Newbie lady buying first bike - advice please!

[RiderX]

First, why do you insinuate that this is something I should be embarrased about if it was the case? And second, how exactly did you reach that conclusion?

 

Im sure he meant your girlfriend looks better riding a bike than you

[Duimpies]

I thought you guys are supose to be helping the lady with buying a new bike, but here you having a b2tch fight...... no man guys, keep the testosterone in your pants... hahaha

 

From my experience, try and go for a bike with the best possible parts (Fork, wheels, gears, brakes extra). One can always upgrade the frame at a later stage and they not that expensive.

 

 

Regards

[Mojoman]

Just ride and enjoy the experiences! Everything else will be secondary!

When I bought my first 4x4 I could drive, but not off road. Everything comes in time.

[Wonder Woman]

First, why do you insinuate that this is something I should be embarrased about if it was the case? And second, how exactly did you reach that conclusion?

 

Bwahahaha, it depends who his g/f is.....

[fabes]

First, why do you insinuate that this is something I should be embarrased about if it was the case? And second, how exactly did you reach that conclusion?

 

Don't be so sensitive Clint

[covie]

Now I'm confused as this seems to be in full agreement with what I said.

 

And your first paragraph sums up my view on skills clinics early in your "career" as a recreational rider. My girlfriend knows no better. She goes down hills and over rocks that some of the more experienced ladies are hesitant about. Why? In my opinion she has not been to a "skills clinic" where they discuss how "complex" something is and how you should approach (and overthink!) it. She just goes. Everyone else is doing it so why not her. She was doing switchbacks without thinking and the other ladies where taking special lines and pulling this elbow in and moving that knee out.... and falling!

 

lol for the sake of the OP's peace of mind and not scaring the poor girl off before she even bought her bike im going to explain this to you one more time.

 

My GF has the luxury of having a group of highly skilled experianced riders at her disposal, the fact that the OP put the question to us suggests she doesnt. (assumption on my part)

 

I bought my girl a bike, before we took on any type of trial i tought her the basic skills required, and I made her practice them till its second nature once she got the basics down (body position, attack position, balance and weight shifting, cornering techniques stopping, bunnyhops, manuals) we went on trails. She now keeps up on the technical stuff with people that has "experiance" far beyond her level of riding in the 6 months she had the bike. In fact all her friends that tried mountainbiking with your approach come our technical practice sessions. (let me state here no i dont do clinics and I dont charge people money) They ride so much better and enjoy it so much more now, like they say simply becuase someone took the time to help them.

 

going willy nilly over stuff does not make you skilled, even if other people fall on that same stuff, those with technique will go over stuff easier, go around stuff faster, and generally have more fun yes even some of the pro's might fall but thats becuase they push the envelope they main aim is to see how fast i can do that switchback, not can i do the switchback and once you push boundries you will cross a boundry at some stage. Before i worked on my technique sure i went over anything you put in my path, and you know what, i still sucked. It was only when i started researching techniques, practicing them over and over and over that I started getting good a MTB, i still go over stuff and around stuff, i just do it 5 times faster and smile 10 times longer.

 

 

The paragraph i killed above is irrelevant OP go do the skills course, nvm our little hub debates thats just the way we roll

[davetapson]

One thing you'll learn is mtb costs more than you ever expected - but it's worth every cent!!

 

What I've found:

 

1. Bike bits (esp good ones) are expensive. Buy the bike with the best components for the price. Upgrading costs a bundle. Esp if you are going to upgrade suspension / brakes. Buying one bike is always cheaper than buying two.

 

2. Full Sus makes riding fun - for everyone who is not trying to prove anything. More comfortable, less demanding.

 

3. Good suspension (expensive) is worth every cent.

 

4. Get a saddle that fits/suits you. That is your main contact point with the bike. Apparently some places have an 'ass-o-meter'. Be worth finding one.

 

5. I'd go the cleats route straight off - feels different to flats, and much easier on rough terrain - you don't get bounced off yr bike. Practice cleating and uncleating in your passage at home leaning on the walls. Then choose somewhere soft to go and practice (lawn / the spruit). I fell off six times on my first cleated ride down the spruit, but was with a group and the micky taking made it more fun than a trial - and at least I provided some entertainment. After that, I was sorted.

 

6. Some bikes are put together to provide most 'bang for buck', however are not so cool. For mortals they are as good as the 'cool' ones. Look at GT (I got awesome bang for buck on my bike), Silverback, Merida. Also look for Axis - a new range that is apparently fantastic bang for buck. Axis would be my starting point if I was in your place. If nothing else, it gives you a base to compare value.

 

7. Do the skills course as soon as you have your bike - you'll be really grateful you did, and you can learn on your new bike. Take cleats. Practice cleating/uncleating first You'll find your confidence / enjoyment level hugely better after a course and you'll not even really know why.

