Thing I have learned this weekend

Ransaka
Ransaka Posts: 474
edited January 2010 in MTB beginners
If you take 2 spare inner tubes fate will give you 3 punctures.

If the sign says public bridleway but looks like it's heading into a field without a bridleway expect a barbed wire fence at the bottom rather than a gate. Pray the herd of cows don't have young ones with them. Oh, they do. Oh they look angry. Oh look, I can get myself and my bike over a barbed wire fence quite quickly. :evil:

Chalky, muddy singletrack is not fun to try and ride up.

Eat more than a bacon sandwich before giong on a 20 mile xc jaunt.

False summits on hills are the suck.

If the great bit of muddy downhill that you've been really looking forward to, and the thought of which has kept you going through those hilly climbs, is at the end of your route see the first point and expect the last puncture that you're too tired and too muddy to fix by the side of the road to occur within sight of said bit of muddy downhill fun that you then have to walk down with your bike.

Mountain biking is epic fun despite all these things :D

Comments

  • The terms my more experienced riders use and what they mean!
    'Technical' = f*!%ing difficult!
    'A bit slippy' = Something a hippo would enjoy wallowing in and the same grip as the local ice rink!
    'slight incline' = straight up / down

    Other things I have learnt in my brief experience of MB'ing so far;
    When progressing down hill at a great rate it is advisable to keep ones eyes open and not wail like a banshee!
    Shin guards are strongly advised!
    My bike collects more mud than I physically thought possible, it is the Tardis of bikes!
    I cannot fly (very far)
    Landing in nettles hurts - lots!
    Mud (& fat) make for a softer landing than rocks / tree stumps!
    I squeal like a girl when showering after above experience
    Bruises come in many many interesting colours
    My wife knows many many bad words that are demonstrated when she finds my muddy kit in the washing machine and a trail of said mud from the front door to my current location!
    MOUNTAIN BIKING IS AWESOME FUN AND I CANT STOP GRINNING FOR HOURS!!!
  • eyko
    eyko Posts: 68
    Making me jealous, the most important thing I've learned so far is more padding is required (knee and elbow in particular)

    Not for the XC bit, but the ride home since falling off on concrete hurts and puts you out of action for a few weeks :cry:

    I just want to ride again :(
    FCN 7
  • BigJimmyB
    BigJimmyB Posts: 1,302
    OP, you may be interested in these:

    http://www.bikely.com/listpaths/srchkey ... shorter/40

    That clay/chalk mix actually stopped my back wheel turning when doing a South Downs Way loop!
  • Ransaka
    Ransaka Posts: 474
    It was in fact one of the Kraken's trails I was following (with a minor, cow filled detour).

    Am enjoying riding the Downs, they're fun but I really do need to get more stamina and lose some flab to help make climbing that little bit easier. Belting through the woods on the way down to Patcham was great fun :)

    The Downs mud sticks to everything though!
  • Pfft MTFU, that's all just part of riding XC :lol:
  • i learned that i enjoy the red route at mabie a lot
    but i also learned not to try and play on the jump park
    and linking to the above point gravel rash is sore in the shower
    and pedals and shin bones dont go well together

    but hey no pain no gain
    look to learn something new each day you breath and you will go a long way
    dont only ride a bike
  • FSR_XC
    FSR_XC Posts: 2,258
    It is possible to use as much effort going down a hill as getting up there in the first place when it has been raining so fookin' hard that that downhill is a foot of mud all the way.

    You can fall off laughing after watching your mate slide into a branch and land in said mud.

    Mud isn't always soil & rain water . . . . .

    MTB rules!!!!!
    Stumpjumper FSR 09/10 Pro Carbon, Genesis Vapour CX20 ('17)Carbon, Rose Xeon CW3000 '14, Raleigh R50

    http://www.visiontrack.com
  • That leaving my pump attached to the bike at all times means it fills up with mud and doesn't work when I most need it leaving me with a long walk home. :x

    MTB is a lot more expensive that I first thought as I always NEED (not want?) new stuff.

    Linked to the above point - I'm learning new ways to justify new purchases to my wife!
    Trek Top Fuel 9 2010, Stumpy Pro 2009 ,Giant XTC3 2009, Qu-ax Penny Farthing,
    Elswick Hopper Model M delivery Bike 1960

    God Shave The Queen!
  • leon69
    leon69 Posts: 53
    some more from me in the last year ....

