Introductions

[Slade]

I know this thread is already running on the Hiking side but I want to know who the Mtn. Bikers are. Please post your introduction here. Here's mine:

I'm Slade. I am currently into Mtn. Biking but I started with Hiking and graduated into caving. I worked as a wild cave guide in Tennessee for awhile and I also used to sell hiking boots, backpacks, and tents for Rogers Trading company (that was at least 7 years ago). I now work for RBC Centura Bank during the day, am a proud dad at night and Mtn. Bike on the weekends.

I am still interested in some camping but I really only want to do it out of a car and near a Mtn. Bike trail head.

I have only been Mtn. Biking since March and I ride a Specialized RockHopper Comp. So far I have completed Oak Mountain, Sokol, Lake Lurleen, Trussville, and a crazy place Procon calls Sandrock. I plan to ride much more in the coming months. I have also suffered some broken ribs in this time.

Hope to meet a few of you someday (at least those I don't already know).

[theprocon]

Hi, I'm TheProcon....... and I'm an alcoholic.

[Richard]

 I'm Richard and I live in Aliceville, Al and work in Tuscaloosa. I've been mountain biking for 10 years. Weather permitting, I ride everyday after work and on the weekends, usually at Sokol. I spend so much time at Sokol riding or doing trail maintainence people often ask me if I work out there. I did the Sokol map. Myself and the half dozen or so others that regularly work on the trails at Sokol call ourselves the Sokol Trail Care Crew. It really bothers us when ignorant inconsiderate people make shortcuts, gouge up the trail with their rear brakes, remove existing obstacles in an attempt to make the trails easier and generally try their best to circumvent the work we do out there.
 My knees don't like me walking on uneven ground so my hiking is limited to what is necessary for trail maintainence at Sokol and Lurleen.
 I loathe camping. My only memories of it are all from when we lived in Wyoming in the late 60's and they invlove lots of being very cold and miserable.

[Kona]

I'm Shayne, I have been mountain biking for 13 years.  I currently ride a 2005 Kona Dawg (with some nifty upgrades) its my baby.  I got into biking because of a major knee repair and the doctor told me it was that or swimming.  My first bike was a Proflex 855 full suspension.  This was before K2 took them over back in 1995.  Being from Canada I have ridden a lot of Canadian trails in Ontario and Quebec.  I haven't made it BC but its on the list.  Now that I am closer to Moab its on the list too.  I am still exploring the south and looking for new trails.  I took up road cycling last year to augment my riding and it has absolutely made me a stronger rider.  Still....there isn't anything like hitting a 3 ft or bigger drop, a gap or a man made structure!

[Lostsheep]

I'm LostSheep. I introduced myself more in the backpacking area, but I thought I'd add some more here. I haven't been mtn. biking very long, but it's definitaly a sport I'd like to get into more.

I currently ride an elcheapo from my college days (only a few years) which is still holding up. It has gotten me through the daily commute in college and a few trails at Sokol and Oak Mtn. It's been wrecked, and repaired many times, but it's still holding on. Currenly I'm saving some money for an introductory bike hopefully by early next spring. I've been casually looking at Cahaba Cycles, Bob's Bikes, and Bike Link. Just haven't been fitted and not 100% sure what I'm after. I do like the Specialized Rock Hopper or the Trek 4500/WSD. Unfortunatly, I'm still more of the casual rider and try to when I can, but it takes a back seat to the hiking element for now.

I look forward to reading the information you guys have shared, and hopefully soon, I'll be putting it to good use.