When did you start riding?

[plume_mtb]

Lately I've been getting down on myself with where I am with riding and racing. Yesterday I had to remind myself that I've only been at this for 3.5 years. Beginner, no but I certainly don't have the skill or fitness that most of the folks I ride with have. You'll get that with expert level mountain bikers and pro level roadies. At least they're nice when they drop me and more often than not they wait at the bottom of the hill. (As a general rule I can hold my own on the uphill part).

So... when did ya'll start riding? And yes of course I rode as a kid, but not like I do now, I didn't even know it was possible to do certain things on a bike until I witnessed other people doing it. Started out as a way for me to get around camp sites when I began researching the next bike for me. I quickly realized I wanted a good bike and waited an extra year to get a nice one. In the mean time I rode my dad's old Cannondale that was at least two sizes too big for me. It worked though. Complete with plastic platforms, soccer shorts, and no helmet or gloves I rode alone as I was intimidated by the guys in lycra and actual helmets and stuff.

Started riding with other people when I got the new bike, and I quickly graduated to hang with the single speeders. It was at that point that I fell victim to the "more than one bike" disorder. Had to have a SS, still wanted my gears. Fast forward two years and a handful of success stories in the sport class and I decided to move south to western NC. Love at first pedal stroke. I stayed committed to my single speed and did all my XC racing and even a few long distance races with it. Pulled the trigger on a nice albeit very used FS bike and caught the , "wow, I'm kinda over the climbs, let's ride for the descents on this thing" lol...

Now I'm grumpy cause I didn't reach my goal at the last race of the season, but what do you do? For me it will be hitting the local fun trails on the single speed and a reminder of why I ride in the first place. Personal discovery. :D

Have at it.

[jerman]

Started riding not too long after my 30th Bday. First ride totally kicked my arse! Pushed the bike a lot that day but had a blast. Few years later and a few bikes later I like to think I am in better shape today than I was when I turned 30.

Dont be down on yourself Plume, I think it is cool you are setting goals and working toward them on the bike.

[rockyrider]

I used to have a road bike back when a road bike was just a 10 speed,and rode it all the time. Bought a Kuwahara Apollo ATB in 1984, a 15 speed with chrome bullmoose bars and friction thumbies and rode that many more places than I could ride my 10 speed. Once some friends bought MTB's in 1985 I started to ride more epic rides in the wilderness. Been a dirt junkie ever since.

Set the wayback machine for 1988 Sherman. My 1988 Mongoose IBOC Pro and a geeky looking rider.

[Hand/of/Midas]

started riding seriously when i was 11 years old, well as serious as a 11 year old can be, luckly there was a bmx track a few blocks away and i'd ride 4-5 hours each night every night. by the time i was 13 i was a better jumper than all but a few of the 18 year olds. got outa bmx racing around 14, to just ride bmx for fun at the skateparks and dirtjumps. started working at a shop at 17, and got into every other kind of bike out there. riding/racing XC and DH,a bit of fixed gear commuting, and still riding bmx for fun.

I dont care what type of bike it is, its all just riding a bike. Alot of people forget that and close their minds to new things.

[phlatlander]

Now I'm grumpy cause I didn't reach my goal at the last race of the season, but what do you do? For me it will be hitting the local fun trails on the single speed and a reminder of why I ride in the first place. Personal discovery. :D

Have at it.

I make it a goal to never reach my goals. That way, I am never disappointed in myself. I used to race mtb alot, back in the late 90s & I was semi fast (top fiveish sport class). After a couple kids and a lot of road bikes, I am actually faster now, but racing just doesn't do it for me like it used to. Sure, it's fun to see "where I stand" compared to some of the same faces & a bunch of new ones, but I only feel like doing one or two a year now & that's fine. I have rediscovered the joy of riding with a purpose other than training. It is the ride w/friends. With the Myrons, Caps, Mo0ses, Katies, Maxes, Peas, Nogearses, Onespeeds, Budgies Ripps & Dirtworshippers.

