I recently got my girlfriend to try mountian bikings about a month ago and i don't think i've seen any one else progress so much with so little riding. When we started, it was just some easy XC single track, and toppling every couple hundred feet. After about 6-7 rides and a month she is keeping up at a pace faster then a lot of XC guys i see riding, is into jumping, can track stand, bunny hop, crossing skinies/bridges, and riding big rock rides. There is still the occasional fall from hitting a corner to fast, but I think i've hooked another one into our wonderful sport.
a beginners progression
BKnight
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I recently got my girlfriend to try mountian bikings about a month ago and i don't think i've seen any one else progress so much with so little riding. When we started, it was just some easy XC single track, and toppling every couple hundred feet. After about 6-7 rides and a month she is keeping up at a pace faster then a lot of XC guys i see riding, is into jumping, can track stand, bunny hop, crossing skinies/bridges, and riding big rock rides. There is still the occasional fall from hitting a corner to fast, but I think i've hooked another one into our wonderful sport.
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awesome--hopefully she sticks with it.....
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Excellent! That learning curve at the beginning is fun to watch. I assume you made sure she had decent equipment to learn on? That can make such a big difference.
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Good job! :devil:
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I think the best thing for thats helped her to learn is have shin/knee guards and a full suspenion all mountian bike. She has taken some ugly looking falls, but has yet to get hurt, thanks to the shin guards and having 5" of travels really makes for a smoother, more enjoyable ride
Its funny, cause she wants to go biking more then I do, and theres just no time with school, work and assorted stuff, the good news is, days are getting longer, so more riding available
Its funny, cause she wants to go biking more then I do, and theres just no time with school, work and assorted stuff, the good news is, days are getting longer, so more riding available
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lol, little soon to be thinking about taking that step first college, i'm only 19
Right now she's riding my 2004 haro X2 it does alright and its pretty solid, I rode it for 2 years when i was learning and have taken good care of it. Its a little rough going up hill, but we mostly just ride down, so it all works out
first college, i'm only 19Right now she's riding my 2004 haro X2 it does alright and its pretty solid, I rode it for 2 years when i was learning and have taken good care of it. Its a little rough going up hill, but we mostly just ride down, so it all works out
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You, sir, have just waded into a pile of nothing but trouble. Wait until she starts making you watch ROAM for the thousandth time. Wait until your apartment is so filled with bike stuff you can you have to cha-cha out the door. Wait till she scores a blingy-er bike then you. Wait till she gets a crush on Steve Peat. Wait for the constant hounding for plane tickets to B.C.. Just wait, smart guy. Just wait.
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Thanks for sharing! Last year I led a tour of four ladies - two who rode mountain, one who rode her commuter bike around her small island near Vancouver and a friend of theirs who didn't ride. Against my advice they wanted to do an all day tour, starting up in the Cascades and ride over 22 miles back towards Bend.
After giving them all the warnings and them still all saying they wanted to do the ride - off we went. The woman who had not ridden before just went for it. When the trail dipped a few feet into a creekbed she took my advice to use her brakes before hand and then release while dropping and going through. She would focus so much on that that she would crash on the other side since she would need to turn or lean back to go back uphill. One time she flew over her handlebars, another she rolled with her bike and another time she went crashing into a tree. She had a few other crashes and by the end I was feeding her goo pretty continiously, but every time she went down, she jumped up and got right back on her bike. No complaining, needing a break or talk of being done.
That woman might never come on tour with her friends ever again - I heard they had to buy dinner, wine and breakfast the following day before she would smile again - but she also loved being in the trees and doing something she had never done. And I will never forget her, she was an amazing first rider!!
So kudos to your lady, stick with her as she sounds like a keeper!
After giving them all the warnings and them still all saying they wanted to do the ride - off we went. The woman who had not ridden before just went for it. When the trail dipped a few feet into a creekbed she took my advice to use her brakes before hand and then release while dropping and going through. She would focus so much on that that she would crash on the other side since she would need to turn or lean back to go back uphill. One time she flew over her handlebars, another she rolled with her bike and another time she went crashing into a tree. She had a few other crashes and by the end I was feeding her goo pretty continiously, but every time she went down, she jumped up and got right back on her bike. No complaining, needing a break or talk of being done.
That woman might never come on tour with her friends ever again - I heard they had to buy dinner, wine and breakfast the following day before she would smile again - but she also loved being in the trees and doing something she had never done. And I will never forget her, she was an amazing first rider!!
So kudos to your lady, stick with her as she sounds like a keeper!
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lol, I've already watched ROAM, New World Disorder 4-6 about 30 times each and i'm planning my trip to B.C. and my room is pretty cluttered with bike parts/equipment, i don't think she can contribute to much more maybe the blingy bike
and i'm planning my trip to B.C. and my room is pretty cluttered with bike parts/equipment, i don't think she can contribute to much more maybe the blingy bike
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I took my GF on her first MTB ride last week when we were in Lost Wages NV. My GF has never even been on a fireroad and we went on trail that would be somewhat advanced for a girl who has never been on the dirt. I had to stop quite a bit but I made it fun and pointed out when the DHs were coming or loose dirt or rocks. The only problem she had was she was still kind of scared going DH on even small sections. I did not want to push her on her first time and just let her go at her own pace. I did try to explain to her that sometimes speed is good going downhill and going real slow on the downhill can be more dangerous. All in all it was a fun day. Thank God no wrecks considering the bike where we rented from was in poor condition, at least to my standards. My GF is pretty cool she just wants to hang with me no matter what. I can say lets just sit here watch the paint dry she is down with it. I kind of feel bad because she loves to dance and I am not really into dancing. I will make my once every six month tour of duty to the dance club with her, and she only goes only if I go.
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An update for ya guys. Went out to day, I think it was her best day of riding yet, took the camera to day and snapped a couple pics, I'll get them up tomorrow, can't find the cord. While riding just the trail, she didn't fall, but while sessioning the jump/rock ride went down a couple times, but every time, right back up and ready for more. I believe she is riding better in just a month, then I was after 6 months, its crazy.
Didn't get a picture of the rock ride, but heres one of me, just for comparison
![Image]()
Didn't get a picture of the rock ride, but heres one of me, just for comparison
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