 

8. Always wear a helmet! Mine has saved me more than once and I'm a convert.

 

Have fun - it's a great sport...

Edited March 13, 2012 by davetapson

[davetapson]

and Giant.

[Clinton1]

I thought you guys are supose to be helping the lady with buying a new bike, but here you having a b2tch fight...... no man guys, keep the testosterone in your pants... hahaha

 

The ones who get a sniff of a women on the internet and come rushing along panting are the ones who need to keep the testosterone down....

[Clinton1]

....I made her practice them till its second nature once she got the basics down (body position, attack position, balance and weight shifting, cornering techniques stopping, bunnyhops, manuals)....

 

Paralysis through over analysis! Just get out there and ride and enjoy it. Bike riders seem to be big on making their sport appear so much more extreme than it really is. Back when I was 15, yes many years ago, we used to ride around on the farm in conditions far more daunting than most single track MTB parks put out nowadays. We did so on crappy old bikes too and barefoot. Now everyone seems to think you need to spend a fortune and get extensive training before you can ride a bike and tackle any route. I still call crap on this! Just hop on the bike, ride and enjoy!

 

I surf too. If someone shows an interest in surfing I'll happily throw them a long board, paddle out on a small day and tell them to give it a go. While out there I'll obviously provide pointers and tips. They could of course pay for expensive surfing lessons up front but why not just get out there and give it a go. That's how I learnt to surf. That's how I learnt to mountain bike.

 

...all her friends that tried mountainbiking with your approach come our technical practice sessions. (let me state here no i dont do clinics and I dont charge people money)

 

Ahh....

Edited March 14, 2012 by Clint_ZA

[covie]

Paralysis through over analysis! Just get out there and ride and enjoy it. Bike riders seem to be big on making their sport appear so much more extreme than it really is. Back when I was 15, yes many years ago, we used to ride around on the farm in conditions far more daunting than most single track MTB parks put out nowadays. We did so on crappy old bikes too and barefoot. Now everyone seems to think you need to spend a fortune and get extensive training before you can ride a bike and tackle any route. I still call crap on this! Just hop on the bike, ride and enjoy!

 

I surf too. If someone shows an interest in surfing I'll happily throw them a long board, paddle out on a small day and tell them to give it a go. While out there I'll obviously provide pointers and tips. They could of course pay for expensive surfing lessons up front but why not just get out there and give it a go. That's how I learnt to surf. That's how I learnt to mountain bike.

 

 

 

Ahh....

 

Your just straight up funny

 

Ok people my bad having no skill, doing everything wrong, and falling of your bike constantly makes the sport so much more enjoyable. My Bad..... Oh btw Clint when i was 15 i use to drop from the roof of my house into the swimming pool with my BMX, when your 15 you dont mind broken bones and have no concept of death, when your in your 30's most of us have realized you can actually die or get hurt.

 

The question here was is it worth it to go on a skills course.

 

The answer is plain and simple

ITS WORTH EVERY RED CENT. Anyone that tells you any different is either slightly deprived in the grey matter dept. Or think they know what they are doing and they dont have a clue. Hell even the Pro's have technical coaches.

 

And Clint i learnt to surf like that too, however if you went for paid up courses you might have been better at it sooner.

And what are you Ahhh.... ing about?

Edited March 14, 2012 by covie

[Clinton1]

The answer is plain and simple

ITS WORTH EVERY RED CENT. Anyone that tells you any different is either slightly deprived in the grey matter dept. Or think they know what they are doing and they dont have a clue. Hell even the Pro's have technical coaches

 

Quite laughable that you state that as if it is an indisputable fact. At most it is your opinion.

 

Your reference to brain matter really just shows how you now feel the need to resort to (not so subtle) insults in an attempt to force your opinion on others.

 

As for your reference to pros, yes, you are totally right many of them do use technical coaches but you overlook the fact that the people you are advising are far from pros! Damn, the pros have psychological coaches, dieticians, publicists and managers.... best I get some of those too as they are clearly necessary for me to ride socially.

 

So let's agree that we will continue to have differing opinions. You can put yours forward as fact if it makes you feel superior but I sure won't be paying my hard earned money across to someone whose credentials I probably don't even know. And I'll happily share this opinion with those that ask!

Edited March 14, 2012 by Clint_ZA

[kosmonooit]

So what happened to Tiggles then? got spooked by all the conflicting advice... or troll?

[Clinton1]

So what happened to Tiggles then? got spooked by all the conflicting advice... or troll?

 

Probably works for a living unlike some of us

[covie]

So what happened to Tiggles then? got spooked by all the conflicting advice... or troll?

 

Yeah probably.

[covie]

So let's agree that we will continue to have differing opinions. You can put yours forward as fact if it makes you feel superior but I sure won't be paying my hard earned money across to someone whose credentials I probably don't even know. And I'll happily share this opinion with those that ask!

 

lets do that