I see many folks go through this cycle. I wouldn't change any of it because it gives perspective. I have been blessed with good friends & good health and it feels like my first ride every ride. :)

[davkatreb]

Guess I was 7 or 8. That would have made it-what?-1958-59. My grandpa had gotten me an old singlespeed cruiser.It was painted red with a brush and was the coolest thing I had ever seen. I threw a leg over it, got it going across the lawn and ain't looked back.

[real_ss_budgie]

yeah mate..ive been flogging the guts outta mtb's since 88 when i first saw a 21 speed cro-mo ATB and thought.."coi!! this could be just as good as flogging the Kawa KDX 200 without all the where to ride issues.
now its 07, my cods are larger, my hairy arse is drum tight and i have lovers from around the american regions.
top that myronious (http://http://www.sardi.sa.gov.au/dhtml/ss/section.php?sectID=810&tempID=)!!

[Mo0se]

If you attain your goals, you have no
hope left, set them unattainably high.


Started pre-teen, took a 20 year
vacation, and after all this time,
I still have no balance!


:D

[rockyrider]

oh yeah, you have no balance... I can't even walk on these things let alone ride them, and everyone expects that anyone who rides on the North Shore can do this stuff... you have no idea of the peer pressure that produces. :D :rolleyes:

[Mo0se]

oh yeah, you have no balance... I can't even walk on these things let alone ride them, and everyone expects that anyone who rides on the North Shore can do this stuff... you have no idea of the peer pressure that produces. :D :rolleyes:

Just raise your seatpost, get some
tight clipless, and show them how
it's done! :eek::D

[rockyrider]

oooooooo, or a road bike. Now THAT would be impressive!

[tryandgetme]

my road bike tracks like a frickin' laser. that would be cheating, until I needed clearance, flat resistance, traction, downhill position, or cushion...

[mimbresman]

Since I was 11 or 12, I was interesting in bicycle touring. I had made up my mind then that I was going to travel by bicycle someday. I got serious about cycling again in 1978 after high school. I went the local shop and bought a Raliegh Super Gran Prix with the intentions of riding it across the USA.

My first big tour, I rode from Mexico to Canada in 1981. On that trip I saw my first mountain bike I knew it was the next big thing. I needed one!

I started teaching on the "Rez", the Navajo Indian reservation in the 4-corners area of New Mexico, in 1985 and I was finally able to afford a mountain bike in October of 1986; A Trek 850. I rode it everyday after work. The Rez was the perfect mountain bike learning place.

I pretty much rode alone for about 6 months, getting fit, teaching myself skills. I used to ride over and over the same trails until I could clean them. It took me months of trying to finally clean one tricky sheep trail.

I rode in Moab the first time in February 1987. One weekend I drove there alone and camped in Arches National Park. It was snowing. Saturday I hiked around Arches and explored the town of Moab. On Sunday I found the Slick Rock Trail. There were only 6 people on the Slick Rock Trail; 3 locals, a couple from Colorado, and me. All the other bikes were equipped with toeclips! Why didn't I think of that? When I got home and found some broken toeclips, rebrazed them in my science lab; using a propane torch and brass rod from a welding kit the school had. I mounted them on my mountain bike. My first mod.

In the Spring of 1987, I learned about Sunday group rides at the Two Wheel Drive bike shop in Albuquerque (2 hours away). My first TWD group ride was in the east Jemez Mountains between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. One of the guys, Jim, who is still a good friend, said I was good. That made me feel pretty good considering I taught myself how to ride on the sheep trails of the Navajo Indian Reservation.

That's how I got started...