    Rottweiler Dogs Dont Move for MTB'ers and are mutch like hitting a short wall ..
    Rottweiler owners will allways blame the bike rider as it could not be there fault they just hold the dog lead
    Old poeple Will step out in front of you even if they have seen you
    Young poeple Will step out in front of you even if they have seen you
    Small dogs will think your wheels are made of sausages and chace you till the bitter end
    If a sigh says no motor bikes expect 2 chav's on a scooter sooner or later
    Never look down when rideing you will get a tree branch in the face
    Never look up when riding you will hit a root and go over the bars
    Expect to go home with dog sh!t sprayed up your back and front off your tyre's
    Expect to be kicked by passing horse's
    Expect that big puddle to realy be a pond
    Expect a flaty when the farmer is cutting the hege
    Expect fly,s in the eye,s even when its raining
    Expect your release cleats not to release when you realy realy need them to ,crash slide skid over the bar's etc
    Expect your release cleats not to release when you realy realy need them to coming to a stop, poeple there you fall over still cleated to your bike :D
    Never tell a teenager you can do a 1/4 pipe in a BMX park on your MTB this will be both expensive and painfull ::)
    Dont expect the wife to show any interest in your ride out no matter what hapnd
    Never ever tell the wife how mutch it Realy cost 8)
    Allways buy a new bike in the same color as your old one and when asked if it is a new bike say no ;D
    Never ever tell the wife how mutch it Realy cost said it twice coz its realy importent ;D
    If you dont bleed your not trying ...
  • I Learned that my bike is to small for me and my brakes dont work to well :oops: :lol:
  • xstrathyx
    xstrathyx Posts: 1,104
    i learnt recently tree's do not make great shock absorbers :shock:
  • Dont expect the wife to show any interest in your ride out no matter what hapnd
    So true!

    I also learnt that going over your handlebars is less funny when it happens to you :roll:

    Also aches and pains take a lot longer to subside the older you get
  • Cheshley
    Cheshley Posts: 1,448
    xSTRATHYx wrote:
    i learnt recently tree's do not make great shock absorbers :shock:

    I found this out too, cost me a new front wheel :shock:
    1998 Marin Hawk Hill
    2008 Specialized FSR XC Comp
    2008 Scott Speedster S30 FB

    SLOW RIDES FOR UNFIT PEOPLE - Find us on Facebook or in the MTB Rides section of this forum.
  • eyko
    eyko Posts: 68
    1.) Not riding for a month seriously screws up fitness and skill
    2.) My new Kyle Strait 661s are suprisingly comfortalbe to ride in
    3.) Lots of mud on route stops you moving
    4.) Lots of ice on route stops you stopping
    5.) Finding new places to ride is rewarding
    6.) Seeing deer is nice
    7.) Seeing a dead cow is not so nice
    8.) I can't wait ot get back out again
    FCN 7
  • Dont eat & drink like a pig for two days on the trot


    Its makes you sick :oops:
    On One Inbred 456
    On One Inbred SS
  • Dan Dare
    Dan Dare Posts: 367
    That it is easier to cycle on ice in the afternoon than it is to walk home from the pub on it at 4am.
  • eyko
    eyko Posts: 68
    That I've had the front suss on my bike locked out since I've had it, meaning today was my first ride with "working" suss :oops:
    FCN 7
  • I learned today that you can't assume that waterproof socks are dry on the inside just because they are dry on the outside.

    I also learned that ice is slippy :oops:
  • To keep your mouth shut when going down hill on a wet or muddy trail

    To realise that that shallow puddle will hide a dirty great hole that will shallow your front wheel and teach you how to fly over the handle bars.

    That frozen rutted tracks are just as hard to ride as there previously squelching incarnation

    I never have enough money for all the bits I need :?

    No doubt more to learn as I progress

    Tim
  • i learnt that if you think you have reached the bottom of a steep slope and pull up to roll over a lip onto the flat ground that there will be a great big bloody rock underneath that your front wheel lands on and rolls off causing it to stick into the mud below and me go over the handlebars. Brilliant. Nice soft snowy landing though.

    Im sure that makes no sense, i tried to draw a picture on paint but my skills are crap so i gave up.
    MmmBop

    Go big or go home.