now i am a pretty poor mountainbiker, no skill, no bottle,but i love it.
but back in the day i was pretty good at another sport....
anyone else good at another sport rather than cycling?????
I am amazing on/in a bike/car/plane/boat but kick, throw and bat like a girl.
football and cricket
Great front row forward, crap at riding up hills.....
same as flamejob! rubbish at traditional sports, did outdoor ed instead of PE at school and then got into rallying aged 14.
My ability is pretty much the same at all sports. (crap at everything)
Is teenage drinking a sport...?
Ton... following you down Moor Lane the other week, I;d say you were pretty good on a bike mate. Pretty good indeed.
I was quite good at squash.
back in the day.......
if it would work...
Used to be a pretty handy No.7..
Oh, and boxed a fair bit..
But as you well know Tony, I'm pretty shite on the bike.
I've represented Britain a few times in another two wheeled sport. 🙂
I would say the mixed medley swimming relay as that is the only school record I got, but even though I swam the final glory lap, I would have to admit is did help that we had Sandra who I think was in the county team at the time which somewhat helped 🙂
I'm a classic jack of all trades, master of none - NSW decathlon champion in my youth...
I was a good prop a long long time ago... Well I thought I was good anyway..
I was also good at windsurfing and used to go out in gales whenever there was one. Did a force 9 once wow that was mad but I preferred force 8's more though.
Its odd to know you're having a wail of a time when factory roofs are being blown away and lorries are turning over.
county standard for badminton, used to run, do a bit of boxing (mostly for fun and fitness though), and road cycling?
Rugby was my passion for many years. Still play a bit but just for fun now. Unfortunately an 18 stone prop doesn't go up hills quickly!
PLayed Tennis for my county at schoolboy level
Played Hockey for my county at schoolboy level
CAptained and won(many)trophies at rugby
Captained and won trophies for football
Ran x-country for county at schoolboy level
Won british gold at Tae Kwon Do for team comp(only person to win all 4 fights) (adult level - woohoo)
Pretty good also at basketball
Come to think of it i was pretty good at anything i put my mind to. Prefer sports to tv/drinking i suppose
cricket and badminton.
(Rugby was my passion for many years. Still play a bit but just for fun now. Unfortunately an 18 stone prop doesn't go up hills quickly! )
Where I stay all the rugby parks are more or less flat 😆
I was a decent hockey goalkeeper and the little bit of rugby I played I wasn't bad at. I regret not continuing with the rugby now
radoggair, you forgot:
Talking pish at schoolboy level 😉
im brilliant with a gun , not so bad with a hose now lol. but alas crap on two wheels 😉
I'm a reasonable skier. Mountain biking seems similar, hopefully I'll progress to the same sort of level.
I'm not a bad swimmer, and can do 1 mile in 28 minutes or thereabouts.
I was the natural build for xc running, as a youngster, but found it very very boring.
Apparently I am an excellent natural shot with a rifle, according to a group of Norwegian hunters.
At footy, I am a bit like a blend of Pele, Maradona, Cruyff, Kaka, Maldini, Zubizarreta and Ian Ormondroyd.
Actually, to be honest, I'm more like George Best. Not the footie bit, though...(nor the wife-beating bit, either).
I am a below average mountain biker in fitness and skillz.
It is hugely in keeping with the froggy stereotype but i am really quite good at pétanque and volleyball.
Does fishing count?
I am a crack clay pigeon shot - even if I do say so myself
bigdugsbaws - didn't you win Mr gay uk a few years ago?
Sure you showed me your, erm, award. 😉
p.s., check my flickr for what i met today on my inners ride
43 and still getting called up to play secondrow. Good skier. Ok centre forward. I'm never going to be the first up or down on an mtb but I try and my mum loves me.
Played in a schools county cup final at football[we lost].Member of local cricket team [opening bowler.use to be fast,age catching up with me now].Also do brazilian jiu-jitsu
Used to be god at rugby,but then again I was second row,so more brawn than brain.
OK at skiing but there its a case of bravery/stupidity over skill.
Same on the bike.......:)
Another Jack of all trades here. Love cycling, but was a better runner and footballer. Ran xc at county level for Barnet.
crap at everything here. I've never been better than county level at the things I was best at which were swimming and running so all a bit rubbish really. Not bad with a shotgun (clays) but that was always just for fun and I've not picked one up for about 25 years now.