[bitterfish26]

wow now all you old timers make me look bad.... and i guess im not that finessed of a rider yet and ive only been riding for about 3.5 years not including park bmx which was an experience in its own because in bmx you could just torque the hell out of your bike and the only breakables were the chain and a few tire issues but now that im out of bmx and into mountain biking i have to work on being less crash worthy and work more on being agile on the XC and AM trails but as far as DH goes its a whole different story

[K-Man]

Mountain biker since 1987. :)

Pigheaded triathlete (http://www.dirtragmag.com/web/brainfart.php?ID=66) before that. :(

Thanks, Steve. :D

[Hand/of/Midas]

but now that im out of bmx and into mountain biking i have to work on being less crash worthy and work more on being agile on the XC and AM



i got all my bike control from bmx actually.

[cMc]

Mountain biker since 1987. :)


Me too. Got my first "real" mountain bike that year at age 14. 20 years later and still going strong. :D

[tryandgetme]

8 years ago I realized I could get to my highschool FAR faster than public transit by bike. did my first all-year riding that year too. Then I realized I could take the bike off road, and have fun too.

[MrPhil]

My first MTB ride was Spring of 85 in the San Gabriel foothills. I thought I was gonna die. Most of my riding had been as a tourist and commuter. These guys were hard core roadies who'd just discovered mountain bikes. They weren't TRYING to break my legs off . . . . .
Anyway, I was hooked. I still have the Ritchey Commando I bought a few months later. For the next 10 years it saw serious use. I worked in bike shops, on and off for 17 years, between 1970 to 1995, then got a "real job" for the medical benefits and enough income to put a child through college.
My new girl friend has got me back on the bike. I picked up Dirt Rag #130 a couple months ago. Found myself talking "chain lines" with a coworker. Who knows, maybe it is time to go back to the bike shop.
What was the question? Oh yeah, when did I first start riding? Several times apparently; 1961, 1968, 1983, 2007.

[davkatreb]

Me too. Got my first "real" mountain bike that year at age 14. 20 years later and still going strong. :D
I was riding a bike in the woods in 1963. I had no clue that anyone else would ever want to do such a thing. But maybe that's why I'm such a retrogrouch. I look at all the fun I've had with such crappy (by today's standards) stuff, and all the latest and greatest just seems like so much marketing hype.

[davkatreb]

What was the question? Oh yeah, when did I first start riding? Several times apparently; 1961, 1968, 1983, 2007.
(In my very best Butthead voice) Huh, huh, we're old.

[50 Mission Cap]

My father bought me a stumpjumper back in 1992 b/c I had wrecked my schwinn predator so many times in the woods. Was like over a grand I think; very grateful / lucky to have a pops like that. I think he realized how much I was into the sport, and did it for me. Been riding (on and off I guess) ever since.

[WeltDog]

Bought a Diamond Back with Deore DX components in 1990 just because we were in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Rode crazy stuff that I was too young and dumb to realize I had no business doing. Rode hard for 3 years. Fast forward 17 years, 2kids, job, etc. Went riding with a buddy and got the riding bug BAD ( he did too and his wife is pissed at me:) ) , obsessed with it for 3 months then broke elbow. Living vicariously through the Net until it heals and my new bike arrives. Wish I had those 17 years of pedaling in my legs now.

[wigger thomas]

Got a Trek 830 in '93. Started hammering on a Mongoose IBOC Zero G in about '95.

[AM Radio]

Picked up a Mono Cog a few years ago thinking that if I started to ride to work everyday I might lose the weight I gained from quitting smoking. Back in April of this year guy in a drunken stupor convinced me to take it off road. Now I sometimes dream about riding over dirt and rocky roots. But the real story is about how kind, encouraging, and nice everyone I have met, rode with, and or talked to about mountain biking have been to me the novice.
thanks

[1mystk]

So... when did ya'll start riding? And yes of course I rode as a kid, but not like I do now, I didn't even know it was possible to do certain things on a bike until I witnessed other people doing it.

I never rode as a kid, just learned how to ride a bike at the age of 34 in August 2006... my first dirt ride was thanksgiving weekend in October 2006 (Canuck thanksgiving;))

I rode in the winter, and at night... my first bike was a 1992 Raliegh... full rigid... 26 inch wheel...

