REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

Meeting someone from the forums...

1987 Views 29 Replies 24 Participants Last post by Drewdane, Jul 14, 2006

Musichead13

Discussion Starter · Jul 1, 2006

Most people on these boards are really cool and I often see people from my state and local areas invite unknown people to ride with them and show them the local trails. I don't really have anyone to ride with and I always think that I should ask and accept an invitation to ride with people from the boards. I'm shy and nervous about this though and always put it off. I am more of beginner (three months riding) and always think that i'd be sort of baggage on the person i'm riding with. Am I crazy or have most of you had second thoughts about meeting people from the boards. I'd venture to assume that most expericens are good. Do you take invitations when people on the boards offer? Any other opinion of this? Anyone got any bad or funny stories about this?

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Psycho Mike

· #2 · Jul 1, 2006

I've had good experiences and now have some riding buddied from the board. Most folks are pretty good with newer riders....heck, even the insane ones like a lighter pace from time to time and helping a newbie can help us all learn things (hey, if you are helping someone else learn it, you have to know it pretty dang well and be able to explain it).

Jump on in, let them know you're pretty new and hopefully you'll get invited out on a ride that will help you build your skills with people who remember when they were new and don't mind helping you out. You may get a few "maybe not a good idea this time" replies if they're aiming for some heavy stuff, but as your skills come up, I'm sure your local riders will introduce you to more challenging stuff and help keep you from getting in too far over your head.

SHIVER ME TIMBERS

· #3 · Jul 1, 2006

new guys bring energy to the guys who been riding for long....your entusiam reminds us when we first started riding.....definately hook up with whoever you can

Sixty Fiver

· #4 · Jul 1, 2006

Psycho Mike is one of my new riding buddies here in Edmonton and although it took us a while to connect the riding has been most enjoyable as I think we're pretty alike in how and what we like to ride and are reasonably interesting people.

He's not really a psycho and seems to be one of the most decent people I've ever met.. if he chops me up on the trails tomorrow then I'll have to reconsider my opinion of him... LOL

Considering how many kms I put on my bike in a given week (300 km already) some might consider me a psycho of sorts and I expect to put on another 40-50 tomorrow.

Anyways...tomorrow there should be a small gathering of MTBR's heading out for a little singletrack fun here in the city of Champions and if there's any blood it will be because we were having more than our share of fun.

My theory is if you don't come home dirty and with a little blood on you then you weren't going hard enough or having enough fun.

(This theory does not apply to road riding where bleeding is generally a bad thing).

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Pawndream

· #5 · Jul 1, 2006

I have met and rode with several mtbr members from all over the place. Even in different continents.

Never had a bad experience because the environment is pretty controlled. The people you meet are also avid riders, so there is an automatic common bond.

I have been both the turtle and hare, and everything in between. Last two meet-ups I was either one of the rabbits, or THE rabbit. The couple before that I was the turtle.

I never really get nervous about the people I meet, moreso with the trails. Driving several hours to an unknown trail with dubious ratings on mtbr is always sketchy. What will the trail be like? Will it be too technical? Too hilly? Rutted out from horses? Will my fast-rolling primo for dry hardpack tires be total crap? Stuff like that concerns me more than the people.

Nobody I have met has been weird (they might say otherwise about me). Conversation generally revolves around biking, so it's not hard to make small talk.

If someone throws out an invitation, and it's a place I want to ride (and have time to get to), I am there.

Sorry, no bad stories. Funny stories, sure. But things sort of get funny around a campfire after a day of riding, and brews a plenty.

Don't worry about being a beginner. EVERYONE on these forums was a beginner at one time. Nobody dropped out of mama's womb straddled to a bike.

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fred3

· #6 · Jul 1, 2006

Never...

Musichead13 said:
Most people on these boards are really cool and I often see people from my state and local areas invite unknown people to ride with them and show them the local trails. I don't really have anyone to ride with and I always think that I should ask and accept an invitation to ride with people from the boards. I'm shy and nervous about this though and always put it off. I am more of beginner (three months riding) and always think that i'd be sort of baggage on the person i'm riding with. Am I crazy or have most of you had second thoughts about meeting people from the boards. I'd venture to assume that most expericens are good. Do you take invitations when people on the boards offer? Any other opinion of this? Anyone got any bad or funny stories about this?

had a bad experience meeting up and riding with unknown riders from this board. And since I was a beginner/novice/slow too when I started riding with people from here I know just how you feel. If they are a knowledgeable group you won't have to worry about being slow as they'll have at least one person who will stay near you to make sure your ride is 1) not stressing you out and 2) you won't get left behind on trails unknown to you. If they don't bother doing this then they're not worth going for a 2nd ride with in my opinion. It's not about the ride when a new person joins the group...it's about sharing the experience and it should be a positive one.

