FabSwingers.com forum: mountain biking

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Well just picked up a mountain bike, never really done it before I'm a road cyclist normally so let's see how it goes

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By *ophieslutTV/TS
over a year ago

Central

Best to take it fairly easy to start with, as endless miles and cycling down steep peaks could leave your saddle sore downstairs out of sexual action for a while. Its a great hobby and way to stay fit - have fun!

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By *hris148Man
over a year ago

I prefer the downhill sections offroad

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I love the adrenalin off the downhills....not had much saddle time this year so far.

Hamsterly forest is a big fave of mine.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Best to take it fairly easy to start with, as endless miles and cycling down steep peaks could leave your saddle sore downstairs out of sexual action for a while. Its a great hobby and way to stay fit - have fun! "

I'm used to doing loads of road miles so saddle sore isn't really a issue, it was just the off roading I wasn't sure off, it's bloody hard untiet some speed up on a mountain bike

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

What you brought?

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By *etitesaraTV/TS
over a year ago

rochdale

Ive gone the other way, 15yrs of MTB'ing and last year i bought a road bike!

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"What you brought?"

A giant revel, bought it secondhand off a friend who never used it, see if I like it then will upgrade if I get in to it

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"What you brought?

A giant revel, bought it secondhand off a friend who never used it, see if I like it then will upgrade if I get in to it"

They are a pretty good starter bike.

You live right in the heart of some great trails (I'm only in Sheffield). Check out the vertebrae graphics books. For loop ideas and make sure you pick up (and take with you) a landranger OS map until you know where you are going.

Tips to help you adapt from road biking;

Drop your saddle a bit (permenantly) . You will likely need to put your feet down a lot at the start on tricky bits, it makes it easier. Plus generally you want a bit of breathing room to shift weight etc.

Climbing is a bit of an art, on most surfaces you can't you just stand up and force your way up... You'll lose traction.

On the way down, drop your saddle (more) It gives you room to move around the bike (for instance you can get your bum back past the saddle as you roll into steeper sections).

You want weight over the front when you can, it gives you traction in corners.

Oh and have fun - if you're grinning you're winning we say. If you are not smiling then you are not doing it right.

... Don't forget to hide your lycra.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"What you brought?

A giant revel, bought it secondhand off a friend who never used it, see if I like it then will upgrade if I get in to it

They are a pretty good starter bike.

Tips to help you adapt from road biking;

Climbing is a bit of an art, on most surfaces you can't you just stand up and force your way up... You'll lose traction.

On the way down, drop your saddle (more) It gives you room to move around the bike (for instance you can get your bum back past the saddle as you roll into steeper sections).

You want weight over the front when you can, it gives you traction in corners.

Oh and have fun - if you're grinning you're winning we say. If you are not smiling then you are not doing it right.

... Don't forget to hide your lycra. "

Yeah no lycra I was baggied up tonight

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By *etitesaraTV/TS
over a year ago

rochdale

You aren't far from Calderdale which has some of the best riding in the country! Lots of trails around the area, one of my face places to ride.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Ive gone the other way, 15yrs of MTB'ing and last year i bought a road bike!"

Glad you left the darkside behind!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Glad to see you got the baggies sorted out...

I've not ridden Calderdale. I have heard good things.

Where I am is great. We have a city centre my specific trail, Grenoside and Wharncliffe. Then the dark and white peaks too.

Utterly spoilt.

I'd recommend hope and ladybower as a great place to start of you want natural trails. They are not a million miles from you. You could go for cut gate too (starts from Langsett reservoir).

Also don't underestimate the dirty required. 1 my mile is about 3 roadie miles. Possibly more until you get used to the extra work your core and other bits will get.

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By *etitesaraTV/TS
over a year ago

rochdale

Cutgate is a great route & will be pretty dry at the moment - beware of the horrendous climb/push back up from Howden water though, I once fell down the slope after clipping in (all my MTB's) have SPD pedals) & ended upside down on a very steep slope, everytime I tried to get out of my pedals I slid another few feet downhill!

From Halifax I would get a train to Hebden & go into the Blazing Saddles bike shop, they will give you some printed route maps of the area apparently although an hour with the OS map OL21 will show you some great routes.

Although I've spent most of this year on my road bike I still have two full sussers & enjoy getting out on them.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I was a roadie for 20 years and made the jump to MTB last year. I found it totally different to the style I had for the road. Climbing on gravel paths is not so easy and I found that insofar down hilling, I had to re adjust the way I used my body weight. Also, when I did my first trail, I thought afterwards what a tough 20 km ride it was but turned out to be 6km's. it can be pretty knackering but I found it much more enjoyable than expected.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

welcome to mtbs

.... you have some good riding up that way, so enjoy

I ride both , mtb and road and enjoy them both for different reason,have just bought a cross bike as well for a bit of mixed riding

what ever you ride , just enjoy it

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

It felt a bit weird riding and not been clipped in, when going up hill trying to pull with your foot doesn't work with flat pedals lol

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

[Removed by poster at 20/06/14 10:43:28]

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"It felt a bit weird riding and not been clipped in, when going up hill trying to pull with your foot doesn't work with flat pedals lol"

LOl ... I ride spds on all my bikes so dont really think about it

I have thought about trying flats for a change

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"It felt a bit weird riding and not been clipped in, when going up hill trying to pull with your foot doesn't work with flat pedals lol

LOl ... I ride spds on all my bikes so dont really think about it

I have thought about trying flats for a change"

I'm not putting clipless on a bike I might not be keeping

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Good luck, as a roady I never got on with mountain biking when it got to slippery. I prefer my wheels to stay planted on tbe road and not slide in corners.

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By *dam_TinaCouple
over a year ago

Hampshire

"I love the adrenalin off the downhills....not had much saddle time this year so far.

Hamsterly forest is a big fave of mine. "

Nice moustache

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By *uslaffMan
over a year ago

manchester

Don't forget to swerve around grids, whilst you're riding that bike designed to go up and down mountains.

Should you ever venture onto the road that is

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By *isser36Man
over a year ago

fylde Coast

Welcome to mtb's! Loads of top riding around halifax, calderdale, the mary townley loop is a great ride for a day out,if you fancy a trip abit further away, gisburn forest is excelent and one of the top trail centers in the country! Google it, its well worth a look and its good for all skill levels.

Enjoy! X

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By *etitesaraTV/TS
over a year ago

rochdale

I forgot about the MTL - a good, tough day out. 48 miles isn't much on a road bike - do the MTL & you'll know about it!

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By *entaur_UKMan
over a year ago

Cannock

"Welcome to mtb's! Loads of top riding around halifax, calderdale, the mary townley loop is a great ride for a day out,if you fancy a trip abit further away, gisburn forest is excelent and one of the top trail centers in the country! Google it, its well worth a look and its good for all skill levels.

Enjoy! X"

Also google Cannock chase forrest, loads of great mountain bike trails here i love riding over there very lucky to have it right on my doorstep.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Gisburn and cannock I would put at the top of my list of trail centres.

Both certainly worth a visit though as not to far from you.

Sherwood pines is a good work out (again not the best of centres) . The faster you ride it the more fun it is. Plus the bike Park is great to get a taste of red routes elsewhere and working on skills. A really fun night ride (usually when I visit).

I'd also avoid using clipless pedals for a while, you will learn better technique which will make it even easier when/if riding clipless.

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