The Alps Ruined My Riding!
Willrideforcake
Posts: 305
Just got back from a fantastic week in Les Gets - great riding, top people, fantastic scenery. Discovered I'm marginally better at DH than XC (given a fully boingy bike), and generally had a good time.
However, and here's the rub, everything back home just looks, well, tame in comparison. I look a trails I used to love, and would get some nice flow on, and just think "Hmm. Bit tame, really."
Has anybody else had this? Is there a cure? Help, I want to fall back in love with my old trails, but just can't get the motivation to get back out there.
However, and here's the rub, everything back home just looks, well, tame in comparison. I look a trails I used to love, and would get some nice flow on, and just think "Hmm. Bit tame, really."
Has anybody else had this? Is there a cure? Help, I want to fall back in love with my old trails, but just can't get the motivation to get back out there.
Old hockey players never die - they just smell that way...
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What trails are you riding here? You been to Wharncliffe?0
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Unfortunately, I'm based in the fens, so it's Thetford or bust unless I want a three-hour + drive - have thought about hitting Chicksands a bit more often, which might help get my mojo back I guess...Old hockey players never die - they just smell that way...0
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yep, been like that since i got back from france!!I said hit the brakes not the tree!!
2006 Specialized Enduro Expert
http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/3192886/
2008 Custom Merlin Malt 4
http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/2962222/
2008 GT Avalanche Expert
http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/3453980/0 -
I felt the exact same when i got home from fort william. Then I treated my local XC loop with contempt and it ****ed me up
Might be a daft suggestion but have you considered a different bike? I'm guessing for your alps ride you were on something mighty and bouncy, maybe you're a bit overbiked back here?Uncompromising extremist0 -
Alps to Fens, I feel your pain lol.0
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All I can say is that houses are probably as cheap as they're gonna get. Especially in Scotland/Wales/Shropshire.0
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Come to Wales0
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ride faster.
or move.Closet jockey wheel pimp whore.0 -
slick tires, and no brakesGiant Trance X0 (08) Reverb, Hope Hoops 5.1D, XT brakes, RQ BC, Works Components headset 1.50
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ride_whenever wrote:night riding...
on a hardtail.....problem solved.
I have this problem every year after coming back from a holiday where the trails are big.
just back from the fort as well and you can definitely feel the difference in your riding attitude...Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I believe in the future of the human race.
H.G. Wells.0 -
buy a HT, go night riding, move to the land of my fathers. thers a house just down the road fro me actualy....I like bikes and stuff0
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Willrideforcake wrote:Just got back from a fantastic week in Les Gets - great riding, top people, fantastic scenery. Discovered I'm marginally better at DH than XC (given a fully boingy bike), and generally had a good time.
However, and here's the rub, everything back home just looks, well, tame in comparison. I look a trails I used to love, and would get some nice flow on, and just think "Hmm. Bit tame, really."
Has anybody else had this? Is there a cure? Help, I want to fall back in love with my old trails, but just can't get the motivation to get back out there.You only need two tools: WD40 and Duck Tape.
If it doesn't move and should, use the WD40.
If it shouldn't move and does, use the tape.0 -
Willrideforcake wrote:Just got back from a fantastic week in Les Gets - great riding, top people, fantastic scenery. Discovered I'm marginally better at DH than XC (given a fully boingy bike), and generally had a good time.
However, and here's the rub, everything back home just looks, well, tame in comparison. I look a trails I used to love, and would get some nice flow on, and just think "Hmm. Bit tame, really."
Has anybody else had this? Is there a cure? Help, I want to fall back in love with my old trails, but just can't get the motivation to get back out there.
I had a similar experience recently but my view is slightly different. I was in France for the Tour a few months ago and did quite a bit of riding while I was out there, i.e. climbed the Joux Plane and Colombiere a few times and tried to beat my times each time I went up. Since I've been back I've found my climbing has improved massively and I can now do my usual Box Hill rides a lot quicker than I used to be able to. France has really helped my riding but I still enjoy the UK.0 -
I went to Les Gets/Morzine and it blew me away - when I got back home the trails just were not giving me a buzz - in reality with a bit of time my entusiasm for them came back!0
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There is a cure, it's called 'booking flights for 2010'.
We got on it as soon as we got home in July. Just in case anyone is interested, July flights to Geneva are not available to book until nearer Christmas. You can subscribe to Sleasyjet's newsletter that will mail you when you can.0 -
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Northwind wrote:
Might be a daft suggestion but have you considered a different bike? I'm guessing for your alps ride you were on something mighty and bouncy, maybe you're a bit overbiked back here?
Scott Gambler and Kona Stinky over there, Kona Caldera over here - wish I was overbiked! That said, there's nothing nothing like riding an alp on a hardtail to improve your line choice!Old hockey players never die - they just smell that way...0 -
Just got to think of it as something to look forward to and make plans to get back out there.
it's like snowboarding in Scotland. Up here a lot of folk bleat on that they will never ride at any of the scottish resorts once they've been to Europe, America etc. Scotland may not have the best hills and snow but at the end of the day surely it's better to be on the snow instead of stuck indoors.
Apply that logic to the bike: It's better to be on it than off it and your Alps experience should push you to try and find new possibilities at home that you didn't notice or think possible before. Also, if you can spend the money and fly to the alps, then you can drive for a few hours to trails further afield.0