Sailing - fairly similar skill/fitness/tacktics/map reading ratio to cycling. If you want to walk into a sport and be compettative, once you've got the basics and the rules sorted sailling is fairly complimentary to cycling, a lot of top level sailors do a lot of cycling in their trainign.
Rugby - except i cant kick or catch, but made a pretty good prop/second row. For some reason I could train with the older year groups, but when it came to matches i was lost, put it down to training with one (good) team and playing with another (rubbish) ream.
Running - wasn't too shabby at 800m and cross country
I could have been a county-level Cricketer and had to practice three evenings a week in the nets as a kid (thanks Dad). Thankfully my parents divorced.
Sh1te at Rugby and Football but good at Hockey (not played for years though).
I'd like to be good at karting but the majority of the karts are automatic and being a chubbalubs means I have to be abit 'tora tora tora'. Drove the karts at MK once though 😀
Not too bad at judo (but then being in France helps). Managed to get quite good momentum on climbing (my biggest regret in leaving the UK).
Then below average on a bike.
I participated martial arts for 9yrs as a kid as well Wado Ryu (traditional) and Tang Soo Do (great for fitness!).
Ranked third in open class mx. In NZ. In 1984.
Competitive slalom racer (skiing) in the late 80's.
Injuries from both sports have done for me now though.
Crap at anything where the blame can be transferred to other people ie all team sports.
Football. I played for my town school team (Stockport Boys), County Team (Cheshire Boys) was on school boy terms at Wrexham and also had trials at a few professional clubs. Got a contract with Luton just before leaving school but an injury and a rather problematic home life put paid to that.
The biggest regret of my life and possibly the singlest biggest reason I hated my parents.
All happy now though - I have bikes 🙂
I was a Junior and Under 23 international rower (plus a box of National Champs, Henley medal and Boat Race medals). Gave it up before the Sydney Olympics as I wasn't enjoying it. Arguably the most stupid decision I ever made as the boat I had been selected for at "GB Final Trials" went on to win a gold medal. Doh!
"Enthusiastic" is about as good as my cycling can be described though
Ive often wondered 'do you have to excel at a sport to enjoy it'? Sometimes, however look at the Sunday league footballers, most arent very good but they enjoy playing? Ok theres the TV aspect there but still. I enjoy karting- never set the world on fire but I still enjoy it.
Same with mountain biking- you can ride down the same technical/rocky bit- just at 1/2 the speed of your mates and still have the same thrill factor, plus......you get to savour that section whereas its over in the blink of an eye for them 😉
[i]Juan - Then below average on a bike.[/i]
Yeah definitely well below average 😉
I was a fairly decent runner in my youth, mainly 100m & 200m. Ran for Oxford athletic club (we used to train at Ifley road on the track where Bannister broke the 4 minute mile). Also swam at a good level. Managed to smash my left ankle to pieces in a winter cross country race at age 15 which effectively ended any hopes I had at a career in athletics. It was one of the reasons I started riding bikes, cos my ankle was supported and strengthened by turning the pedals.
Who are you hackney rider?
I really am below average... Friend I use to ride with are now so much quicker than me 🙁
EDIT oh I know who you are 😉
When are you going to take a sleazy jet to come and visit 😀
once got selected to run xc for my school when i (genuinely) got lost during the selection run, took a short cut, and came third.
i do take a certain personal pride at being a bit rubbish at lots of sports; if there was an outdoor-sports-decathlon-type-thing, i'd probably do ok...
some kind of sailing/climbing/swimming/running/roady-ing/dh-bike/skiing/snowboarding/surfing/pie-eating competition would be just my kind of event.
crap at all sports, I hated sport at school, apart from horseriding. I was ok at that.
I didn't play football until I was 25 and turned out to be pretty good, wish I'd had more guts as a kid to get cold, wet and take the banter. Was too much of a wimp but reckon I could have been premiership stuff (HSBC Sheffield 5-a-side premiership...). Gave it up after getting crunched unneccessarily and breaking my collar bone. 6 weeks off the bike and massive confidence knock wasn't worth it.
Currently on rock climbing. Not a master but have led E2 within a year of climbing trad.
Welsh champion a few times at weightlifting, OK at rugby (I was a small hooker - seems to be a lot of the tight 5 on here who now MTB!)
