Cross country.
Discussion
so it tends to weigh you down a little.Relatively flat, (its an old railway line all closed down years ago) has some very minor uphills, but seems to have a slight uphill component to it for around 5 miles of its length ( the part that i do anyway).
Surface ranges from gravel (loose) to packed clay and some mud- so you can get a good speed up in some places, absolutely blitzed some guy on a similar bike.... heaven eh?
Im glad you said 2 hours, did it last night in 1 hour 48mins which considering ive not done it for over two years makes me pretty happy with that.
I reckon 1 hour 30 may just be possible- will find out in the next few weeks when i can walk properly again.
Surface ranges from gravel (loose) to packed clay and some mud- so you can get a good speed up in some places, absolutely blitzed some guy on a similar bike.... heaven eh?
Im glad you said 2 hours, did it last night in 1 hour 48mins which considering ive not done it for over two years makes me pretty happy with that.
I reckon 1 hour 30 may just be possible- will find out in the next few weeks when i can walk properly again.
Go and visit the neuro unit in your local hospital and then think again about helmet use.
And there is a biking thread.
ETA Just re-read my post - sounds a little pompous, which it wasn't meant to. Glad you;re enjoying the MTBing. Av speed really is down to the ground conditions. Wet weather can add 100% to your times. Your times are pretty impressive though.
And there is a biking thread.
ETA Just re-read my post - sounds a little pompous, which it wasn't meant to. Glad you;re enjoying the MTBing. Av speed really is down to the ground conditions. Wet weather can add 100% to your times. Your times are pretty impressive though.
Edited by rhinochopig on Tuesday 13th May 09:04
not wearing a helmet is pretty dumb imho. just a cautionary tale but I was out riding when i was about 13, came off on a descent and by all accounts landed on my head and was out cold for about ten minutes. the helmet was split in two, the only thing holding it together was the straps and the poly shell. it had a massive crack down the middle. that could have been my head....
spend some money and get a proper helmet with good vents and comfy padding...
and to answer your question, about 2 hours.
spend some money and get a proper helmet with good vents and comfy padding...
and to answer your question, about 2 hours.
Hedders said:
I don't get this helmet thing.
How many cyclists die from head injuries every year, and how many people ride bikes? It seems like one of those precautions that just isn't worth the trouble!
Much like speed cams on DC's IMO.
So you think helmets are pointless? How many cyclists die from head injuries every year, and how many people ride bikes? It seems like one of those precautions that just isn't worth the trouble!
Much like speed cams on DC's IMO.
I very rarely go downhilling without at least one rider breaking a helmet in a crash but surviving... I'd rather I scratched my helmet (ooeeerrr) than my head.
edit - heck, not just downhilling. One of my riding mate's brother was on a road ride, high-sided and went flying down the road. Ended up in hospital but the helmet saved his life.
Edited by Rico on Tuesday 13th May 09:40
Hedders said:
I don't get this helmet thing.
How many cyclists die from head injuries every year, and how many people ride bikes? It seems like one of those precautions that just isn't worth the trouble!
Much like speed cams on DC's IMO.
You have to ask the question why wouldn't you?How many cyclists die from head injuries every year, and how many people ride bikes? It seems like one of those precautions that just isn't worth the trouble!
Much like speed cams on DC's IMO.
Ask any MTB'r whether they have fallen off and landed on their head, and I'll guarantee that the majority of riders will say they have.
So, given a helmet costs - in relation to the cost of a new bike - sod all, and they protect your brain, which after all doesn't heal, the risk IMO just isn't worth not wearing one. Also my wife works on a neuro ward and they regularly see the result of not wearing them - dribbling veggies that have to s
t in a bag in extreme cases.Also your argument that they are like speed cameras is moot. A better comparison is an air-bag seat belt.
ihatesissycars said:
Its better to have it and not need it etc.
I've walked away without a scratch after landing on my head before thanks to a helmet.
I have walked away with and without scratches from lots of bike accidents, as have all my freinds. None of us seriously hurt ourselves, ever. Helmets didn't even exist!I've walked away without a scratch after landing on my head before thanks to a helmet.
Go headbutt the corner of a large rock as hard as you can with a helmet on then go do the same without the helmet, tell me which hurt the most.
Maybe you ride at a more sedate pace than the rest here which doesn't feel threatening when it comes to falling off time hence your views but from my experiance (I don't race) the speeds we do mean I would never go out without one.
I touched 39mph the other day downhill, sod falling off at that speed without protection of some kind!!
Maybe you ride at a more sedate pace than the rest here which doesn't feel threatening when it comes to falling off time hence your views but from my experiance (I don't race) the speeds we do mean I would never go out without one.
I touched 39mph the other day downhill, sod falling off at that speed without protection of some kind!!
