Discussion
Zaxxon said:
So there I am riding around Swinley Forest, getting lost and sweating and breathing out my bum.
Really enjoying riding and it's only my 3rd time out on my new £700 BMC. It's a great bike and I'm learning with it every minute. Anyway I had been realy going for it most of the ride and probably overdoing it as my pulse hadn't gone below 160 since 5 minutes into the ride.
I got to a fair sized long hill and due to my beginners ignorance I was in too higher gear and I stalled.
So I walk the bike up the last 1/3 of the hill, get back on the bike but stop for a drink, panting and looking ill.
An older chap of about 50-55 cycles up the hill and stops near me. I mention how out of fitness I am and he looks at my brand spanking new bike and says 'don't worry, once you get good at it you'll get something like this' with a smile, looking down at his fully suspended Scott.
I felt all wounded, there I am on my new pride and joy (only other MTB I had was a Raleigh Memphis before I joined up at 17), and he poo'poo's it!
Seemed like a nice chap though, think he used to be uber fit as he mentioned triathalon etc.
On a serious note though, I thought that fully suspended MTB's were really for jumping\downhill and not ideal for tracks and trails like at Swinley as they sap the power strokes?
Is this yet another example of my noobiness?
Next purchase is a set of V8 or V12's and some stiffer soled trainers.
Loving this as a form of fitness, so much more fun than running.
I wouldn't worry - a nice bike is great to have but when I was a younger I was beating others racing bikes costing 10 times the value of mine.Really enjoying riding and it's only my 3rd time out on my new £700 BMC. It's a great bike and I'm learning with it every minute. Anyway I had been realy going for it most of the ride and probably overdoing it as my pulse hadn't gone below 160 since 5 minutes into the ride.
I got to a fair sized long hill and due to my beginners ignorance I was in too higher gear and I stalled.
So I walk the bike up the last 1/3 of the hill, get back on the bike but stop for a drink, panting and looking ill.
An older chap of about 50-55 cycles up the hill and stops near me. I mention how out of fitness I am and he looks at my brand spanking new bike and says 'don't worry, once you get good at it you'll get something like this' with a smile, looking down at his fully suspended Scott.
I felt all wounded, there I am on my new pride and joy (only other MTB I had was a Raleigh Memphis before I joined up at 17), and he poo'poo's it!
Seemed like a nice chap though, think he used to be uber fit as he mentioned triathalon etc.
On a serious note though, I thought that fully suspended MTB's were really for jumping\downhill and not ideal for tracks and trails like at Swinley as they sap the power strokes?
Is this yet another example of my noobiness?
Next purchase is a set of V8 or V12's and some stiffer soled trainers.
Loving this as a form of fitness, so much more fun than running.
As for FS - they've come a long way and most will lock out for climbing, though personally I still prefer a good hard tail. For the majority of XC IMHO you really don't need a rear shocker, though it can help make some elements a little more comfy.
Echoing the other posters, just enjoy it.
I have swapped bikes a few times and always look back at a 2005 rockhopper ht as the best one i had so it really goes to prove that you could splash the cash on the pretty kit that people say you should have but you wont necessarily ride it any better than the starter bike you have!
Yours is lots more than i spent on my first bike but i just love getting out there and the bunch that i ride with in the evenings ride such varied machinery and even though we are round the local forest it does tend to be the full sussers that get in the way the most both uphill and down (they bounce over things well though).
Stick with the hardtail and a good choice on the pedals, i have some of those and love them, i hate those b
d clipped fkers!
I have swapped bikes a few times and always look back at a 2005 rockhopper ht as the best one i had so it really goes to prove that you could splash the cash on the pretty kit that people say you should have but you wont necessarily ride it any better than the starter bike you have!
Yours is lots more than i spent on my first bike but i just love getting out there and the bunch that i ride with in the evenings ride such varied machinery and even though we are round the local forest it does tend to be the full sussers that get in the way the most both uphill and down (they bounce over things well though).