Did a fair bit of sailing, only racing, both dinghy and offshore; scared myself silly at climbing, rowed a bit, nearly got into motorcycle road racing but disuaded by Mrs bakey..., off road m/c enduro (badly). Pretty good at judo and gymnastics as a nipper.
Hopless swimmer and absolutely rubbish at cricket, football and tennis!
Most of all I loved the rugby, and now really enjoying biking as I approach my dotage.
Was, and still am, a decent footballer. Represented my school, been on the books for the junior side of an Irish League club when I was 15. Still play. Could play a good round of golf when I put my mind too it. Was utterly pathetic at rugby.
And I'm an extremely average mountain biker, but love it the most out of all the sports I've been involved in.
Climbed a bit in the 80-90's
Used to be reasonably good on a BMX back when they were first popular, but on a mtb my skills now suck, the thought of air time scares the mulch out of me 😉
Played Hockey to county level for over 10 years, still play a bit for the vets league, which the standard is very tough, not really up to it tbh, but its fun to do the team thing.
Also, used to be a good shot, used to shoot clays, target pistols and rifles before the law changed and banned ownership for most.
Came 8th in a World Championship final event back in the early 90's. Bet no one will guess at what sport though, I'll give you a clue - The event was held in Hong Kong Harbour 😯 .
I was also a top 10 junior marathon & sprint kayaker. Mate who i used to partner in the 2 man event reached the finals of the last Olympics in 500m & 1k and i used to beat him regularly over those distances. Oh what could have been with more commitment, a bit like my riding really 😕
Used to ride big 4 strokes in enduro -before they became civilised as they are now ,always good for top 3 in welsh 4 stroke championship and won my class in british enduro championship to - MTB was a afantastic tool for fitness to
Athletics, 100m, 200m and 400m
Badminton
And shooting things with a bang bang...
Not sure about being crap on a MTB, if average is crap i am...
Crap (relatively) at all sports, but I enjoy trying.
It's all about perception. In my eyes Steve Pete is an expert, so that makes me very average. Likewise Shaun White is an expert snowboarder, once again I'm decidedly average.
It make me smile when people go on about being experts at this or that. Unless your competing and succeeding at a national or international level at best all you'll be a good, or may be a very good cyclist (or whatever sport it is). That's not to be pessimistic, or to take anything away from people who are good at particular sports, it's just realistic.
Used to run for my school in XC @ county events.
Played football @ Cheshire School of Excellence, missed out on Schools County trials @ Rugby as I cracked my cheek bone the week before 😕
Fished up to Division 1 National Standard.
Thats about it, nothing major
Pretty good athlete when young, went to the nationals in high jump and then discovered beer and girls at 18 which put pay to that.
An average cricketer with ideas way above my station. Actually, I am a very good fielder but my batting is at best erratic and my bowling is horrendous.
Still play football, I am a (just) above average goalkeeper and not overly pretty central defender, played semi-pro for 2 seasons but it was all a little serious for me.
On a mountain bike I am slow going up, ok going down and scared with my wheels off the ground.
I see Mtbing in three parts, I'm very good at pre and post ride activities, I seem to struggle with the riding bit at times!!!
Bluebird: yes, all about perception. I'd class myself as an ok swimmer, but i'm quite a bit faster than rudeboy's 28 minute mile. Trouble is i know 12 year old girls in my club that do 1500 in less than 20 minutes so i'd struggle to convince myself i'm anything but ok
Trouble is i know 12 year old girls in my club that do 1500 in less than 20 minutes
Thats because Gary Glitter is easing himself in for a swim at the other end?
Ah, IGMC
im a pretty damn good hockey player (yes the girl's sport)
Bloody useless at all sports, especially the usual, footy cricket etc, well maybe not especially bad at them just everyone else is sooo much better. I've persevered with cycling and am finally getting to a competant level, only sport I'm ok at.
Crap on a bike but its my best sport although I did get a cert for swimming 25 yds 40 odd years ago. I got pretty hot at darts at one point as it involved loads of training int pub :o)
odly i dont find climbing scary, like rollercoasters, theres enough of a safety net to feel secure. To the point i forget im 20m in the air hanging off an overhang by one hand wondering what the fek im going to do next :S
I can run a 10k in about 40 mins and then drink about six pints of cider.
is that good for a 40yr old 9 stone midget ?
