nigelhicks Posted November 20, 2015 Posted November 20, 2015 and sommer running shoes to start with... It must be Friday!!! ... Stretch you know better than that ... the arch of the running shoe is TERRIBLE for flat pedals. I Agree that you dont need 5.10's .. but a pair of old sneakers with a flat sole are the way as a make shift - NOT running shoes! Claire - go chat to Sean .. the guys at the trailhead are guru's and will really help you out .. if you can ... go to PWC bike park and go and play on their pump track this will really help your skills in a confined space too ... Enjoy
Stretch Posted November 20, 2015 Posted November 20, 2015 It must be Friday!!! ... Stretch you know better than that ... the arch of the running shoe is TERRIBLE for flat pedals. I Agree that you dont need 5.10's .. but a pair of old sneakers with a flat sole are the way as a make shift - NOT running shoes! Claire - go chat to Sean .. the guys at the trailhead are guru's and will really help you out .. if you can ... go to PWC bike park and go and play on their pump track this will really help your skills in a confined space too ... Enjoy sure sure sure...just trying to tell her that she doesn't need to get persuaded into buying an expensive pair of shoes
nigelhicks Posted November 20, 2015 Posted November 20, 2015 sure sure sure...just trying to tell her that she doesn't need to get persuaded into buying an expensive pair of shoes Exactly ... 140bucks from Bata - http://tutor.bata.cz/data/catarticleimages/IMG_4468.jpgAND THEY ARE PINK! .... .... if Claire is into pink that is ....
nigelhicks Posted November 20, 2015 Posted November 20, 2015 Claire - to get back to you learning and getting better ... Keep an eye out for skills clinics as well, the guys from Detour Trails do them here in KZN, and Peach (here on bikehub) does some intermediate ones in JHB, (not sure if he does begginner ones though) ... But if you go to one of these, they always help you pick up some tips, but more importantly often allow you to meet people who you may end up starting to ride with ... Its a great way to get into the cycling community vibe. Also if you are out and about dont feel afraid to ask someone to show you how to do something if you see someone ride something you are trying to build up to ... In many cases (unless they are chasing a Strava KOM) riders will be more than happy to stop and help someone new, you may even be invited to join their ride ... So just get out there and have fun ... ----- Oh and it may sound like a silly comment, but i have seen it before - check which way around your brakes are on your bike - neither way is correct or incorrect - it is personal preference all the way ... If your bike you had as a kid had the back brake on the left and your new on is on the right, maybe ask the Trailhead guys to swop it so that you will feel more confident. This is more instinctive rather than anything else - so if you keep grabbing a hunk (not the dude from Thor ...) of front brake then maybe you need to switch ... Enjoy Nige
scotty Posted November 20, 2015 Posted November 20, 2015 Plenty of good advice here, my 2c when riding off road, not all brown stuff is mud.
shaper Posted November 20, 2015 Posted November 20, 2015 Any of you guys wonder why the OP has not been back to this thread?? I mean, she wants to know the basics and build up confidence !!... it is hidden there in the middle of her post... Where do I begin??? So where is safe without playing chicken with cars??? Not what is best flats/clips... am sure she changed to flat pedals a long time ago after getting scared from the constant falling... even if they were the cheap pedals you can pick up for nothing at your LBS or sportsmans! I fear gentlemen you have already scared her off And to answer that question I would recommend Emmarentia, Northern Farms or the Bike Park near the Campus. But that is just my 2c...
scotty Posted November 20, 2015 Posted November 20, 2015 Another place to ride is South of Jhb, Rietvlei. If ever there was a course friendly beginner route it would be the yellow route.
Slowbee Posted November 20, 2015 Posted November 20, 2015 guys, pls, keep the "flat pedal" debate out..... to the others...really great advice everyone.
The_black_stig Posted November 20, 2015 Posted November 20, 2015 Note to myself: refrain of using the "F" word in future....
