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i've been riding less than a year and i'm often reminded of, what i assume to be unwritten, mtb rules that i'm breaking as a beginner,
examples -
riding in the mud
using the back brake at times on singletrack
using winter tyres when the suns out
organising group rides that increase the trail erosion by extra traffic
this isnt even considering the basic beginner mistakes like the fact I bought a halfords BSO and not testing a bike before buying it (ended up with a carrera fury which i love so that one worked out ok)
So what other rules do us beginners break that we're not aware of?
Just trying to be a more considerate rider towards others and the trails that others put so much effort into building 🙂
EDIT - i'm not talking about the silly rules like road riders aren't allowed peaks on their helmets or being struck down by lightning if they wear baggy shorts.
No pink lycra on blokes.
Only STW-authorised steel HT count as proper bikes.
Not allowed to have Fox forks.
Must work in IT.
Must love Land Rovers and VW Transporters.
Must shave with a traditional razor.
Must drink the most expensive coffee, none of this Nescafe gravy-like stuff allowed.
Must be either skinny to the point of boney OR a proper fat-ass.
Must love your road bike and disregard MTB's as they get muddy.
Must have tyro logos and valves aligned.
No messy gardens, untidy kitchens or unpainted fences.
Bikes? Who cars really, it's an internet forum.
Ride without helmets.
Hairychested - You forgot no ice in your whisky!
Basic positioning of contact points, saddle too low, brake levers pointing up in the air etc....
Ride without helmets.
saw a guy out yesterday with his family - him on a new shiney expensive full suss... riding with no helmet and wearing slip on loafers sliding about all over the top of his spds. rest of the family on 49pound rigid supermarket specials... instantly thought "ohh beginner" then remembered i haven't even been riding a year yet! so i must be making mistakes i'm not even aware of to.
Ride without helmets.
Or the classic of wearing a helmet with the straps undone.
As useful as resting an unwrapped condom on the top of your knob.
Supermarket bikes with the forks on backwards is always a winner.
washing the bike with a hose on full tilt.
Not having enough nich to go with their Gnarrr!!!
spraying wd40/gt85 around like there's not tomorrow.
[i]As useful as resting an unwrapped condom on the top of your knob[/i]
Yes, really hard to stop it falling off on the downhill sections.
Was at Swinley on Saturday and spotted a couple sitting on the edge of a jump having a rest......they had made sure their bikes were off the trail at least!
read that thread this morning, some excellent trolling! 😆
this is a serious question though, been reading more and more threads by people involved in getting out there and digging trails just for people like me to come along and organise massive groups rides that mean more people know about the trails and more people dragging their back brakes through them. i haven't been riding long enough to develop a real sense of when its time to step back and moderate my riding to be more considerate.
saying that... i didnt ride anything at swinley that was closed off recently, even made a concerted effort to stop other riders from trashing the bits that were re-opened but with notices saying "please keep off if its even a little bit damp". so i like to think i'm concious of these things 8)
but this is where i get confused... i LOVE riding, riding in the winter in the mud was incredible fun and i love showing new people the wonderful world of messing around with friends in the woods 🙂
is there a place us beginners can go where we wont get in the way of the better riders and damage everything by using our brakes? 🙂
Riding through the mud is good as it reduces trail creep
When you see another cyclist/MTB'er, you must only look at the forks/bike, never look at the rider you'll turn to stone! 😯
saddle too low
When you see another cyclist/MTB'er, you must only look at the forks/bike, never look at the rider you'll turn to stone!
That isnt a noob error mind you, its more of an acquired skill as you gain experience. 🙂
No pink lycra on blokes.
Pfft, depends how awseome you are.
Riding beyond their ability is my favourite. Generally I watch for a while sigh, then turn away before I have to whittle away further at my already denuded first aid supplies.
Sitting down when descending long sections. And then being surprised how slow and rough the ride is, and being unable to tilt the bike through corners, or resist braking forces. My #1 tip to new riders is to get them to drop the seatpost 2" so that they are forced to learn to balance on the pedals and absorb the movement of the bike. Once they get the idea, they can put it back up if they like.
helmet straps over sunglasses. 🙄 lolz
"saw a guy out yesterday with his family - him on a new shiney expensive full suss... riding with no helmet and wearing slip on loafers sliding about all over the top of his spds. rest of the family on 49pound rigid supermarket specials... "
Sounds like my landlord...! You don't live near Tunnel Hill area do you...?
brake levers pointing up in the air etc....
The current niche to the gnafrrrr setup is to have them closer to horisontal to push yur weight back on decents.
Using both brakes the same, both brakes together in a straight line, front off, turn in, then let the rear brake off as and when you want to speed up.
Brake levers set up for anything other than 1 finger braking.
