Notes from a newb (what i learned on my first trail)

[-Devil-]

1. bring water, even if you think you have enough, bring more. don't count on the place you are going to, to have a place to fill up.

2. just because you think you can handle the bigger trail, doesn't mean you should go for it, esp if it is your first time riding on one.

3. bring water

4. you have to have up enough speed in order to turn sharply, not enough and you get a close up of the ground.

5. make sure your helmet is adjusted properly.

6. don't try to focus just on what is in front of you, pay attention to what is ahead on the trail as well.

7. when you fall, laugh about it. it happens to everyone.

8. have water or other drinks waiting for you in your car / truck once you are done.

9. don't be afraid to get off and walk up a hill.

10. when you are going down a hill, that has a LOT of roots on the trail, and you loose control don't grab ahold of the nearest tree so that your feet can slip off the pedals and come back and smack you in the leg

http://www.silenzzzz.net/bike/ouch.jpg

my first experience on a trail, was at Ruston LA. thanks to the couple of others that went out with me, and kept stopping to check on me and kept pushing me to make it to the end ... it was a blast, i am looking forward to the next go! ...

though my wife is talking about life insurance now for some reason.

[S. cerevisiae]

though my wife is talking about life insurance now for some reason.

Hospitalization is more useful than death insurance. At least then she might not end up a pauper.

Sounds as if you had fun. This is a great outcome given the results shown in the photo. Remember; pain is temporary, wounds heal, and chicks dig scars (regardless of what your wife may sau to the contrary).

[-Devil-]

yeah i think hospitialization would be better, there were quite a few spots that i swore i was fixing to crash and break something hah! ...

i had a great time! ... the pedal part .. eh it didnt break anything so i am good to go ...

about the only real problem i had (besides not enough water with me) ... was my breathing ... got to get that under control ...

[50 Mission Cap]

1. bring water, even if you think you have enough, bring more. don't count on the place you are going to, to have a place to fill up.

2. just because you think you can handle the bigger trail, doesn't mean you should go for it, esp if it is your first time riding on one.

3. bring water

4. you have to have up enough speed in order to turn sharply, not enough and you get a close up of the ground.

5. make sure your helmet is adjusted properly.

6. don't try to focus just on what is in front of you, pay attention to what is ahead on the trail as well.

7. when you fall, laugh about it. it happens to everyone.

8. have water or other drinks waiting for you in your car / truck once you are done.

9. don't be afraid to get off and walk up a hill.

10. when you are going down a hill, that has a LOT of roots on the trail, and you loose control don't grab ahold of the nearest tree so that your feet can slip off the pedals and come back and smack you in the leg

http://www.silenzzzz.net/bike/ouch.jpg

my first experience on a trail, was at Ruston LA. thanks to the couple of others that went out with me, and kept stopping to check on me and kept pushing me to make it to the end ... it was a blast, i am looking forward to the next go! ...

though my wife is talking about life insurance now for some reason.

One more thing:

Pre / Post ride beers.

[-Devil-]

One more thing:

Pre / Post ride beers.

dang i knew i was forgetting something!

[50 Mission Cap]

dang i knew i was forgetting something!

Well, I guess we all need some help here and there!

Keep it up mans. Sounds like the bug bit you bad. It only gets better.

[Rock Star]

Well at least you didn't get injured. You got a scratch. That happens. Not a bad first ride, and you learned a bunch!

If you wife wants to reduce the risk of blood spill, she could get you some knee/shin pads and/or elbow/forearm pads.

I got lots of scratches before I started using them on rougher trails.

Good luck and keep riding!

[-Devil-]

yeah she told me not to get beat up ... so i gave her a list of what i need ... and she said to buy it ... =P ... was expecting more of an argument about me spending more money .. but hey ...

the bug has bit me for sure ... instead of looking at car websites all day at work .. now i am looking at mountain bike sites ... and figuring out what i need to buy still .. and then reminding myself that i don't need most of that stuff .. i just need to get out and ride more...

[mscotch]

yand then reminding myself that i don't need most of that stuff .. i just need to get out and ride more...

True. Ride for awhile, then decide what you need. That way you won't end up with a lot of stuff you don't need.
Do you have a helmet?
if not, you do need that.

we all crash, some more than others.
Check out this idiot who went OTB (over the bars) and used his hands for landing gear!;)

PS. don't be afraid to walk down hills, either, except of course if you're racing, that's different.

[-Devil-]

Check out this idiot who went OTB (over the bars) and used his hands for landing gear!;)

PS. don't be afraid to walk down hills, either, except of course if you're racing, that's different.

ouch! ... that woulda stung for a day or two ...

yes i have a helmet ... 2 actually ... still deciding which style i prefer ... i have the traditional type and then a giro flak ... i like the flak because it doesn't obstruct my view and fits better ...

the other one on the other hand, gives a sun shade for the glare ... and has better vents ... but it doesn't fit as good and likes to bounce around while i am going down a rocky hill ...

i haven't met a hill yet that i have had to walk down ... there have been a few humps / jumps / fallen trees .. that i went over or down at a snails pace though.