Kev
Came 3rd in the orienteering world championships when i was 14!!! Long time ago!!! Raced BMX in the 80's but gave it up cos folk just took it way too seriously and it stopped being fun. Ridden MTB's for almost 20 years now with a few years off here and there, i've got some good DH skills but my uphills really suck lately, stopped smoking at xmas and gained pounds and ride a patriot which aint the best climber!!
As an mtber, with training I'm reasonable uphill, but without training not great. Downhill, I'm better than the average joe and like to dice with the front-runners. I specialise in the keeping-the-wheels-mostly-on-the-ground-on-a-social-ride-with-other-30-somethings style though.
I was County captain at rugby Union as a schoolboy, but gave it up at uni.
I'm probably at the-front-of-the-middle-of-the-pack for most of the many things I've tried, but I'll give most things a good go and try hard ("God loves a trier", as I've been told many times....)
I've a good record at Stag do karting and would like to have tried motorsport. Then again, isn't everyone an above average driver?
I am a fairly high standard fettler!
Keep riding more!
I'm better on my road bike but ride it alot more than mtb. I can jog 12 miles but struggle on my bike uphill?
Weird? yep!
But keep riding and it will come along.
I play a mean game of pool, does that count as a sport? Used to do a spot of climbing - was good but too lazy to put in any real work.
Still get the airguns out for a play sometimes, but always been an average shot. Mountain biking skills not too bad 'cos I ride with guys much better technically than I am so I'm always pushing. Stamina not what it was, but still better than the twenty-somethings I ride with.
Kiteboarding (onland, i swim like a cat). can pull some nifty tricks. although if you know how to fly a kite well and gain lots of hangtime then most tricks are fairly easy.
snowboarding. not so jumpy jumpy but can hit a few drops and make it look like i was in control.
and snowkiting. much like the first though.
oh, and fishing the river behind my old house. don't think i remember a time i didn't catch.
I can run a 10k in about 40 mins and then drink about six pints of cider.is that good for a 40yr old 9 stone midget ?
That is ****ing awesome!!
What is less than awesome, is your ability to use your legs, afterwards! 😉
I'm rubbish at every other sport, don't even like'em, but for an oldie 47. I can get up most climbs, and manage the decents with a smile.
For me that's what its all about 😀
Crib at the pub when PC and gambling laws didnt exist, also mean at Ludo.
Trouble is i know 12 year old girls in my club that do 1500 in less than 20 minutes
I may as well give up now... 🙁
Some kids are amazing swimmers. They are much more efficient, having a much higher power to weight ratio than adults, and are more aquadynamic. Tall, skinny kids make fantastic swimmers.
I'm more of a plodder, just swim easy, rather than go mental. I don't do the tumble turn, which saves several seconds a length, or the dolphiny underwater thing when you push off. My next target is sub-25 mins, but I doubt I'll ever get anywhere near 20 mins. No way!
The figures for junior swimming are terrifying. I'm one of the faster regulars down at my local pool (not the club swimmers though), although the fastest I see are women. Most of the blokes are too busy wanting to 'bulk up', to be able to swim well.
Bloke in tonight; quick, but crap technique. Loads of splash. Just annoying.
Been playing Rugby for years even though I am bloody useless at it. Pretty good at getting smashed in the clubhouse afterwards though. A skill I have carried into MTBiking.
After 20 odd years of mountain biking only, it's the only sport I can do!
Represented GB in Long Course Triathlon back in the day when you just turned up to a race and qualified 😮
Good climber on the MTB, just crap at the flat and downhill parts, but like a good wine, improving with age
I was poor at football, found i couldnt be bothered with hockey, ok at kickboxing for how long i did it...
THe only sport i could ever be bothered with has been cycling... I think o'm ok at that.
Oh, and apparantly the one time i went wakeboarding, i was a natural.
There have been some fairly liberal interpretations of good on here so far.
As bluebird said, you need to be competitive on at least an elite national level to qualify. IMO.
I captained the Earth team to glory in the pangalactic everything chamionships, 2 years running
As a sexual athlete, my performances remain beyond the comprehension of most people despite a near fatal incident at the Athens Olympics Champions Only After-Games Gangbang
I'm guessing I could take the biking world by storm too but it's all about the smiles for me these days, and sometimes it's nice to let the little people have their day
