OMG DirtDiva! Mountain biking ROCKS!

[janie1234]

Wow!!! I know I've thanked you and everyone who offered advice a million times but I have to thank you all again. The advice you gave me was so helpful, . .espeacially about going down hill. I finally got to take my new bike out. Boy I have to say to anyone interested an intense cardio workout mountain biking is for you! It tested my cardio endurance, core strength, upper body and lower body to boiling point. It was super intimidating at first but when I killed my very first super steep down hill I was flabergasted. It was such a crazy, scary, death defying rush. Today I was doing steep single switch backs and jumping rocks, creeks, and logs. I thought I was going to puke or break a bone but getting to the top was amazing and going down oh such a treat. Scary but fun. By the end of the 3 hour ride I was covered in mud and my knuckles were white from my super tight death grip on the handle bar. I bet this is the rush you get from surfing, . . .hmmm. Anyway you all are awesome! Oh, . . and I know that you all said to buy clips but I think I'll wait till I master the bike. I know that it wil help with climbing the hill but I hate not having quick acess to my feet when I'm facing a cliff of death next to me. Now the padded shorts and camel back well, . . that I have to get. Dang it did I mention this sport is expensive?

 

[DirtDiva]

I'm SO happy for you! It is the best workout to challenge every part of your body, including toes! But...no death grip on the bars! It's bad for you, trust me, relax your handgrip some, of course you want to hang on, but if you have white knuckles, that's too much. And where are your gloves???

I question the idea of mastering the bike without clips. You are learning to ride the bike on flat pedals, i.e., you are learning to climb, descend and traverse on flats, which means your leg and foot and body are working to keep the foot on the pedal. When you get your clips, you'll be learning how to ride in a different way, once more. If you want to know what it feels to do things without being clipped in, I understand that. I won't tell you what to do in this respect, because you have to be comfortable until you have that break through of trust on the bike. But...once you convert to clips, you'll see everything is that much easier. When you get to that point, give me a holler and I send you tips on how to make them super-slick and easy to exit.

Ride that chariot woman! Each time will be more thrilling, just wait when you start traveling to destinations, like the holy land....MOAB!

 

[sunnyside]

That's great you are enjoying your new Mountain Bike! It's so much fun, isn't it? I've been doing it for years now and it just gets better and better. And yes, this is an expensive sport...but aren't all sports to a degee?

About the clipping into the pedals. Don't worry about it! You are doing fine just getting used to your bike and handling the terrain right now. I'm opposite of DirtDiva (sorry girl!) and recommend people get a good handful of rides in and sometimes a good season of riding, before clipping in. I've seen quite a few people who clip in first thing and end up hurting themselves.
I personally, rode for years without clipping in (and rode the "hard technical stuff" just fine) and finally, when I did decide to clip in, it wasn't a big deal and I adjusted in no time, just took a couple of rides is all. And thanks to Netta's recommendation (another cycling guru on the forum) I started with pedals that have a platform on one side and clip on the other.
something like these: (http://cgi.ebay.com/Shimano-Pedals-...ing_Parts_Accessories?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116
They were great to build up my confidence (cuz let's face it, I didn't want to be one with my bike just yet, lol). If you use these and you find yourself being clipped in most of the time and not using the platform side much, you are ready to advance to other pedals (might only take one ride or might take a whole season, but these pedals sell easily on e-bay, so don't worry about wasting money). Also, when you do decide to clip in, it's a good idea to practice clipping in and out of the pedals over and over again in a safe place (like on grass, not a cliff!) til you get in down, cuz you are probably going to fall first time trying to unclip. All that said, once you do clip in you'll love it and never look back!

Anyways, Have fun out there!

