For some reason I ended up not riding a mountain bike for over 6 months this year, and cunningly timed my reintroduction to dirt to match the rising Spring temperatures. It's been a struggle to get my mojo back but I've also tried to use the time to re-assess my basic skills like cornering, using sites like this as a guide. I've simultaneously been seeing a physiotherapist to sort out my long-standing back issues, and between the two I think I'm starting to see results. I can ride for longer and more regularly without back pain, and when I am riding I feel more involved with the ride instead of just sitting on top of the bike watching the trail roll by underneath me. Don't get me wrong - I'm still talking 18km dirt rides and granny-braking twitches around corners - but it's slowly feeling better.
After Saturdays pump track session I was keen to get back out on the trails and see if anything from the jump park translated to the dirt. I'd ridden around 40km on Wednesday night to sample beer & compare beards so my legs were a bit tired on Thursday morning, but I left work early and headed out anyway. It was a little disappointing because I didn't seem to have any 'flow' and things felt stilted. After a bit I stopped worrying about it and just rolled around , pulling over to let other riders pass whenever I saw them (Note to the trainers out there - a thank you would be nice when someone does this!). As the saying goes, a bad day on dirt is still a good day. But surprisingly when I got back to the car it turned out that I'd ridden around half of the sections significantly quicker than I ever have before (based on the readings of a GPS plotter that I started using a few months ago and which will remain nameless). Of course speed isn't everything and a GPS plotter may capture the miles but not the smiles, but it's interesting to view my progress objectively. It's a long, slow and highly enjoyable process...
After Saturdays pump track session I was keen to get back out on the trails and see if anything from the jump park translated to the dirt. I'd ridden around 40km on Wednesday night to sample beer & compare beards so my legs were a bit tired on Thursday morning, but I left work early and headed out anyway. It was a little disappointing because I didn't seem to have any 'flow' and things felt stilted. After a bit I stopped worrying about it and just rolled around , pulling over to let other riders pass whenever I saw them (Note to the trainers out there - a thank you would be nice when someone does this!). As the saying goes, a bad day on dirt is still a good day. But surprisingly when I got back to the car it turned out that I'd ridden around half of the sections significantly quicker than I ever have before (based on the readings of a GPS plotter that I started using a few months ago and which will remain nameless). Of course speed isn't everything and a GPS plotter may capture the miles but not the smiles, but it's interesting to view my progress objectively. It's a long, slow and highly enjoyable process...
Your improvement has been noticed.
ReplyDeleteWell done.
I'm glad you posted this, because I am trying to become a more confident mtber (I am even starting a blog as MOTIVATION / DOCUMENTATION!) and cyclist in general, and I am so scared of seeing other people out on the trail and them having to pass me...as if they would think badly of me for holding them up for like two seconds or whatever? Obviously this is just me being neurotic because most people don't give a shit but YES it is true that some total dicks don't say thanks or acknowledge you when you move aside for them. I just do THE FACE at them which is when you just make a really ugly face at someone's back to punish them for slighting you.
ReplyDeleteHey Kitty,
DeleteFeels like I've re-learnt from scratch over the last few months so I know what you mean! My view is if you're in a race then try to get out of people way (safely), if you're on a trail then it's generally uphill has right of way. THE FACE helps too.
Check out Lee McCormack's 'Mastering Mountain Bike Skills' book for some pointers on how to boost your riding, and get down the local pump / BMX track if you can for some safe fun practice. Just be careful of snakes :)
Where's the new blog?
Aaaah since my last comment everyone I've met on the trail has been polite and friendly! I haven't done THE FACE at all! Of course I only go on week days because then it is quiet and I only see a few people anyway. I refuse to go on weekends with Jonny because PEOPLE MIGHT SEE ME. Good idea re the pump track, they actually have one where I go MTBing, but I'm riding Jonny's old duallie and I can imagine it would be kind of horrid on a pump track because its like unless I am going downhill or over technical stuff, in which case I love the suspension, it is designed to SUCK THE LIFE OUT OF ME. All good though, it's super fun and I am loving it. Oh and I ditched my new blog already (well, paused it?) because I felt guilty about spending all of my time talking about myself when I should be doing productive things like starry glassy-eyed at stupid shit on YouTube, you know?
DeleteKeep at it Mikey!
ReplyDeleteBTW that's one of my all time favorite music videos. Cracks me up every time.