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Anyone here Mountain Bike regularly?
Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 10:40 pm
by WoodSheddin
Just wondering if there are any other mountain bikers here? I ain't talking about rails to trails or riding to class either.
Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2004 6:30 pm
by WoodSheddin
the elephant wrote:I used to compete in NORBA/IMBA events around here (1993–1995).
That count? I still have a NORBA sticker on the bumper of my Volvo.
Fat boys (and tuba players) compete in the "Clydesdale" class around here. (rather descriptive . . . )
I quit racing and sold my bike after a wonderful incident involving my bar-end, a post oak, a 15 foot drop into a gully, and a 30 mph face plant into a boulder. Screwed up my chops so badly that I got worried about losing my gig. I would not even consider a full-face helmet (new-ish in 1995). I freaked so badly that I sold my bike. BIG MISTAKE!
Selling my bike really hurt, but I was able to buy an F tuba with the money. (Too much money sunk into the bike, obviously!)
I had a Yeti with XTR chain/shifters/derailures/clipless pedals, Grafton brakes, Manitou III fork, Ringle seat post/handle bar/head set, White hubs and BB, Bontrager saddle, Specialized stem (long and zero rise)
blah, blah, blah . . .
It was such a sweet ride in the twisties. I had the Yeti "East Coast" geometry (overly-responsive or twitchy if you are a big downhiller). It was so nice on backwoods singletrack, but was a bit scary above 35 MPH on the road.
This was all top shelf gear back then. I am sure that it is all low tech now.
What do you ride? Ever been to Moab?
Wade "looks like the circus bear on the motorcycle when he rides" Rackley
Your bike would be sweet today also. Back then I was riding a Schwinn Paramount 40. I still have it. That thing weighs just over 30 lbs.
I bought a Gary Fisher Mt. Tam in 1998 and rode it about 400 miles or so before I put it in the shed when we moved to DC. I recently took the plunge and bought a bike rack and am hooked all over again. This summer so far I have about 400 miles or so including a half dozen or so commutes to work. At least 300 miles is singletrack.
I don't plan on racing this year. Besides most of the racing events around here are winding down. I do enjoy hitting my favorite local trail and flying by deer as they give me that odd stare that only deer who have seen hundreds of mountain bikers can give.
Just tonight I did a couple of laps, little over 11 miles total, and got a kick out of the loud splash water exiting my socks as I squeezed them made on the parking lot as I changed my shoes.
A trip to Moab with my son in about 10 years or so is a dream of mine.
Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2004 11:18 pm
by Gorilla Tuba
I don't ride as much as I should. I was a cat 2 roadie and NORBA expert. Grad schools, marriage and job as a college band director reduce my riding hours to trail riding a few times a week. I may be fat and lazy now, but I enjoy riding now more than ever. Its good to not take something too seriously.
You know those guys (and gals) who once held tuba positions in professional symphonies who decided to get a real job, only to find a new love of playing in the community brass band? I would say that parrallels my current cycling involvement.
I keep saying I'm going to loose the 40 lbs since I last raced seriously/// ah, its good to have a dream.
Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2004 11:32 pm
by WoodSheddin
Gorilla Tuba wrote:I don't ride as much as I should. I was a cat 2 roadie and NORBA expert.
I am not up on roadie classifications, but NORBA expert took some good finishes. I have only raced once. That was over 10 years ago back in Lawrence, KS at Lake Perry I believe it was. I raced beginner and DNF'ed. Flat tire and I dropped out. Beginner was only one lap so by the time I would have changed the tire and taken off again the first few people would have been nearly done anyways. The weather had been icky and the trails were mud bogs. I took off like a banchee and went anaerobic within seconds. I was huffing and puffing and sliding all over the course, getting stuck in ruts, and holding up traffic. The flat tire was just what I needed to feel like I had saved face.
I did get the nifty NORBA sticker, which is on my old steelie Schwinn.
I was a decent rider but had zero experience in these things and I have never had the bikers weight. I can't imagine weighing 165lbs.
Now I ride to escape the city. Riding has always been a way to erase all other thoughts but focussing on not ramming into the next tree, eating some of those rocks, or flying off the edge of the cliff at 20mph while decending on my hardtail.
If I still have the motivation through the winter, which I hope to continue riding during, then I may do some of the adventure races in the beginner class. They are generally 7-10 miles in length around here.
Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2004 8:47 am
by Leland
the elephant wrote:favorite MB rag: BIKE – ....
least favorite MB rag: Mountain Bike Action – ...
No kidding, although if I wanted to skim through product reviews & press releases, I'd pick up MBA at the newsstand -- and leave it there, too. BIKE and its sister publications (notably Skateboarder, Snowboarder & Surfer) are still, to me, the best in their class. They've got some good stuff going on. Now to just have a Honda magazine done by those guys...
I've got a decent mountain bike ('99 Schwinn Mesa GSX, if it matters), which I bought to replace my stolen early eighties' Huffy ATB. That wide-handlebar'd beast was the first mainstream-accessible "mountain bike" that I had seen, and I dug it right away. It served me well for fifteen-odd years until it was stolen from in front of the computer lab on campus. So, maybe two days later (after a few years of browsing magazines & stores), I got the Schwinn.
All I have to do to go riding now is repair the flat front tire.
hmm, speaking of which -- I'm on leave all next week, so I think a long ride might be in order...
Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2004 8:59 am
by Gorilla Tuba
Favorite Bike Mag:
Velo News. I am intersted in race information, but not what the latest new thing is.
I am what is referred to as a retrogrouch. A "steel is real" kinds guy. I wonder if that compares to people who play old Yorks in the tuba community? Hmmm
Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 10:13 pm
by WoodSheddin
BAT boy wrote:John Tomac now has his own small bike company. They are pretty sweet from what Ive heard about them. I know he continued to race DH but i think he is now tooo tied up with his company. He is by far my fav. rider ever.
REI carries Tomac bicycles. I was oogling one waaaay too long the other day. Gotta chain down the credit cards. They had 2. One was $3000. The other was $1900 marked down to $1500. They were about 3-4" travel bikes and fairly light for full suspension. Felt like about 27-28 lbs.
Next year I am gonna con the wife into at least a full suspension frame of some type. I will trickle the money into components and build one up to taste.