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all
your questions
answered about how getting started in mountain biking
and mountain bike racing! send your detailed question
to ask-a-chick!
In your question, please include important information
such as current bike situation, what you are currently
doing, riding, wearing, your experience, etc. anything
that can help us to better answer your question. Too
many of the questions are too vague for us to be able
to answer properly.
dear
mtbchicks:
Q:
My
name is E. and I am a beginner mountain biker. My latest
experience was at
a local park with my boyfriend. We only road for a couple
miles (a little over 3
miles) before I face planted into the ground and decided
that I had enough for
one day. Anyway, after we discussed the ride I realized
a couple of things about
my positition when it comes to mountain biking...I'm
not afraid of the roots,
downhill, or being dangerously close to very hard trees,
my main issue is simply
my endurance level. So my question: I use my boyfriend's
mom's mountain bike when
I ride so I don't have access to the bike whenever I
want, do you know of a way
that I can build up my endurance for the bike without
actually riding?
Thank you for your time!
~ E
A:
Hi
E,
A great way to build endurance is through Spinning or
Indoor Group Cycling at a
gym. It may sound boring, but the classes can be fun
(some instructors are better
than others) and you build good speed, strength and
lungs for riding! Most gyms
have Indoor Cycling- and Spinning studios can be found
through the Spinning web
site: http://www.spinning.com
Another
option is running. While it does not translate directly
to cycling, it
does help- more than doing nothing.
My second recommendation is take a private lesson or
a clinic for women. This
will help you learn how to ride best for your body-
to prevent endo-s. ALso check
out http://totalvid.com/Mountain-Bike-Videos
for some great how-to videos.
Keep it up and I look forward to hearing from you again!
-tonya
23.sep.03
Q.
Im trying to help get my 10 year old daughter into Mt.
Biking. I started off by getting her a half way decent
bike, a Trek 4300. Its the most I could justify spending
for a 10 year old beginner. Ive taken her on some single
track, but mostly pretty flat. She is just starting
to tackle rocks and roots with a lot of success. But,
she does struggle with sand, rocks on a climb, switch
backs, and anything as large as a street curb. But,
she does seem to really enjoy riding and the challenge.
I really want to encourage her to keep it up. I feel
it is a sport she can continue with for the rest of
her life. Plus I need a riding partner! Do you have
any pointers for young girls just getting into mountain
biking? Maybe specifically with regards to sand and
climbing technical hills. Any pointers for a parent
helping their child begin in the sport? ÊAlso, are there
races for girls her age, or do you know how we can find
out? What could we (she) expect at a race, Ive never
even been to one. Thanks, D
A.
Dave, the best bike i have
found for 10 year old girls is the Ibex kid's bike.
Ê My 10 year old student just got this bike. Êit's light,
has REAL mtb components. Êthus it is LIGHT and doesn't
wiegh 50 lbs- which is good because i do not know any
10 year old girls- however tough they may be- cannot
lift 50 pounds. (although i am not familiar with the
trek 4300 so i could be wrong) i have personally found
that the trek and other big brand kids' bikes are heavy
and have cheap components.
http://www.ibexbikes.com. As far as getting her
going in mountain biking... for one thing- climbing
will always be dificult with a heavy bike. teaching
her to stand up will help a lot. since kids have less
strength, they can use their weight to push the pedals
better than while seated. the most important thing you
can teach her is to stay off her handle bars. keeping
weight off the bars will allow her to ride straight
through sand and stay steady on climbs and on descents...
there are races for girls her age... the Shimano Youth
Series... http://www.shimano.com
Ê(go to the usa bikes section for info!). For kids
programs look into IMBA's Sprockids ( http://www.imba.com
). The Sprockids groups teach mountain bike skills and
self-esteem- a great program! Also check out the local
IMBA clubs to see if they offer any mtb clinics! There
are mountian bike instructors out there- sometimes they
can be hard to find! If you're ever in Boulder- look
up the mtbchicks! thanks for writing, tonya
12.aug.03
Q.
Hi chick, my girlfriend is interested in joining me
on the trails and wants to know what bike she should
get. I have been successfull in helping out guys with
thier purchase but, what should I look for in a womans
bike? She is very athletic and visits the gym more than
I even think about it. I am totaly confident in her
ability but she hasnt ridden a bike since she was a
kid. Like most she wants a full suspension bike but
is on a budget. What can you recomend? Is a woman spec
bike really that important? She is only 5'1" so I dont
know if even a small mens bike would be a good idea.
Help me chick! This is an opportunity for some good
quality time and more time for me on the trails! Two
birds with one stone.... Henry
A.
Henry Since your girlfriend
is relatively short (i am only 5'2" so i know what it's
like!) i would recommend trying some of the women's
specific bikes. And it is great that a. she wants to
ride with you and b. that you want to help her out with
a new bike (you get good brownie points with the mtbchicks
for this!!).
the
best thing to do is to try out some of the bikes. Many
women fit fine on a non-gender specific bike. I personally
ride the Scalpel- which is not available in women's
specific sizing, but fits me quite well. But by trying
out bikes, then she should be able to find the perfect
fit for her- whether women's specifc or no. Fit is the
important thing- so if she tries the WS and it works
better than non-gender specific, then go for it! I recommend
reading the info on our women's cycling page at mtbchick.com
to check on how to buy a bike for women. Maybe give
some insight on how best to approach bike shops. (always
be sure that the shop put the bike on a trainer to be
sure it fits properly- and be sure that she is comfortable
on the bike!!! this is of utmost imprtance! because
if she is not then she won't ride and everyone loses).