Accidents can happen anywhere and any time.
I've destroyed at least 2 helmets I can remember. The first time I ended up in hospital (but only to have my hip X-rayed) and the 2nd I was winded & shocked but otherwise fine.
The thing is, both these crashes were when not doing anything particularly strenuous; in the first I just had a funny 5 seconds and forgot how to stay the right way up whilst pootling about on the grass. The 2nd I fell off whilst commuting (caught a bar end on a passing bush - wouldn't have been a problem except for the metal pole hidden within the foliage!).
Aside from those 2 "need new helmet" moments, I've knocked my head on scenery more times than I can remember - and it's usually when you least expect it.
It annoys me seeing folk who will wear a helmet on the trail then take it off and cycle home on the road with it dangling from their handlebars.
There really is no excuse for not using a helmet. Even the cheaper ones these days are fairly well ventilated.
I've destroyed at least 2 helmets I can remember. The first time I ended up in hospital (but only to have my hip X-rayed) and the 2nd I was winded & shocked but otherwise fine.
The thing is, both these crashes were when not doing anything particularly strenuous; in the first I just had a funny 5 seconds and forgot how to stay the right way up whilst pootling about on the grass. The 2nd I fell off whilst commuting (caught a bar end on a passing bush - wouldn't have been a problem except for the metal pole hidden within the foliage!).
Aside from those 2 "need new helmet" moments, I've knocked my head on scenery more times than I can remember - and it's usually when you least expect it.
It annoys me seeing folk who will wear a helmet on the trail then take it off and cycle home on the road with it dangling from their handlebars.
There really is no excuse for not using a helmet. Even the cheaper ones these days are fairly well ventilated.
Bit pointless this discussion. Idiots who don't value their own life will always always take the risk and not wear helmets so good luck to them!
Back to the original question...
Speed off road depends on loads of factors: weight of rider, weigth of kit & bike, type of bike, type of tyres, amount of air in tyres, terrain, conditions and weather rain & wind in particular). It would be difficult to compare any distance over a particular course with another, so you are just best comparing your times over time to measure your performance.
Put it this way, a fit road cyclist could expect to cover that distance on the road in 40 minutes. A cross country rider with super lightweight everything weighing 10 stone could probably do that in around an hour on firm, flatish tracks you describe. If you are on a full suss downhill bike with 20psi in the tyres, full protective gear in the mud, then it migth take you all afternoon!
Back to the original question...
Speed off road depends on loads of factors: weight of rider, weigth of kit & bike, type of bike, type of tyres, amount of air in tyres, terrain, conditions and weather rain & wind in particular). It would be difficult to compare any distance over a particular course with another, so you are just best comparing your times over time to measure your performance.
Put it this way, a fit road cyclist could expect to cover that distance on the road in 40 minutes. A cross country rider with super lightweight everything weighing 10 stone could probably do that in around an hour on firm, flatish tracks you describe. If you are on a full suss downhill bike with 20psi in the tyres, full protective gear in the mud, then it migth take you all afternoon!
Kerbstones hurt. Rocks hurt.
I got knocked off my bike by a deer when doing about 30mph downhill - I flew over the handlebars, broke my left wrist, skinned my left elbow, shoulder, hip, knee and ankle, ripped my shirt and rucksack and had a big scrape down the side of my helmet. This was ON ROAD (the deer jumped the hedge into the road right in front of me). Of all the body armour you can now get, the first pieces I'd buy are helmet and gloves - minimum kit IMO. The rest of my body heals well, brain damage is more tricky.
I got knocked off my bike by a deer when doing about 30mph downhill - I flew over the handlebars, broke my left wrist, skinned my left elbow, shoulder, hip, knee and ankle, ripped my shirt and rucksack and had a big scrape down the side of my helmet. This was ON ROAD (the deer jumped the hedge into the road right in front of me). Of all the body armour you can now get, the first pieces I'd buy are helmet and gloves - minimum kit IMO. The rest of my body heals well, brain damage is more tricky.
I would probably feel differently about helmets if they hadn't made them compulsory for kids. It is like anything else the government forces on us for our own good.
Silly really, in this case
It doesn't change my mind though, I will continue to take the risks i take, which are not too great considering the way i ride.
Silly really, in this case
It doesn't change my mind though, I will continue to take the risks i take, which are not too great considering the way i ride.
Even better, is like the tale of a 'friend' I know who DID wear a helmet, but was hot one day, had it dangling off his bars whilst riding down the road, and the helmet straps got caught in the wheel, flipped him over the bars, into a kerbstone, and cue one split head and a trip to A+E for stitches...
Laugh? I nearly shat myself.
btw it wasnt me
Laugh? I nearly shat myself.
btw it wasnt me
Edited by neil_bolton on Tuesday 13th May 10:44
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