Mountain Biking

dunkman
dunkman Posts: 19,646
edited May 2008 in All Encompassing Trip
its my new obsession again... i used to race years back, now i do it for fun.

bought a new bike and have been cycling like a maniac for the last 3 weeks :)


http://www.7stanes.gov.uk/forestry/achs-5rnfl6

did the Phoneix Trail on that above website :)


rad! :D
oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
Post edited by Unknown User on
«1

Comments

  • South of Seattle
    South of Seattle West Seattle Posts: 10,724
    I used to BMX race as a kid. So when I was living in Utah I figured I'd try Mountain Biking since they have amazing terrain. It thoroughly kicked my ass, I respect Mountain Bikers a lot more now. Just don't wear the spandex ;)
    NERDS!
  • dunkman
    dunkman Posts: 19,646
    South of Seattle wrote:
    I used to BMX race as a kid. So when I was living in Utah I figured I'd try Mountain Biking since they have amazing terrain. It thoroughly kicked my ass, I respect Mountain Bikers a lot more now. Just don't wear the spandex ;)


    totally agree with the spandex thing :D


    actually some MB'ers are a wee bit like Golfers in that respect... they dont like people turning up to cycle if they are wearing jeans or combats on or something... i love pedalling past those 40-somethings who have spent a holy fortune on all the gear... they look down on some of the kids who just go along for the whole experience of it... dicks


    I remember getting to the top of this forest hill once and just sitting there and soaking in the view... it made the climb so worth it.
    oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
  • Riverrunner
    Riverrunner Posts: 2,419
    Yeah, I love mountain biking, but I suck so much I rarely do it. Plus, I have to drive somewhere, albeit, only 20 miles or so, to mountain bike, whereas, road biking I can just start at my house.

    I can't figure out why I am so bad at mountain biking. One thing, I think I am too cautious so I go too slow, which means I fall over a lot. I am a runner at heart and I am always afraid of getting injured. I was going to work on my mountain biking skills over the winter, but we had such bad (wet) weather it kept everyone off of the trails.

    The trails there look nice. For some reason, I wouldn't have thought of Scotland as a place for mountain bikers.
    The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way it treats its animals. Ghandi
  • dunkman
    dunkman Posts: 19,646
    Riverrunner wrote:
    Yeah, I love mountain biking, but I suck so much I rarely do it. Plus, I have to drive somewhere, albeit, only 20 miles or so, to mountain bike, whereas, road biking I can just start at my house.

    I can't figure out why I am so bad at mountain biking. One thing, I think I am too cautious so I go too slow, which means I fall over a lot. I am a runner at heart and I am always afraid of getting injured. I was going to work on my mountain biking skills over the winter, but we had such bad (wet) weather it kept everyone off of the trails.

    The trails there look nice. For some reason, I wouldn't have thought of Scotland as a place for mountain bikers.

    man, i think road cycling is much more dangerous!!! :D

    we have some excellent trails and forest courses here in the South of Scotland... dunno about way up north as I reckon that might be too mountainous or just too far away. but the 7stanes trails around me are bringing in a lot of tourism... highly regarded trails.

    where are you then? :)
    oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
  • Riverrunner
    Riverrunner Posts: 2,419
    dunkman wrote:
    man, i think road cycling is much more dangerous!!! :D

    we have some excellent trails and forest courses here in the South of Scotland... dunno about way up north as I reckon that might be too mountainous or just too far away. but the 7stanes trails around me are bringing in a lot of tourism... highly regarded trails.

    where are you then? :)

    I agree that road biking is probably more life threatening because drivers hate us and want to kill us!! However, as far as quantity of injury I am more likely to get hurt on a mountain bike, but not enough to kill me or maim me - just keep me from running for a while.

    I live in Metropolis, Illinois which is extreme Southern Illinois on the Kentucky border. As for mountain biking, hiking, trail running we have Shawnee National Forest in So. Illinois which covers several counties, and we also have Land Between the Lakes (LBL) in Western Kentucky. No mountains, but lots of bluffs and hills, rocks and roots, creeks and ditches. I can't ride a rock garden, and I am terrible at switchbacks. I'm scared to go fast down the steep hills and too little muscle power to speed up the hills. Sounds bad, doesn't it?
    The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way it treats its animals. Ghandi
  • Sian-of-the-dead
    Sian-of-the-dead Posts: 8,963
    dunkman wrote:
    its my new obsession again... i used to race years back, now i do it for fun.

    bought a new bike and have been cycling like a maniac for the last 3 weeks :)


    http://www.7stanes.gov.uk/forestry/achs-5rnfl6

    did the Phoneix Trail on that above website


    rad! :D

    :eek: You dark horse!!! I didn't know you used to ride!!!


    'ere, thats made me day that 'as :D

    I wants my bike back now, I haven't been for a good old off road trek/death mission for ages :(
    Been to this many PJ shows: Reading 2006 London 2007 Manchester & London 2009 Dublin, Belfast, London, Nijmegen & Berlin 2010 Manchester 1 & Manchester 2 2012...

    ... and I still think Drive-By Truckers are better.
  • ajedigecko
    ajedigecko \m/deplorable af \m/ Posts: 2,431
    cycling is my favorite past time.....we do not have much in the way of a need for a mtn bike.

    i have taken my road bike and converted it into a cyclocross. now i can ride all surfaces.

    next spring...we (some on this pit, maybe) are going to cycle across yellowstone during a time when no cars are allowed, just bikes. you should look into it, it will be an experience in cold.
    live and let live...unless it violates the pearligious doctrine.
  • Riverrunner
    Riverrunner Posts: 2,419
    Dunk, what bike did you buy? Brand name? Full suspension? Single Speed?

