Good age to retire from MTB?!
Discussion
Somehow, I've managed to reach the grand old age of 50 without breaking anything.
I'm a runner really (regularly do 50 miles a week & compete in all distances 5K-Marathon). A few years ago I got a roadbike/Cx for commute a few days a week/weekend longer rides in South Chilterns & also have a Brompton to chuck in the car to take away or for occasional bike/train commute in London.
A year or so ago I started MTBing most weeks with some workmates, but to be honest I only really enjoy the uphill slogs etc, the downhill & technical stuff terifies me. I'm usually the first to the top of a hill but the last down the other side!. Is it an age thing or am I just a wuss?. I did have one spectacular off last year but survived that un-scathed, so maybe thats why I'm too cautious now.
How long do you guys keep going for?
Looks like my lightly used bike will be on the bay of E soon!
I'm a runner really (regularly do 50 miles a week & compete in all distances 5K-Marathon). A few years ago I got a roadbike/Cx for commute a few days a week/weekend longer rides in South Chilterns & also have a Brompton to chuck in the car to take away or for occasional bike/train commute in London.
A year or so ago I started MTBing most weeks with some workmates, but to be honest I only really enjoy the uphill slogs etc, the downhill & technical stuff terifies me. I'm usually the first to the top of a hill but the last down the other side!. Is it an age thing or am I just a wuss?. I did have one spectacular off last year but survived that un-scathed, so maybe thats why I'm too cautious now.
How long do you guys keep going for?
Looks like my lightly used bike will be on the bay of E soon!
I don't think it’s an age thing, following a big off it is only natural to be cautious – some people are pre disposed to going downhill with their hair on fire, others prefer speed on the road, or the pain of climbing!
I had a massive accident last year which resulted in me missing the best part of the summer to recover and let my bones n stuff knit back together. I got back on my bike towards the end of last year, and a combination of fitness and being more risk averse meant I was a tad slower.
I have found that I am much better at risk assessing a situation now, and as a result am actually a bit quicker, I read the lines better and don’t waste as much time with my wheels 4 ft off the ground! I don’t take some of the risks that I would have done this time last year but still really enjoy my riding, and still get a buzz from technical trails.
I have a friend who has been lucky enough to have never experience a really bad crash (yet), he is a good few years older than me and tries to do everything flat out. I have followed him down some very slippery hills in the Chilterns where I consider his speed wreckless given the surface condition and visibility, but he considers himself on complete control! I guess it’s a personal assessment made on his comfort with taking risks.
Whatever you do, don’t sell the MTB ‘cos you will lose money on it, and might discover that XC is more your thing than trail centers – then you will have to part with your hard earned cash to buy another MTB!
I had a massive accident last year which resulted in me missing the best part of the summer to recover and let my bones n stuff knit back together. I got back on my bike towards the end of last year, and a combination of fitness and being more risk averse meant I was a tad slower.
I have found that I am much better at risk assessing a situation now, and as a result am actually a bit quicker, I read the lines better and don’t waste as much time with my wheels 4 ft off the ground! I don’t take some of the risks that I would have done this time last year but still really enjoy my riding, and still get a buzz from technical trails.
I have a friend who has been lucky enough to have never experience a really bad crash (yet), he is a good few years older than me and tries to do everything flat out. I have followed him down some very slippery hills in the Chilterns where I consider his speed wreckless given the surface condition and visibility, but he considers himself on complete control! I guess it’s a personal assessment made on his comfort with taking risks.
Whatever you do, don’t sell the MTB ‘cos you will lose money on it, and might discover that XC is more your thing than trail centers – then you will have to part with your hard earned cash to buy another MTB!
You're never too old to MTB. Crashes just hurt more 
I'm only 33 but the group of mates I ride with has everyone from 16 yr-old lunatics to several 40+'s. One bloke's celebrating his 50th (and his divorce...) this year with a 2-week trip to Les Arcs in July. Another bloke is a 42 yr-old teacher with a penchant for DHing (raced the Megavalanche well the last 2 years) and completely kicks my arse on the climbs and descents. Another celebrated his 40th by buying a Santa Cruz Bullit to add to his Chameleon, Superlight and Heckler stable. Several others are late-30's/early-40's and riding regularly.
