Another thing about a Skills Day - most of them will provide assistance and advice in bike set-up. SO many people out on the trails have a really nice expensive bike which just isn't set up right and a decent tutor will be able to pick up on that and help correct it.
It's not the upgrade-itis thing that a lot of folk seem to have, just making the best of your equipment.
After all, a well set up 100mm fork will be far better than a badly set up 140mm one at getting you down stuff.
Happy biking. 🙂
Me and curlygirl and our two best friends went to Sherwood Pines yesterday, and after a slow and slightly nervous start, the curlygirl relaxed, picked up the speed and did really bloody well.
Alaine went with flat pedals for yesterday and I think it was the right choice for her as it was really muddy in the more dense twisty sections.
And the most important thing of all is that she enjoyed it. Yay 😀
Following on from husband's post: I felt the best I've felt on a ride yet! I relaxed went fast enough to scare myself, but felt much more in control of the bike, so the roots/dips/mudpatches weren't causing me nearly as much of a problem as they were at the start of the ride (which I have to admit was useless)
I don't know what got into me, but something in my head just switched and I stopped worrying about falling off so much and just let go. I pushed myself to go faster and even though it was making me nervous, I knew it was the right thing to do - I even overtook someone! 😀
I can only put it down to you guys; with your words of support and marvellous advice rattling around my brain, it somehow got through and battered 'defeatest CurlyGurl' into submission. And I'm so glad it did.
It was the first trail ride I've actually enjoyed; and even if I have another shakey start next time, I'm optimistic about going out riding again - and that is definitely a first for me!
So, thank you everyone. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have done it without you 🙂 x x x
Ray! Brilliant! Very chuffed for you. 130plus posts helped you realise there's such a thing as too much thinking, and just riding your bike is pretty fun? Ace. What did you have in the water bottle, by the way?
curlygurl-I got told off by crazy-legs on Sunday for talking whilst descending a rocky bit.
He said if I stopped Bl**dy talking then I could concentrate more.
You see we learn something new every ride. 😀
I talk *lots* when I'm riding - mostly to myself - ilikebikes and my pals say they can usually hear me chuntering away while they are waiting for me at the end of a section 😉
And it was Vimto squash in the water bottle. Honest guv'nor...! 🙂
Good stuff curlygirl. smiles per mile is the only criteria that counts