If this means buying her a saddle that is more comfortable,
then do it (and also be sure she can try the saddle
before buying- look for the Terry Damselfly, at terrybicycles.com)
Here are a few of the bikes I would recommend: 1. Cannondale
Jekyll 400 Feminine- a great all around bike that
is made for the shorter mtbchick. 2. Gary
Fisher Sugar 3+ Genesisters good luck! tonya
updated
5.jul.04 Q. I'm trying to find
some nice quality brake levers for a small hand? Currently
have DiaCompe DP7 levers on a 4 year old Rock Hopper.
I adjust the pads to hit late in the lever travel so
that I can hold the levers a little in all the time.
Mountain Bike magazine (in the 101 tips article) recommended,
women specific levers. Are they made? Of the mainstay
manufacturers, which are the best reach, decent quality
levers for the small hand?
A.
Wylder (Juli Furtado's company)
makes women's specific mountain bike components. I am
not aware of any other women specific brake levers.
However, it seems as though Wylder no longer exists.
Most
androgenous brake levers have a small screw that is
above where the cable goes into the lever. this small
screw can asjust the "reach'" of the lever. however,
some brake levers do not have this adjustment, and some
of these adjustment screws do not work at all. (uses
i believe a 2 or a 3 hex tool) I recommend using Shimano
brake levers (avid is also a good company).All Shimano
levers are adjustable for "reach" which brings the lever
closer to the bar. try the LX or XT for better quality.
I have short fingers, as do most women i know, and the
bulk of the women i know use Shimano brakes because
of the adjustable reach- which is really the issue with
brake levers. good luck! tonya
10.jul.03
Q.
I am trying to limit my sugar intake. I tried making
some home grown gatorade-it worked, but tasted quite
nasty. Do you know of any no sugar sports drinks? DC
A.
DC, have you ever tried the
Emergen C drink mixes? They are awesome for adding electrolytes
to your system without the carbs! I think you can buy
them at most health food stores and some regular markets
in the health food section. I have included a link...
HOWEVER- you may not want to limit your carb intake
too much while exercising- depending upon the amount
of time you are riding/exercising. For example- if you
are doing a 40 minute spin class, then you may not need
extra carbs, but for a 2+ hour bike ride- you might
really need some of those carbs. Gatorade actually has
some of the best sugars- no HFCS / high fructose corn
syrup. You can water it down (half water, half gatorade),
and add some Emergen C for longer rides. thanks and
good luck! tonya
Q.
I have recently gotten into mountain biking, and ride
when ever i can. i have one problem, and thats the saddle.
when ever i finish riding, i have to walk bow legged,
very sore and uncomfortable. i have researched on the
web trying to find sites that compare different saddles.
ones with the cut outs and ones without, wide saddles
and narrow ones. there are so many its hard to know
where to start. my financial situation does not allow
me to go out and purchase a new one every week. can
you suggest or narrow down for me some of the better
saddles out there for women. becky
A.
becky there are many types
of irritation associated with bicycle saddles:
1.
chaffing
2.
saddle sores
3.
pinching
Chaffing
is usually caused by too large a saddle- your parts
are rubbing . Saddle Sores are like boils or pimples
created from sitting on a saddle. ÊThey can break open
and become infected if they go untreated, and if you
do not wear padded bike shorts with anti-bacterial treatment.
Pinching, often occurs with chaffing as well, caused
by too much bulk in the saddle, in the middle section
of the saddle. Cut out saddles eliminate (virtually)
the pinching. ÊFinding a saddle that is not too bulky
will help eliminate chaffing, and bike shorts with a
nice pad will help with all three problems. For a casual
recreational mountain biker, i suggest the Terry Butterfly-
it's kind of wide, though. ÊIf you are a little more
hard core and need a smaller saddle you can get behind
more easily- Terry makes the Damsel Fly and the men's
Dragon Fly (which is what i use). Ê Preferably, your
local bike shop would allow you to test different saddles
on your bike. ÊAlso check the tilt of your saddle using
a level- it should be perfectly level. check out the
saddles at terry.
i have personally been buying Terry saddles for the
past 4 years. ÊI am not sponsored by the company. I
have used several other types of wmen's saddles, and
find them not as comfy as the Terry saddles, please
let me know if you would like more info (other saddles
include the Serfas saddles and WTB). When i first sat
on the Terry Butterfly, i automatically let out a big
"ahhhh". it was so wonderful! If you are not currently
using padded bike shorts, you should definitely buy
a pair, this will help a lot, but the cut out ought
to help immensley as well. thanks tonya
Q.
I am still new to mtbiking, and have bought my first
bike. I bought a women's specific saddle for it, but
I am still having lots of irritation from it. The problem
seems to be that the front of the seat, the thinnest
portion is sloped upward jamming uncomfortably into
all the "soft parts". It is a Trek seat, rather cushiony.
As far as the "sit bones", that part is fine. Any suggestions
girls? Thanks, LJ
A.
LJ, is the saddle pointed
upward too much? Êthe saddle should be level- i like
to use an actual level to place on the saddle to check
it out. ÊTry moving the nose of the saddle down a hair.
ÊRemember that in bikes- 1 millimieter makes a HUGE
difference! ÊIf you don't have access to a level- place
a book on the saddle, and then a glass of water on the
book to see if it is level.- or simply just try to adjust
the "tilt" of the saddle. If you need help with this-
send me an email, tell me what kind of seat post you
have and where the bolts are so i can help you out!
tonya
______________________________________________________________________________
2.jun.03
Q.