[tryandgetme]

7. when you fall, laugh about it. it happens to everyone.


no it doesn't!





ps. yes it does.

pps. you're hooked. its too late. the first one's free.

[-Devil-]

no it doesn't!





ps. yes it does.

pps. you're hooked. its too late. the first one's free.

from the sounds of it .. i need to find me a dealer ... so i can get another fix

[mscotch]

hummmm.......no zorro yet, what's wrong...;)

[-Devil-]

hummmm.......no zorro yet, what's wrong...;)

zorro? i am lost

[mscotch]

zorro? i am lost

oh, give it a day or 2 more and you'll see.....

[-Devil-]

oh, give it a day or 2 more and you'll see.....

haha .. hmmm ok ... *twitch*...

[Billy2FAT]

Just keep doing it ,you will end up having more fun!!:D

[gti2k2000]

The pedal smack can be painful. The chainring to the back of your calf can be nasty.

[free spirit]

The pedal smack can be painful. The chainring to the back of your calf can be nasty.

Becoming intimate with rocks really isn't fun either. Beer on ice sitting in the car is critical for those after ride aches and pains. It's the ice pack that tastes great too.

:D

Get rid of those bear traps and go clipless. Once you do, you'll wonder why it took you so long.

[-Devil-]

Becoming intimate with rocks really isn't fun either. Beer on ice sitting in the car is critical for those after ride aches and pains. It's the ice pack that tastes great too.

:D

Get rid of those bear traps and go clipless. Once you do, you'll wonder why it took you so long.


fortunate enough to not have made friends with any rocks yet .. but roots and trees like me ...

eventually i will go clipless ... prob in 3 to 5 years .. when i change out to another bike ... haha ...

[-Devil-]

just as soon as i said i wouldn't consider clipless ... i get another lesson ...

got some air on a nice hill, and one foot slipped off the pedal ... managed to land without busting my ass ...

but the pedal decided to teach me yet another lesson

http://www.silenzzzz.net/bike/ouch_2.jpg

now, i am considering at least trying clipless ... i think i am getting to the point where i would wrather just tip over at a low speed ... then keep having stuff like this happen at higher ones hah ...

[Ripp]

Go clipless!! Yes you will fall over a few times, everyone does. But, as you pointed out those will all be low speed tip overs, pretty minor. The benefits of clipless FAR outweigh the hazards.

Bt the way, the Specailized Taho shoe is a great starter clipless shoe. Pretty cheap ($50 or so), has a pretty flexible sole so yo can walk in it normally (most cycling shoes are very stiff!) and they are very comfortable. I've been using mine for two years and they are still in good shape too!

[JIB]

By the way, the Specailized Taho shoe is a great starter clipless shoe.

+1. I've been really pleased with my Tahos. Way more comfortable than the Shimanos they replaced.

[Rock Star]

I actually went back to platform pedals from spd's on my mountain bike. I prefer them for technical terrain. But I love my Specialized Taho shoes even with the platform pedals. Stiff but not too stiff, good for biking and for hiking the parts of some trails that cant be ridden.

[longhaultruker2]

I actually went back to platform pedals from spd's on my mountain bike. I prefer them for technical terrain.

thank you!
i have used some power grips a coupla times since the late 80's,tho:o.

come on,dude,where's the pics of the bike?that's called bike porn,n everybody loves it!

ps:oh,yea..and welcome!:D

[-Devil-]

http://www.silenzzzz.net/bike/ral_bike.jpg

thought i had posted the pic, its an older pic now ... it has ODI grips on it .. and soon will have new tires and such .. got em, just havent put them on yet...

[Rock Star]

Sweet ride, enjoy it!

[-Devil-]

Sweet ride, enjoy it!

i plan on it! ... every chance i get =) ...

this summer going to be buying my 15 year old boy a MTB instead of a car ... haha, and considering a 29" SS for myself as well... now to get up the balls to ride the 18 miles to work, on the highway, one day

[longhaultruker2]

sweet lookin bike!!!:D

[-Devil-]

thanks, thanks ... heh i need to take a newer pic of it ... showing off the better grips ... and mud and scrapes on it now ... plus the tires that are perm stained from the red clay mud in Ruston LA

[longhaultruker2]

... plus the tires that are perm stained from the red clay mud in Ruston LA

lol,just be glad you ain't from cow country...or the perm stain wouldn't be from the clay:rolleyes::p

[-Devil-]

haha, well my in-laws own horses (bleh) so there are some stains from those buggers as well.

[longhaultruker2]

yea,horses share our trails too...never actually seen one out there,but i gots evidence of their recent passings on my tires rite now;):p