How to be a Mountain Biker

"RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw) 02/11/2016 at 13:02 • Filed to: how to be a mountain biker

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Since we all came out of the woodwork today, I thought I’d share this. How many of these things do you do?

And if you don’t ride, this is basically accurate, so you know what to do.

Somethin' 'bout a truck > RallyWrench 02/11/2016 at 13:22

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I love this video!

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > RallyWrench 02/11/2016 at 13:25

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I know there’s a roadie one, but it should basically just be “What pressure you runnin’?” repeated for 28 minutes.

I ride with three guys on Saturdays instead of the big group and the reason for that is those three have never asked that question around me. The day they do is the day they are taken out of the Hangouts conversation and will no longer be invited on the rides, haha.

RallyWrench > PotbellyJoe and 42 others 02/11/2016 at 13:38

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So true. I ride road with a loose group of a few friends and we call ourselves the “Baggy Short Bicycle Club” because we ride in mountain bike gear and refuse to wear Spandex.

Somethin' 'bout a truck > RallyWrench 02/11/2016 at 13:39

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Appreciate you both not being “that guy”

Baggies for life.

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > RallyWrench 02/11/2016 at 13:45

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I do the spandex thing, but as a former swimmer, it’s a lot more modest than previous athletic-wear of mine.

I do spandex on the MTB too though. I’ve been riding MTB since 1994, the baggy “North Shore” look hit in like 2000.

But everyone should find some way to not be a robo-cyclist.

Most of my group is on 25+ tires, I’m on 28 and we will put dirt roads into the loop. A lot of the guys who would ride with our group won’t because of the dirt sections.

Oh well. More fun for us.

MonkeePuzzle > RallyWrench 02/11/2016 at 13:50

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mt bike on civic? check!

MonkeePuzzle > RallyWrench 02/11/2016 at 13:51

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heyyyyyyy!

TheRealBicycleBuck > RallyWrench 02/11/2016 at 13:58

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I tried to teach my girlfriend (future wife) to ride. I stopped when she couldn’t get the front wheel over a curb and took a header over the bars. Other than that, I’m too old for any of the other stereotypes to apply.

I took my kids mountain biking multiple times when we lived closer to the trails. It was fine for the most part, but my son went wide on a turn and dropped off a cliff. It was a small one, but it scared him. I was so proud when he got back on the bike and finished the ride.

My daughter wiped out on a road ride and refuses to get back on a bike. It was just the two of us and the road was straight and flat. I had just pulled ahead and heard her crash by herself in the middle of the road. I still haven’t figured out what happened.

For me, cycling is a pretty solitary activity. Occasionally I will load up the bike and drive to the local roadie cycling mecca, but I prefer to just open the garage and start from there. There aren’t many cyclists where I live, so I mostly ride alone.

RallyWrench > PotbellyJoe and 42 others 02/11/2016 at 13:58

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Nice. I do it mostly for other people, because nobody wants to see my fat ass in spandex. I like bibs though, which has earned me no small ration of shit from some friends, but I hide my secret behind shorts. My only road bike and commuter is a ‘cross frame on 23C Armadillos, that thing sees dirt and all weather with no worries.

RallyWrench > MonkeePuzzle 02/11/2016 at 13:58

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Shit, I never caught that!

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > RallyWrench 02/11/2016 at 14:04

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I wear bibs exclusively, except in triathlons (although Castelli has tri-bibs) the comfort and not pulling my pants up is worth it.

I also do the spandex thing because it stops my wife from asking me to pick things up from the store on my way home.

Armadillos are awesome from my experience. I have Armadillo Pros for training, along with R3s, Michelin Service Course and then GP4000sII for racing day.

TheRealBicycleBuck > PotbellyJoe and 42 others 02/11/2016 at 14:04

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I still spandex on the bottom half, but cover the top with a loose shirt. With mustache bars, barcons, 38 tires, and (oh no!) fenders, my bike is no stranger to dirt. I’m sure we would enjoy a ride together.

RallyWrench > TheRealBicycleBuck 02/11/2016 at 14:05

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My oldest kid is still figuring out her Strider, but I hope to share it with them on some level. My wife has no interest in it and was discouraged by trying to learn the shifters and brakes, though I’ve tried to get her out. That’s just as well I suppose, because I like riding from my house alone as well (there are two good trail systems within a few miles), or at a good pace with a couple of friends.

