Mountain Bikes

[Steve85]

This is good timing bringing this back up.

Son borrowed my bike and brought it back home like this:




Possible that it might just be a broken spring in there? If I need a new derailleur, recommendations? (I use this bike for trail riding only and rent when I go to bike park if that matters) I'm going to take it to the bike shop because it needs a tune up anyway but want to be prepared.

Bryce added a few new features and rebuilt / reconfigured a couple. I'm hoping to go more often this year, the passes we got for the boys include unlimited skiing, biking (bike rental extra though) and golf. The eldest took a lesson and feels pretty confident now, going to do the same for the younger.

[.RJ]

look at that janky ass travel agent

[Deceus]

I've already got my season pass for Massanutten, gonna be out there as soon as I have health insurance again (lol). They're supposedly opening this Saturday but we're getting some pretty sever storms Friday night which I think is going to push it back. Was originally supposed to open on Wednesday and the same thing happened.

Never made it to Bryce last year but definitely won't repeat that mistake this year. I really want to hitup snowshoe as well at some point.

[V1GiLaNtE]

I've already got my season pass for Massanutten, gonna be out there as soon as I have health insurance again (lol). They're supposedly opening this Saturday but we're getting some pretty sever storms Friday night which I think is going to push it back. Was originally supposed to open on Wednesday and the same thing happened.

Never made it to Bryce last year but definitely won't repeat that mistake this year. I really want to hitup snowshoe as well at some point.

Pretty sure Massanutten opens this weekend. Bryce opens in May I believe. Snowshoe have a decent bike park?

We should get a date set for the summer.

[Steve85]

look at that janky ass travel agent

Pretty much what the bike shop guy just said only in a slightly more technical way.

He's going to try and fix it (something about taking the lower arm off and re-positioning it if nothing is broken) and do a full tune-up. I'm guessing I'm going to end up with a new one though.

[Deceus]

I've already got my season pass for Massanutten, gonna be out there as soon as I have health insurance again (lol). They're supposedly opening this Saturday but we're getting some pretty sever storms Friday night which I think is going to push it back. Was originally supposed to open on Wednesday and the same thing happened.

Never made it to Bryce last year but definitely won't repeat that mistake this year. I really want to hitup snowshoe as well at some point.

Pretty sure Massanutten opens this weekend. Bryce opens in May I believe. Snowshoe have a decent bike park?

We should get a date set for the summer.

Snowshoe is probably the best out of the 3. I think they have over 30 trails at this point and the UCI World Cup Finals are actually taking place there this year. I know most of the guys that ride down in Roanoke usually go out of their way to ride there or at Windrock over Massanutten and Bryce.

I'm down to ride whenever really, especially at Massanutten since the lifts are like 5 minutes from my driveway

[rherold9]

Bought a bike. Fell on my first ride very gracefully. I have no idea what I'm doing. Still learning. Will get better. ???

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[ScottyB]

Bought a bike. Fell on my first ride very gracefully. I have no idea what I'm doing. Still learning. Will get better. ???

• awesome!
• don't worry falling is an art.  aim for the pine straw and put your shoulder into it
• it doesn't matter as long as your having fun.  its a lot like racing - pick your lines, look ahead, be smooth, momentum, gear down before the hill, don't grab front brake in the middle of a turn, weight distribution.  you'll be a natural in no time
• been good with bike handling for probably 20 years (although my cardio is a joke currently) and i still am too
• only if you keep riding.  there is absolutely no substitute for miles.  dont' give any F's about certain distance, average speeds, powerbars or whatever nonsense right now.  ride for fun, call it a day when you get tired.  you'll get fast and then its gets even more fun because the hills become a challenge not a punishment.

don't do stupid stuff alone (i can clear that gap jump! i can rail that high log feature instead of taking the ride-around) at least not right now.  def don't ride alone at night (for injury, not safety really).  never try to turn/horse a bike around on wet roots or especially a wet wooden bridge (heard of a guy that broke his neck fatally when he lowsided on a wet bridge and put his face into a support).  don't try to be fast when you're seriously beat, that's when mistakes happen...all my worst falls were when i was trying to keep a mile 4 pace at mile 14 but my brain was basically falling asleep from exhaustion.