 

[janie1234]

Thank you ladies! Yeah, I learned a couple of things out there during my first 2 rides. First keep mouth closed when riding through mud. Second apply pressure to both front and back breaks when going down hill. I did tip over a couple of times trying to get up some wet rocky hills with tree roots popping out everywhere and I kept thinking man if I was clipped in that rock would be wearing my face on it permenantely. I know I'll get there. My husband always talks about how much easier it is to go up hill when you are clipped in. So a few more questions if you all don't mind. Hydrolic breaks are these something you could upgrade your bike with? I've got small hands and squeezing the brakes got to be a bit uncomfortable after the 2nd hour. Do either of you reccomend them? With the clips can any shoe fit on any clip? Or do you have to buy the same brand clip for shoe? The stores here don't have much of a selection for womens mountain biking shoes, only road biking. These aren't the same are they? Any other tips for going down hill I'll happily take. Dirt Diva, . . .the gloves and helmet were two of the first things they told me I had to buy at the bike shop, . . in case I fall they said. Now how's that for a confidence booster. I asked and they didn't sell any mojo. Dallys those pictures on your picture trail are awesome! Where on earth do you live? The beach pics look familiar is that Monterey California? Anyhow thanks again. I gotta admit at first I thought I couldn't do this. While passing mountain bikers during my trail runs and hikes (all men for some reason) I used to think they people are nuts! Maybe this is my mid life crisis?

 

[sunnyside]

Thank you ladies! Yeah, I learned a couple of things out there during my first 2 rides. First keep mouth closed when riding through mud. Second apply pressure to both front and back breaks when going down hill. I did tip over a couple of times trying to get up some wet rocky hills with tree roots popping out everywhere and I kept thinking man if I was clipped in that rock would be wearing my face on it permenantely. I know I'll get there. My husband always talks about how much easier it is to go up hill when you are clipped in. So a few more questions if you all don't mind. Hydrolic breaks are these something you could upgrade your bike with? I've got small hands and squeezing the brakes got to be a bit uncomfortable after the 2nd hour. Do either of you reccomend them? With the clips can any shoe fit on any clip? Or do you have to buy the same brand clip for shoe? The stores here don't have much of a selection for womens mountain biking shoes, only road biking. These aren't the same are they? Any other tips for going down hill I'll happily take. Dirt Diva, . . .the gloves and helmet were two of the first things they told me I had to buy at the bike shop, . . in case I fall they said. Now how's that for a confidence booster. I asked and they didn't sell any mojo. Dallys those pictures on your picture trail are awesome! Where on earth do you live? The beach pics look familiar is that Monterey California? Anyhow thanks again. I gotta admit at first I thought I couldn't do this. While passing mountain bikers during my trail runs and hikes (all men for some reason) I used to think they people are nuts! Maybe this is my mid life crisis?

Yes, that ride was in the Monterey area. Pebble Beach 17 mile drive to be exact. I vacation there every year, but I live in Utah, very close to SLC. I've been mountain biking for around 12 years and I used to never see any women up in the hills. I'm starting to see more of them around here now, which is nice. I rarely see any my age though, I'm 46. When we go to Moab and Fruita I see a lot more women, but most are youngsters. I love when I see someone close to my age (it's like we are of a secret pack and instantly like each other). I wish more women would get out there and try it. Weird, you see lots of women road bikers everywhere. Women love the road bike (I just got one, so now I'm one of those people,lol).

I don't have hydrolic brakes on my bike (never felt the need, I don't ride in the mud), so maybe DirtDiva can help you there. I do know that my husband upgraded to them and he had to get disc brake compatible wheels also. It wasn't cheap is all I remember ($1000). He also said they are heavier than what I have now and I'm all for keeping my bike as light as possible. Just upgraded quite a few things actually. About the shoes. You do need a cleat/shoe/pedal system. Stick with SPD and you can't go wrong. I have Sidi Dominator shoe$ and shimano SPD 959 pedals. You won't want road biking shoes, because they are hard to walk in. You could go try some on and at least get the size right in a certain brand and then order mountain bike specific shoes off the internet.

This is a great mid life crisis by the way.