Wannabe Newbie

[Rob]

      OK....After reading this part of the forum,you all have captured my interest. I have NO experience mountain biking, but have become quite interested after reading about how much fun you all (Ya'll) are having out there. I have some rather "basic" questions to ask and any help would be greatly appreciated.
      I guess I need to first ask for suggestions on getting started. I know nothing about Mountain Bikes, I guess that's what they are called, can I depend on the guy's at the local bike shop to help me in a sensable bike selection, or are they going to try to over-sell to a new comer? Does it make sense to buy cheap and then upgrade after attaining skills, or should one purchase something to grow into?
      Most of you, I'm sure, have probably read my Intro in the hiking forum, Unfortunately I'm a little phisically challanged right now, which brings me to my next question. I have been told that cycling is low impact aerobic excercise, but after reading about your experiences I have formed the opinion that it may only apply to regular cycling and not apply to mountain biking. I'm sure most of you are laughing right now, but please excuse my ignorance of the sport. Is there some kind of conditioning recommended, or is it Just Do It and improve as you go? I really do trust your guidance, and anything else I should know but haven't asked about please feel free to add in your responses.    Sincere thanks in advance, Hop-along Rob.       P.S.  Do you really have to wear those ultra tight, ill fitting, shorts to participate? ( Not being judgemental, just don't know if I could do it.)

[Slade]

I do not wear anything tight being a bit overweight.

I am relatively new to this sport as well. I started in March and was very badly out of shape. I was very discouraged after my first ride but quickly became somewhat acclimated to the sport. I am still the slowest and on occasion will have to hike with the bike instead of riding.

I purchased a midprice bike at the Bikelink for about $800. I would look at starting around $400 and go up depending on what your budget could handle. Go to a bicycle shop and tell them what you want to do. I found when I was shopping most stores were very knowledgeble and did not try and oversell. Ride the bikes. Ride them on different days. Buy the one you feel the most comfortable on. I will tell you the service you get on those initial visits will go a long way in determining where you buy. Also look at their service plan. You will be taking advantage of it a lot.

I would recommend starting with flats (thats pedels) and not clip ins. I started with clip ins and took a lot of falls. I think I am better because of it but I was taking on a lot of learning at one time. Just hit the trails, take some spills, learn the skills and have fun.

When you start I recommend Mr. Toads and Foreplay at Oak Mountain and Sokol Park in Tuscaloosa. If you go to Sokol go with someone who knows the trails. They can go from easy to difficult very quickly. Hope to see you on the trails. I am also willing to help you learn the ropes I am used to a slow pace so I will not be easily frustrated by a beginner.

[Richard]

 The tight stuff does have a slimming effect, however slight. The brightly colored "carnival camoflage" jerseys are to scare horses and small children. I've worn bib style cycling shorts for years since the regular ones were never intended for someone with a gut. Sometimes I wonder how big I would be if I didn't ride all the time.
 The first time you ride you will surely think you are about to die or hope that you are. Especially if you haven't been road riding, running or some other sort of regular aerobic excercise. Didn't stop me from trying it 10 years ago. Once a week at first, then twice, then four times, then everyday, then at night. On my first ride I fell regularly and of course I was far behind but everyone waited for me and started off again once I caught up. It helps if you have riden motorcycles off road before as far as controlling the bike and shifting your weight around. I rode once with flat pedals and toe-clips then went clipless. You are more likely to get hurt from your foot slipping off a pedal than not being able to clip out, usually. It is a low impact sport until you hit a tree or the ground but that's better than hitting pavement or a car. A full suspension bike is much easier on my worn out knees than a hardtail but heavier and more expensive. My first bike was $800. My second one was seven times that much.
 I recommend borrowing a bike and giving mountain biking a try before you buy anything. How tall are you? I'm 5'10" and have several spare bikes and I can be coerced into loaning you a bike and showing you around Sokol.
 Ask anything and I'll try to answer.
 

[theprocon]

As far as the equipment goes, read up on the internet. I purchased a Santa Cruz Superlight for it's multi-terrain abilities. I bought a cheap bike at first ($179) and found myself fighting to enjoy riding it.

It is, for the most part, a low impact sport.....it just depends on what you want out of it. Some of us are extremists and enjoy the fast downhill......th at can beat you up a bit.

If you think you will stick with it, then spend as much $$ now as you can. I purchased my bike on ebay and saved a ton.

[Rob]

      Thanks for the replies, your input is very helpful. Maybe I won't feel like a complete idiot when I go to shop for a bike. I didn't know about the pedal thing (still not sure exactly what clip-in is, do you need special footwear for this?). It will probably be sometime in early spring before I'll be able to use my right leg (including rehab time I hope), so I have some time to "study" and gleen info from the Pro's. I checked out Cahaba cycle online and was amazed at the various bike selections and price ranges.....Man have I got a lot to learn (and I thought selecting backpaking gear was tough). Two more questions......C an you use a mountain bike for street riding too, or does it depend on the type of bike you choose? Is it best to choose a "ride specific" bike? (if there is such a thing) Thanks again folks...Karma to all that replied!  Hop-along Rob.    Oh, by the way Richard, I'm 5'8"......So height matters too......geez who-da guessed.

[theprocon]

I had a busted left knee and riding has helped it tons!!