I hope I'm still MTBing like them when I'm older. Just hope I never feature in MBR's "Old blokes who should no better" feature...
I'm only 33 but the group of mates I ride with has everyone from 16 yr-old lunatics to several 40+'s. One bloke's celebrating his 50th (and his divorce...) this year with a 2-week trip to Les Arcs in July. Another bloke is a 42 yr-old teacher with a penchant for DHing (raced the Megavalanche well the last 2 years) and completely kicks my arse on the climbs and descents. Another celebrated his 40th by buying a Santa Cruz Bullit to add to his Chameleon, Superlight and Heckler stable. Several others are late-30's/early-40's and riding regularly.
I hope I'm still MTBing like them when I'm older. Just hope I never feature in MBR's "Old blokes who should no better" feature...
Jim what sort of bike do you ride?
The reason I ask is if you have a full sus bike they are the worst possible thing for learning skills on. They flatter the rider, make them lazy, and make the speeds much higher when you do fall off.
The quick lads I know (Dan Hart being one before he started touring the world) all tend to ride hard-tails day to day - many also have rigids and SS - on their weekly training rides during winter because they force you into picking your lines carefully and sorting out your body position. They also keep doing the routes that are slippery and rooty.
I would seriously recommend trying a single speed and or rigid fork set-up if it's the physical challenge you enjoy rather than the gravity/fall-line side of riding. The offs will be much much slower, and your skills will improve immensely and you'll generally get a lot more out of riding.
My biggest tip would be to find a steep slippery hill that you can't quite get up at the moment. Keep practising at it and you'll start to find more grip, become aware of what lines to pick to give you the traction, when to up the speed to carry you through the low traction areas, etc. Once you've cracked it find another slightly harder route.
This is why I prefer mountain biking as you have to think a lot more.
The reason I ask is if you have a full sus bike they are the worst possible thing for learning skills on. They flatter the rider, make them lazy, and make the speeds much higher when you do fall off.
The quick lads I know (Dan Hart being one before he started touring the world) all tend to ride hard-tails day to day - many also have rigids and SS - on their weekly training rides during winter because they force you into picking your lines carefully and sorting out your body position. They also keep doing the routes that are slippery and rooty.
I would seriously recommend trying a single speed and or rigid fork set-up if it's the physical challenge you enjoy rather than the gravity/fall-line side of riding. The offs will be much much slower, and your skills will improve immensely and you'll generally get a lot more out of riding.
My biggest tip would be to find a steep slippery hill that you can't quite get up at the moment. Keep practising at it and you'll start to find more grip, become aware of what lines to pick to give you the traction, when to up the speed to carry you through the low traction areas, etc. Once you've cracked it find another slightly harder route.
This is why I prefer mountain biking as you have to think a lot more.
rhinochopig said:
I would seriously recommend trying a single speed and or rigid fork set-up if it's the physical challenge you enjoy rather than the gravity/fall-line side of riding. The offs will be much much slower, and your skills will improve immensely and you'll generally get a lot more out of riding.
Good point. I liken it to cars: you can get more enjoyment more of the time from ragging the tits off a low-powered car with skinnier tyres (hardtail/singlespeed) than something like a 550bhp super-saloon (the full-susser). The fun just happens at a lower speed. Of course, both have their places which is why I have several of each - bikes that is 
A totally unrealistic and unimaginable scenario, but I was forced to own just one bike I'd pick a hardtail MTB over a full-suss every time.
Hi there
My bike is a good solid beginners bike I believe, its a 2011 Specialised Hardrock Pro, hardtail. I'm pretty sure the bike is set up Ok. As suggested, I'll probably hang onto the bike anyway as good for a nice cross country jaunt & accept that careering down a hillside is not for me! Either that or sell up & get a Pashley!
My bike is a good solid beginners bike I believe, its a 2011 Specialised Hardrock Pro, hardtail. I'm pretty sure the bike is set up Ok. As suggested, I'll probably hang onto the bike anyway as good for a nice cross country jaunt & accept that careering down a hillside is not for me! Either that or sell up & get a Pashley!
pablo said:
i'm not being funny but have you considered finding a coach? someone might be able to help with some of more technical off road stuff and you might find you enjoy all aspects of riding off road after a session or two rather than just the uphill bits....
