Not Sure Where To Start..

Mclovin

Mclovin

Likes Bikes
Hi guys and girls,

Firstly If this is in the wrong place please let me know. I'm still working my way around a bit.

So I've gotten back into riding after a long hiatus caused by a road bike (motorcycle) accident and 10 years of recovery.

I've ridden bikes all my life (i'm 42), but am not a particularly skilled rider. I mean it never really came naturally to me. To top it off, my balance is shot due to aforementioned accident. I wouldn't call myself a beginner, but I am far from confident on terrain more demanding than the Warburton trail.

If it makes any difference I also spent a lot of years on a dirt bike which I think puts me in good stead to ride MTB trails, but again this was pre-accident, so I am still rather apprehensive and more than a little bit scared. Equipment is definitely not an issue, I suffer pretty badly from Gear Acquisition Syndrome. I got myself a nice second hand 5010 v2, which admittedly is far more bike than I have any business riding, but I like nice things. It's pretty much the bike of my dreams. I have knee and elbow pads, helmet etc, so I think the safety gear is covered also.

So I suppose my question is how do I get back on the bike?
Should I be taking lessons or coaching? Any recommendations?
Should I do bike shop demo days?
Should I look for a local club and attend ride days?

I live and work in /near the Yarra Valley. I would really appreciate some ideas for local spots that will ease me back in instead of stressing me out. Does anyone know of some specific trails I could look to do sensibly on my own? I am probably making this out to be a lot harder than it actually is. I hop, but the endless reading and research needs to come to an end, and the actual riding needs to be the focus, preferably single track, general trail riding.

Bit of a novel, sorry.. TIA,
Mike.
 
C

cogs19

Likes Bikes
Go ride Lysterfield. It has dedicated MTB trails that are proper single track but less technically demanding than most other trails you'll find. If you stick to the blue trails you won't come across anything you can't handle and some sections are pretty fun/flowy so they'll be a good re-introduction to the enjoyment of mtbing.

LDTR (the Lysterfield club) also do periodic beginner/intermediate lessons. I've done the intermediate and you'd probably be fine with that but could start with the beginner if you're feeling apprehensive. You just have to keep an eye out on their website.

Nice bike, by the way.
 
Dozer

Dozer

Heavy machinery.
Staff member
Awesome to hear you want to get back on your bike! I reckon making that choice is means more than the riding itself, good on you mate. ;)
I think Rotorburn will turn out to be a good place for you to line up some social rides with people nearby who can show you around and not take you into trails you won't manage so well.
There's a bunch of stuff that seems imposing for some people leading up to their first few rides and I come across it a lot running club and social stuff. Here's my advice:
-Don't be concerned with what you're wearing or the bike you've got. You'll figure it out pretty quickly if you're wearing too much armor or not enough and you'll soon know if your bike suits the trail.
-Don't be put off by guys in a group or in the car park who may seem to not want to help you out or show you around. People ride bikes for different reasons and some people just like to escape by themselves.
-If you're unsure about a certain obstacle, just don't ride it. Whats worse? A busted up knee cap or going home looking forward to washing your bike off and having a beer and thinking about working up to that obstacle and tackling it another day? ;)
-Admire other people's bikes and ask questions about it but don't bag someone out for their choice of gear, good karma and all that.
-Respect the trail you're enjoying riding too, thank the dudes that build and maintain if you get a chance and even join in the public dig days, that is a great way to meet some new characters.
-Join in on conversations on here, there's a wealth of knowledge on the site and lots of laughs once you start to understand the humor. ;)

Mountain biking is rad.
 
steve jobs' pancreas

steve jobs' pancreas

Eats Squid
Good luck with your journey Mclovin !!

If you can find a mate to ride with that's going to go a long way to getting you out there when the head gremlins tell you its too hard
 
mark22

mark22

Likes Dirt
You could give Buxton a go to if you want to slip over the divide some nice tracks up there to start on. Dirt Art did some work on em while ago and formed some nice berms.
 
Ultra Lord

Ultra Lord

Hurts. Requires Money. And is nerdy.
And a PYR. Those 5010's are great. More bike porn the better. Any parts you thinking about buying that you need some enablers to help talk you into it? post them up too, always here to help people spend there money hahaha
 
koiom

koiom

Likes Bikes
I'm in a similar boat to you.
I've just got back into the sport after a hiatus of about 6 or 7 years.
Not due to injury, just due to other passions taking over.
I'm a similar age (a handul of years older) and thought it was about time to get back on the horse to help maintain fitness.
I bought a new bike and I've been hitting up Lysty most weekends for a few months now.
Each ride I feel like I'm getting faster, flowier and more confident.
I know my limits and I know I won't bounce like I used to, so it's most likely my ambition will always outweigh my talent.
That said, I'm having a hoot in the saddle each time I get out there.
Bottom line is, get on the bike, hit the trails and just enjoy yourself.
I've noticed Lysty is full of middle aged dudes who'll never be crazy fast, but they're having a great time trying.
 
Lazmo

Lazmo

Old and hopeless
Besides Lysty and Buxton, other handy trails to you are Silvan, Gruyere, Smiths Gully, Candlebark/Westerfolds and the singletrack along the Yarra. A bit further afield, you’ve got Red Hill, Lake Mountain, Blores Hill and across town Plenty Gorge, YouYangs and Wombat State Forrest. I reckon, just get on your bike as much as possible, and don’t try to smash the hard stuff too soon. Work your way up to it. I’m much older than you and am now choosing to walk some stuff that I used to ride, just so I can stay riding into old age. Oh, and to me, having fun and enjoying the ride is much more important than being fast.
 
The Duckmeister

The Duckmeister

Has a juicy midrange
Just get out & ride! I can't add anything in the way of places to go, the guys above have pretty well covered that already, but given you're Yarra Valley, Buxton is not a great distance away, and has a lot of good stuff for helping you get back into the swing of being on a bike. Just note that the place closes over winter, from the Thursday after Queen's Birthday weekend until the start of the September school hols (reopening date subject to conditions), so you've only got a couple of months left to get there before it closes.

Having ridden before, you should hopefully have some memory of what you used to be able to ride, the key is balancing that against the lack of practice inflicted by the stack & recovery. Start easy & work up as you regain familiarity with the bike. Don't be embarrassed to stop, suss out the line through a feature then go back and ride it, or if you're just not committed, get off and walk it& save it for another day; better to be cautious and be able to keep riding than to get ahead of yourself, crash & break yourself again and knock yourself out of action or another few months.
 
S

SF Trailboy

Likes Bikes and Dirt
Be yourself.

I ride a steel hardtail in flats, baggie clothes and fat tyres.

You don't have to wear Lycra, clip in, own a 12k bike or anything to enjoy this sport.

Plenty of people on the trails will try to tell you otherwise but work out what works for you. You will get some good advice but you will also get a lot of misinformation from the very few fwits who think they know better.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top