find guys to ride with.  its even more fun, they'll push you, show you the trails, help you fix busted stuff, and its safer if you get hurt.  my absolute biggest skill and stamina gains were when i was doing a 2-nights-a-week ride with a local group of about a dozen guys back in 2011.  i was on a shitty dept store bike (flat pedals with tennis shoes, an 80mm front fork, rim brakes, 1.9 width tires, i looked like a joke) and after a summer i was hanging with the top guys and picking my way through rock gardens that the full suspension noobs couldn't clear.  great times.

edit:  here is said POS bike.  run what you brung, have fun, get filthy

[D_Eclipse9916]

Bought a bike. Fell on my first ride very gracefully. I have no idea what I'm doing. Still learning. Will get better. ???

edit:  here is said POS bike.  run what you brung, have fun, get filthy

Filthy is an understatement, the pictures make it look clean!


Very nice.  I bought a bike about a year ago but finally getting it on some trails around here. 

We need to schedule a one night overnight MM trip.  I don't really know any mountain bikers down here; probably should join the local trek rides.  My closest call to eating shit was actually me not paying attention and reaching for my "road bike" bars vs the mountain bike bars and having all my weight fall over. I had to use the upper parts of my arms to catch me on the handle bars while the bike was flailing around.  This was inbetween trail runs at a park on a normal paved sidewalk.     Boy did I feel stupid.

[ScottyB]

Filthy is an understatement, the pictures make it look clean!

fine, fine.  everyone's a critic     about a year later i entered a bike race completely out of my league, was a swamped course, retired halfway through, probably dead last.  still a great time, aint care.

[Sijray21]

i fall way more on the mtb than my road bike; it happens. i actually smashed my first mtn bike against a rock and bent the chainstay on my first mtb race (its 3rd ride...). definitely try to ride with others especially if you take any risks. carry spares and tools. if you're not running tubeless already i'd recommend that as well since you can drop your pressures more and get more grip without risking a pinch flat.

[Senor_Taylor]

I got out of breath walking up the stairs today

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

[D_Eclipse9916]

Filthy is an understatement, the pictures make it look clean!

fine, fine.  everyone's a critic     about a year later i entered a bike race completely out of my league, was a swamped course, retired halfway through, probably dead last.  still a great time, aint care.

Haha I meant mine looked clean!  Not looking forward to my first crash.  I never knew some of these types of trails exist with on camber banking.  It's like an autocross with my feet!

[rherold9]

• awesome!
• don't worry falling is an art.  aim for the pine straw and put your shoulder into it
• it doesn't matter as long as your having fun.  its a lot like racing - pick your lines, look ahead, be smooth, momentum, gear down before the hill, don't grab front brake in the middle of a turn, weight distribution.  you'll be a natural in no time
• been good with bike handling for probably 20 years (although my cardio is a joke currently) and i still am too
• only if you keep riding.  there is absolutely no substitute for miles.  dont' give any F's about certain distance, average speeds, powerbars or whatever nonsense right now.  ride for fun, call it a day when you get tired.  you'll get fast and then its gets even more fun because the hills become a challenge not a punishment.

don't do stupid stuff alone (i can clear that gap jump! i can rail that high log feature instead of taking the ride-around) at least not right now.  def don't ride alone at night (for injury, not safety really).  never try to turn/horse a bike around on wet roots or especially a wet wooden bridge (heard of a guy that broke his neck fatally when he lowsided on a wet bridge and put his face into a support).  don't try to be fast when you're seriously beat, that's when mistakes happen...all my worst falls were when i was trying to keep a mile 4 pace at mile 14 but my brain was basically falling asleep from exhaustion.

find guys to ride with.  its even more fun, they'll push you, show you the trails, help you fix busted stuff, and its safer if you get hurt.  my absolute biggest skill and stamina gains were when i was doing a 2-nights-a-week ride with a local group of about a dozen guys back in 2011.  i was on a shitty dept store bike (flat pedals with tennis shoes, an 80mm front fork, rim brakes, 1.9 width tires, i looked like a joke) and after a summer i was hanging with the top guys and picking my way through rock gardens that the full suspension noobs couldn't clear.  great times.

edit:  here is said POS bike.  run what you brung, have fun, get filthy

Yeah, I fell well. Was going down hill the front tire just caught and snapped the handle bars left and I jumped to the right and used my shoulder/leg to pad the impact. No damage to me or bike or helmet. Then again I wasn't going super fast..

