Well, after much searching and thinking, I've got me a trials bike :)
I was wondering how often I'd use it, however, after the ride today,
I'm wondering which bike to take next week - guess I'll have to do a
day on each.
I have a problem of being lazy, so thought maybe a trials bike might
help me stand more. I wanted a newer bike, as there's no seat
whatsoever, but have ended up with an older one (88 or so) which has
a seat (of sorts).
First ride today, Julie was following me around and when I sat down she was thinking how dumb I looked. I was thinking I've got damn cramp in my feet,
I've just gotta get rid of it, and boy I must look dumb with my knees
around my ears. In the end, I had to stop for a minute and then could
carry on.
Two things I noticed - roots - what roots? The bike absorbs them way
better than the KDX does, due to running stuff all tyre pressure. The
other thing was, whereas the KDX makes you want to sit for corners,
the trials bike doesn't (I did it once and it felt horrible, but I
couldn't resist trying it out). I also noticed the steering - tight trails are that
much easier. Now how this will translate, I'm not 100% sure, but I'm
thinking more time on the trials bike will rid me of some bad habits
I have. I also found I was steering more with the pegs, or more conscious of it, it just feels right.
Any regrets about either bike? Uh no, I love both of them for
different reasons. I haven't bothered any real trials stuff yet -
only had the bike a few days, and basically today was just a get to
know the bike session, and see how different it is. I need new bars
as the throttle sticks, the throttle body can't be tightened as the
bars are worn (so it sort of runs into the throttle housing, giving
it heaps of drag, not a release and it bounces back), and that I kept
feeling all day, remembering to force it back.
Now yesterday was also awesome for different reasons. We've got
another convert whom we hope to see again. She's a road rider, but
loved the woods and I was stoked she got to see the deer. The three
of us (Julie, Emma & myself)had fun changing bikes & just mucking about, as well as taking time to cut tracks. (no, she didn't use her road bike, we just
utilised what we had between us plus someone else's bike). As for
XR200's, well, I think they're great beginner's bikes, as they're so
tractorish, but it's just not me. Emma decided the KDX was better than the other two - XR & a GG Pampera.
Oh, I've got my mountain bike too, with my first ride interesting. At
night, no real light (couldn't be bothered mounting it, so thought
I'd see how the marker light worked - it didn't). Going along a track
near home, I'd see white stuff on the ground, so kept thinking it was
puddles - most of them were, but the manhole cover wasn't - luckily I
was avoiding it, and seeing it was about 1-2 inches off the ground,
I'm glad I realised it the 2nd time through. Shame about the chain
between the posts though - lol, that I didn't see until my front
wheel hit it and I almost went over the bars. I managed to throw the
drive chain just before I got home, so as I couldn't see what was
wrong, walked the bike back to tell Henk I'd broken the bike.
So all in all, I've had a great week, and intend to go biking again
tomorrow if I'm not too sore from today, but this time I'll make sure
I've got lights (at least I now realise there's a chain between the
posts).
Oops, almost forgot. I went/rode my first real harescramble last
weekend. It sucked. I was so paranoid about getting in the way of the
leaders, I had no fun. I kept leaving the track to let guys past,
with one time leaving myself in a bad position, so I ended up bush
crashing, thinking if I dump it or injure myself, no one will find
me. In the end, I pulled out after half a loop (26km loop, great
ride, lots of challenges for me, just too intimidating, as I was
riding like crap with really bad hand cramp due to my front brake
lever slipping - I'd thought of tightening it up before going out,
but decided it was okay - I'd been adjusting my levers during the
week, and just hadn't tightened it quite enough). Hmm, okay, I'm
having a blonde week (sorry bbbom & others, lol). Sharla, I wish I'd
read your flame earlier, I totally understand, I think one guy yelled
at me, but there was nowhere for me to go at the time, so he just had
to wait - I'm partially deaf, so all I heard was the bike with
maybe a mumble hehehe - but I always listen out for bikes if I can -
I'm used to that noise, it's just more directional & higher pitched I
can't hear clearly.
I'm still here & I'm still riding, but to be honest after the hs the
bike was up for sale, I'd just had enough - didn't dare tell the guys
about the phone call that the trials bike was up for sale as they'd
have laughed at me on one hand talking about selling the KDX &
giving up and the next, ooooh, do you remember that guy with the
trials bike, guess what, he's selling it & we've got first option on
it. (does this sound familiar - Sharla, you are not alone at getting
frustrated sometimes/often, and I've been riding for about 2-1/2
years, but I still suck hard, generally I don't care, I just have a
great time and that's what counts, it's just some days, especially
when you're being forced into something you're really unsure about to
start with & left on your own totally). FC22, I hope your knee is
okay and I'm sure once you're on the bike again, you'll feel happier.