I didn't know anything about bikes... my first mountain bike was my Misfit Dissent 29er... shortly thereafter I bought (shh...) a Trek Fuel Ex7 WSD... absolutely hated it and sold it after 5 rides... I have been commited to my dissents... I have two bikes... one is a misfit SS and the other is a misfit with 1 x 9 gears set up...

I would love to buy another bike... not sure what... most likely a road bike... I love my 29 inch wheels ... I am thinking of putting a fork on the 1x9 set up... see how she rides... if me likes - will try it out on the SS too...

I am also drooling over a Gary Fisher 29er and a Rocky, and a Scott bike, and a Moots.... girl gone mad? yes... but... but...but...
I have raced three times this year now...

10 Hour Womens Only Fly Gurlz Relay (5 girl team)
Dukes Fall 8 Hour Race at Hardwood Hills (mixed team of 4)
Winter WOW 40 km Enduro Race in the cold weather just this past weekend... tough race... finished injured et all... going back next year with an agenda!

Next year I will race the Tuesday night race series when I can (if work doesn't get in the way)... and planning to race both 8 hour events... possibly the Fall 8 hour Solo... see how my training goes over the winter and how the racing goes during next season...:D

[ironspoke]

Started riding on the road in the mid 80's on a Panasonic Touring Deluxe (which I still ride) and then in 1991 a buddy invited me to go on a camping trip up at Mt. Snow to watch the races. I borrowed my dads Schwin Impact for the trip. I literally had taken the bike off road ONE time before sitting on the chair lift and riding to the top. Talk about learning on the fly. I watched these guys zip past me on pretty much unsuspended rides and it was something I knew I would do the rest of my life.

I picked up my rigid Diamond Back the following month. I raced in the early 90s just a couple of times a year and was mainly concerned with not finishing last. I liked the vibe of those early races but I never had the fitness levels to really do well. Then in 1998 I bought my Cannondale Super V 1000.

These 3 bikes get me to where I'm going and I'm currently looking out for a 29r as the next step.

I now spend most of my time on the road because of family obligations and time constraints, but I'm hoping my kids will follow me into the woods soon and I can show them what a great sport this is.

[Teamfubar]

I went on my first mountain bike ride in 1987 on my dad's Cannondale 26/24" on Crow Peak in the Black Hills. I got my own Trek 950 about 18 months later and haven't looked back.

I have been through all the phases of mountain biking, like the neon helmet covers, riding in hiking boots, full on XC racer, 24 hour racer, "freerider", singlespeeder, etc. Now I am back to just being a mountain biker!

[50 Mission Cap]

Picked up a Mono Cog a few years ago thinking that if I started to ride to work everyday I might lose the weight I gained from quitting smoking. Back in April of this year guy in a drunken stupor convinced me to take it off road. Now I sometimes dream about riding over dirt and rocky roots. But the real story is about how kind, encouraging, and nice everyone I have met, rode with, and or talked to about mountain biking have been to me the novice.
thanks

Well peas,

If you weren't such a duesch bag, we'd probably be nicer to you!!!

Just kidding babe. You're money, and you don't even know it!!

Mickey Cap

[davkatreb]

Well peas,

If you weren't such a duesch bag, we'd probably be nicer to you!!!

Just kidding babe. You're money, and you don't even know it!!

Mickey Cap
Go easy on the boy, fitty. Maybe it's just the triptophen kickin' in, but I'm even beginning to like him.

Well maybe just a little...

[phlatlander]

...but I'm even beginning to like him.

He had you at Monocog.

[longhaultruker2]

well,since the age of 4-5,i'd always been ridin my itty-bitty bikes "in the woods",but 1st started "mtn biking" around '88 or so @ age 15-16,as cross training for motocross/hare-scrambles...the motorcycle dayz are long gone,but not the pedal locomotive devices (duh:rolleyes:),hopefully,they'll be around fer years to come:D

[robcycle]

He had you at Monocog. I almost spit my beer on the screen!

