Do you get as excited for MTB season as you do ski season?

[MRGisevil]

I don't know the trail network well enough and I'm afraid of getting hurt alone. I'm pretty accident-prone. I'll ride the boring double track at the nearby nature preserve alone, but that's about as adventurous as I get. I'm also still very new to MTBing; I didn't get very many rides in last season. Not really prepared to hack something together if my bike breaks on the trail.

dearie- the more nervous you are the more likely you WILL wind up hurt on your own! Just relax. If you're by yourself and worried you might hurt yourself or your bike, it's simple: don't be a daredevil.

I do not ride by myself very often because I'm typically shouting up a cuss storm behind Tim, but when I am alone I just calm it down a little and don't get myself too far into the trails. If something does go wrong, I don't want to be so far away from the truck it's like the incredible journey getting back to it.

We'll have to do some rides together this season. Let your confidence build up a bit. I don't judge or give unsolicited advice when I ride, so it tends to be a pretty laid back experience, aside from the sweaing.

My friend also just started mountain biking last season & I've been taking her out with me from time to time, so we can drag her out as well if you don't mind the added company. I'm sure there's a trail system mid-way between our houses where we can tool around for a couple hours here or there.

 

[RootDKJ]

so it tends to be a pretty laid back experience, aside from the sweaing.

LOL :lol:

 

[severine]

dearie- the more nervous you are the more likely you WILL wind up hurt on your own! Just relax. If you're by yourself and worried you might hurt yourself or your bike, it's simple: don't be a daredevil.

I do not ride by myself very often because I'm typically shouting up a cuss storm behind Tim, but when I am alone I just calm it down a little and don't get myself too far into the trails. If something does go wrong, I don't want to be so far away from the truck it's like the incredible journey getting back to it.

We'll have to do some rides together this season. Let your confidence build up a bit. I don't judge or give unsolicited advice when I ride, so it tends to be a pretty laid back experience, aside from the sweaing.

My friend also just started mountain biking last season & I've been taking her out with me from time to time, so we can drag her out as well if you don't mind the added company. I'm sure there's a trail system mid-way between our houses where we can tool around for a couple hours here or there.

Sounds good to me! And don't worry; I curse like a sailor myself.

 

[Jisch]

Continuous

I am really psyched to get back on the bike this year, its probably the first year in the last five where I didn't ride straight through. That said, I probably only had 3-4 weeks off the bike due to snow.

I actually already have four or five "regular" rides under my belt this year. I can't wait to get back to the 3-4 times per week routine. I love skiing, but MTBing is so much easier to coordinate - I can ride trails right from my house or be at Case or Shenipsit in 12 minutes (and yes I know its 12 minutes, not 10, not 15, twelve).

I just tore apart my shock, cleaned and greased it today, can't wait to try it out.

Bring it ON...
John

Carrie - my wife is always looking for people to ride with, she's a bit above beginner (in HER head anyway)- the distance may be a killer, but if you're ever looking for a midweek ride at Case, she could lead a ride there.

 

[severine]

Thanks, John! I'd like that! We could use more estrogen MTBing this season!

 

[Greg]

Okay, been MTB gear shopping. I'm officially psyched!

 

[bvibert]

Okay, been MTB gear shopping. I'm officially psyched!

I thought you didn't like shopping?

 

[gorgonzola]

i get psyched for mtb until the first real trail ride and realize that skiing does absolutley nothing to get you in shape for mtb. i usually play hockey 1-2x/week all winter which definately helps the cardio/stamina but skipped it this year for race leagu/clinic. racing and bumps at least give a little workout vs. free skiing in the pokeys and figured that with stationary bike 1-2x would keep the lungs/legs ok....nothin' doing, sucked some serious wind saturday!

 

[Euler]

nope...I don't bike much, too hard pedaling UP those hills. I swim, flat water paddle, do low key hikes, and travel during the non-skiing season. None of these things gets my heart racing like skiing.

 

[RENO]

I hear you. I was MTBer before I was a skier. Still my "best" sport. I am kinda sad when Spring run off starts winding down (don't really care about winter anymore, I ski when it's good, and look forward to it in the fall, but by this time of year, I'm ready for the snow to melt away). But when I get out and start cleaning up local bike trails I get wicked stoked. two days ago I went out and totally reworked a bad section of trail. Dug in moist brown earth for hours. When I was done there was a brown ribbon of single track. Makes me wanna go ride it when I'm done with a section. Kind of like cutting a ski line, then skiing it for the first time. Get involved in Trail work. It's a great motivator.

I rode a ski lift for mountain biking before I skied or snowboarded at Killington in 92. Been riding ever since. I don't do any of the extreme trails there anymore, but still hit there several times a year and check out some stuff that doesn't require full body armor like dropping off a boulder or cliff! :lol: Started skiing in 96 and snowboarding in 2000. Snowboarding gets me more pysched because it isn't as simple as MTBing getting in riding time. I can hit several parks nearby easily for a bike ride whereas snowboarding is always an adventure to get some quality days in with the East weather and coming from central NJ. I still usually get about 25-30 days in though. We usually hit Vermont in the Fall. Hitting all the Fall sales on Columbus weekend really gets me fired up for ski season and I start counting down the days... I actually cut down how many vacation days I used this winter to plan for more biking in the summer and fall. Hope to be doing a western trip to Colorado or Utah for some hiking/biking. Never been biking out West. My buddy who moved to Colorado is always telling me how awesome summer is out there so I think I'll be taking him up on the invite this summer...