patentcad

Got out on the Fly Ti again this AM, over to Goosepond Mtn. State Park. Got off the main fire road on the way back and into some of the way cool and not very technical (befitting my incredibly limited MTB skills) single track. What a great friggin ride. The park looked like the Shire this morning, nobody but me, gorgeous day, spring was busting out. Then I come up into this amazing grassy meadow, and at the top, right where there were awesome views of the park, somebody had put in a natural wood bench in the middle of this empty field. I saw there was a plaque with an inscription. Turns out it was a memorial to one Lawrence Tully, who loved to hike and bike in the park and passed away last year. I took a break, sat on Larry's bench and enjoyed the same view he must have loved.

It was truly one of those Oh THIS is Why I Do This Idiot Sport Moments. It was like 'ol Larry was right there on the bench next to me (with Frodo, it was awfully like the Shire this AM).

The Fly MTB floated like a butterfly, stung like a bee (well, mostly floated, no bike stings like a bee when Pcad rides it). Got the SID dialed in (got a pump, read the manual) and man, that bike is just the ****. 22 miles, 8 of them in the woods, gotta do some more MTB riding. It soothes the Road Nazi soul.

Oh yes. Days like this are totally why I ride a bicycle. That new MTB is topping off that Pcad Cycling Zen in ways I didn't expect. This ROCKS.

santiago

Sweet.

Nice to see that you're getting why we do what we do.

patentcad

I get it on some level. The 'It's Fun to Risk My Life Going 30mph Down The Technical Singletrack' part I'll never get. Mostly because I'm a complete MTB Wussy. That's OK, nothing really scares me on the road. Maybe other cyclists with guns.

santiago

Meh. The chicken **** factor is strong in many of us. I still get some "moments". I still consider myself on the steep part of the learning curve. For one thing, I can't wheelie and my bunny-hops are only about 1.5 inches (not even Pinkbike inches).

cryptid01

pcad's post pleases gastro

patentcad

I've only been back in the woods 4x over two weeks, but it gets easier and more fun every time. It's a total friggin blast out there. I like the commune with nature thing too. And it's nice not chasing anybody. Or having anybody have to wait for me : ). That Fly Ti is so much better than my old Jamis it's ridiculous. The SID shock is dialed in, LOVE it, the disc brakes are phenomenal, the frame handles like no other hard tail I've had (this is my fourth, the others SUCKED compared to this).

santiago

I do have a road bike that I take out occasionally. What I find lacking on road rides is the "wheee" and Zen factors. You found the Zen moment today. When you gain confidence you'll be getting a lot more "wheee" moments.

indygreg

I like the fork just fine too. I also love the brakes. I am amazed at how well they perform and how little effort it takes.
I am also getting better each time I ride. It is a lot of fun. We are similar in our limits of bravery, but I have reached the point where it does not bother me that I am not able to keep up with those who are more fearless (in MTB, skiing, various other activities). It used to bother me more when I was younger and it took away from just enjoying it. I have realized as a parent of 2 kids that there is a huge genetic aspect of how fearless one is.
Now I ride my speed and have a ton of fun.

indygreg

I think the road offers a lot of those, just in a different way. I like seeing towns and farm and sites pass by. That is my zen. I think MTB and road complement each other. As someone into training and fitness, road riding is great for being able to stay in a HR zone for a long time. That is hard to do on an MTB. MTB forces you to sprint and push when you might not be ready, which is is a good challenge. It also makes you a better road rider in that you balance, braking, and pushing all improve.

patentcad

Cycling Zen is Cycling Zen. You can find it in the woods or on the road. But you do have to actually ride your bike to find it. It's not here on BF, that's for sure. Not that BF isn't fun. But it's not Zen Depot.

born2bahick

Hick thinks Pcad's MTB is more than a road training tool now.

mcoomer

Once you've ridden trails for awhile you'll gain skill until one day you'll get to the bottom of a sweet run and realize that you blazed down it, just feathering the brakes and to set yourself up for the next turn. There's nothing like it.