I rode as a kid. BMX bikes, 3 speed roadsters, and 18 speed department store trash MTB's. It was a way to get around, and since we spent allot of time in the woods ...

Fast forward to 2001. I was 21, had just moved to Phoenix, had nothing to do, and spent a lot of time hiking/rock climbing in the city parks. Every so often people would ride by on mountain bikes and I was intrigued. I tell the next part because I love you guys and we're all friends here. I went to Wal-Mart and bought Mongoose XR-POS. Dual suspension (yeah right, :rolleyes:) it looked super-cool (at the time), and it was only $100. I took it out on the trails and learned how to be stupid. I remember thinking many times "If you try to stop now, you're just going to wreck." Long story short, I ended up spending several times what I paid for it on "upgrades" to replace the department store crap I had broken.

In '02 I moved back to Richmond and was using the bike to commute to my job as a preschool teacher. One of the kids parents saw the bike and we started to talk. He said he had an old GT from back in the day that his wife would be glad to get rid of. Done. That's when the B=N+1 bug bit and I haven't looked back since. :p I spent many nights in my garage building project bikes out of things I pulled out of the trash, bikes people gave me, and piles left when others cleaned out their shops. I learned to love commuting, fixed riding, singlespeeding, road riding, and well ... riding.

Last weekend I bought my first new bike, an '07 Monocog 29er, and I'm in love with it, and love riding as much as ever :cool:

-Rob.

[Zinger]

Off and on. Learned to ride at 7 (~1970), and mis-spent many careless afternoons with friends riding off the bluff over Apalachicola Bay to see who could crash farther into the marsh grass. Mixed riding and commuting for several middle years, including some cyclocross-like backroads adventure on a Trek 600.

Following a small-childeren-no-time-for-riding hiatus, I got serious in '95 with a new Trek 830 and 30 miles of local trail; that's really the start of my biking.

[kpomtb]

Had some motorcycle trails at the end of the street when I was a kid, so as soon as I learned to ride without training wheels, I was riding on dirt. Then eventually got a Schwinn Deluxe Varsity, and it saw trails as much as roads, too. My first real mountain bike was a Jamis Dakota, bought it in the summer of 88 when I was 19. 19 years later, I'm still hitting the trails.

[HempKnight]

I first started riding when my pops let go of the back of the seat. Coincidentally thats when I first started crashing.:(

I first started Mountainbiking in 1991.
I loved my first real Mountainbike. Washed it waxed it. Carried it over mud puddles.Took it camping.(See Enclosed Picture.) Never had sex with it, but came close:o

I haven't really started Road-biking yet. (is it called that? I dont know) Other than riding my mountainbike or beer bike on the road. That will be 2008. Gonna be a really good year. I hope.

[WunSpeedWunder]

Toured west coast USA in August of 85 ,spent 3 days criusing with 2 guys from Texas on Cannondale MTB's (had never seen one b4) researched as much as I could when I got home-craze was not down here yet!! bought my first real MTB in August of 88, joined local club in Nov90,first race Dec 90,17 bikes later.Can't see myself ever not riding..'tis way too much fun

[mimbresman]

Read my Ironspoke blogs; Episodes I, II, III, and IV (http://ironspoke.com/Community/Blogs/tabid/73/BlogID/3/Default.aspx)(so far). It is a general account how I got started.

[50 Mission Cap]

Toured west coast USA in August of 85 ,spent 3 days criusing with 2 guys from Texas on Cannondale MTB's (had never seen one b4) researched as much as I could when I got home-craze was not down here yet!! bought my first real MTB in August of 88, joined local club in Nov90,first race Dec 90,17 bikes later.Can't see myself ever not riding..'tis way too much fun

Don't you mean "back in 85..." ????

