of shimano shoes with a pair of crankbrother mallet pedals, and for XC I had a pair of SIDI shoes with a pair of LOOK clip in mountain pedals.

Oh and 1E, be carefull with those grind pedals. We had a pair on a cannondale chase up at the shop I work at, and they tore a nasty hole in my shins. The bike was set up for Trials so I was giving it a go, and bam. It bled for a few days before It scabbed up. Probably needed stitches.
 
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FactoryRide said:
Here's a shot of me at one of my last races.
Skittles.jpg~original


I also wear 5.10 shoes when I'm not clipping in. I have the freerider pair in blue and black zebra. I also speak highly of the quality of their shoes and tacky soles. I use the crankbrother 50/50 pedals with adjustable risers and they have been great. If you have the money, you can't go wrong with a set of straightline pedals though. Those things are sweet.

When I clipped in for dh racing I had a set of shimano shoes with a pair of crankbrother mallet pedals, and for XC I had a pair of SIDI shoes with a pair of LOOK clip in mountain pedals.

Oh and 1E, be carefull with those grind pedals. We had a pair on a cannondale chase up at the shop I work at, and they tore a nasty hole in my shins. The bike was set up for Trials so I was giving it a go, and bam. It bled for a few days before It scabbed up. Probably needed stitches.
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Yea I know. I tore a chunk down to the bone several years ago. I have a divot in my shin now lol. You have to agree with me though that, if you are using Grind pedals with 5.10 shoes and your feet still come off the pedals then your shin is the least of your worries! I used to run clipless with Specalized shoes (spd) but I have a left ankle that does not like to move correctly when unclipping, if you catch my drift.

For those of you who do not what a Grind pedal looks like here are a few pics of them, one on my old bike and one om my new single speed. Now you see why a "scratch" on my shin is no big deal lol.
 

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1engineer said:
Yea I know. I tore a chunk down to the bone several years ago. I have a divot in my shin now lol. You have to agree with me though that, if you are using Grind pedals with 5.10 shoes and your feet still come off the pedals then your shin is the least of your worries! I used to run clipless with Specalized shoes (spd) but I have a left ankle that does not like to move correctly when unclipping, if you catch my drift.

For those of you who do not what a Grind pedal looks like here are a few pics of them, one on my old bike and one om my new single speed. Now you see why a "scratch" on my shin is no big deal lol.
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I will 100% agree with you on that. That is one of those moments when your rear end puckers up and eye get as big around as grapefruit. Hold on tight haha
 
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