What do you mean about riding in the mud? Are you talking about riding in wet weather?
the biggest mistake a n00b can make is buying a top end bike & all the kit (because they have worked hard and can afford it) without having acquired enough "knowledge points" or Gnar-ability.
If they do this they will be killed by a fat chick (in near transparent cream jophurs) on a bolting horse & no one will be allowed to morn them.
It's the law.
@thisisnotaspoon:
why would you want your weight back on a decent?
Surely if you were on the required Long Travel Hardtail ("ALL STW RIDERS WILL OWN A LTH" as per STW rule 6b, sub c-f), you would want to be, at worst, central on the bike so that you were 'riding the fork' not the rear wheel?
That isnt a noob error mind you, its more of an acquired skill as you gain experience.
Nah.. If you have experience you would've spotted the bike/forks and shiney bits way before its time to give a nod.
thisisnotaspoon - Member"brake levers pointing up in the air etc.... "
The current niche to the gnafrrrr setup is to have them closer to horisontal to [s]push yur weight back on decents.[/s]
nah, it's a bit like dropping your heels to get more grip from flat pedals.
it's really good in steep rough stuff, you don't have to grip hard to stay on, you just push forward a little into the palms of your hands.
it's something to try if arm-pump is a problem, or not, whatever, sup to you.
phil; there are no rules, you really won't upset anyone if your socks don't match your grips, or whatever.
but do drop a few quid in the honesty box if you ever ride at Penmachno.
@tomthumb - re sunglasses under straps.
Its so that you can take your helmet off and leave the sunglasses in place. Straps are never so tight that they dig the shades into your head.
Worst of all (and apologies if someone has already said it...
.
.
.
.
...come on here...
Some descents and/or bikes require your weight to be back.. some require it forwards... 🙂
Sounds like my landlord...! You don't live near Tunnel Hill area do you...?
it was at tunnel hill 🙂
the guy could've been an expert rider for all i know... but the feet slipping about on spds confused me!
I think of it more like pushing the bike down the steep slope ahead of me. Then catching up with it.
Sunglasses [i]under[/i] the helmet straps!
FFS!
OP you sound like a pretty decent chap none of what you listed is "wrong" ride in the mud, use your brakes and take mates out riding. The only possible mistake is worrying about the opinions of this bunch of fashionista, niche whore, IT gimps...
Just enjoy your riding.
it was at tunnel hill the guy could've been an expert rider for all i know... but the feet slipping about on spds confused me!Sounds like my landlord...! You don't live near Tunnel Hill area do you...?
If it was a grey Pinnacle full suss then yeah, that's him! 5'8" on an XL frame, decent fs with a gel seat and flat covers on spds! Nice guy tho, I've swapped him some proper flats for his spds now. Still, all these all these people are out on bikes.. 😉
Wearing too many clothes,usually a waterproof coat over too many layers presumably because it feels cold when they get out of their nice warm car, it looks a bit cloudy and they've read in the mags about how essential the right clothing is.You're at your local country park/trail centre/canal not atop the Cairngorms in January! Consequently they overheat,dehydrate become tired quickly. Or stop after every climb to remove a layer....and then overfill their already overstuffed backpack or even worse tie it round their waist rubbing against the back wheel as they go.
You wouldn't wear a coat to take part in most other active sports would you?
Sorry hobby horse of mine 😈
listening to people on here who have nothing to offer except bull****
for some reason my memory is telling me its a focus not a pinnqacle... agreed that its more people out riding 😀
cookeaa i'm not worried about what others think.. i wear DH gear and ride a carrera from halfords 😆 suppose its just me being a bit reflective and wondering if there's any beginners specific places as the riding gods do sometimes like to make it appear like us beginners aren't welcome (hence me making sure the group rides i've organised are as welcoming as possible)
mol - yeah riding in wet weather... always ride straight through as not to widen the trails like a good boy (plus its more fun)
great reading but a valid point, i am in my 3rd season, realised very early on that i am not the 14yr old on a BMX any more. MTB is a skill that needs time to develop as well as fitness...so for me the the big mistake as a n00bz was to think I was Steav Peat....Hard lesson when I am licking the soil after knocking myself out at the top of Spooky Woods.....
IMHO
The biggest noob error is charging about all over the place with a big grin on your face as if you've just discovered the best thing in the world. FFS, you're a grown man riding a bike around in the woods - get over it.
The biggest error experienced riders make is to ride around with a look on your face as if you've just been slapped about by a kid from the year below you at school and his mates (sorry - m8s) are going to be waiting for you after the dinner bell. FFS; you're riding a bike around in the woods and your mum isn't going to tell you off for going home with ripped and muddy jeans - how cool is that!
the riding gods do sometimes like to make it appear like us beginners aren't welcome
I actually think the real 'riding gods' are the most welcoming and encouraging riders, it's the wannabees who can be a bit up themselves.....
Just ride