[Irie]

Been Mountain Biking since 1989. My first bike was a KHS Montana. Now I ride a Santa Cruz Chameleon that is so dope! Norcal baby!!! IMR all up in the Santa Cruz mountains!!:p

[Tman]

1983, I am 38. Saw the Coors Classic in Colorado and was hooked on all types of "real" bikes. That was the summer I quit 20"

[rockyrider]

Read my Ironspoke blogs; Episodes I, II, III, and IV (http://ironspoke.com/Community/Blogs/tabid/73/BlogID/3/Default.aspx)(so far). It is a general account how I got started.Oh sure, couldn't just say something succinct like April 1984. :p :rolleyes:

[1mystk]

Oh sure, couldn't just say something succinct like April 1984. :p :rolleyes:

it was a good read tho Rocky;):p:D

[squall]

I started riding a bike when I was still 7 yrs old.. That was 1987 I think..

[bikeguyrich]

Sure, we alll rode as kids. 12th birthday I paid for half of an english racer (3-speed) with my paperboy money and my parents paid for the other half, bike cost about $50. (1962). Road cross country on a C. ITOH 10 spd with steel wheels and 30 pounds of gear attached (tent, sleeping bag, cooking gear, clothes, fishing pole, etc. Started wrenching on bikes in 1984. Got my first mountain bike in 1988. I don't race but I do like to ride...:D

[RepublicanSS]

serious riding 1983:eek:

[Ripp]

I got my first MTB in 1991, ridgid Giant. Never rode it off road, just used it to get to classes. Loaned it to a crack head a few years ago who claims it was stolen, I suspect different. Wish I had it now, would make a great singlespeed.

Started riding singletrack in 2004 and haven't looked back!

[I.C.Light]

Im still a beginner, but I got my first mountain bike in 92 at 15. It was a Murrey from Toys R Us. It was a piece of junk but I learned alot, from that bike. After something broke I would have to fix it and by the time I was done it was a pretty good bike. I loned it to my brother and it got stolen. Irode that bike every place, My girlfriends dads would always ask how I got there cause "I didnt hear a car come up the drive". I broke my wrist horseplaying with friends and still rode my bike with my cast on. I wore a hole right through the grips. Prior to that I had ALOT of handmedowns. A four year stint in the Marines ,Kids,job and wife later, in 2005 I got a GF Mullet and have had fun on the local trails and a short commute to work. I have since bought a Trek XO1 for the commutes and road rides when there is not enough time to ride on the trail.

[bdee]

MTBs? - 1991, on a loaner Schwinn Criss Cross hybrid (gee, no wonder I like 29ers so much). It's all been downhill from there:D It's almost embarassing to list all the bikes I've owned.

Bikes in general - 1979. I never really stopped now that I think about it. Kept road riding after getting my lisence..

[fudgedit]

I was just daydreaming about my first mountain bike. I bought a used Schwinn High Sierra with Suntour XC Pro group for $150 from a guy back in 1990. I could barely pedal that thing a mile without being winded. I kept riding and riding then started finding more and more trails around East Lansing MI. I fell in love with biking and trail riding there. Then one day after a really long muddy ride I left the bike outside while I ran into the house to take a leak. I was inside three minutes and came back out to find no bike! That was a killer. I loved that bike so much. I ended up buying a used Trek 930 that I rode into the ground. That bike saw me into a new love of biking and commuting. I dropped about 25 pounds just riding one summer. My next bike was a brand new 1994 Stumpjumper (rigid) one of the last of the steel frames, still have it (dad pretends its his but he never rides it.) That was my race bike. Did the Fat Tire 40 on that bike. Ended the race with my tubes bulging out of the sidewalls from all the brake pads becoming messed up due to all the mud on the course. I now ride a Jamis Dragon (853), rigid Fisher (1x7), Univega converted SS roadie with cross knobs and an early 80's Manta touring bike. When I am not peddling I am paddling my Old Town Loon 138 on the Wisconsin River.