I've never given that a thought to be honest. Maybe worth a couple of sessions to see if it for me. Cheers. 
Well, I'm 64 and still going, but I have wondered at what point do I stop and start getting "beige"? OP, I'm the opposite to you, being a bit heavy to climb easily (I just put up with it, so to speak) but I do like the technical stuff and going downhill. I gaduated from the fireroads and bridleways that seemed normal riding in the 90s and moved onto singletrack and trailparks, learning as I went. I still prefer to keep at least one wheel on the ground though. If you are finding techy stuff not to your liking, practice helps. Looking at where you are, Aston Hill at Wendover is a decent place to pick up riding over roots, drops etc, plus it does have some steepish ups and steadier downs. I found that narrow bars, lack of suspension and flat back "roadie" type riding position doesn't give you the control you need for this type of stuff, so a more trail oriented frame, decent suspension and brakes and wider bars gave me more control and confidence, it really did transform my riding.
Jimboka said:
pablo said:
i'm not being funny but have you considered finding a coach? someone might be able to help with some of more technical off road stuff and you might find you enjoy all aspects of riding off road after a session or two rather than just the uphill bits....
I've never given that a thought to be honest. Maybe worth a couple of sessions to see if it for me. Cheers. one of my regular Wednesday night mtb mates is 60 and did the trans Provence last year. (He was written about in one of the mtb mags a mont or so back.) He's fit and he's also got decent technical skills and retains sufficient youthful daftness to propell himself.
One of my downhill mtb mates is 52 and, despite suffering a major shoulder injury (very similar to my own) has just up-graded his downhill rig. Another of the guys is nearly 60 and spent two weeks hitting all the big lines at Whistler last September. No shortage of bottle or skill for either of them!
It's all in the head (and I sympathise because I'm getting back on the back after an off myself) and it's simply important to enjoy yourself - ride what you want how you want. The coaching idea though, I'd second without hesitation.
One of my downhill mtb mates is 52 and, despite suffering a major shoulder injury (very similar to my own) has just up-graded his downhill rig. Another of the guys is nearly 60 and spent two weeks hitting all the big lines at Whistler last September. No shortage of bottle or skill for either of them!
It's all in the head (and I sympathise because I'm getting back on the back after an off myself) and it's simply important to enjoy yourself - ride what you want how you want. The coaching idea though, I'd second without hesitation.
Jimboka said:
pablo said:
i'm not being funny but have you considered finding a coach? someone might be able to help with some of more technical off road stuff and you might find you enjoy all aspects of riding off road after a session or two rather than just the uphill bits....
I've never given that a thought to be honest. Maybe worth a couple of sessions to see if it for me. Cheers. http://www.ukbikeskills.co.uk/
nammynake said:
No experience of him myself, but the mystical 'Jedi' gets a lot of excellent reviews:
http://www.ukbikeskills.co.uk/
I've been riding for 18 years (raced for a shop team when I was 15) and recently went for a day with Jedi. Without doubt the best money I have ever spent on cycling! Have always been more XC orientated than FR/DH, but with an Alps trip planned I thought I'd have some jumps and drops training. I was clearing a 9ft gap jump by 2pm!!http://www.ukbikeskills.co.uk/
I am 40 next year but still ride like I did when I was a whippersnapper. I have my modern do it all full susser but when I ride my mid 90's hardtail I am 17 again and flicking it here there and everywhere. The modern makes me lazy as I just plough through technical stuff where as the old Marin makes me think a bit more about lines and position more. I hope to be still riding until the day I die hopefully on a ride out in my favourite trails.
Likewise, I hit 40 this year and will be putting a new bike on my birthday list, not sure what yet - either a nice new full susser or a 29'er. . . . .
Recently bought a CX bike which is a scream, road bike speed on XC terrain! - really sharpens your skills and makes you choose your lines carefully (and quickly)......
Recently bought a CX bike which is a scream, road bike speed on XC terrain! - really sharpens your skills and makes you choose your lines carefully (and quickly)......
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