Originally Posted by
kenmcchord
Perhaps off topic but I just took the plunge yesterday and bought this bike. Been road biking for years and finally wanted to give this a try. Good topic here, I am apprehensive about starting this aspect of cycling and at 53 I'm certainly more conservative than I used to be when I was younger.
Going to amazon now to order that book. Can anyone recommend good protective gear? I had shoulder surgery last winter, I sure don't want to re-injure that again!
Thanks!
Congrats on the new bike. I just turned 54, only been really getting into mountain biking since January (also a roadie prior to that). I had a bad crash 20+ years ago (resulting in a dislocated shoulder) precisely because I hadn't done any research into technique, skills, etc. I was just bombing down a relatively mellow fire road on a rental bike with my ass bouncing up and down off the saddle, braking all wrong, you-name-it--pretty classic noob-style crash.
I have a tendency to push myself towards getting better at things, but at this age I have no qualms about taking it really slow this time around, and being educated! The book is great--you will love it I'm sure. Some days I go over the same section of trail several times, just practicing the principles in that book.