TALUS Posted November 20, 2015 Posted November 20, 2015 Oh dear and now you've dragged me into an argument. MTB is about pushing ones personal limits. Please don't start debating the nature of MTB, I promise you everyone who gets on a bike wants to do it better every time they ride if that weren't the case we would never have persevered past our first scraped knee. For some its back-flipping a canyon for others its riding between two trees. Both of these individuals are pushing their limits. Both of them need to feel confident and anything that makes them feel less confident is a problem. Both of these riders benefit from pushing their technical ability. I really think you're misinterpreting my point. Efficiency means nothing without the requisite skill to make it useful. And frankly your point about my willy is a little childish.edit:spellingAnd now for my RANT! Technical skills are worth developing for all riders. It makes the trail safer, more fun and frankly everyone benefits. If all we do is pretend that you can buy gear that will magically make you faster or safer - I'm looking at you 29ers and full sus riders we end up with a riding populace that someone feels that its the arrow and not the indian. This furthermore leads to rubbish dirt roadie events that lack really exciting singletrack. It leads to people straight lining sweeping flowy single track on the spruit (and everywhere else, but the spruit is particularly susceptible). It leads to people removing rocks and cutting roots that they think are too hard. It leads to people complaining that XC events are too technically demanding. It leads to people breaking down berms because they don't know how to corner. It leads to no one building anything interesting. It leads to untold destruction and general misery within the sport. IF YOU WANT ME TO SWING MY WILLY STAND BACK BECAUSE I SHALL SWING ITS MIGHTY RIGHTEOUSNESS AND SMOTE ALL WHO OPPOSE ME! Have a nice day.You need to relax a bit. Often times talking about technical ability and pedals is a way to hide inadequate size and fitness. The OP isn't interested in either. Solid advise will help. Like: drop your seat down low enough that you can touch the ground sitting for you first day (only). Learn to start on a slight downhill for your first few times and then learn starting on a slight incline. Check which brake is the back brake and only use that for your first day. Forget about changing gears until you can start and stop comfortably. ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET!
Warthog Posted November 20, 2015 Posted November 20, 2015 Oh my word.... You lot are just .... absolutely amazing... or awefull... I am at a complete loss of words as to how a real innocent query from a real nice newbie just asking for advice as to how to start cycling really, turned into this.... Sheeeeezzz, you lot, and you know who you are, really, really have no life if this is .... whatever... Claire. Just go ride your bike. Just ride it. Any which way you feel comfortable. You need advice, don't ask for it on an open forum like here, because it will inevitably blow up into something like this. Rather PM someone, you'll know who... (not me- I also have too much to learn...) Like eddie Mercx said: Just ride...
Uni Posted November 21, 2015 Posted November 21, 2015 Claire, in my first year on the hub, I think I was top 3 in starting topics. I asked about everything. Often things will go over your head, or as you'll notice here it can blow up into a battle of opinions, you'll soon learn to ignore what doesn't serve you. I'm doing a reccie ride around my neighborhood this morning, forcing me out of my own little comfort zone of bike parks. But next weekend and from the 16th December, I'm around. Keep smiling, keep riding.
Paul Ruinaard Posted November 21, 2015 Posted November 21, 2015 Only other thing is possibly go and join a club and get your fitness up by going out with their slow groups. As your fitness improves you will also enjoy it more. There are lots of clubs and lots of people in clubs who were once beginners. There are lots of people at clubs who like to help beginners. I fell over countless times on my first cleated rides and managed to knock down about half the bunch I was riding with when we all stopped at a light and I went the wrong way. They still remind me of it 18 years later. Another thing is maybe set your sights on a goal, like a 25 or 50 km road ride to start and then enter it and make that your goal to work towards. It keeps you focused. Whether you want to MTB or road ride, fitness matters. And road riding improves fitness quicker in a less technical environment. Its easier to ride around a quiet block than find an MTB trail and ride on your own. The sense of achievement of hitting those milestones will allow you to understand your progress and also to feel yourself getting fitter and stronger. I reckon every person here on the hub would, if asked, like to be in your shoes knowing the road of exciting firsts that await you that we have all travelled. And your first step was asking for help. So tick that box off as the start.
Lurch the stalker Posted November 21, 2015 Posted November 21, 2015 Once there is a level of comfort on the bike, this is well worth reading:http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Mountain-Bike-Skills-Edition/dp/0736083715
Bonus Posted November 22, 2015 Posted November 22, 2015 sure sure sure...just trying to tell her that she doesn't need to get persuaded into buying an expensive pair of shoes Like she was persuaded into cleats . . . .
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