DeeEight

· #7 · Jul 1, 2006

Hell some folks met their WIVES/HUSBANDS on mtbr...

Geist262

· #8 · Jul 1, 2006

I have nothing but positive experiences riding with people from MTBR; and I am pretty slow too. I wouldn't worry about it. I used to put alot of stress on myself for keeping up, but then you fry your legs up and then your really slow. Just take things at your own pace. If you can keep up great, but don't blow up your heart if you can't. Cool riders will help you with technique and such and wait if need be. If they don't, find someone else.

Geist262

· #9 · Jul 1, 2006

BTW are you from PA?

bigbadwimp

· #10 · Jul 1, 2006

I met up with mtnbiker66 in NC (I'm from PA) almost accidentally. I was leary about riding with someone I'd never met but he turned out to be an awesome guy. He kept a pretty easy pace for me and my generally newbie buddies.

Musichead13

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jul 1, 2006

Geist262 said:
BTW are you from PA?

Yeah i'm from Northeast PA.

Geist262

· #12 · Jul 1, 2006

HaHa thats funny, I am too. I am from the scranton area. Maybe we could do a ride sometime. I ride merlis, Lackawanna state park and prompton dam. There are also rides on thursday nights with the hubbard MTN bike club.

ArmySlowRdr

· #13 · Jul 1, 2006

zon from CA came to visit on Oahu and we went round 3 of the better trails. good time.

i'm back in Texas working on Ft Hood and contrary to what people think there's some tiny hills at least. anyone passing thru/visiting in the Killeen/Ft Hood area give a shout and we can do the post's mtb loop (BLORA-Trailblazers--approx 9 miles) followed by an out and back at the other lake (stillhouse-dana peak---7 to 15 miles depending on side loops taken).

Musichead13

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jul 1, 2006

Geist262 said:
HaHa thats funny, I am too. I am from the scranton area. Maybe we could do a ride sometime. I ride merlis, Lackawanna state park and prompton dam. There are also rides on thursday nights with the hubbard MTN bike club.

Yeah maybe we could go one day. I've never been to any of the places you mention but would like to. Do you happen to know if they are ok to ride after the recent flooding int he area?

Geist262

· #15 · Jul 1, 2006

I haven't rode any of those trails since the heavy rain. I will get up there this week sometime. I think the higher sections of prompton will be ok, but the lower trails are probably soaked. The red trail is usually wet on dry days. The state park too holds quite a bit of water. I would think merlis would be ok. I will see if I can get an update from the local riders. I wanted to get out today, but it never happened.

Evader 53

· #16 · Jul 1, 2006

Musichead where in northeast PA you from? Bethlehem, Easton, etc..?

Christine

· #17 · Jul 2, 2006

Our local board has been fantastic, I've not only met people to ride with locally, but have gone on some epic trips with them- AZ, UT, CO, VT as well as semi-epic day trips to CT (like today's ride!) and soon NJ and PA.

They've all been nothing but supportive and FUN. Sure, you can get to squabbling on the internet over stupid sh!t, however real life is a different story. Nothing matters much on the rides except for the riding.

racerzero

· #18 · Jul 2, 2006

You're not going to meet fellow mtbrs at the super market. Check your LBS. Sometimes they can hook you up with agroup or offer weekly group ride. Hooking up on the boards can be a hit or miss thing. Most can steer you to the right group if you don't fit.

You should always check with local bike shops or riders if riding in another local. Beside some of the best trails are the secret trails that only locals know.

akitadogg

· #19 · Jul 2, 2006

Everybody I ride with I met off of this site. Somehow they put up with me.

Post some in your local board...someone will take you under their wing!!!!!

Remember - FEAR = fantasy expressed as reality.

Take a chance on yourself - you're better looking and smarter than me..that I guarantee.

Musichead13

Discussion Starter · #20 · Jul 2, 2006

Evader 53 said:
Musichead where in northeast PA you from? Bethlehem, Easton, etc..?

I live in the Poconos, specifically the town/city of Tobyhanna. Fifteen minutes from Mount Pocono.

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