Mountain Biking

[Twangbanger]

I have been avoiding going on the weekend because I'm worried it would be crowded. I think October in Nashville is just crazy.

After getting chiggers my first trip there at the beginning of September, I will always wear bug spray there. I've never had an issue at town run or fort Harrison.

Props to you for trying clips. I'm sticking with flats. Could never figure out clips.

How long did it take you to do that route? I did west gate, Hobbs, Shelley, green valley, north gate, pine loop last weekend and it took me 2.5 hours. Not looking forward to my first climb up hez point.

1:55 moving time. Very humbling. Really showed me what I need to work on. Which is everything. Hesitation point was nuts with people. In the section where it gets hard/technical at the top, I had to get off the bike 8-10 times to make way for people coming the other way. I could not trust myself to get out of the clips, so I just "uncled" out and got off the trail for everyone (I fell over 2x). The ride took 2:17, and there were 1,504 feet of climb. I was whomped.

My weekdays are shot until the end of the year, so if I repeat any part of this ride on weekends, I will probably ride downward on Hesitation Point, and find a way to exit out through Bobcat where Weedpatch crosses the road, until winter arrives and people go away. Maybe that will work better? It's hard enough, but with people coming the other way, it is just untenable for me.

 

[Butch627]

I had suicide straps since 1976 on all my bikes including my Bianchi mountain bike from 1988 to 2019. With my new Trek Xcaliber a friend convinced me to switch to mountain bike cleats with disastrous results. It was a flip to a coin to try mountain bike flats or go back to the straps. Going to flats felt weird at first but once I got used to them my riding skills improved measurably. On the road bike its a different story but will be using flats on the trail going forward.

 

[gmcttr]

My weekdays are shot until the end of the year, so if I repeat any part of this ride on weekends, I will probably ride downward on Hesitation Point, and find a way to exit out through Bobcat where Weedpatch crosses the road, until winter arrives and people go away. Maybe that will work better? It's hard enough, but with people coming the other way, it is just untenable for me.

At the top of Aynes, it intersects with Rim. Rim is a connector from Aynes past both ends of Bobcat to the road across from Weedpatch. Aynes and Rim will have a much lower concentration of riders than HP.

I have alway rode clipless. I never gained the skill to keep my feet on flats in the rough stuff.

 

[Twangbanger]

At the top of Aynes, it intersects with Rim. Rim is a connector from Aynes past both ends of Bobcat to the road across from Weedpatch. Aynes and Rim will have a much lower concentration of riders than HP.

I have alway rode clipless. I never gained the skill to keep my feet on flats in the rough stuff.

I only saw one other rider on Aynes, on the last Saturday of September, so I'm guessing it's not one of the more popular trails. There must have been a lot of people who got there early to ride Hobbs, and were using HP as the way out.

I noticed that connector to Aynes when I went past it, and wondered what it was. It seems like it connects near the highest point of the climb, so I guess that's either a drawback or an advantage, depending how you look at it. For coming in, it would be a blast, if you plan to exit elsewhere. If you're using it as a way out, you've got to climb Aynes near the end of the ride. All good I guess. The piper has to be paid somewhere, either way, so I'll just need to get in better shape.

My learning curve with clipless is administering unexpected stops, while having gotten accustomed to flats, which I assume will come with experience. Most of my prior problems going over obstacles were either my feet coming off, or "fear" of my feet coming off, and the clips seem to help greatly with that part. So I think I will like them, once the awkwardness diminishes. I am not a BMX or "bike park guy." I took my first MTB ride at age 54. I regret not having started sooner, but I think my potential days of doing jumps on natural trail environments and bunny-hopping clean over logs were over before I even thought of starting them (although, I have a couple more experienced acquaintances who will not think of doing anything that involves wheels coming off the ground without cleats).. The "skill" aspect of using flats for trials-type maneuvers, while enviable for people who can do them, seems to be something I encounter less than 5% of the time riding trails around here. On the other hand, being able to clip in and hammer up long climbs, or power over irregular systems of roots while going slowly uphill, without fear of losing contact, is something I seem to encounter over and over and over again. So in terms of future benefit to the type of rider I am, I think it will be the right choice. I am just going to have to look like a bit of an idiot while learning. I'm sure there were at least a couple people yesterday who were quite entertained

 

[ditcherman]

so I'll just need to get in better shape.

I took my first MTB ride at age 54. I regret not having started sooner, but I think my potential days of doing jumps on natural trail environments and bunny-hopping clean over logs were over before I even thought of starting them

Well, now I’m inspired and convicted and intimidated.

 

[Twangbanger]

Well, now I’m inspired and convicted and intimidated.

I didn't mean that to sound bad. I just meant that there's going to be a limit to how aggressively I'm going to "send it" when it involves really irregular terrain, or both wheels off the ground. I am going to be riding alone in my 50s much of the time, and have determined to be on the side of caution.