I'm having trouble with reoccuring yeast infections/irratation
- which I think is partially due to spinning classes.
Any tips? Please help! I love spinning and do not want
to give it up. CB
A.
I am assuming you are wearing
bike shorts? Usually recurring yeast infections are
caused by not changing out of your shorts immediately
after finishing up your ride. The moisture from sweat
and all creates a veritable science experiment in our
shorts- so getting out of the shorts and into some dry
clothes should help. Also- some bike shorts have anti-bacterial
pads (also called chamois, pron. shammy). These can
also help prevent the yeast infections. When you go
to the bike shop, read up on the labels and find the
best shorts. I recommend Castelli- however they come
with a pretty impressive price tag, usually around $80
(but well worth it if you can find the Pro Y Donna Pad).
A
saddle may also make a difference! You can purchase
the actual saddle carrier from spinning.com and buy
your own women's specific bike saddle and bring it to
class with you- keeping others' germs off your saddle.
you can actually buy the rail that holds the saddle-
so it is easy to change saddles. Your spinning club
may have access to the saddle rail.
As
far as gel. A gel saddle (where the gel is in the actual
saddle) is ok. but sometimes if you get a gel seat cover-
it is too bulky and can actually cause chaffing. But
it doesn't hurt to try it. Since you are spinning and
moving your legs so quickly, the smaller the saddle
is usually better, as long as it is a comfortable one!
- tonya
Hi
Tonya, I live in Estes Park, and am interested in purchasing
a stationary bike of the best quality. Any ideas on
where to find a bike? I have been biking for about 10
years. Thanks, CL
A.
i would suggest a Spinning bike (Johnny G. Spinner)...
you can buy from spinning.com or a local Schwinn dealer.
It is more like a real bike than any of the other type
of stationary bikes. when i am not on my bike, i am
on a Spinner! otherwise i would suggest getting a trainer
for your bike. maybe one by Cyclops or Blackburn. With
Trainers
you can turn your own bike into a stationary bike. if
you are really looking for more of a club style bike,
Life Fitness makes good bikes. But you are limited to
how you can adjust the bike to fit you, and the position
is not always optimal for getting a good hard workout!
let me know if you have more questions, or if you have
more specific guidelines as to what you are looking
for! thanks tonya
__________________________________________________________________
27.apr.03
Q.
I'm interested in knowing how you, personally, got interested
in mountain biking. I saw a commercial on TV that showed
women mt. bikers and it completely interested me. If
you could give me some information on how to get started
I would really appreciate it. Thank you so much! You
girls rock!!! Thanks again-Heather
A.
Some of the chicks collaborated on this one, read on!
Tonya
(pro): I first got into mountain
biking when i was in college in Montana- i bought a
nice RockHopper off a friend. I had a crash and landed
on my face- not wearing a helmet- and ended up with
a very broken bike- that was eventually stolen. So i
didn't ride again for nearly a year. Shortly after i
saved enough change to buy a new bike, i met my now
husband Troy, who bought me a better bike because mine
was substandard (a Specialized HardRock). So troy helped
me out a bit, but i had to do a lot of the figuring
on my own, but with Troy's undying love and support,
I eventually made it to Pro. For the record. After my
crash, and when i began riding with Troy, i was so petrified
of singletrack that I crased just riding in a straight
line on flat terrain!!!!! It just goes to show how much
you can do if you want to! And this is why I want to
help others, so they don't have to go through what i
did!
Steph
(club member): transplanted from ski country to
college station, texas, i craved something to fulfill
my hunger for adventure. i missed the mountains and
fresh air. fate introduced me to a guy who worked at
a bike shop, who later became a boyfriend. he encouraged
and pushed me (literally sometimes) and set me up with
my first racing bike. thanks to his patient spirit,
he worked with me as i was determined to be a mtbchick!
(Check out steph's
journal #1 entry for more in this!)
Harley
(club member): I got into mountain biking in 1998.
I had been in an 8+ year relationship that broke up,
and I wanted a change and a way to celebrate my freedom
and express myself. One of my friends had a boyfriend
who kept a Specialized Stumpjumper in their living room,
and when I'd go there to visit I would just look at
it and drool. I had been secretly lusting after knobby-tired
bikes since I had been in college, where I'd see them
on the bike racks. So in August 1998, newly single,
I immediately ran out and bought my first mountain bike.
I began riding 5 days a week & totally immersed myself
in it. There's nowhere I feel more comfortable than
on my bike!
Tammy
Kaufman (affiliate club member): Well, I kind of
fell into it by accident. I was dating a guy (now my
husband) 8 years ago who rode bikes. At that time, I
was very much into raising, training and showing horses
and had been all my life (I was 33 then). I used to
trail ride my horse along with Steve while he rode his
bike. This fascinated me that he could ride it off-road
like that, because I had never ridden a bicycle before
at all, and had only seen people riding them on sidewalks.
As it turned out, I ended up losing my horse due a broken
leg - the veterinary bills skyrocketed while we tried
unsuccessfully to save her, so I couldn't afford another
horse. Steve and I decided to buy me a bike so I could
still ride with him, and even though the test ride was
terrifying since I didn't even know where the brakes
were or how to shift or anything, with his patient teaching
and encouragement, I finally managed to learn how to
ride a bike, and ended up getting hooked on the sport!