Stick with the hardtail and a good choice on the pedals, i have some of those and love them, i hate those b
d clipped fkers!Digga said:
propos of this - the fact it takes all sorts - I was out with our regular Wednesday night singlespeed nuters and we'd just run up a singletrack that's parallel to the monster fireroad climb on the Cannock Chase 'Follow the Dog' trail and ahppened accross three youths (cheap bikes, no helmets, no 'proper' cycling gear) who'd just done said slog. They were all stretched out on a grassy bank, enjoying the last of the sun's rays, smoking spliffs. If it works for them, fair play.
In my 'racing' days, we'd mostly be in Sport class.We'd take a cool box with ice cream (Zoom lollies were a particular favourite). On the last lap, we'd stop near the car, and all have one while watching everyone else hammer past for a time/place. Occasionally, people would stop and have a lolly with us.
If you're that bothered about your time, Sport was not the class you need to be in.
I ride Swinley a lot so will look out for a chap on a BMC, red in the face and puffing a bit!! 
(I am easy to spot as I have a p/h smilie on my skid lid).......
First tip, don't listen to bike snobs (although the chap may have been giving you some cloaked encouragement) - it does not matter what you have or how much it cost, someone will always have something slightly better that cost a lot more - especially when you ride in the Thames Valley! Just ride - enjoy it - and try to get a little bit faster each time.
I took my brother to Swinley last week on his £150 COSTCO Muddyfox for the first time - he seemed to have just as much fun as me on a bike that cost less than my wheels, best of all he wants to come again!
As for the hardtail v full susser thing there are so many types of full sus bike it is difficult to compare. I have both a hardtail (Felt Q220) and a full sus XC bike (GIANT Trance) and ride them both around Swinley and can have an equal amount of fun on both of them. I have to admit that I do tend to ride the full-susser a lot more and find it much faster on the downhill sections and rooty singletrack. The point made about 'bobbing' when riding a full-sus uphill is a bit of a myth, if you get your position correct for climbing and have your suspension setup correctly there is no reason to loose power through the suspension (although it may be a bit quicker climbing on a hardtail as you don't need to be as disciplined about your positioning).
Now you have ordered some new pedals you might want to get some new shoes to compliment them! If money is no object then I can highly recommend five-ten Karvers or Impacts, if you are on a budget then grab a pair of Van's with some waffle soles (don't go for big grippy walking shoe type soles, you want as much surface area on the pedal as possible).
Hope to see you on the trails at Swinley some time soon. . . .
(I am easy to spot as I have a p/h smilie on my skid lid).......First tip, don't listen to bike snobs (although the chap may have been giving you some cloaked encouragement) - it does not matter what you have or how much it cost, someone will always have something slightly better that cost a lot more - especially when you ride in the Thames Valley! Just ride - enjoy it - and try to get a little bit faster each time.
I took my brother to Swinley last week on his £150 COSTCO Muddyfox for the first time - he seemed to have just as much fun as me on a bike that cost less than my wheels, best of all he wants to come again!
As for the hardtail v full susser thing there are so many types of full sus bike it is difficult to compare. I have both a hardtail (Felt Q220) and a full sus XC bike (GIANT Trance) and ride them both around Swinley and can have an equal amount of fun on both of them. I have to admit that I do tend to ride the full-susser a lot more and find it much faster on the downhill sections and rooty singletrack. The point made about 'bobbing' when riding a full-sus uphill is a bit of a myth, if you get your position correct for climbing and have your suspension setup correctly there is no reason to loose power through the suspension (although it may be a bit quicker climbing on a hardtail as you don't need to be as disciplined about your positioning).
Now you have ordered some new pedals you might want to get some new shoes to compliment them! If money is no object then I can highly recommend five-ten Karvers or Impacts, if you are on a budget then grab a pair of Van's with some waffle soles (don't go for big grippy walking shoe type soles, you want as much surface area on the pedal as possible).
Hope to see you on the trails at Swinley some time soon. . . .