Trigger warning, this is unpleasant. What creeps me out about this vid, is you can see people go over the bars and have nowhere near this amount of injury...I'm fairly certain it's in no small part due to his age. He wasn't even jumping or dropping or anything; he was just going down a steep rock incline, and hit a spot where his front wheel dropped a bit and stopped moving...I could not even see where his leg hit, yet he got a broken femur out of it (4:30):

 

[ditcherman]

I didn't mean that to sound bad. I just meant that there's going to be a limit to how aggressively I'm going to "send it" when it involves really irregular terrain, or both wheels off the ground. I am going to be riding alone in my 50s much of the time, and have determined to be on the side of caution.

Trigger warning, this is unpleasant. What creeps me out about this vid, is you can see people go over the bars and have nowhere near this amount of injury...I'm fairly certain it's in no small part due to his age. He wasn't even jumping or dropping or anything; he was just going down a steep rock incline, and hit a spot where his front wheel dropped a bit and stopped moving...I could not even see where his leg hit, yet he got a broken femur out of it (4:30):

I’m 54, need to do something to maintain my shape (ROUND IS A SHAPE!) and could bike to work down a dirt road many days.
But I also don’t want to pick up another spendy habit without following through.
I ski pretty aggressively but not often enough. And I don’t like air, never have.

I could see mountain biking as good ski training.

 

[ditcherman]

I didn't mean that to sound bad. I just meant that there's going to be a limit to how aggressively I'm going to "send it" when it involves really irregular terrain, or both wheels off the ground. I am going to be riding alone in my 50s much of the time, and have determined to be on the side of caution.

Trigger warning, this is unpleasant. What creeps me out about this vid, is you can see people go over the bars and have nowhere near this amount of injury...I'm fairly certain it's in no small part due to his age. He wasn't even jumping or dropping or anything; he was just going down a steep rock incline, and hit a spot where his front wheel dropped a bit and stopped moving...I could not even see where his leg hit, yet he got a broken femur out of it (4:30):

Now after watching the vid, that really hits home how quickly one mistake can change your life.
ETA; I think it broke on the very last hit that we see in the first part of the clip.

More intimidated feeling now. I really have no desire to ride down that. Cover it in snow and I’ll ski down that all day

Probably what I want is just a gravel road bike that can do forest roads and other mild stuff.

We have a few gravel riders come by real regular. Pretty cool bikes but they sure look like a lot of work to pedal when they hit the pavement!

We have what seems like hundreds of road bikes come by a couple times a week, always enjoy seeing them. I’m not your typical redneck I guess.

 

[Butch627]

Im 63 I am baffled as to the issues with flat pedals. After decades with my feet strapped to the pedals I am far more confident with quality mountain bike pedals with spikes in them and quality mountain bike shoes. My shoes are Ride Concepts, they index into the spikes on the pedals and there is no slipppage. I resisted trying them for years and the straps were holding me back. I don't push myself beyond my comfort zone but I did all the toughest trails at BC at my own pace, luckily the park was empty and I wasn't holding anyone else back. I don't go out of my way to catch more than a few inches of air.

I don't really know the difference between a gravel and a mountain bike, but if I was looking to buy a new bike I would buy a mountain bike and adjust the tires to the terrain. My Xcaliber has as many miles on gravel and asphalt as dirt trails on aggressive mountain bike tires. Even having said that my Xcaliber is more suited to cross country and if starting over I am told that a Trek Roscoe would better suit the local trails. To the other old guys I think these 4ft wide handlebars are stupid. I cut 1 1/4 inches off of each side of my handlebars and am very happy with them, they are about 2 inches wider than the handlebars on my old 26 inch bike.

 

[Twangbanger]

Now after watching the vid, that really hits home how quickly one mistake can change your life.
ETA; I think it broke on the very last hit that we see in the first part of the clip.

More intimidated feeling now. I really have no desire to ride down that. Cover it in snow and I’ll ski down that all day

Probably what I want is just a gravel road bike that can do forest roads and other mild stuff.

We have a few gravel riders come by real regular. Pretty cool bikes but they sure look like a lot of work to pedal when they hit the pavement!

We have what seems like hundreds of road bikes come by a couple times a week, always enjoy seeing them. I’m not your typical redneck I guess.

I've been tempted to get a gravel bike, because something that light with disc brakes just appeals to me. But I remember how painful it is to ride no-suspension bikes, especially light ones, over ripply ground. That is one of those things that, like you said, I probably won't follow through on. Being out in nature with nobody watching you screw up is a lot more fun. Indy has a cyclocross series, but letting younger people pass me for 45 minutes (more like an hour?) while riding the same grass loop over and over, is something I will ponder for another day.

