Mountain Biking - Getting to Carried Away

after riding some easy layed out trails on Saturday afternoon with the wife, I planned on meeting a couple of avid MB/cyclists on Sunday pm for tougher/technical trails that I wasn't familiar with.

I was really pumped after Saturdays ride, and living in Mobile, I guess you know that we have largest amount of total rainfall per year on this continent, for a city. We average around 65-75 inches per year. Well its not unusual to have a 20-30 minute thunderstorm, to drop 1-4 inches quickly. So Sunday, with a humidity level of 100%, and temps around 90-91, it finally rained a couple of inches near my house. The trails are only a mile away. I don't know any better, so I show up. Well the fellow, Mike who organized this ride, knew I would show up. So he was nice enough to come anyway, and he asked me if I was gonna ride my wife's new bike. I said YEH!, than he told me he wasn't going to ride in this stuff. He has a really nice bike, and everyone in Mobile/Baldwin county knows Mike, he is over 60, and one hell of a cyclist.

I told him, aren't these bikes made for this. His reply, you get out there, and get in the wet sand, and its like taking a piece of sandpaper over your rims & etc.So he starts showing me the different problems, wet roots, and etc. that would cause slippery conditions for falls & such.

About that time, there are 3 folks just finished, and a couple had gashes, and kinda bloodied up. Now I know, things do happen, but I realize, I have got a lot to learn!
:confused: ;)

"A mountain bike ride is not a true mountain bike ride until you draw blood."

... Words to live by!!!! :D

Hey Cast, a lot to learn, but plenty of time in which to learn it! Definately helps when you have someone else providing pointers and tips. Plus, US!

Although I ride in inclement weather, I try not to submerge my bike. I don't ride through anything where my hubs or bottom bracket might go swimming. Those bearings are water resistant, not water proof, so splashing through a puddle is fine, but riding through a deep stream is bad!

Down here in FL, we have our share of sugar sand. It gets everywhere. I know, if I ride through a lot of it, I'll just be replacing my chain and drivetrain more often. Just remember to rinse your bike off once you get home.

L8R

BTW, another tip, don't lock out anything on your body. (i.e. knees or elbows) Use your own suspension.

Also, if your forearms get really tired, chances are you've got the "death grip" going. Relax your hands. You want to hold on enough to keep your hands on the bars, but not so much that you're pumping your forearms.

Last one. Look 10' ahead of your tire, not 12". The further ahead you look, the faster you'll ride. Believe it or not, your brain will remember obstacles in your path.

O.k. this is the last one: Don't look at what you want to avoid. If you stare at it, you WILL hit it! Ever see that Frasier episode where Frasier and Miles get bikes? It's an exaggeration, but that is what happens. If you focus on it, you'll hit it. Focus on where you want to go, not where you want to NOT go!

L8R

Originally posted by a2psyklnut
O.k. this is the last one: Don't look at what you want to avoid. If you stare at it, you WILL hit it! Ever see that Frasier episode where Frasier and Miles get bikes? It's an exaggeration, but that is what happens. If you focus on it, you'll hit it. Focus on where you want to go, not where you want to NOT go!

L8R

So true!