stapfam

I am disappointed. My Son-in-law wants to get back to riding to get fit. He is 30 and up till about 5 years ago was a regular Mountain Biker and he was the one to chase everywhere. Still had to put him in his place occasionally but he could ride a bike.

Recently he has been talking about getting back into riding and he is out with me and a couple of mates for a road ride tomorrow. Will have to set up the TCR for him as the larger of the two bikes but it is only a taster to get him back again. The mates by the way are a couple of his mates- Farmers that are fit and I did not realise rode bikes. So tomorrow it is a gentle ride for 10 miles to the seafront for a coffee and bun and see how he feels. I reckon that with the trip back- 20 miles for a first trip out for a while will be enough. Unless he starts bragging about how good he feels- then I have a route back planned that takes in a couple of killer hills.

Problem is- he has just gone out and bought a New Mountain Bike. I was beginning to think that I would be able to relax a bit from getting my back jolted about and the scars from falling off on rocky descents have just about gone now. He has now gone and bought himself a Full suspension Giant and it makes my spending on bikes and accessories this year look a bit lame. Admittedly I got him a good deal through my LBS- but I am going to have a word with the mechanic. Get him to doctor the bottom bracket to tighten it up a bit- or a lot if possible- and get the wheels running oval.

So will have to put the first aid kit back on the Bianchi as I can see a lot of blood being spilt in the near future. Hopefully the son-in-laws when that Full suspension thing throws him into the trees.

Retro Grouch 

Good luck!

I have two sons who are in their lower 30's. I let them take me mountain biking with them for Father's Day a couple of years ago and still have the scars to prove it. It was humbling!

They both have very high end freeride bikes and do some things on them that I'm not sure I approve of. I do their wheel work, however, so maybe there's hope.

big john

Sometimes you just have to let the young guns go. Maybe you can still hurt him on the climbs, but he can have the rough descents.

Jet Travis

You could just wobble along complaining about your aching back, your aching knees, your aching teeth and the younger generation. Pretty soon he'll leave you in the dust and you can ride in peace.

Digital Gee

Poor Stapfam...life's a beach!

cranky old dude

Mtn Biking tends to have its ups and downs.

can't believe I wrote that

cccorlew

It's not how well the bear dances, but that the bear dances at all.

Louis

Do they make a presta adapter that fits a garden hose? Maybe you could fill his tires with water before the ride begins.

bac

Certainly I've been injured while mountain biking - that's a give. However, most of my bad injuries have come from road riding. The pavement is never soft, and always rips flesh. The dirt can be more forgiving with it's slower speeds and sometimes softer landings.

Having said that, I'm still doing both and loving them both. However, I consider road riding MORE dangerous than off-road riding.

... Brad

BluesDawg

Time to upgrade the mountain bike.

stapfam

Funnily enough- This was what I was thinking of doing just before christmas. But I got the TCR instead. And it would be an upgrade on my existing Bianchi- New forks and possibly wheels but I just cannot afford a decent Full suspension bike- and doubt that I could warrant it with the type of riding I do offroad. And I am afraid that I still reckon that a good hardtail is better than the cheap POGO stick F/S bike that I could afford.