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08-17-03, 08:24 PM
Earlier this evening my friend and I went on what we considered to be our first real mountain biking ride. Before today it was all paved roads, smooth bike paths, gravel trails, etc. But not tonight.
Tonight I rode on singletrack that was probably 12" wide. There was a ledge on one side that was 2 feet high, while on the other side was a 4 foot dropoff. The trail was twisty and narrow, with lots of big rocks and roots to jump. Most parts were hardpack, but there were quite a few mud puddles and wet leaves to contend with.
It was a very exhilarating! I scared myself more than a few times, which I think is a good sign. I've been practicing my track stands and other advanced tactics, and I think that made a difference today.
My friend did crash once; on a very sharp turn that had a short climb at the end. He took the turn too fast, skidded the rear tire, and put the front tire in the ditch. He would up on his butt, a little embarrassed. But at least he rode away unscathed.
On our rides, my friend borrows my Trek 4900 and I ride the Scalpel. It was the first real test for the Scalpel and it passed with flying colors. This bike handles the trail with authority. It's very agile and nimble, and handles even the trickiest XC terrain with ease. The tires grip well and shed mud very nicely. Speaking of shedding mud, the Time ATAC pedals were on the money too.
Tonight I rode on singletrack that was probably 12" wide. There was a ledge on one side that was 2 feet high, while on the other side was a 4 foot dropoff. The trail was twisty and narrow, with lots of big rocks and roots to jump. Most parts were hardpack, but there were quite a few mud puddles and wet leaves to contend with.
It was a very exhilarating! I scared myself more than a few times, which I think is a good sign. I've been practicing my track stands and other advanced tactics, and I think that made a difference today.
My friend did crash once; on a very sharp turn that had a short climb at the end. He took the turn too fast, skidded the rear tire, and put the front tire in the ditch. He would up on his butt, a little embarrassed. But at least he rode away unscathed.
On our rides, my friend borrows my Trek 4900 and I ride the Scalpel. It was the first real test for the Scalpel and it passed with flying colors. This bike handles the trail with authority. It's very agile and nimble, and handles even the trickiest XC terrain with ease. The tires grip well and shed mud very nicely. Speaking of shedding mud, the Time ATAC pedals were on the money too.