    There are some people in my bike club who now only mountain bike on single speed rigid bikes!! Almost all of the mountain bike races now offer a single speed division. I could never do it. I started this sport too late in life I think.
    The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way it treats its animals. Ghandi
  • dirt
    dirt Posts: 398
    Biking means everything to me!

    I ride trail bikes -- geared and single. I have a road bike as well. In August I plan on doing a solo trail ride with a BOB trailer from my house in w. michigan all the way to the UP (Mackinaw Bridge).

    My dream is to some day ride the continental divide from Canada to Mexico! In '94 I rode solo from Seattle to Michigan -- A mental enema indeed.
    drive less - RIDE MORE!
  • sennin
    sennin Posts: 2,146
    I need to do something on two wheels too. I raced BMX for about 12 years....but I've barely touched a bike in the last 3 years. wtg Dunk!
  • South of Seattle
    South of Seattle West Seattle Posts: 10,724
    Dunk - Check out this link

    http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/trails/index.htm

    The Salt Lake index is all within about 10 minutes from most homes. The Moab section was for the weekend trips. You should stop there if you make your great American adventure. :D It's amazing Biking.
    NERDS!
  • South of Seattle
    South of Seattle West Seattle Posts: 10,724
    sennin wrote:
    I need to do something on two wheels too. I raced BMX for about 12 years....but I've barely touched a bike in the last 3 years. wtg Dunk!

    Me too, I haven't rode in about 6 years. :(
    NERDS!
  • mca47
    mca47 Posts: 13,337
    I LOVE mountain biking!!

    I don't do it as much as I'd like, but it's tons of fun!
  • dunkman
    dunkman Posts: 19,646
    Riverrunner wrote:
    Dunk, what bike did you buy? Brand name? Full suspension? Single Speed?

    There are some people in my bike club who now only mountain bike on single speed rigid bikes!! Almost all of the mountain bike races now offer a single speed division. I could never do it. I started this sport too late in life I think.


    http://www.konabikes.co.uk/2008/fire-mountain/fire-mountain.php

    no way could i cycle on a single speed bike.. it'd kill me!!!




    Hey Sian... i used to be very very into it.... bought a Claud Butler about 10 years ago for £650.. which back then was a shitload (still is for a scotsman!! :D )

    anyway, used to do a bit of racing but i enjoy the actual experience of it more than the blink and you'll miss it of racing...
    oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
  • dunkman
    dunkman Posts: 19,646
    South of Seattle wrote:
    Dunk - Check out this link

    http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/trails/index.htm

    The Salt Lake index is all within about 10 minutes from most homes. The Moab section was for the weekend trips. You should stop there if you make your great American adventure. :D It's amazing Biking.


    The US has way too much bloody good country for one nation to own :D

    So is Utah the 'main' place to go MBing? I had read Colorado was pretty much one of the top areas.

    I'll be in Virginia next year... anything there?
    oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
  • mca47
    mca47 Posts: 13,337
    dunkman wrote:
    The US has way too much bloody good country for one nation to own :D

    So is Utah the 'main' place to go MBing? I had read Colorado was pretty much one of the top areas.

    I'll be in Virginia next year... anything there?

    I live in Arizona and I have to say Northern Arizona, and the Sedona area may be the best I have been.

    I'd really like to get a new bike. I have a 2004 Specialized Rockhopper. Great bike, but I think I'd like something a little more aggressive.
  • Riverrunner
    Riverrunner Posts: 2,419
    dirt wrote:
    Biking means everything to me!

    I ride trail bikes -- geared and single. I have a road bike as well. In August I plan on doing a solo trail ride with a BOB trailer from my house in w. michigan all the way to the UP (Mackinaw Bridge).

    What sort of trail is it? How many miles?
    dirt wrote:
    My dream is to some day ride the continental divide from Canada to Mexico! In '94 I rode solo from Seattle to Michigan -- A mental enema indeed.

    Wow.... Seattle -> Michigan. My attention span is too short for that. I bet you were in awesome shape though. Did you have support or were you self-supported?
    The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way it treats its animals. Ghandi
  • norm
    norm Posts: 31,146
    haven't biked in years (back) but this was my favorite place to do so

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqSs4Cm_DzE

    :)
  • South of Seattle
    South of Seattle West Seattle Posts: 10,724
    dunkman wrote:
    The US has way too much bloody good country for one nation to own :D

    So is Utah the 'main' place to go MBing? I had read Colorado was pretty much one of the top areas.

    I'll be in Virginia next year... anything there?

    The corner where colorado, utah, & arizona meet is pretty much the mecca.
    NERDS!
  • sponger
    sponger Posts: 3,159
    on the trail

    my horsie: 2007 Trek Fuel EX 6


    I know what ur thinking when you see that photo of me on my bike. You're thinking that the seat is too low -that I'm almost in a crouching position.

    My lower back is supremely fucked up from a disc herniation, and I have to keep it as upright as possible. If the seat were at an optimal height for leg extension, I'd be leaning too far forward for comfort. But, thanks for noticing.
    reigning champion

    http://forums.pearljam.com/showthread.php?t=272825

Categories