Rhonda
(club member): Heather, The way I became interested
may be unusual. My husband ( Joe) came home from work
on a Friday and said "we're going mt. biking Sunday
with Chuck and Jessica." I had a very cheap bike from
a department store and Chuck and Jessica had just bought
new mt. bikes. Joe had an older mt. bike but had never
really been mt. biking either. I basically threw a fit
and told Joe there was no way I was going on my cheap
bike when everyone else had mt. bikes. ( I never liked
having a disadvantage.) Saturday when I came home from
work Joe had a new Klein mt. bike sitting in the garage
for me. We went Sunday and I loved it. To get started
I suggest finding a couple different bike shops in your
area to visit. Before you spend that much money you
may want to rent one first. Joe and I have let several
of our friends ride ours before they bought their bikes.
Be Careful you can spend a lot of money real fast. You
may want to start out with just a bike, always a helmet,
water bottles and bottle cages or hydration packs. Don't
go without water or sports drink. Enjoy, Rhonda
Karen
(club member: )I've always been interested in biking
but it was mostly road biking and time trials. I got
interested in mountain biking through a boy friend who
took me to all of his races. At first I thought mountain
biking was far too macho for me but I enjoyed trying
out the trails even though I crashed alot, couldnt clip
or unclip out of my pedals gracefully and was far from
a speed demon. What really hooked me was seeing other
women out competing in the races and having fun. So,
I took a mountain bike clinic with some other women
and we all started racing and riding and learning together.
Several years later, I'm doing less racing but I'm still
spending more time building & maintaining mountain bike
trails and setting up club races on our new trails.
Its a sport that can last a lifetime. By the way, I'm
51.
9.apr.03
Q.
I am just beginning to bike, and I had some questions
about getting started. I have an older $100 steel frame
mtn bike that I got to practice with. Now, I am looking
at buying my first real mtn bike and I wanted to know
about the frame. What frame would be better in the long
run, the sloping frame, found on many womens bikes or
the straight frame (I guess that is what you call it,or
mens style). My husband says that the straight frame
wil hold up better in the long run. Is this true? I
want a bike that is going to last, until he said something
I never really noticed the frame. I read the article
about getting started, it was really helpful. Is there
anything else that I might need to know? Thanks, Laurie
A.
It sounds to me like you have
a bike with a top tube that is parallel to the down
tube, and the top tube is attached just above where
the down tube does. This would be a typical women's
bike that we saw a lot more of in the past.
As
far as the frame goes- I definitely recommend the normal
frame type. The women's style frames as described above
are generally - at this point- only used for bike path
riding. Now, if you only will be doing bike path riding,
this kind of bike would be just fine- however, if you
are interested in mountain biking and riding on trails,
i recommend the normal type frame.
I
call it normal- it's not really men's per se- at least
not anymore! This type of frame allows for a more aggressive
position- a position where you are not quite as upright,
and the weight of your body is more evenly distributed
between the two wheels. Whereas on the women's sloping
tubes your weight is placed all the way back on the
saddle. Now- there are some new "women's specific" frames
out there. They are more compact than the typical bike,
and may have slightly more slope to the top tube. Mostly
made for shorter women- 5'2" and under for the most
part. You may find that with a few adjustments you can
find a normal bike that fits you just fine. Each manufacturer
has a different "geometry" or frame shape they use to
make frames, so you may find one size small frame fits
you well, while another size small frame is too big.
My
recommendation for you overall is to find a bike shop.
You may have to spend $300 - $500 on your first bike.
This sounds like a lot compared to $100. Why so much?
A bike, like a car, is an investment. You want a bike
that will last- and one that is durable for what you
want to do with it. Up to $500- you can get a great
durable bike. When you begin to go over $500, you do
begin to get into features such as lighter weight and
racing type components, and shocks with more travel
- better shocks altogether.
Here
are some rules for bike buying:
1.
First decide "what do I want to do with this bike?".
Bike path? Mountain biking? Road riding? Racing? (you
get the idea!!)
2.
Stand Over Height: Take the bike, and wearing the shoes
you will be riding your bike with, stand over the bike.
You want to be in the middle of the top tube with your
feet flat on the ground. There should be, for a mountain
bike, 2-4" between your crotch and the top tube. Nothing
more, nothing less. The shop employee may ask you to
lift the front wheel. Allow him or her do to their thing,
but you know you need 2-4". Let the employee know if
the bike is too tall or too short.
3.
BEFORE you test ride, be sure that the bike seat has
been adjusted properly for you. Ask that the bike be
put on a "trainer" so that you can get a good fit before
you ride around. A trainer is a device that the rear
wheel of a bike locks into, essentially making it a
stationary bike. The front wheel should be lifted so
that it is even with the rear on the trainer to get
a proper fit.
4.
Be sure that you go to at least 2 bike shops to get
a different perspective.
5.
Have fun! Thanks, good luck! and let us know if you
have any more questions!
tonya
9.apr.03
Q.
I haven't ridden a bike since I was a little girl and
I have just under five months to both learn and whip
myself into shape because I'm signed up for a 2 day
(175 km) charity bike tour during the first weekend
in September. ÊThe course is very hilly. So I've borrowed
a bike (Rocky Mountain) and I've bought all the gear.
ÊTonight was my first lesson and it lasted about 15
minutes. ÊMy boyfriend was trying to explain gears to
me and I wasn't understanding what he was saying and
it ended up in a big fight. I don't have anyone else
who can teach me and I can't afford lessons. ÊI have
a feeling if my boyfriend continues to teach me it's
going to put a strain on the relationship :) ÊI think
I'm going to have to learn the hard way but I am wondering
if there are any websites out there to help me learn
the basics. ...An extremely frustrated beginner
A.