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > TheRealBicycleBuck 02/11/2016 at 14:08

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I approve of fenders, especially when riding with a group on or just after a few soggy days.

Where you located? If I’m ever in the area I will look you up. I travel with bicycle.

TheRealBicycleBuck > PotbellyJoe and 42 others 02/11/2016 at 14:10

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Baton Rouge area. I happen to live right off the Southern Tier if you ever decide to make that trip.

TheRealBicycleBuck > RallyWrench 02/11/2016 at 14:11

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I hope to buy land adjacent to a large state or national park someday.

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > TheRealBicycleBuck 02/11/2016 at 14:13

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Noted.

I’m in NJ/NYC, but I am planning on a drive to New Orleans in the near enough future. I’ll put up the bat signal on Oppo if I do.

BeaterGT > MonkeePuzzle 02/11/2016 at 14:15

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Leaves on the ground makes for some sweet oppo

RallyWrench > TheRealBicycleBuck 02/11/2016 at 14:19

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That’s where it’s at. I’m fortunate to live just down the hill from a State Park with great trails. A brief climb out of town and I’m on dirt, with over 20 miles of singletrack available.

TheRealBicycleBuck > RallyWrench 02/11/2016 at 14:28

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*Green with envy.*

SteveLehto > RallyWrench 02/11/2016 at 14:34

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And then this happened.

RallyWrench > SteveLehto 02/11/2016 at 14:41

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True story. There is a similar picture of me, but it’s sitting on a hospital gurney with my head and arms wrapped in bandages. That one led to back surgery.

TheRealBicycleBuck > SteveLehto 02/11/2016 at 14:44

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One of my friends went over the bars at a creek crossing and hit the opposite bank head first. I had to ride out, call the ambulance, wait for the ambulance, then guide the EMTs through the woods to where he lay. It was good that we were on a group ride. Half the group had to help carry him out on a backboard. The other half were left walking the trails with two bikes apiece.

It turned out fine. He had a concussion and a really stiff neck, but no major or permanent damage.

OPPOsaurus WRX > RallyWrench 02/11/2016 at 14:45

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that could be a friend of mine, except for the part when he actually goes out riding, all the rest is pretty accurate. He even asked if I could help with a wall mount for his bike in his apartment the other day

SteveLehto > RallyWrench 02/11/2016 at 14:50

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I ended up getting surgery to fix one of the bones in my hand. There are also a few stitches in my face here. The scary part is I had to go into court two days after this was taken. Good for a few laughs.

RallyWrench > TheRealBicycleBuck 02/11/2016 at 15:00

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If you ever find yourself in CA, I’d be stoked to show you some good riding, road and mountain. I saw in another post you mentioned you’re in NY? I’d love to ride upstate sometime, I’ve heard there’s some great riding available.

RallyWrench > SteveLehto 02/11/2016 at 15:04

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You could have made up a hell of a good story for it.

smobgirl > SteveLehto 02/11/2016 at 15:34

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Yep, can relate!

SteveLehto > smobgirl 02/11/2016 at 15:46

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I like how everyone smiles for the camera, regardless of the circumstances.

TheRealBicycleBuck > RallyWrench 02/11/2016 at 16:26

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I’ve been to CA a few times, but my cycling there was limited to San Diego on a rental road bike. I have to admit, the hills were fun.

I think you have me confused with another Oppo. I’m planted firmly in the south, currently living in Louisiana. Having spent several weeks in NYC for work, I don’t think the north is for me.

There isn’t much in the way of interesting riding around here. We have a few bumps about an hour north that people like to call hills. We have a nice rail-to-trail project about an hour away if you like long, straight, flat roads. The most popular places to ride are, as you would expect, River Road and Swamp Road.

The red area across the river from Port Allen is downtown Baton Rouge. The red area just south of the Baton Rouge label is around Louisiana State University. River Road is runs next to the Mississippi River. Swamp Road is the red road running roughly east/west at the south end of the map. In case you are wondering, the map is the Strava cycling heat map ( http://labs.strava.com/heatmap/#12/-9… )

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > RallyWrench 02/11/2016 at 16:39

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Pretty much everyone of them.