Mountain Biking info

[WaySlowWhitey]

Alot has been said about armor, riding styles and disciplines and pedal/shoe combos. I go back-and-forth with flats vs. clipless. Lately I've been riding Shimano PD-M545 pedals with Shimano shoes. The cages gives me a bit of a platform in more technical situations but the control of a clipless. I also changed my cleats to allow more float to save wear-and-tear on my knees. Also, if you go clipless, don't listen to everyon and crank-down the tension right away. Loosen them up and ride around your house/some simple trails to get used to clipping in/out.

 

[JAC]

Can we see some bikes?...here is mine...entry level Giant Revel 1 ..

.I push this baby about 8mph average now. I was much slower when I first started. I just use helmet, gloves and sunglasses and a camelback for water. I am a beginner and learning downhill and more technical stuff at the moment...have not crashed big yet just a couple of minor crashes by going to fast. I started in late July and I am loving it. I am not ready for clipless on my mountain bike yet even though I do use them on my Road Bike.... I am Planning on doing winter mountain biking as well.

Here is my baby....its an entry Level nothing fancy but I love this thing.

 

[JAC]

Sorry!...Just found other threads with pics... I have been awayyyyy from this forum for a while....still have my faithfull 4runner though...

 

[Quentin]

Late to the topic, but when I started riding, I was terrified of wrecking. After a few wrecks, I came to realize it generally doesn't hurt too badly. Then I cracked some ribs last fall. Lol Still don't wear armor.

As far as the pinstriping, who doesn't like looking like a cutter in a professional work environment? LOL I've sliced my arms and legs open so much in the past 8 years that it simply doesn't register anymore. It is a part of riding. Get out there and clean up the trails and you won't get cut up anymore.

I think pics of my bikes are in the "my garage" link on the left. Sadly, my riding has cut back considerably since I became a dad 2 months ago. Worth it, though. Can't wait to get my little girl on a bike.

 

[veloindy]

I'll post up my ride

Santa Cruz Blur XCc. Just switched back to a 26er from a Ti 29er HT. Couldn't stand the wagon wheels. I'm guess I'm too old school.

 

[characterzero]

Santa Cruz Blur XCc. Just switched back to a 26er from a Ti 29er HT. Couldn't stand the wagon wheels. I'm guess I'm too old school.

Very nice!

I'm building up a new bike now, here is my old one:

Building up a shorter travel rig now - gone is the dual-duty FR sled, going to have a trail bike and a proper FR rig.


Oh, if you have a moment, please sign my petition, I've organized an initiative to have the city build a bike park in Austin:
https://www.change.org/petitions/austin-parks-and-recreation-department-build-a-bike-skills-park-2

 

[WaySlowWhitey]

Loving my YETI SB 66 (SRAM XO/X9, Fox Talas 36 160, RockShox Reverb)

 

[Natey]

Santa Cruz Blur XCc. Just switched back to a 26er from a Ti 29er HT. Couldn't stand the wagon wheels. I'm guess I'm too old school.

Sick bike! I've been trying to save my money for a Bullit, but ...yeah. So many toys, so little money. As it is, I ride an old Cannondale Freeride complete with hanger brakes and bear trap pedals. :shrug:

 

[homeyclaus]

HTFU. seriously, shin guards? who mountain bikes with shin guards???

Yes. Because you're one biff away from limping for a while otherwise. I have pictures of the aftermath of me hitting an off-camber root. Bike went one way, and I went the other... into the base of a tree. I was pretty convinced I had broken my patella. But it was fine, just really really swollen and sore for a week, and it took 10 days of changing bandages to get all the grit out of the wounds.

So just to save myself another 10 days of swapping gauze pads under tensor bandages, not just yeah, but f*** yeah. Just like you can save months of rehab by wearing a helmet.

I run a really old Fox version of these on my shins and knee: Fly Racing Knee/Shin Guard 100052656 at CambriaBike.com

I don't worry about the pinstripes much, it's something you get used to, but I'll stop to pick the thorns out of the arms once in a while.

 

[1engineer]

Yes. Because you're one biff away from limping for a while otherwise. I have pictures of the aftermath of me hitting an off-camber root. Bike went one way, and I went the other... into the base of a tree. I was pretty convinced I had broken my patella. But it was fine, just really really swollen and sore for a week, and it took 10 days of changing bandages to get all the grit out of the wounds.

So just to save myself another 10 days of swapping gauze pads under tensor bandages, not just yeah, but f*** yeah. Just like you can save months of rehab by wearing a helmet.

I run a really old Fox version of these on my shins and knee: Fly Racing Knee/Shin Guard 100052656 at CambriaBike.com

I don't worry about the pinstripes much, it's something you get used to, but I'll stop to pick the thorns out of the arms once in a while.

Well theres your problem. You need to have the bike off camber when hitting the root off camber!

 

[smilycook]

With fall arriving it is the perfect time to armor up on arms and legs and do some crashing! It is very important to learn how to crash. Tuck and roll! Don't stick your hands out or you will break something.

Not sure what lift serve places you have there, but it would be worth renting a downhill bike and armor and spending a day on the lifts.

Make sure you are also loose and your bike fits, then start saving your pennies for a trip out west.

Regional forums on mtbr are great places to meet riding buddies and get advice.

Chris

 

[The4kbeast]

My Trek Fuel EX-7 and Marley, my trail dog @ Vietnam back in Mass:

 

[The4kbeast]

Late to the topic, but when I started riding, I was terrified of wrecking. After a few wrecks, I came to realize it generally doesn't hurt too badly. Then I cracked some ribs last fall. Lol Still don't wear armor.

As far as the pinstriping, who doesn't like looking like a cutter in a professional work environment? LOL I've sliced my arms and legs open so much in the past 8 years that it simply doesn't register anymore. It is a part of riding. Get out there and clean up the trails and you won't get cut up anymore.

I think pics of my bikes are in the "my garage" link on the left. Sadly, my riding has cut back considerably since I became a dad 2 months ago. Worth it, though. Can't wait to get my little girl on a bike.

Agreed. Agreed. Just had a boy 6 weeks ago, can't wait to get him out on the trail. Have you seen those videos on Youtube of that boy riding a bike down the slopes at Highland Park in NH.

 

[homeyclaus]

Well theres your problem. You need to have the bike off camber when hitting the root off camber!

It was, from the root's perspective. Actually, the trail was flat, and the root ran at a 10 degree angle to the edge of the trail, and I hit it at speed at the end of a long descent. Front wheel went over, rear not so much. True though, I had begun to relax into the straight trail, and came out of the attack position one should have had.

Point is, nobody's perfect, and shin/knee guards beat surgery every time.

 

[characterzero]

follow up

Very nice!

I'm building up a new bike now, here is my old one:

Building up a shorter travel rig now - gone is the dual-duty FR sled, going to have a trail bike and a proper FR rig.


Oh, if you have a moment, please sign my petition, I've organized an initiative to have the city build a bike park in Austin:
https://www.change.org/petitions/austin-parks-and-recreation-department-build-a-bike-skills-park-2

New bike built and ridden hard. Custom Avalanche suspension front & rear!