DON'T WORRY! you have plenty
of time! is this a road bike ride or mountain bike ride?
what city do you live in? ÊThis can help us to hook
you up with some instruction and groups. If your boyfriend
doesn't have the patience, then leave him at home. ÊWith
a little guidance, you can help yourself. ÊFirst, however,
i would recommend finding a group that you can ride
with! Ê Depedning upon where you live, there are cycling
clubs full of people who can help you without losing
patience! ÊThey generally have rides for beginners.
ÊThere are also some bike shops who offer free clinics
in the afternoons to help people get started. As for
getting in shape, you should always consult your physician
before starting a workout program. ÊI recommend Spinning
to help get you in shape for your ride! ÊA good Spinning
program will help you develop the cycling position and
strength that you need to complete your charity ride.
About
shifting: learning to shift gears will take you far
beyond the next level of learning to ride. ÊIf your
bike has indicators that tell you what gear you are
in, this will help immensely. Ê 1 is always easy, and
the higher you go the harder the gear. Ê High gear=hard
gear. The front gears are called "chainrings". ÊThe
biggest chainring, known as the "big chainring" is for
going downhill, or going fast on flats. The middle chainring
is for some moderate climbing and harder flats. The
small chainring, or "granny gear" is for climbing steeps!
In
the rear (cogs): the largest cog in the easiest! (opposite
of the front) and the smallest is the hardest. Here's
the best way to learn how to shift. ÊOn a flat road,
in a parking lot, or on a flat bike path:
1.
ÊPut your front gear in to your middle chainring.
2.
ÊShift from top to bottom on the rear, until you have
memorized which way makes it easier and which way makes
it harder.
3.
ÊWhen you are comfortable with shifting the rear, and
it may take you one or tow or even more rides, it is
time to work on shifting the front. ÊPut your rear gear
into the middle, 4 or 5. ÊThen begin to shift your front
from bottom to top. Do these exercises until you have
the shifting down pat, and then you will be ready to
move on to other exercises!
good
luck, and let us know how it goes! thanks!
tonya
7.apr.03
Q.
great site! Do you have
any suggestions for small shin/knee pads. I have looked
everywhere but the smallest I can seem to find in a
good set of pads fits people approx. 5'5" and taller.
I am 5'2" (after a good day of stretching) and I find
most pads too big and bulky. Any suggestions? Thanks,
Melissa
A.
Tammy Kaufman, mtbchick.com
affiliate member says, "I'm 5'2" also, and
am using the old style
Fox 911 (the older ones like mine have hard plastic
on the front and Lycra backing) in a size small. The
size small Azonics do OK, although they do tend to slip
down a bit if you wear them with shorts (I usually race
in full length motocross pants). You might also check
into the "Junior" sizes that several companies offer
(the motocross catalogs and websites often have a lot
of stuff). The one thing I would suggestis that you
ensure that whatever guards you buy, make SURE that
they Velcro or close somehow across the back of the
knee - I realize that it isn't terribly comfortable
all the time, but if that knee cup doesn't secure on,
the minute you crash, the knee cup will flop forward,
leaving the knees unprotected (I've seen it happen far
too often) - better to have a little discomfort from
an elastic strap behind your knee than a bad wound on
the front of that joint."
Our
friend Barb Haley (barbhaley.com):
i have the same problem as i am the same height. ever
tried ROACH products? I believe they still make armour
in size small..... http://www.roachclothing.com
. anyway, they have the most selection, reasonable prices
and great bang for your buck! hope this helps. basically,
if there is anyone making armour and they make anything
small, i find they usually fit. but from my experience
(riding/racing roach armour for many years) this stuff
rocks!
30.mar.03
Q.
I am a 240 rider...I was wondering which shock is gonna
be the best for me overall. thanks
A.
Well, being small people, we really don't have the experience
to answer this one, so we went to the experts on Clydesdales...
ridephat.com
to get a little help with this question!
"We
know a little something about how gear reacts to bigger
riders. And here's what I'd tell any clyde (I'm 235
myself). At ridephat, we've fallen in love with Fox
forks. They are stiffer than other brands, provide incredible
smooth action all the way through the compression stroke,
and have set a new standard for reliability. Lighter
riders don't always care for them because they are a
little heavier than other brands, but if you're a clyde,
you need the stiffness for precise steering and bombproof
performance. I personally have one year on a Float RLC
and it is wonderful. I'd also consider the externally
adjustable Talas as a model to look into. Hope that
helps.
Scott
Ridephat.com
__________________________________________________________________
25.mar.03
Q.
I am looking into switching into a women's specific
bike from a Gaint XTC 3. ÊI am trying to spend as little
money as possible (!), but would like a full-suspension,
XT kit, with 4 inches travel in the front. Right now
I am looking into a Santa Cruz Juliana or a Gary Fisher
Sugar.. any ideas or thoughts would be very much appreciated.
A.
If
you are buying a full suspension bike, then you will
most likely be spending a lot of money!! The Santa Cruz
Julianna and the Gary Fisher Sugar are both very nice
bikes! Of course, I have to recommend a Cannondale Scalpel
with a Lefty (4") which is what I will be racing
this year. The Scalpel is not a women's specific bike...
but it fits me very well. And i do feel that the Scalpel
has the best geometry for climbing hills. I have ridden
the Sugar, and i find that this bike is also a good
climber. If you look at the Pros- all the Cannnondale
pro racers use the Scalpel, all the Fisher riders use
the Sugar, and all the Santa Cruz riders use their hardtails.
This may or may not have any bearing on your decision,
but may be some info worth being aware of. This is obviously
a question of what you will be doing with this bike...
recreational riding, free riding, cross country racing,
lift served riding, etc.
