Anyone Mountain Bike?

[thatguy2]

Not a mountain bike but hopped on the Niner for the first time in awhile. Its muddy as heck here but I put in 6 miles after work. Im way out of shape. We actually had decent weather today and it was nice to be out.

Last year right before Garmin Unbound I had been out and done a 15 mile ride. It was a hot one and with stubble my chin strap was irritating me as they do. So I unclipped it and let the chin strap hang. Come back and climbing off the bike and our VFD gets sent to a trauma about as far from civilization as you can get around here. Get there and the guy was in cardiac arrest. He had been doing the same thing I was doing, riding with his chinstrap unhooked. He was coming down a hill, wrecked, his helmet flew off before his head hit a rock. I was still in my shorts and riding jersey. That hit me hard and I even told my brother I had been doing the same stuff 20 min prior. Moral of the story no matter how much it annoys you wear the helmet and leave it buckled. I never unbuckle now unless I am stopped.

 

[Admin]

 

[DG Rider]

Not a mountain bike but hopped on the Niner for the first time in awhile. Its muddy as heck here but I put in 6 miles after work. Im way out of shape. We actually had decent weather today and it was nice to be out.

Last year right before Garmin Unbound I had been out and done a 15 mile ride. It was a hot one and with stubble my chin strap was irritating me as they do. So I unclipped it and let the chin strap hang. Come back and climbing off the bike and our VFD gets sent to a trauma about as far from civilization as you can get around here. Get there and the guy was in cardiac arrest. He had been doing the same thing I was doing, riding with his chinstrap unhooked. He was coming down a hill, wrecked, his helmet flew off before his head hit a rock. I was still in my shorts and riding jersey. That hit me hard and I even told my brother I had been doing the same stuff 20 min prior. Moral of the story no matter how much it annoys you wear the helmet and leave it buckled. I never unbuckle now unless I am stopped.

I'm really fussy with helmet fitment. Probably drove Amazon crazy ordering and returning helmets. It worked...I don't even notice mine being on.

 

[thatguy2]

Im still wearing a cheap helmet from Walmart 3 years later. Good thing about living in the center of the gravel universe is there is no shortage of good bike shops. At some point I should go to clip in pedals as well, but again I am cheap.

 

[DG Rider]

Im still wearing a cheap helmet from Walmart 3 years later. Good thing about living in the center of the gravel universe is there is no shortage of good bike shops. At some point I should go to clip in pedals as well, but again I am cheap.

Bells of any model seem to fit my head better than anything. Mine was like $140 (MIPS rated), but even the $40 versions were pretty comfy.

I don't think I could ever ride clipless. Just don't like the ideal of having my feet "tied" to the peddles even that much.

 

[thatguy2]

Im scared of crashing because I cant get feet unclipped. Would be nice to get the power with the upstroke. I know it would increase my speed a little. Put in 7.25 miles last night. Waiting on the gravel to dry out so I can go back to my old haunts.

 

[Hometeam]

Im scared of crashing because I cant get feet unclipped. Would be nice to get the power with the upstroke. I know it would increase my speed a little. Put in 7.25 miles last night. Waiting on the gravel to dry out so I can go back to my old haunts.

I personally stay away from clipless pedals anymore for a couple reasons. 1 is after extensively researching and watching side by side comparisons....they don't really help in pedal stroke power. Yes you have the ability to pull up but at the cost of a powerful down stroke. The other reason is injury....the clipless don't allow for the natural movement/play that your foot has in a complete rotation of the pedal stroke. I have gone to nice light flats and wear a shoe like Five Ten. The shoe is lots more comfortable and it grips the pedal like you are clipped in but allows your foot to float enough to not injury you over the long haul. With this setup you are more than able to put 75%+ down on a complete pedal rotation stroke with power. I gained speed and all day comfort with the Five Ten's and flats. I had put over 10k miles on clipless pedals before I switched back to flats. Just my .02!)

 

[Mudwisel]

Decided to get out on the gravel bike today. Put in a little of 40 mi. Started off dodging rain showers but ended up with 79 and sunny.

 

[thatguy2]

Did 10 miles of gravel today. I have been doing 5-10 after work when I can. The strong SE wind took it out of me today. Combine that with being way out of shape and I was pretty slow.

 

[Mudwisel]

Did 10 miles of gravel today. I have been doing 5-10 after work when I can. The strong SE wind took it out of me today. Combine that with being way out of shape and I was pretty slow.

View attachment 420432

No such thing as slow unless you are racing competitive. Just ride and enjoy.

 

[thatguy2]

Put in 5 miles last night 10 more tonight. Tornado watch so didn't want to get too far away tonight

 

[Mudwisel]

If you stay on the right side of the tornadoes, you can improve your times. Pro tip

 

[DG Rider]

Still at it.

 

[thatguy2]

Wind is brutal today

 

[thatguy2]

Left to calm winds. West wind arrived a couple hours early. Flat wore me out. Great morning to ride until the wind hit. I was flying the first 5 miles.

 

[thatguy2]

Took the bike in after my ride Monday for a tune up. Took my wife's in as well and $500 later we were fixed up and ready to roll. New tires on both, she needed a chain, I need some brake work, etc. Rode 11 miles the other day before storms cut me off but put in 16 miles tonight. I went with a little fatter tire to give me more cushion on the gravel and hopefully take the strain off my back. Beautiful day to ride today.

 

[thatguy2]

Finally got a day off and put in 15 miles. Did 5 last night after work. Tomorrow winds will be light and variable. Be a good day to ride as well.

 

[thatguy2]

 

[DG Rider]

Did about 10 miles this morning. Usually do around 14 at Casa Grande Mtn, but it's Getting hot...

 

[DG Rider]

A battle was lost here...

 

[thatguy2]

Trying to do ~30 miles. I am not in good enough shape yet. Ran out of water once luckily near my folks house. Had to call no joy and have my wife come get me.