I'm So screwed

[echappist]

Originally Posted by merlinmurph

Congrats! Great way to mix things up, and you'll see your bike handling skills improve immensely.

Have a blast.

i'm not so sure

my skills still aren't up to par, after a year riding MTB...

hell, i can't even ride up certain rocky slopes

[Jaybee]

Originally Posted by zzy

I'll never understand why anyone who could ride trails wouldn't. MTB is crazy fun. Just because you own a roadie doesn't mean it's all you can do. Having trails at my doorstep is basically my #1 reason for wanting to leave The City.

Personally, i find singletrack to be soul-restorative in a way that road riding never is. Maybe it's the lack of cars, maybe it's being really immersed in nature, maybe it's the level of attention required by a demanding bitof gnar or tech- whatever it is, I can't live without Dirt Therapy.

[zzy]

The Japanese call it 'forest bathing' apparently, and I totally agree. I've been going for hikes in Harriman state park lately and the total peace and quiet is such a necessary contrast after living in a city.

[Lewis Moon]

Originally Posted by Burnette

I'm had a hard tail MTB that I use to bomb the local gravel trail on. Most other trails were really technical and a full suspension bike would have been better. I like speed and distance so I never got a full suspension bike and eventually gave the hard tail to a sister of mine.

What did you get and what kind of trails are you riding?

I got a sweet El Mariachi with the swappable rear drops. I set it up like an XC bike, even though, at ~28 pounds, it's a bit heavy. It handles very nicely and seems to be a great rookie bike.

[BryanE]

Welcome aboard!
Find a race, have some fun.

[Gummee]

Originally Posted by trener1

Exactly, every MTB ride involves a minimum of an hour drive each way

I started out as a mtn biker back in the late 80s. Living in Blacksburg, I could ride to the mountain(s), ride the mountain(s), and then ride home. Up in NoVA, that isn't the case.

I have this serious allergy to driving to go riding.

I'll do it once in a while, but I'd rather ride out the back door on the road or gravel bike instead.

M

[Ken Robb]

Originally Posted by BryanE

Welcome aboard!
Find a race, have some fun.

Look at the two chumps who got off the harder stuff.

[Dekonick]

Originally Posted by trener1

Exactly, every MTB ride involves a minimum of an hour drive each way

I feel like such a slacker. I can ride into Paptasco State Park right from my back yard. It isn't my favorite part of the park so I don't do it. I need to get a newer mountain bike... Still riding an Ellsworth Truth from 1990 or so.

Ill hike the park... why not ride? Hmmm. Not enough time... Right. Excuses.

[Dekonick]

Originally Posted by zzy

The Japanese call it 'forest bathing' apparently, and I totally agree. I've been going for hikes in Harriman state park lately and the total peace and quiet is such a necessary contrast after living in a city.

My wife and I walk a couple of miles every day. We try to incorporate either a lake, river or stream and trees into the loop. Easy to do in this area. I wish she would ride a bike... She hates riding.

[Dekonick]

Originally Posted by Ken Robb

Look at the two chumps who got off the harder stuff.

Looks like one was the problem... Hey, it seemed a good idea... we can pass these suckers... right?

[Gummee]

Originally Posted by Dekonick

I feel like such a slacker. I can ride into Paptasco State Park right from my back yard. It isn't my favorite part of the park so I don't do it. I need to get a newer mountain bike... Still riding an Ellsworth Truth from 1990 or so.

Ill hike the park... why not ride? Hmmm. Not enough time... Right. Excuses.

Haven't ridden Patapsco in a few decades. See my last about driving to go riding.

Last I was there, it was a hoot. ...but the hour and a half drive up there and the hour and a half drive back made the ride take all day

M

[Lewis Moon]

Papago and South Mountain are both about 6 miles from my front door... So I'm a roadie for about 45 minutes every ride.

[Dekonick]

Originally Posted by Gummee

Haven't ridden Patapsco in a few decades. See my last about driving to go riding.

Last I was there, it was a hoot. ...but the hour and a half drive up there and the hour and a half drive back made the ride take all day

M

NOVA is tough. I don't know how you do it. I can tolerate Maryland only because I live in Ellicott City and look into 'wilderness' while having a commute of less than 30 minutes. Amazon 2 hour delivery helps...

On a serious note, NOVA is torture. Great jobs... but... that traffic... The riding here is pretty good with nice hills - if they would only stop building... My favorite rides are no longer viable due to the increase in traffic, but there are still nice stretches of road that are safe during the day. I should ride in the park.

[Ken Robb]

Originally Posted by Dekonick

I feel like such a slacker. I can ride into Paptasco State Park right from my back yard. It isn't my favorite part of the park so I don't do it. I need to get a newer mountain bike... Still riding an Ellsworth Truth from 1990 or so.

Ill hike the park... why not ride? Hmmm. Not enough time... Right. Excuses.

I test rode a couple of Ellsworth bikes back then. I liked them
but I bought a Marin Rift Zone which seemed almost as good for less$$. I still have it too. It's fine for the terrain and speed I'm willing to ride.

[Matthew]

Hey Bryan that's the Iceman isn't it?! Did you do it? I haven't raced it since 2005 I think. I did do peak 2 peak. Much better conditions!