Here
is the scoop with women's specific: Women's specific
is really made for short women. If you are 5'2"
or 5'4" or over, you probably have no need for
women's specific. Women's specific is trying to allow
small people to ride a 26" wheel bike with a very
small frame, rather than riding a 24" bike. I am
5'2", and i find that i fit well on a normal small
sized mountain bike on any brand, and medium in others.
(On the road, a women's frame does actually work better
for me, although i do ride a normal road bike as well!).
It really comes down to what fits you best and what
feels best to you and suits your needs. Cannnondale
does offer a Jeckyll in women's specific which is good
for short people- or rather- vertically challenged,
and this bike may have a better price, but does not
come with a Lefty, it comes with a headshock which is
not 4".
But
here are some thoughts that will help you decide:
1.
Bike shop. Pick a bike shop that treats you right and
gives you good information. This can be hard to find
sometimes if you are a female. Make sure you like the
shop and that you are getting the service you deserve
in relation to the amount of money you are spending.
It's like buying a car, are you going to buy a car from
a jerk? Hopefully not- so why would you buy your bike
from one? Make sure this is your bike shop!
2.
Test ride! Make sure you like the feel of the bike before
you but it! Is there a shop near you that has rentals
that you can take out to the trails? rather than just
riding a circle in the parking lot?
3.
Get a fit on each bike and test ride it! If the shop
has a
Fit Kit system, have yourself professionally fitted-
this is probably the most important part of purchasing
a new bike.
Happy
bike shopping! Let us know how you decide!
tonya
_____________________________________________
Q.
I was wondering how to better prepare my body for racing
at higher altitudes. I have a sister who lives in Denver
and whenever I go to visit her I have trouble keeping
up with her when hiking. I am in VERY good shape...my
resting HRs are low...I have been riding/racing off
and on since I was 17. How long do I need to give my
body to adjust to high altitudes? I am planning on racing
at the NORBA national in VW @ Snowshoe Mtn. come June
- but I don't want to suffer if I can avoid it. My job
would allow me to take extra time off if needed...but
will it really help to be there days before the race?
In addition, I have asthma which doesn't help! I have
grown out of it a bit but still suffer from time to
time. In addition...I plan to move to the Denver/Boulder
area in mid-summer...how long will it take me to adjust
then? I recently spent 5 days out there and still felt
out of breath/out of shape by the end of my visit. Thanks!
B D
A.
First- you should definitely consult
your doctor about your asthma and altitude and racing.
Fitness
really has little to do with adaptation to high altitude.
Genetics has more to do with the ability to adjust.
Some people can go in and out of altitude with no problem.
However, for the rest of the world, it takes acclimitization.
A good place to learn about high altitude is through
mountaineering. Look at the expeditions to Mount Everest-
they spend 6 weeks acclimitizing to the altitude in
order to climb to 28,000'.
Unless
you go to high altitude for 3-4 weeks before the race,
riding at high altitude in the days before the race
will only hurt you. Essentially, the lower level of
oxygen in the air causes athletes to suffer lower Lactate
threshold heart rate, increased lactic acid build up
and muscle loss. I recommend riding as little as possible
at altitude before your race.
Many
professional mountain bikers who live at sea level spend
the night at lower elevations during high altitude races.
For example- at Big Bear in California, they might stay
down the hill in Redlands. This way they get to take
advantage of full oxygen for recovery in between races
and practises. Of course, some pros- who can afford
it- sleep in altitude tents, or gamow bags- a tent that
you sleep in that pressurizes to a chosen altitude,
allowing you to live at sea level but sleep at high
altitude, thus gaining the best benefit from training
possible while living anywhere in the world. But expect
to cough up about $10,000 for this luxury!
I
recommend NOT going very hard when you go to altitude
to pre ride the course. "They" say that the
3rd day at altitude is always the worst... it's an old
mountaineering quip. The harder you go on your first
day at altitude the worse you are going to feel in the
following days spent at altitude.
So
in a nutshell... as little time as possible at altitude
before your race, or move to higher altitude- which
you will be doing soon!
See
you in the Denver area when you get here and good luck
at the races!
tonya
_______________
Q.
I'm a road bike rider and I want to get into mountain
bikes. In a road bike, good gears are essential, and
shimano parts are the best. Is this true for mountain
bikes too? What should I look for in gear systems? What
brands? thank you! laura
A.
Firstly, welcome to the world of mountain
biking, may you have many happy rides!
As
in road riding, good components are very important in
mountain biking. However, there is little choice in
the market. The biggest decision to make is what group
of parts is best for what you will be doing. The best
thing you can do is go with what works... Shimano components
are a good bet as they are tried and true, innovative
and very resilient. Another good company is SRAM, they
make the twist shifter, like motorcycle shifter. Many
bikes will come with a mix of parts from both companies.
Some bike companies also have their own brand of parts
which is prevalent in crankarms. but lets concentrate
on Shimano.
Your
racing, most expensive, lightest and best performing
group is: XTR. The 2003 XTR is very nice, and you shift
with your brake lever, much like on a road bike (this
is the Dura Ace of mtb). It comes with disk brakes-
which i have come to love. This group is not necessary
for a beginner, but if you can afford it, the drool
factor is very high!
XT
is next.XT performs very well and you will even see
a few pros using it from time to time since it costs
much less than the XTR. This is a great high performance
and racing group. (like Ultegra) In XT and below- you
have thumb/forefinger shifter controls. These work very
well.