Mr E said:
Digga said:
propos of this - the fact it takes all sorts - I was out with our regular Wednesday night singlespeed nuters and we'd just run up a singletrack that's parallel to the monster fireroad climb on the Cannock Chase 'Follow the Dog' trail and ahppened accross three youths (cheap bikes, no helmets, no 'proper' cycling gear) who'd just done said slog. They were all stretched out on a grassy bank, enjoying the last of the sun's rays, smoking spliffs. If it works for them, fair play.
In my 'racing' days, we'd mostly be in Sport class.We'd take a cool box with ice cream (Zoom lollies were a particular favourite). On the last lap, we'd stop near the car, and all have one while watching everyone else hammer past for a time/place. Occasionally, people would stop and have a lolly with us.
If you're that bothered about your time, Sport was not the class you need to be in.
Thanks guys, I'll look out for some new footwear, I'm really impressed with the MG-1's it feels like I am far more in contact and can get more power down now.
Went out yesterday at 1400hrs which was a mistake as it was a bit warm. Surrey Hill was interesting but I made it up without stopping.
Then had a rest whilst watching two loons going off this big jump in the red area, barking.
I did one of these single rutted tracks which was ok, but I need more speed next time to make it fun. Then I just rode hard around the rest of the red track and back to the Lookout.
Do you guys ride as fast as possible on the hard trails or do you just go at normal pace and save your energy for the rough stuff?
My heart rate never went below 165 yesterday for 1hr 20 mins and peaked at 181. I didn't feel too well after and think I'll tone it down next time, I'm 37 and can't train now like I did when I was in the forces.
I didn't see many MTB's on the hard tracks, it was mainly family's. Are you guys using the smaller trails?
Went out yesterday at 1400hrs which was a mistake as it was a bit warm. Surrey Hill was interesting but I made it up without stopping.
Then had a rest whilst watching two loons going off this big jump in the red area, barking.
I did one of these single rutted tracks which was ok, but I need more speed next time to make it fun. Then I just rode hard around the rest of the red track and back to the Lookout.
Do you guys ride as fast as possible on the hard trails or do you just go at normal pace and save your energy for the rough stuff?
My heart rate never went below 165 yesterday for 1hr 20 mins and peaked at 181. I didn't feel too well after and think I'll tone it down next time, I'm 37 and can't train now like I did when I was in the forces.
I didn't see many MTB's on the hard tracks, it was mainly family's. Are you guys using the smaller trails?
Sounds like a guy offering encouragement and a warning, cycling can be an expensive hobby.
I am looking at new cycle shoes and pedals as i am fed up of cutting my leg on the stty beartrap pedals that came with my bike, and the cheap walking shoes I bought to ride in have worn out so £100 ish if I go SPD or some V8/12s and some more cheap walking shoes, decisions decisions. But then after getting back of a 26 mile ride my arse aches so maybe some better shorts than the cheapy decathlon ones, and another pair of overshorts and a new shirt wouldn't go amiss as I am losing weight and a spare set could be handy as I currently only have one set. Then again my bike lights are st and the rear one fell off not as I need them at the moment but in the autumn and winter they would be handy as my rides tend to include a small amount of road.
I am looking at new cycle shoes and pedals as i am fed up of cutting my leg on the s
tty beartrap pedals that came with my bike, and the cheap walking shoes I bought to ride in have worn out so £100 ish if I go SPD or some V8/12s and some more cheap walking shoes, decisions decisions. But then after getting back of a 26 mile ride my arse aches so maybe some better shorts than the cheapy decathlon ones, and another pair of overshorts and a new shirt wouldn't go amiss as I am losing weight and a spare set could be handy as I currently only have one set. Then again my bike lights are st and the rear one fell off not as I need them at the moment but in the autumn and winter they would be handy as my rides tend to include a small amount of road.Zaxxon said:
I didn't see many MTB's on the hard tracks, it was mainly family's. Are you guys using the smaller trails?
Go to Openstreetmap.org and type in Swinley Forest, it has a lot of the singletrack shown there as GPS traces - you will have cycled past lots of singletrack without knowing!
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