What makes for a perfect ride?

glauciaregina9

I was out bombing around Llandegla for a couple of hours on Saturday morning... weather was better than expected, the bike seemed a bit more controlled than usual, and I got to thinking...

What is it for you that differentiates a GOOD ride from a GREAT ride?

What factor, or factors, make for a perfect day your bike, rather than 'just another day' on the bike ?

Is it the specific little details like nailing a certain technical section of trail a bit quicker or smoother than usual, or is it when everything just seems to go your way?

Or is it something you can't quite put your finger on?

The Northern Monkey

the weather... I hate it when its even remotely warm/sunny.
Much prefer a ride on a dull/damp day - much more grip, not as sweaty and generally a better ride.

I also like it when my gears work....

cgarossi

Sunny, but just after a shower so theres some grip in the trails. Lots of energy and the feeling that you can take on anything. Pure weaving single track and nice steepish fast descents, with a few switch backs! In the woods or wooded area.

.blitz

A good ride is one you can walk away from. A great ride is one you can walk away from and use the bike again.

projectsome

.blitz wrote:

A good ride is one you can walk away from. A great ride is one you can walk away from and use the bike again.

+onion rings

Oxygen Thief

For me it's when the mrs bounces real hard

projectsome

jonbonjovial wrote:

For me it's when the mrs bounces real hard

She wants to get her shocks sorted :roll:

Splottboy

Just came back from one, about 1/2 hr ago...

Saw hardly anyone, slate quarry mountain trails to myself. Sunny at the start/rain just as I finished.

Cleared everything, even on my rigid!

Hard climbs, technical/great descents, trails dusty overall...

Very, very nice ride.

What made it "perfect"? The huge slice of The Stig birthday cake left from yesterday!

Northwind

Good trails, good company, not too much misery, few mechanicals... And ideally riding at least one bit you've not ridden before. Better still if your mates can't do it

P-Jay

Couldn't put a finger on it:

'Best Rides Ever'

Last day in the Morzine '08. Been carrying a sprained ankle all week and riding really cagey, last day, woke up, swelling had gone down, bike was 100% working and I felt nice and loose. Rode like Teflon coated silk all day. Just totally 'at one' with the bike and the faster I went the easier it got, the easier it got the faster I went. Usually this is the point I run out of talent / room, but it didn't happen. Finished when the lifts closed, injury free. IT DIDN'T EVER RAIN ALL DAY!!

Late summer '07, had a ride day arranged with the boys, woke up to find it throwing it down with rain, really stupidly wet. Everyone cancelled so I thought 'sod 'em' got mu iPod out and grabbed my jacket. Rode The Wall solo, just loving the rain and music on the climb. Started coming back down and ran into about 20 noobs on hire bikes enjoying themselves and politely and swiftly passed them all 1by1 over a couple of K's (showing off like a madman hah ah) got to their leader who let me past and then chased me down for a laugh. Smoked him, went straight of the side of the trail (If you know The Wall, one of the turns that looks like you'll fall a million miles) slid down the bank, covered in Mud, managed to climb back up, dude who was chasing me finally arrived and pulled me over the edge and we both fell about laughing.

Brechfa about a year or so ago, about 7 of us went out, the conditions were appalling, about 2c in the car park, well below freezing at the top, ice everywhere, throwing it down with rain. We got to the top and got hit my the mother of all hail storms, got so bad we had to take shelter in some trees. Started getting cold, you know dangerously cold. So came down in a long snake, sliding everywhere on the flat slate surface. Got down and the sense of achievement was immense, bloody terrible ride, but awesome at the same time.

Perhaps, overcoming adversity is what I enjoy the most..

hoochylala

Sunny, dry and generally staying on the bike!

A sign of a good ride for me is always when I look at how my climbing was for the day, if I clear them and even enjoy them all then I know i have been onto a good thing that day

Oh, and not getting back ache helps too :roll:

Oxygen Thief

projectsome wrote:

jonbonjovial wrote:

For me it's when the mrs bounces real hard

She wants to get her shocks sorted :roll:

There's quite a lot of damping in her arse actually! lol Only joking she's lurvly.

fletch8928

After getting my new rear mech hanger and chain put on late yesterday, today was a test ride to see if a new cassette was needed. I ended up going for a spin through the local woods.

That was a great ride. Gears working better than before, legs feeling strong, the climbs cleared in great times, the downs were faster. Mr farmer had left a gate open which meant i kept momentum for a short climb instead of starting off at the bottom of it. That was great.

There was one down. Thinking i was only going to test my gears on the road I wasnt wearing the usual shorts/padding ect. It wasnt a pain just not as comfy.

I would say for me a good ride is when its longer, hillier and I fall through the door shattered gasping for a cuppa. A GREAT ride for me is when its shorter and knowing you can really turn it on. Playing hard in other words.

Anonymous

the Flow, when it's there, it's great, when it isn't, not so.

pilsburypie

I like fast flowing trails, beautiful scenery in what seems like the middle of nowhere where you don't see anyone else except your riding buddies. Weather cool but dry. Love trails through woods - Penmachno has some beautiful woods where everything is covered in green moss - looks surreal....

dan shard

One where I dont break anything is quite nice. Thats bike or body parts

abarth_1200

anything but fecking wind, gusty blowy damn wind, feels like your getting no where fast