Height does matter, I am 6'2" and ride a large frame. Your height is at the top of the medium bracket and bottom of the large....Definit ely ride a few before buying.

I ride my Mt. Bike on and off the road. A practice ride we have in Birmingham is 70% paved. You may want to look for multi-purpose tires.

"Clip in" pedals are exactly what they sound like.....and yes you need special footwear. The shoes will have a quarter sizedish little gadget on the ball of your foot. This gadget "clips" into a special pedal.....keepin g you from losing your footing while riding. It is an improvement from the pedals that have the straps on top of them. Being attached to your pedal gives you much more control and makes you more efficient in pedaling.....it allows you to use energy on the upstroke as well as the downstroke.

I can't tell you enough how much having a frame with front and back suspension has helped my riding. It makes everything a little more comfortable and keeps me from bouncing around on the downhills. Some say you lose efficiency on the climbs because of it, but I'll see you at the top!!! :-)

[Rob]

     Suddenly I'm starting to understand...Gre at feedback Procon! You all may just make a mountain biker outta me yet.

[Richard]

You don't want a frame so large that if you were to stand over it with your feet flat on the ground there is no clearance between the top tube and your crotch. This can be quite painful. At least 2" to 3" is recommended with a little more room on a mountain bike than a road bike. Too small a frame will feel cramped. Yes, you can ride an mtb on the road but the gearing is usually a lot lower than a road bike and the fat knobby tires will wear quickly and don't roll as efficiently as the skinny high pressure ones on a road bike. They do make road tires for mountain bikes. The more upright riding position is less aerodynamic also. Yes, there are many different kinds / styles of bike. Some are very terrain / use specific while others work quite well most anywhere. It really depends on where and how you ride. For example, at Lake Lurleen I've noticed i don't use nearly as much of the 5" of travel on my bikes as i do at Sokol park.
"Clipless" pedals don't have toe clips and straps but they do have a spring loaded mechanism that the cleat attached to the bottom of the shoe "clips" into.

[Kona]

Three different types of entry bikes out there. 1. Road 2. Mountain 3 Cross Country.  For everything around here I have found that my Mountain Bike is too much.  I have been here for 6 months and have not found one trail that challenged my 5" travel Kona.  You would enjoy it much more by purchasing a 3 or 4 in hardtail or a 4 inch travel full suspension.  Trek makes a decent entry level hardtail at around $500.  It will give you either 3 or 4 inches of front wheel travel and since your getting into it won't disappoint you.  Honestly, I find riding my All Mountain Kona at Sokol is like killing an ant with a sledgehammer, its overkill.  I always bring my 4 inch travel Trek Hardtail and whip around way better with more explosive acceleration. 

[Rob]

     Advice well taken Kona, Thanks for your input. I could easily afford up to about 2K on a bike, but fear it would not be a wise investment as a biginner. I'm still not sure of what my physical limitations may be when i complete my recovery from the broken leg/shatterd ankle rebuild. I've got enough titanium in my ankle and leg to start the beginnings of a bike frame, lol. I would like to get a good entry level bike, however , one that is well engineered and capable of taking a bunch of hard knocks without needing extensive repairs every time I take a spill due to my lack of ability. I think the full suspension thing sounds good, but don't want to get more than I can handle or need for an agressive yet enjoyable ride. Does this make sense? BTW....I like the Killing an ant with the sledgehammer analogy.....  Thanks and Happy Trails!    HopAlong

[Slade]

I started with a hardtail and I still have a hardtail. I wish I would have dropped about $1000 more and gone full suspension. If you can afford it go full. You will thank me later.

[Richard]

Borrow a bike. Rent a bike. Steal a bike. Try as many different ones as you can. Once you decide what kind/type you want look for something on sale. Sokol is a great place for beginners due to it's variety of trails and you are never much more than a mile from the parking lot. As Slade stated, a guide is recommended, mainly to show you where and where not to go. Mars and Bunny would be a good place to start. The first time i rode they took me every where. I fell a lot.

[Rob]

Thanks for your continued encouragement, I am really having a hard time with the falling part however. I have endured enough pain over the past five and a half months to last me a life time. But..... I am willing to start sucking it up and getting on with it!  Maybe I should try a stationary bike down at the gym to see if I can even pedal the thing.

[Slade]

From some one who falls a lot I must say falling is not the bad part. Sucking wind because you are out of shape is the bad part. I have recovered more quickly from most of my falls than from most of my climbs.

[theprocon]

I can vouche for that. 

[Rob]

PROCON! Where have you been?

[theprocon]

I've just been doing it. I got a new job and it takes me out of town a lot, so I'm not riding as much as I would like.....but it's really too damn cold to be flying down hills on a bike anyway. Season hits and I'll be back.


Slade.....do you have an inch of rust on your bike or what?

[Slade]

Nope, did Lurleen last weekend and Oak Mtn this past Saturday. I have some great winter riding gear so I am as happy as a pig in mud.

[theprocon]

Slade, you would be happy as a pig in mud. Let's ride this Saturday..... I'm down for Lurleen. I'll be in town until Sunday for the longest time since a month ago.

[Slade]

Call me. Lurleen would have to be early and may even have to be called off. Any ride would have to be in Tuscaloosa.