I'm just taking it easy as Cabell just flies ahead leaving me in the dust. I have no rush I can tell I can't go fast or I'm going to smack something good. I got more comfortable the 2nd trail run as I learned the turns and got used to the bike. Need to run lower tire pressures with the tubeless as the front kept washing out. A few taps of air out the front helped a lot the 2nd run. Basically had a group of friends ride yesterday on the "poop loop" and it was fun. I can definitely see getting faster but I needed to take it slow and learn basics.

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[Deceus]

Still firmly in the "pedaling is for chumps" crew



This thing has been pretty good to me so far. Managed to almost clear a few of the jumps on Massanutten's jump line but have been too chicken shit so far to give the black lines another go. The trail bike has just been rotting in the garage sadly, I really need to get on it.

[rherold9]

TIL, push down on the front suspension and use the rebound to actually get air on the front end... I was just lifting the front end like a street bike... The more you know [emoji23]

I'm still not used to the whole balance and speed while trying to make the bike turn and transition quickly and mild obstacle and keeping speed to actually get over obstacles on hills. I'm taking it easy. Appreciate Cabell being patient today and waiting as he watched the struggle bus that ensued. No falling off but several walk overs on a new trail today. 2nd time riding, but getting slightly more comfortable

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

[Deceus]

TIL, push down on the front suspension and use the rebound to actually get air on the front end... I was just lifting the front end like a street bike... The more you know [emoji23]

I'm still not used to the whole balance and speed while trying to make the bike turn and transition quickly and mild obstacle and keeping speed to actually get over obstacles on hills. I'm taking it easy. Appreciate Cabell being patient today and waiting as he watched the struggle bus that ensued. No falling off but several walk overs on a new trail today. 2nd time riding, but getting slightly more comfortable

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

That'll work for now, but eventually you'll want to get your weight back and use your hips to bring your front tire up. Getting comfortable and confident is probably the biggest thing to focus on for sure. 



Probably a little advanced for you right now but it's probably the most important thing to learn to keep you from going over the bars.

[V1GiLaNtE]

^ One step at a time. Manual videos like that show good rider skill, but IMO is also bike/trail dependent. Riding XC is gonna be a real bitch getting your ass back that far smoothly when you're running your seat high. Not impossible, but more difficult when your seat isn't dropped way down. I'm looking into running a dropper post on my bike for this exact reason.

Good times crushing trails last night. It's certainly rewarding watching that "A-HA" moment click in for new riders. Mountain biking is all about momentum and balance. That's it. As we ride more of the trails here you'll get faster just like racing because you'll remember the course. You know your lines, you know your braking points, and you know when you can just straight haul ass down the straights. 

Scotty nailed it with other riders. Riding with people faster than you makes you take risks and pushed you more which ultimately makes you faster. I've gotten in on a group of racers that host more casual Thursday night rides. It has definitely put me in my place quite a few times. 


Also, any of you clowns on Strava?

[D_Eclipse9916]

Also, any of you clowns on Strava?

Only for running, and most days running I am with the wife or my neighbor who use theirs.  I use it mainly to guilt myself to run harder when I see shitty averages.  

Any reason to use it for mountain biking?

[Sijray21]

Also, any of you clowns on Strava?

yerp

"J Ray - TBL" on Strava based out of Herndon

mostly just a bunch of road miles and commutes to work. nothing too exciting. The rare Zwift instance, but that'll likely ramp up in the late fall and winter.

between looking for a nice road bike replacement, getting a new groupset for my mtb, i'm also looking for a neat gravel bike and possibly putting a dropper on there.

---

Any reason to use it for mountain biking?

for the KOMs and fun factor with friends/strangers who also ride the same routes. other than that it's helpful if you're out alone, get hurt, and need help with no cell phone reception. it'll give others an idea of where you've ridden and look there just 'in-case'.

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Filthy is an understatement, the pictures make it look clean!

fine, fine.  everyone's a critic     about a year later i entered a bike race completely out of my league, was a swamped course, retired halfway through, probably dead last.  still a great time, aint care.

I just noticed this picture on tapatalk, did you do the 6 hrs of warrior creek with RJ? I think he usually does that race.