I did 70 miles on my Tarmac on Saturday and felt good. I did 15 miles on my Prophet on Sunday with my dog chasing me and felt great. I think it's the trees.

patentcad

Forget road training. That MTB is a Zen Finder. I've ridden those friggin road bikes 38,000 miles since April of 2005. I need a break already. I'll still chase those Cat 2 aholes around on Sunday, but it really does make for a nice change of pace. Really enjoying it.

BFG

Downhill is the only thing i do where i get to fully focus on the thing I'm doing at that very moment - charging down the hill as fast as possible. Theres no other thing in life you can do that, theres always something running through th back of your mind, something nibbling at you. But when you're mackin' down the hill at roughly 45 k's an hour with a roller set to long tight berm ahead, that's all you've got to focus on, its all you do focus on.

The feeling of freedom in riding downhill is really indescribable to the un-initiated.
I go on a multi hour cross country ride to chill, have a good time.

I go on a road ride if I want to scare myself ****less.

patentcad

The disconnect between myself and a guy who really thinks downhill MTB riding is fun while road riding is scary is remarkable. I guess that's what makes the bicycle wheel turn, different (pedal) strokes for different folks. You try to keep that MTB from t-boning a boulder @ 35mph and I'll try to avoid getting hit by the bus.

BFG

Don't get me wrong Mr Cad, I love road cycling. It's exhilarating IMO.

patentcad

Mr. Pcad is my father. You can call me Pcaddy.

jsigone

You are still training, but having more fun doing it when you ride on the dirt. Glad to hear you're enjoying the new rig as well. THink you'll try some XC races soon?

santiago

You're old enough to be his grandfather.

BFG

SKYLAB

i'm in just the opposite place....letting the Sugar 1 take a much needed rest while I find my road skills. I find that the Mt bike tends to tear me down while the road bike builds me up. More spinning on the road, more skill oriented functions on the mtn bike. And of course, there's falling on the mtn bike; mostly at slow speeds, but falls nevertheless. Thing is - it is ALL ZEN. Time on the bike passes at a different rate. It requires that focussed, yet blank mind. Only other activity that comes close for me has been freestyle (skate) skiing.
good on you PCAD.

patentcad

One trip into the woods trying to chase around an average Sport rider cured me of that notion. Dude, I suck so bad at MTB handling that I'd never go there. I'm really not too bad when it's flat. If it tilts up I'm OK if it's not technical or steep. I'm too chicken going downhill, but I'm already letting the bike roll better, today was faster.

I have the fitness to ride well in XC races, but not the bike handling skills. Not even close. I really much prefer riding alone when I don't have to chase anybody. I ride competitively on the road (as competitive as I can ever get that is). That's enough for me. I understand why people race MTBs but I don't think it's for me. My Fly Ti really is a classic XC racer type rig, and I love that for my type of riding.

Ultimately I'm afraid of getting seriously racked up in the woods if I raced or was training to race. I'm better off doing it this way. But I like going fast, I like riding competitively, so if I get more into MTB riding who knows? But right now I'd say it's very unlikely.

gfrance

That, I couldn't have said better.

I've been suckered into doing XC races and 24 hour team races, but I just suck too much over anything technical to be competitive. I'm a roadie and proud of it. I go out of the way to avoid a pencil on the road. So, when I get on the MTB, I freeze up when logs and rocks are 'in my way'. I'll get better, too, but the fear of injury trumps all out there on the trails.

I like riding alone, at my own pace, avoiding anything that my hardcore riding buddies insist I take when with them.

patentcad

I wouldn't exactly say I'm proud to be a roadie. I just hope nobody flattens me with their SUV. I'd settle for that. Any ride you can walk away from is a good ride. And that is exponentially the case for me when it comes to my MTB : ).

I do all of this for fun. Even the gnarly Road Nazi hammerfests and races. You gotta do what works for you. I am now, and will probably remain, a total and complete MTB Fred.

jsigone

you bike handling will come with more riding, alot of XC racers are scared to go downhill so you're not alone there.