roadie trying mountainbiking

[ColinJ]

I've had a few near misses trying to keep up with good downhillers so I don't do it any more. I'm not into adrenaline anyway, so why bother? I ride my MTB to see the countryside, keep fit and for a break from traffic.

My scariest near miss had me down to just one point of contact with the bike. I was doing about 20 mph down a steep rocky descent when I hit a large slab of rock - both feet unclipped, my bum came off the saddle and one hand lost grip on the bars.

I felt like I was flying and experienced a feeling of deep dread in the pit of my stomach. Fortunately, I managed to get my hand back on the bars, but when I landed I was almost castrated as the saddle dug itself into my nether regions. The bike bounced back into the air and somehow I got my feet back on the pedals before the second landing. I scrubbed off enough speed to regain control of the bike. It was a valuable lesson - ride within your capabilities!

 

[Cubist]

I've had a few near misses trying to keep up with good downhillers so I don't do it any more. I'm not into adrenaline anyway, so why bother? I ride my MTB to see the countryside, keep fit and for a break from traffic.

My scariest near miss had me down to just one point of contact with the bike. I was doing about 20 mph down a steep rocky descent when I hit a large slab of rock - both feet unclipped, my bum came off the saddle and one hand lost grip on the bars.

I felt like I was flying and experienced a feeling of deep dread in the pit of my stomach. Fortunately, I managed to get my hand back on the bars, but when I landed I was almost castrated as the saddle dug itself into my nether regions. The bike bounced back into the air and somehow I got my feet back on the pedals before the second landing. I scrubbed off enough speed to regain control of the bike. It was a valuable lesson - ride within your capabilities!

Great description Colinj!! Makes me want to go and have a go..........

 

[Cubist]

ignorance time.... what is a drop off?

 

[nosherduke996]

Blimey this is sounding even more dangerouse.

 

[Mr Pig]

I get off and walk down drop offs ;0)

 

[addictfreak]

Sounds like you suffer from the same thing as me on those dodgy downhills.

LACK OF BOTTLE!

 

[Mr Pig]

LACK OF BOTTLE!

Accurate understanding of one's abilities and a dislike of hospital.

 

[addictfreak]

Accurate understanding of one's abilities and a dislike of hospital.

I find the older I get the more it hurts and longer its takes to recover

 

[Mr Pig]

I find the older I get the more it hurts and longer its takes to recover

Yip. Having said that I'm off to play in the dirt tomorrow, but I'll not be acting the hero. I'd rather be last one to the bottom than first one to the A&E.

 

[fossyant]

Accurate understanding of one's abilities and a dislike of hospital.

Ditto...... rigid MTB here though, fast on XC and up hill, not quite as quick down hill, plus the prospect of doing some serious damage is not tempting.

 

[addictfreak]

Ditto...... rigid MTB here though, fast on XC and up hill, not quite as quick down hill, plus the prospect of doing some serious damage is not tempting.

Good to see im not the only coward. Maybe i'll re-paint my bike yellow

 

[Mr Pig]

We need to stop talking about crashing, I'm going down some hills tomorrow! :0(

If I crash I'm blaming you lot ;0)

 

[lukesdad]

2 points to pick up on really; firstly long stems are only used for xc racing(example on my bike in photo gallery under 1999 bike porn).Secondly its a misconception in the wet that lower pressures give you more grip a higher pressure tyre with hard sus. will cut through the mud to find grip a lower pressure will float on top( to illustrate this imagine trying to push a cricket ball through 2" of mud then try doing ti with a inflated baloon , a bit exagerated I know but you get the idea.

 

[Mr Pig]

long stems are only used for xc racing.

I'm talking about how they come from the shop. Everything seems to come out of the packet with a 100mm stem these days and with ever increasing fork lengths it makes for a very wavy front end.

I like a 50-60 lb in off road tyres, I've never been convinced by running them really soft either.

 

[bonj2]

I like a 50-60 lb in off road tyres, I've never been convinced by running them really soft either.

i have. i pumped mine up to about 30psi before blasting round whinlatter and took a 45 degree root that i wouldn't normally have a problem with on soft tyres and it had me off. landed on my thumb, it still bloody hurts now.
Unless you're XC racing or aspire to that, there's no point having them any harder than the minimum you need to avoid pinch flats.