[50 Mission Cap]

I was just daydreaming about my first mountain bike. I bought a used Schwinn High Sierra with Suntour XC Pro group for $150 from a guy back in 1990. I could barely pedal that thing a mile without being winded. I kept riding and riding then started finding more and more trails around East Lansing MI. I fell in love with biking and trail riding there. Then one day after a really long muddy ride I left the bike outside while I ran into the house to take a leak. I was inside three minutes and came back out to find no bike! That was a killer. I loved that bike so much. I ended up buying a used Trek 930 that I rode into the ground. That bike saw me into a new love of biking and commuting. I dropped about 25 pounds just riding one summer. My next bike was a brand new 1994 Stumpjumper (rigid) one of the last of the steel frames, still have it (dad pretends its his but he never rides it.) That was my race bike. Did the Fat Tire 40 on that bike. Ended the race with my tubes bulging out of the sidewalls from all the brake pads becoming messed up due to all the mud on the course. I now ride a Jamis Dragon (853), rigid Fisher (1x7), Univega converted SS roadie with cross knobs and an early 80's Manta touring bike. When I am not peddling I am paddling my Old Town Loon 138 on the Wisconsin River.

Had a green 1993 stumpy. Have a re-accuring dream about that bike.... that one and my 1986 schwinn predator free form bg.

[AM Radio]

Had a green 1993 stumpy. Have a re-accuring dream about that bike.... that one and my 1986 schwinn predator free form bg.
Cap is the biggest kid I know! I make sure to bring hard candies and caramels for him when we do our tandem double Centaurs.
Chewy too
21989
Broken like the windows in the house I used to live

[mscotch]

I was just daydreaming about my first mountain bike. I bought a used Schwinn High Sierra with Suntour XC Pro group for $150 from a guy back in 1990. I could barely pedal that thing a mile without being winded. I kept riding and riding then started finding more and more trails around East Lansing MI. I fell in love with biking and trail riding there. Then one day after a really long muddy ride I left the bike outside while I ran into the house to take a leak. I was inside three minutes and came back out to find no bike! That was a killer. I loved that bike so much. I ended up buying a used Trek 930 that I rode into the ground. That bike saw me into a new love of biking and commuting. I dropped about 25 pounds just riding one summer. My next bike was a brand new 1994 Stumpjumper (rigid) one of the last of the steel frames, still have it (dad pretends its his but he never rides it.) That was my race bike. Did the Fat Tire 40 on that bike. Ended the race with my tubes bulging out of the sidewalls from all the brake pads becoming messed up due to all the mud on the course. I now ride a Jamis Dragon (853), rigid Fisher (1x7), Univega converted SS roadie with cross knobs and an early 80's Manta touring bike. When I am not peddling I am paddling my Old Town Loon 138 on the Wisconsin River.

will have my wifes/and my WI river trip in ironspoke in a few months. as soon as I can talk my wife into getting back on the water so we can finish the lower Dells to Dekorra or so and take a few pics. Started at the exit of Castle Rock Lake to the Dells and skipped over the section above and went from Praire de Sac to Wayalusing last summer. (did I tell you all this already?)

Guess you hang out up north?
Hope to get my kayak out in a couple of weeks, the smaller northern rivers should be good this year....

use my x-cal for shuttling

[plume_mtb]

This thread got me thinking about my first MTB, a Nishiki Manitoba. Black with florescent green decals (Okay, I wanted the florescent green paint w/ black decals...) I rode the crap out of that thing and while it didn't see much actual single track I had some amazing adventures with it. Through out my college years when cars took over for awhile I neglected that poor bike and someone took advantage of me poor choice of a storage space and it was stolen. To this day when I see a Nishiki (few and far between) I still get a little watery eyed.

If anyone has one laying around I'd be willing to trade, or buy...

http://www.teamkarim.com/bikes/used/images/112106-04.jpg

that's the one

[fudgedit]

Scotch-I love paddling the lower Wisco. It is always fun going past the nudie beach. Yikes!! My favorite stretch as of lately though has been between Merrill and Brokaw. There are some fast ripples between class 1 and 2. My bro and I can do it in an afternoon. Thus his wife allows him away from the house for a couple of hours. I was just down at Castle Rock yesterday scoping for eagles. There are a couple of nice fishing holes. Supposedly the I-39 bridge is a honey hole for Musky. It is a nice float trip as it is pretty shallow so you don't see a lot of boat traffic and no jet skis.