Sorry for the longwindedness (just for a change). I'm still reading,
just it's easier to post once than many times, but I'm also real
busy - and no, I'm not usually a menace, but it comes in threes :) lol
I was wondering how often I'd use it, however, after the ride today,
I'm wondering which bike to take next week - guess I'll have to do a
day on each.
I have a problem of being lazy, so thought maybe a trials bike might
help me stand more. I wanted a newer bike, as there's no seat
whatsoever, but have ended up with an older one (88 or so) which has
a seat (of sorts).
First ride today, Julie was following me around and when I sat down she was thinking how dumb I looked. I was thinking I've got damn cramp in my feet,
I've just gotta get rid of it, and boy I must look dumb with my knees
around my ears. In the end, I had to stop for a minute and then could
carry on.
Two things I noticed - roots - what roots? The bike absorbs them way
better than the KDX does, due to running stuff all tyre pressure. The
other thing was, whereas the KDX makes you want to sit for corners,
the trials bike doesn't (I did it once and it felt horrible, but I
couldn't resist trying it out). I also noticed the steering - tight trails are that
much easier. Now how this will translate, I'm not 100% sure, but I'm
thinking more time on the trials bike will rid me of some bad habits
I have. I also found I was steering more with the pegs, or more conscious of it, it just feels right.
Any regrets about either bike? Uh no, I love both of them for
different reasons. I haven't bothered any real trials stuff yet -
only had the bike a few days, and basically today was just a get to
know the bike session, and see how different it is. I need new bars
as the throttle sticks, the throttle body can't be tightened as the
bars are worn (so it sort of runs into the throttle housing, giving
it heaps of drag, not a release and it bounces back), and that I kept
feeling all day, remembering to force it back.
Now yesterday was also awesome for different reasons. We've got
another convert whom we hope to see again. She's a road rider, but
loved the woods and I was stoked she got to see the deer. The three
of us (Julie, Emma & myself)had fun changing bikes & just mucking about, as well as taking time to cut tracks. (no, she didn't use her road bike, we just
utilised what we had between us plus someone else's bike). As for
XR200's, well, I think they're great beginner's bikes, as they're so
tractorish, but it's just not me. Emma decided the KDX was better than the other two - XR & a GG Pampera.
Oh, I've got my mountain bike too, with my first ride interesting. At
night, no real light (couldn't be bothered mounting it, so thought
I'd see how the marker light worked - it didn't). Going along a track
near home, I'd see white stuff on the ground, so kept thinking it was
puddles - most of them were, but the manhole cover wasn't - luckily I
was avoiding it, and seeing it was about 1-2 inches off the ground,
I'm glad I realised it the 2nd time through. Shame about the chain
between the posts though - lol, that I didn't see until my front
wheel hit it and I almost went over the bars. I managed to throw the
drive chain just before I got home, so as I couldn't see what was
wrong, walked the bike back to tell Henk I'd broken the bike.
So all in all, I've had a great week, and intend to go biking again
tomorrow if I'm not too sore from today, but this time I'll make sure
I've got lights (at least I now realise there's a chain between the
posts).
Oops, almost forgot. I went/rode my first real harescramble last
weekend. It sucked. I was so paranoid about getting in the way of the
leaders, I had no fun. I kept leaving the track to let guys past,
with one time leaving myself in a bad position, so I ended up bush
crashing, thinking if I dump it or injure myself, no one will find
me. In the end, I pulled out after half a loop (26km loop, great
ride, lots of challenges for me, just too intimidating, as I was
riding like crap with really bad hand cramp due to my front brake
lever slipping - I'd thought of tightening it up before going out,
but decided it was okay - I'd been adjusting my levers during the
week, and just hadn't tightened it quite enough). Hmm, okay, I'm
having a blonde week (sorry bbbom & others, lol). Sharla, I wish I'd
read your flame earlier, I totally understand, I think one guy yelled
at me, but there was nowhere for me to go at the time, so he just had
to wait - I'm partially deaf, so all I heard was the bike with
maybe a mumble hehehe - but I always listen out for bikes if I can -
I'm used to that noise, it's just more directional & higher pitched I
can't hear clearly.
I'm still here & I'm still riding, but to be honest after the hs the
bike was up for sale, I'd just had enough - didn't dare tell the guys
about the phone call that the trials bike was up for sale as they'd
have laughed at me on one hand talking about selling the KDX &
giving up and the next, ooooh, do you remember that guy with the
trials bike, guess what, he's selling it & we've got first option on
it. (does this sound familiar - Sharla, you are not alone at getting
frustrated sometimes/often, and I've been riding for about 2-1/2
years, but I still suck hard, generally I don't care, I just have a
great time and that's what counts, it's just some days, especially
when you're being forced into something you're really unsure about to
start with & left on your own totally). FC22, I hope your knee is
okay and I'm sure once you're on the bike again, you'll feel happier.
Sorry for the longwindedness (just for a change). I'm still reading,
just it's easier to post once than many times, but I'm also real
busy - and no, I'm not usually a menace, but it comes in threes :) lol