But mountain bikes are awesome. You mention that you are a skier. I am struck by how similar the physical training that the downhill mountain bikers do, is to what skiers do. There is a lot of similarity in the way the legs are used as shock absorbers. If you're good at that, you would be good at mountain biking. Know your limitations and it is a great sport for your off-season. There is a place up north of Traverse City called Boyne Mountain that is a ski place in winter, that converts to mountain biking in summer. I would love to try that. We went to a place at Mt. Washington in NH this summer that is the same way. They are cross-country skiiing in winter, then have some trails (nothing too hard) and a 24 hour mountain bike race in summer. I wonder why the ski places didn't think of this sooner.

 

[gmcttr]

I'm 70 years old, usually ride alone now and have been crashing regularly at BCSP for 15-16 years. I went over the bars going down HP earlier this summer. It hurt, but not for long. Did it on one of my favorite little features.

I have found myself riding more cautiously the last few years. I still seem to crash/fall over just as much though.

FWIW, my worst crash was within 50' of my house while practicing crossing a 12" log. Did it correctly at least 6 times and then screwed up.

 

[gmcttr]

...My learning curve with clipless is administering unexpected stops, while having gotten accustomed to flats, which I assume will come with experience. Most of my prior problems going over obstacles were either my feet coming off, or "fear" of my feet coming off, and the clips seem to help greatly with that part. So I think I will like them, once the awkwardness diminishes...

What kind of clipless pedals did you go with? Pedals with adjustable cleat tension like Shimano and Hope, help while learning. Start with fairly low tension as you lock in the muscle memory to click out and increase the tension when you start clicking out accidentally.

Bouncing off of flats is also my problem. I'm currently playing with flats again just because it ticks me off that I can't ride them. Atlas pedal and Giro's flat shoes. I WILL put the clipless pedals back on before a BCSP ride.

 

[ditcherman]

Im 63 I am baffled as to the issues with flat pedals. After decades with my feet strapped to the pedals I am far more confident with quality mountain bike pedals with spikes in them and quality mountain bike shoes. My shoes are Ride Concepts, they index into the spikes on the pedals and there is no slipppage. I resisted trying them for years and the straps were holding me back. I don't push myself beyond my comfort zone but I did all the toughest trails at BC at my own pace, luckily the park was empty and I wasn't holding anyone else back. I don't go out of my way to catch more than a few inches of air.

I don't really know the difference between a gravel and a mountain bike, but if I was looking to buy a new bike I would buy a mountain bike and adjust the tires to the terrain. My Xcaliber has as many miles on gravel and asphalt as dirt trails on aggressive mountain bike tires. Even having said that my Xcaliber is more suited to cross country and if starting over I am told that a Trek Roscoe would better suit the local trails. To the other old guys I think these 4ft wide handlebars are stupid. I cut 1 1/4 inches off of each side of my handlebars and am very happy with them, they are about 2 inches wider than the handlebars on my old 26 inch bike.

Looking into it a bit I like the idea of the mountain bike and adjusting the tires if needed.
The Trek Marlin comes in this beautiful matte olive grey.... Seems affordable, relatively, haha.

It looks like a lot of the gravel bikes come with drop bars, and no suspension. Suspension sounds good.
The mountain bikes seem to be about 10 pounds heavier than a similar priced gravel bike.

Also, I just figured out what I am seeing in my neighborhood. The fat bikes, with the 4.5" knobby tires that sound like my truck tires when I don't rotate them enough!

 

[ditcherman]

I've been tempted to get a gravel bike, because something that light with disc brakes just appeals to me. But I remember how painful it is to ride no-suspension bikes, especially light ones, over ripply ground. That is one of those things that, like you said, I probably won't follow through on. Being out in nature with nobody watching you screw up is a lot more fun. Indy has a cyclocross series, but letting younger people pass me for 45 minutes (more like an hour?) while riding the same grass loop over and over, is something I will ponder for another day.

But mountain bikes are awesome. You mention that you are a skier. I am struck by how similar the physical training that the downhill mountain bikers do, is to what skiers do. There is a lot of similarity in the way the legs are used as shock absorbers. If you're good at that, you would be good at mountain biking. Know your limitations and it is a great sport for your off-season. There is a place up north of Traverse City called Boyne Mountain that is a ski place in winter, that converts to mountain biking in summer. I would love to try that. We went to a place at Mt. Washington in NH this summer that is the same way. They are cross-country skiiing in winter, then have some trails (nothing too hard) and a 24 hour mountain bike race in summer. I wonder why the ski places didn't think of this sooner.

I think Boyne would make a better biking place than a ski place. 2 minutes tops to go down. Similar lift lines and prices as out west. Biking is catching on out west as well.

