My first ride in ~10 years

marcski · May 8, 2008, 3:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg

Indeed. I would actually love to find something that I could just get to directly from my house on the bike though. That would get me out a lot more often, I'm sure.

I love being able to ride directly from my house. I have about a 1/2 mile uphill (a nice steep hill too) to a great local trail network. And then I'm 10 minutes to 2 other great county parks that allow riding and about 25 to another. Although, it takes me a while to get to any good skiing....I live in a great area for biking!

**Greg** · May 8, 2008, 7:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg

Indeed. I would actually love to find something that I could just get to directly from my house on the bike though. That would get me out a lot more often, I'm sure.

I think I might have found something. There is a small state park which is little more than woods, within 2 miles from my house. I didn't walk too far since I had the kids with me but there are some very lightly used trails leading into the woods. It's a small area. Maybe 0.5 mile x 1 mile, but perhaps it's good enough to set up a small trail system. Anyone wanna help?

I'll have to check it out a bit more.

MR. evil · May 8, 2008, 8:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg

but perhaps it's good enough to set up a small trail system. Anyone wanna help?

I'll have to check it out a bit more.

I am not sure if your joking, so I will assume you are serious about setting up a trail system at this park.

Please don't!....Atleast not without the permission from the park land manager. Even with the best of intentions, people that go out and make there own trails (aka poaching) on public or private land ruins it for the rest of us. If you do get permission I would seek the help of your local Mountain biking club and or trail advocate. They can show how to build trails that will last. It is not as easy as you may think.

**Greg** · May 9, 2008, 6:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MR. evil

I am not sure if your joking, so I will assume you are serious about setting up a trail system at this park.

Please don't!....Atleast not without the permission from the park land manager. Even with the best of intentions, people that go out and make there own trails (aka poaching) on public or private land ruins it for the rest of us. If you do get permission I would seek the help of your local Mountain biking club and or trail advocate. They can show how to build trails that will last. It is not as easy as you may think.

I wasn't really serious. You're the one that must be joking if you actually think I have that amount of free time!

What I meant was, the trails that I saw were not at all heavily traveled, certainly not by mountain bikers. I wouldn't think of doing any cutting or making "new" trails in any way, but rather just ride on what's there, clearing downed trees that are in the way (again, just by pushing them off to the side, not cutting), etc.

JD · May 14, 2008, 9:33 PM

a good raking never hurt either.

Trekchick · May 15, 2008, 5:29 PM

Greg, good for you!!!
Nothing takes the place of skiing for me, but Mt biking is what I do to pass the time until I can go skiing again.

My first Mt bike is/was the trek 4900, with disc brakes and rapid fire shifters.
Last year I kicked my riding up a notch and invested in a Trek Liquid 25.
Now, where can I buy skill?

Seriously, I got into a group that rides every Wed night at 6:30. We always know someone is going to show up to ride so we always have a partner.
Logs are getting a lot easier for me, but I freak out on skinny's. Just can't wrap my mind around them.

Up hill logs are my nemesis!!!

What I noticed with mt biking is this:
It has helped my mogul skiing, because, .........I was not looking far enough ahead. When I got into mt biking, I learned that you look past the trees you're going between, DON'T look AT the trees.
Learning to look ahead in the trees helped me to learn to look ahead in the moguls.

JD · May 15, 2008, 8:14 PM

Greg. Enjoy being a novice. Every time you go you will notice improvement, and if that doesn't make you wanna get back out again and again I don't know what will. Love the progression.

**Greg** · May 15, 2008, 8:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JD

Greg. Enjoy being a novice. Every time you go you will notice improvement, and if that doesn't make you wanna get back out again and again I don't know what will. Love the progression.

Been struggling to find the time to get back out lately. Can't wait to though. Back in the day, I think I was an okay rider so I think I'll progress quickly which might make me get hooked even more. I really need something to keep the off-ski-season blues at bay.

from_the_NEK · May 22, 2008, 8:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg

Been struggling to find the time to get back out lately. Can't wait to though. Back in the day, I think I was an okay rider so I think I'll progress quickly which might make me get hooked even more. I really need something to keep the off-ski-season blues at bay.

Greg, since you never seem to be able to get to Burke during the winter to ski, you should a least set aside a weekend this summer and make a trip to the Kingdom Trails in Burke. There is a tremendous amount of perfectly groomed single track riding that doesn't require you to be an expert by any means. Some of the flowing downhill single track gives me the same feeling as skiing a good bump run

ckofer · May 29, 2008, 5:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbcbd

That's awesome Greg. I think MTB brings out similar thrills as skiing and you can definitively get very technical with it and engage your left brain artistic perfectionist... or whatever that was

The only bummer is... biking muscles aren't skiing muscles. But hey, its good exercise and a lot of fun.

I'm trying to get myself back into it. Busted 5 ribs last summer (mild lung puncture) on a slow ride. Being a wuss.

As far as biking muscles go, I agree somewhat w ski muscles being different. On the other hand, it keeps you in great shape for snowboarding.

The social aspect to riding is a lot like group skiing-for better or worse.

May 14, 2008, 9:33 PM	#25 (permalink)
JD Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Northfield Posts: 935	a good raking never hurt either. __________________ Don\'t know until you go.

May 15, 2008, 5:29 PM	#26 (permalink)
Trekchick I'm Baaaack! Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,163	Greg, good for you!!! Nothing takes the place of skiing for me, but Mt biking is what I do to pass the time until I can go skiing again. My first Mt bike is/was the trek 4900, with disc brakes and rapid fire shifters. Last year I kicked my riding up a notch and invested in a Trek Liquid 25. Now, where can I buy skill? Seriously, I got into a group that rides every Wed night at 6:30. We always know someone is going to show up to ride so we always have a partner. Logs are getting a lot easier for me, but I freak out on skinny's. Just can't wrap my mind around them. Up hill logs are my nemesis!!! What I noticed with mt biking is this: It has helped my mogul skiing, because, .........I was not looking far enough ahead. When I got into mt biking, I learned that you look past the trees you're going between, DON'T look AT the trees. Learning to look ahead in the trees helped me to learn to look ahead in the moguls. __________________ Well-behaved women rarely make history ~ ~ Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

May 15, 2008, 8:14 PM	#27 (permalink)
JD Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Northfield Posts: 935	Greg. Enjoy being a novice. Every time you go you will notice improvement, and if that doesn't make you wanna get back out again and again I don't know what will. Love the progression. __________________ Don\'t know until you go.

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May 8, 2008, 3:54 PM
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