Ive been mountain biking for about 7 years now. Its my main hobby/interest outside of my family life and work and looking back these are the main things ive discovered over that period of time. Most of it is stating the obvious:
– more expensive bikes are not necesarily more fun/better to ride.
– if i read mountain bike magazines all the time i constantly want a newer/better bike and i dont always enoy riding my bike as much
– MTB specific clothing may be an aquired taste but it lasts far longer and keeps you drier/warmer than regular clothing.
– SPDs are a good idea
– The more fit i am the more you enjoy riding
– if i tailor my rides to work on my weaknesses i improve quicker
– There is world class mountain biking here in the UK. Its nice to go abroad but you dont have to
– There is a definate satisfaction that comes with finding a good piece of singletrack yourself and riding it. Whether thats in your local wooods or from scouring bridalways on an O/S map
– trail centres are brilliant no matter what some people say. Especially when everything else is bogged down with gloop
– A mountain bike needs a lot of looking after to keep it runnning well if you ride regularly
– Fox forks need even more looking after to keep them running well
– You can pay for bike maintenance in either time or money
– its good for me to have a break. If i dont ride regularly for a couple of months per year i come back with more enthusiasm and energy
– dont aproach a race too casualy and set off at the back. you waste a lot of time having to overtake people