I'm not sure I'd be good at using the legs as shock absorbers, I know I'm not when I get intimidated on a steep slope. Things just lock up. I bet that's exactly the same as mountain biking. You know what you need too do, but you just watched a video of a 60 year old guy rag dolling it over some rocks and you can't make yourself do it. Or maybe that's just me.

 

[Twangbanger]

What kind of clipless pedals did you go with? Pedals with adjustable cleat tension like Shimano and Hope, help while learning. Start with fairly low tension as you lock in the muscle memory to click out and increase the tension when you start clicking out accidentally.

Bouncing off of flats is also my problem. I'm currently playing with flats again just because it ticks me off that I can't ride them. Atlas pedal and Giro's flat shoes. I WILL put the clipless pedals back on before a BCSP ride.

I went with Shimano SPD 520s and Endura shoes, since my flat-pedal shoes are Enduras and I like them. That was the cheapest option, since the pedals are only like $50. I know a lot of people recommend the larger, flat-shaped pedals because they have more surface around the foot when you're not clipped in. But they are more, and I didn't want to invest too much in case I don't like it. I set the retention really light, like you said. I'm starting to pick up on the high-pitch sound when it clicks in. I only had one accidental release, with the tension really light, so they seem to be pretty secure.

A couple questions: do they wear out, and if so, what goes first, the cleats or pedals? (I would assume they'd make the pedals very hard-tempered and the cleats would be the "sacrificial" part since they're cheap?). Do you go through a progression of having to increase tension over time, before they finally wear out and need replaced? Also, do you like a larger pedal surface, or does it not matter?

And a final note: 70? I want to be like you when I grow up!

 

[gmcttr]

I rode the SPD 520's for a long time and they are good. Then I switched to XT and XTR models with larger platforms to help slightly when I can't get clipped in quickly. Not a night and day difference at all.

Cleats will likely wear out first but it will take a long long time.

 

[Mounty09]

I don't push myself beyond my comfort zone but I did all the toughest trails at BC at my own pace, luckily the park was empty and I wasn't holding anyone else back. I don't go out of my way to catch more than a few inches of air.

Do you ride schooner? I have watched a couple videos on that trail and I don't know if I have the desire to try it.

Seeing you older guys still out is great! I'm 32 and hoping I will continue to ride as long as you guys are.

I run Race Face Chester pedals and Ride Concept shoes. I have only gotten my shin once or twice and don't have many issues keeping my feet on the pedals. I just talked my neighbor into getting some Ride Concept shoes and he said it was a big improvement over riding in running shoes.

I reached a goal I set for myself. I rode 100 miles of dirt in September!

 

[Twangbanger]

Do you ride schooner? I have watched a couple videos on that trail and I don't know if I have t
Seeing you older guys still out is great! I'm 32 and hoping I will continue to ride as long as you guys are.

I run Race Face Chester pedals and Ride Concept shoes. I have only gotten my shin once or twice and don't have many issues keeping my feet on the pedals. I just talked my neighbor into getting some Ride Concept shoes and he said it was a big improvement over riding in running shoes.

I reached a goal I set for myself. I rode 100 miles of dirt in September!

100 miles is getting it done, great job!

 

[gmcttr]

Schooner Trace is a great hiking trail. I don't take my bike hiking.

 

[tim87tr]

View attachment 302628
BC on a new bike today! My first full-squish and bit off a little more than I could chew. Hobbs, Shelley, Aynes, and Hez Point. Things are starting to crowd up a bit. Town was full and lots of riders.

The day was full of heard lessons:

1. Need bug repellent. I was dropping bombs left and right cussing the damn gnats and mosquitos, who it turns out can climb faster than I do. I'm sure a couple people thought I had escaped the Marion Co jail. Side note, it hurts to whack yourself in the head when wearing a helmet.

2. This was the wrong place to try out clipless on a MTB. The "clip in dammit!" conversations I was having with myself when not cursing gnats added to the mental case vibe.

3. I am getting Trailforks pro. Garmin doesn't lie, and this ride took y long!

How do you like the Trailforks app? I just downloaded the free version and it looks like something useful to find trails nearby and traveling, so I may join.

As for your post #24 about Griffin bike park in Terre Haute....I was there yesterday for the first time and it's very nice. Something for everyone and was glad to see families bringing their kids, who seemed to love the place. see this trail map link and I watched some Youtube videos last night if you search for "Griffin bike park".

Trail Map – Griffin Bike Park

griffinbikepark.com

I'm new to MTB trails but not biking. People were very friendly and happy to be at Griffin. One thing I noticed, which you mentioned the distance, is the people I spoke to had traveled quite a distance to be there (Bloomington, IL and Bedford), or were traveling and stopped to check it out due to it's reputation. Believe it's been around 10 years now and the volunteers have put in massive amounts of work, along with fundraising to get trails and bathrooms and other items built.