hey folks

I've posted mostly in other forums here so far as my interest has been in fixing up cheapies for fun and convenience. (I successfully upgraded a thrift store Huffy MTBSO into a passable neighborhood commuter, don't laugh.) Now, though, I'm starting to return to a longtime latent curiosity and wondering about taking a stab at some basic mountain biking, ie on an actual off-road trail with scary stuff to go around or over.

I've been doing a lot of reading up and watching YouTube tutorials and such and it's all such an overwhelming rush of information--good information--that I don't know where to start as far as basic skills, training as in who to teach me vs. going it alone, whether I have the fitness and body type for it, etc. I'm not particularly interested in racing or mega-technical riding, at least not yet; I just want to be skilled enough to get through a moderately challenging circuit without panicking and breaking my neck, and take it from there. I'm not a former BMXer or trick rider or roadie, if anything I suppose I'm a just a very modestly experienced urban-commuter type who loves bikes, learning, and challenges.

Enough back-story. I'd be grateful for any insights on basic skills I should concentrate on before I try to hit a trail, who/where to look for mentoring, fitness, any other prerequisite type stuff I should be thinking about. The question about which bike to learn on is a whole other topic, but I gather that my Huffy isn't it, nor is the Hyper Havoc FS that will probably be my next fixer-upper. Probably I will hunt on Craigslist for a used "real MTB" when I find work again.

Physically, I'm 5'9", 260 lb (again, don't laugh, I'm more stocky than fat), 43 years old, not really much in upper body strength but fairly strong legs, and my sciatica and middle-back act up sometimes (sucks getting old).

I will now shut up. Over to you guys. Thanks so much for your help.

cheers

Billy S.