[mscotch]

Scotch-I love paddling the lower Wisco. It is always fun going past the nudie beach. Yikes!! My favorite stretch as of lately though has been between Merrill and Brokaw. There are some fast ripples between class 1 and 2. My bro and I can do it in an afternoon. Thus his wife allows him away from the house for a couple of hours. I was just down at Castle Rock yesterday scoping for eagles. There are a couple of nice fishing holes. Supposedly the I-39 bridge is a honey hole for Musky. It is a nice float trip as it is pretty shallow so you don't see a lot of boat traffic and no jet skis.

We've canoed the New Wood a lot and I yak a stretch of the Prairie in high water. Both by Merrill.
That area between Merrill and Brokaw is beautiful...have you biked the Underdown trials between Merrill and Rhinelander? They are some of my favorite now, pushes Levis in a lot of ways.

A few of us are going to do the WI over Mother's Day weekend (Upper Dells, a day on the Kickapoo and finish going from Muscoda to Wayalusing)
I have the shelter at Muscoda reserved for the Thursday and Friday before and we plan on camping in a sand bar (water level permitting) Saturday night)
We're always looking for fresh meat if you want to join us for all or part of it.:D 2 or 3 of the guys in my ironspoke Canada blog will be there.
Great bunch of guys, not like some bike forum creeps I hear about occasionally. UFuzzy, you're invited, too!

[S. cerevisiae]

Raced roadie in '74 &'75. Girls didn't like dates on bikes in Murrysville, PA so I turned the Colnago back into the shop/sponsor. Forgot all about two-wheelers until I pissed around on borrowed rides in college.

Fast forward to late winter 2002. Found a junky Raleigh M20 in a plowed snow bank. One SS conversion later...

Now my son rides it (and wants gears), and I gots me the Redline.

[50 Mission Cap]

Cap is the biggest kid I know! I make sure to bring hard candies and caramels for him when we do our tandem double Centaurs.
Chewy too
21989
Broken like the windows in the house I used to live

faqqqah u!!!

[WesNile]

Back in 1984 it was if my memery fails me again. A Diamond Back TrailStreak for $319 from Yankee Peddler.
Put more money into it than it was worth, but don't we all. Ever since then I have a problem, mountain bikes, all of them, I love bikes...:rolleyes:

[ItsAaronWV]

Don't sweat it too much man. I'm also fairly new to the sport (3 years in). I don't race, so I'm not super competitive, but I've ridden with state champions, and I got smoked. I didn't worry though, because as long as its fun you're doing it for the right reason. I suck at climbing, and I'm improving my singletrack finesse, but everyone can get better. And, as with any other sport someone will always be more proficient that you. So just have fun doing what you're doing, improve your weaknesses, and keep cycling in good health!

[Troll]

Took my first 3 day, 3 city, 3 state, 127 mile tour at age 11 in 1971. Damn I'm old. :( I think I bought my first bike with S&H Green Stamps! Now I ride a MTB, less chance of getting hit by a car and more chance of hitting a tree.

Good Luck and keep pedaling.:D

[rockyrider]

Now I ride a MTB, less chance of getting hit by a car and more chance of hitting a tree. Or being eaten by a grizzly. :D

Be happy you're not the oldest one around here, there's a few of us in the 50+ category here.

[Troll]

You have no idea. Here is a picture from my ride this weekend. S&W 44mag. Spring is here, the bears are out of hibernation and looking for food. I don't want it to be me! :D

[rockyrider]

ah ha! You can't be hiding in silhouette....

[Troll]

Nice enhancement! Thanks! My puter doesn't have that programing in it. :D