Deore
LX is next down the line. A good performance group-
but you begin to add more weight. LX works very well,
and is perfectly fine for beginners and recreational
riders, and even amateur racers. Again, the cos tgoes
down, and the weight goes up- but if you're not worried
about weight... this is a great group. (like 105)
The
next few groups are Deore, Alivio and Acera. These are
fine for recreational riders, but again, you add weight.
If you are only mountain biking once in a while for
fun- this is a good group for you. (like Tiagra and
Sora- the stuff works well, but is heavier and costs
much less!).
for
more information about Shimano products, visit www.shimano.com
.
When
looking at mountian bikes, notice that often new bikes
are spec'd with a mixture of parts. In general, the
rear derailleur is in a higher group than the rest of
the components. You might get an XTR rear derailleur
with XT shifters and a SRAM rear cogset. This is just
the nature of mountain bikes.
The
MOST important thing, however, is to know whether the
bike has been properly adjusted! Did the bike shop take
the time to make sure that the shifter and brakes are
aligned and working properly? The bottom line is that
all the parts work perfectly if they are adjusted properly-
no matter what group they are from. Also, do you like
the feel of the components? As you test ride bikes,
think of these things. Your comfort is very important,
so buy what makes you the most comfortable.
tonya
_________________________________________________________________
Q.
Where is the best place to meet cool, single, mtbchicks?
MTB guy.
A.
hmmm....... i have been waiting for someone
to ask me this!!! This is actually one of the most frequent
questions asked to the mtbchicks... being married for
nearly 7 years, and all of my teammates also being married,
all the guys who i ride with are always looking for
a single mtb chick... And watching the painful Joe Millionaire
series on Fox is definitely an eye opener for us married
types. "Do you have any friends?" that's what
i hear a lot of!
There
are a few issues at hand. 1. most women get into
mountain biking through their boyfriend or spouse.
2. There are few women mountian bikers. 3. It
is hard to meet the ones who are single because they
are constantly swarmed by mtb guys looking for an mtb
chick- and quite franlky, sick of it. Think of a pea-hen
who is minding her own business eating some seeds or
whatever and she's got 10 pea-cocks with their tail
feathers up and shaking them at her, trying to catch
her eye. She's been there done that a million times.
It's distracting. It gets old after a while. 4.
There are a lot of single mtb guys because all they
do is ride and talk about bikes and they don't spend
any time trying to develop a relationship. Even with
a hard core mtb chick, this may be too much. She may
not care about the difference between an XTR and XT
rear derailleur, yet. Think of the term "techie
burn out".
So let's get back to the question:
1.
Colorado. many indepdendent women here who are hard
core riders. of course, sexual orientation may be a
problem! However, in all of my experiences in the Boulder
area, I still see few women mountian biking, so maybe
California is a better answer. 2. how about
at the races? well, they may not be there if some guy
didn't drag them along. but many women like to check
out guys in lycra shorts.... so if some girl brings
her friend along???? a 24hour race may be the best venue-
these women are hard core, and may be libel to kick
your $%# if you come on to them. 3. Spinning.
many women spin, and they may or may not be hard core
mtbers. Of course women hate being picked up in gyms,
so maybe this is a bad idea. Another good candidate
for a slap in the face.
And
now let's look at an important issue: How to convert
a chick into an mtbchick. If you have a girlfriend
or spouse who you would like to get into mountain biking:
1. A women's only mountain bike clinic is a great
way to get a woman involved in mountain biking. If you
can get her and some of her friends to try it. Most
women are not willing to do these kinds of things by
themselves, but if they have someone to do it with or
to talk to about it it will be more fun for her!
2. DO NOT give her your old bike. If you want your
chick to be an mtbchick, NO hand-me-down equipment.
this is a surefire way to end a relationship. And when
you go to buy her a bike, do not go cheap. Buy the nicest
bike you can afford, and if she winds up leaving you
then sell it on eBay or keep it around for the next
one. 3. NEVER treat her to the "wait and
blow". This is my term for waiting for someone
at the top of the hill and then taking off as soon as
they arrive not giving them time to catch their breath.
This is probably why most relationships end through
mtb. If you are not patient, she will give up. If you
are not patient, let someone who is teach her how to
mtb. 4. Buy her a nice saddle for women and a
nice outfit for her to ride in. Do not make fun of her
for wanting to have a "cutesy" outfit to ride
in: she may be blowing by you on the trail before you
know what hit you! 5. Let the salespeople do
their job. keep your mouth shut in the bike shop. 6.
Don't push it too hard. these things take time.
She may end up being a Pro racer, and then you'll be
stuck with the job of personal manager mechanic (as
is what happened in my case!).
If
this all seems to difficult to you then you are lazy
and you most likely are not going to find an mtbchick
for yourself. you can lead a horse to water, but you
cannot maker her drink. Maybe you should try calling
Fox or ABC and get yourself your own reality TV show,
"1 mtb guy, 20 mtb chicks; will he pick the one
he has to wait on, or the one who waits on him? Find
out next week on Single Mountain Bike Guys"
from
a married mtbchick who has been the target of many a
pick up line- until i take off my gloves, good luck!
tonya
______________________________________________________________________________
Q.
I have a problem with my toes going numb when I go riding.
How can I stop this?
A.
First off your shoes might be too tight
and they are irritating and compressing the nerves in
your feet, meaning your shoe might be too short or narrow,
not letting your foot expand while exercising.
Remember
that all shoe sizes and brands do not fit alike. Make
sure you try a shoe on before purchasing it. While working
at a running store in highschool, my boss taught me
that your feet expand or swell while you exercise. Every
time you put pressure to your pedal your foot spreads
out in your shoe. It is important to by a shoe that
is a little loose and not too snug. Make sure there
is a thumb width from your big toe to the end of your
toe box.
Also
if possible, when purchasiong a pair of shoes try them
on in evening rather than the morning. The reason for
this is your feet expand during the day and a shoe that
fits good in the morning might not be as loose in the
evening.
tarrah
_______________________________________________________
Q.
I get saddle sores when I ride my bike, what causes
it and what can I do to relieve this problem?
A.
Saddle soreness can be caused if:
1.
your seat is too high or tilted too far upward. This
could cause too much pressure in the crotch. Have your
seat positioned checked at a bike shop.
2.
Your saddle might be causing saddle soreness also. Companies
such as San Marco makes a saddle especially designed
for women called the Aero lady. The middle of the seat
is cut out to help releave pressure in that area. Look
for a padded or gel saddle, but not too soft, as that
may also cause soreness.
3.
Soreness may also be caused simply from your bum not
being used to the saddle, if you haven't ridden in a
while or if you are just starting out.
Here
are a few ways to help prevent saddle soreness:
1.
First off using padded shorts will help tremendously,
not only that but make sure the shorts fit properly.
Not to big or too tight, this could cause discomfort.
Women specific pads do not have a seam down the middle
of the chamois or pad. Also look for anti-bacterial
pad materials.
2.
Another idea is to use chamois cream to help prevent
saddle soreness. There are alot of good products out
on the market, which are especially made for this concern.
(Creams help prevent chaffing.)
tarrah
__________________________________________________________________
Q.
I have a goal of becoming a professional mountain bike
racer. What is the process for becoming a Pro? Can anyone
become a Pro?
A.
Professional mountain bike racing licenses
can be obtained from USA Cycling (www.usacycling.org)-
the governing body for mountain bike racing. A Pro license
allows you to compete in the NORBA Nationals as a Pro.
You
must qualify to become a Pro. The qualifications are
that you must place in the Top 5 in 3 NORBA National
Championship Races at the Expert Level. Once you have
achieved this, you may submit an upgrade application
to USA Cycling. They will then make a decision whether
to issue you a Pro license. Results are the important
factor in this process. Winning or Top 3 in AMBC races
and winning your local races are a pretty good indiction
as to whether you are ready for the leap. However, without
some National experience, it is hard to determine whether
or not you are ready.
My
advice is to do as many NORBA Nationals as you can at
the Expert Level... preferably winning before you upgrade
to Pro. Enjoy being the best! The Pro level is the very
highest level of competition, and you find out quickly
that there are many very fast women in this country!
Another bit of advice i have is to hone your technical
skills if you don't already have them. Knowing how to
ride a mountain bike down the hill fast is important
and can mean the difference in several placings.
Download
the PDF here: NORBA
Upgrade app
Good
luck!
tonya
______________________________________________________________________________
Q.
I've overdone my workout, and now i'm sore! How can
I relieve and prevent muscle soreness?
A.
It's easy to overdo a workout, especially
if it's been a while, or if you're lifting weights!
First
things first... releif. I have found an incredible muscle
soreness reliever called
"Sore No More". I like to slather it on
and then sit in a hot bath. Like most pain relief lotions
it starts out feeling cold, and then it gets hot. It
gets COLD, so the hot bath helps to offset the feeling.
Take some time off, and strecth a lot! Take hot showers
and baths, sit in a hot tub or a sauna.. check with
your physician before doing any of these things... and
don't spend more than 10 or 15 minutes in a hot bath,
shower or hot tub/sauna.
Next,
prevention. Some weight room rules (before lifting weights,
always talk to your doc): Always do much less than you
think you can. I recommend starting with 1 set of 8-10
reps of less wieght than you think you can lift. You
can always bump up the weights according to your personalized
training program, but if you get too sore, you have
to take some time off and miss workouts, causing more
damage than good.
In
cycling and other exercise, you should also try not
to do too much. Be wise about the time you spend in
relation to what you have recently been doing. If you
take 2 weeks off then go on a 2 hour ride, you might
be overdoing it!
Prevention
#3... follow a stretching routine and include proper
warm up and cool down. 10 minutes per warm up and cool
down and 10 or 15 minutes of stretching after the workout.
Consult your coach, personal trainer or doctor about
a good stretching routine! (naturally, you can also
overdo stretching, so please make sure you get guidance!)
Yoga
is also a good way to help prevent soreness as long
as it is done in moderation. If Yoga is not practised
under supervision it can also cause soreness and injury.
So
let's recap: don't overdo it, learn your limits, if
you do overdo it, sore no more... and lastly, get in
touch with a health professional to find out about exercise
and strecthing for you!
_______________________________________________________
Q.
what is cyclocross, anyway?
A.
cyclocross is a 'cross' between road
biking and mountain biking. it is a race that lasts
about 1 hour, typically on a short lap of around 1/2
mile. usually there are two or
3 'dismounts' where you must get off the bike, run up
a steep hill and jump over some 'barriers' like a horse.
the first person across the line after the 'final lap'
announcement wins the race.
while
you can use a mountain bike for this race, there is
such thing as a cyclocross bike. it looks like a road
bike with 700c wheels and curved road handlebars. the
gears, however, are more like mountian bike gears. they
also have knobby tires, usually about 30c wide. (wider
than road tires).
this
is a very high intensity race, with heartrates reaching
near maximum. it's definitely worth a try if you've
never done it before. just for fun.
some
people take 'cross seriously, but it's really just something
to do in the winter to stave off boredom.
tonya
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