[Closed] Just how good is mountainbiking?

Where do you work? Offroad for my commute is going across the field in Platt Fields park

I've forgotten but I know one day my mojo will return and I'll remember just why I loved it.

I was just thinking something similar.

I think it's better than drugs, i took a lot of drugs at uni and didn't have a bike. I genuinely think i would have spent less time studying and at uni if i'd had a mountain bike.

As with chambard though, jealous of the commute. in the 13 miles of my commute I climb/descend 72 feet

At the end of August there was loads of people on here about to jack it all in.
Weather changes everything 🙂

I've forgotten but I know one day my mojo will return and I'll remember just why I loved it.

Same for me. Not ridden in anger for over 3 years.

Bike are still in the shed though!

Its awesome. I spent 2 days on uplifts a fortnight ago and I'm having major withdrawal issues.
Even looking at winter race series... 😯

Same for me. Not ridden in anger for over 3 years.

I've dwindled right done of the last 3 years, this year I planned to fix that and get back out. It's been the worst year I've ever done, really haven't ridden much more than a couple of spins out.

Did a night ride around the Marin on Wednesday. Clear skies, stars, moon, mountain silhouettes and on final descent thought to myself that there is absolutely nothing I'd rather be doing. While I'm sure I'd also say that coming down another hillside, I was blissfully happy. Mountain-biking is awesome. 😀

I've dwindled right done of the last 3 years, this year I planned to fix that and get back out. It's been the worst year I've ever done, really haven't ridden much more than a couple of spins out.

Drac join our band of irregular riders, having a laugh is high on the agenda. ( sure your local knowledge of stuff further north will come in handy)

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Where do you work? Offroad for my commute is going across the field in Platt Fields park

work in armley but live in rothwell.
commute is rothwell pastures, fields up through new forest village, dh down miggy woods, crossfaltts park, steps down to elland road, then paths and snickets to wortley.

perfect and nearly no traffic.

Drac, that's alarming. I've always looked up to you as one of the stalwarts of Northern riding. For me, the last few weeks have rekindled my passion. A new bike has helped, but just this week I've been out for two lovely rides on my old hard tail, skimming over the local BW's and woodland paths, poking into some nooks and crannies I've never investigated before and feeling my technique come together. Rather good.

Drac, that's alarming. I've always looked up to you as one of the stalwarts of Northern riding.

At one time I'd be out every day off and after work so you'd have been right then, kids slowed things down a little but really just a combination of things. Once I got out of a routine it rapidly slowed down. I've considered a new bike to inspire me but afraid it wouldn't get used so not splashed out. I'll get back into one day I know I will.

Did my first proper night ride a couple of weeks ago and couldn't get to sleep until about 2am once I got back as it was so much more fun than normal as things you'd never normally notice on the trail come out of nowhere and you find new lines you would have ridden in the day. Also decided to enter my 1st enduro event after that which isn't until November but can't wait for it as it's going to be wet and mingin but it'll be great fun.

it is bloody awesome.
after spending the last 4 years plodding slowly on the road/canal, I rode to work offroad today.
9 miles including a dh run in the local woods, I am buzzing my head off.............I love mtbing.........
that's all.

It is amazing! So glad to hear you are backing doing something you love. I'm two weeks in to a minimum 6 week layoff and I can't get wait to get back on again...

Blimey.

After being clattered by a car last week I've had 7 days off. A record for this year. I tried agian last night but I couldn't change gear with my injuries. 🙁

Nothing makes you miss anything like not being able to do it.

scaled I know what your saying, same past. But It doesnt even come close to that moment you get your flow on. Riding a mountain bike is like nothing else I have done. I used to race motocross bikes as a kid at club level. Don't get me wrong I loved it. But would never go back. The beauty of a wooded rooted trail is sublime. Warm golden sun shining through the trees on a late afternoon. The birds have quietened down. Maybe the odd squirrel leaping a gap to break the silence. Then there is that fern lined trail inviting, twisting out of site in to a fresh pine forest, asking you to see where it leads. Christ I LOVE RIDING! I've seriously started considering having a little salute to the trail before each ride a bit like they do in judo. (hahah i sound crazy). FLOW FLOW and more FLOW, bring it on.

I honestly thought I was gonna be stuck, and that my offroading days were over. to be able to get off road again doing what I am passionate about, is proper fantastic.

so anyone fancy a ride anytime, in your or my area, just let me know.
8)

I was thinking this today too, it's too dark and muddty to get a proper ride in before work now, so I've started running/walking and I saw a roadie out early. I had to choose one or the other this year due to cash, and wavered for a second, then remembered how ace mountain biking is. Even though I'm still not back out properly after a crash 4 weeks ago.

Taking the eldest out on sunday for his first ride on his first mtb. Green routes here we come!

ton im bookmarking this thread... just looking at the title makes me smile...

Drac the kids thing knocked me for six for a couple of years... It will come back. A rest is no bad thing. But you know it will just take one little spark to catch that fire again! One little moment out on the trail.

I grabbed an hour on my Yeti up QECP last night. It was getting dark and I couldn't see some of the trail properly. That focused my mind completely on the riding and I forgot all the rest of the shit that's going on.
Marvellous therapy.

[s]Shit again now though :-([/s] Sorry. negatives not needed here! 😀

Are you busy today or tomorrow Ton?

Drac the kids thing knocked me for six for a couple of years... It will come back. A rest is no bad thing. But you know it will just take one little spark to catch that fire again! One little moment out on the trail.

It didn't at first though they're both at school now so little excuse there really. Yeah I know it will Dales trips have always given me the bug again or meeting up with riding buddies but getting our regular just has happened. I'll be back into one day though.

Are you busy today or tomorrow Ton?

Jim, I am working.
got Wednesday off tho if you fancy a ride.

Bugga, I'll be in Spain. 😆 😥

Are you still working Saturdays every week?

every other Saturday, but covering tomorrow for holidays.

Coming in late here, but I had an accident on my bike last year - still don't know what happened - and had an enforced break for ~12 months as I bumped my head and my balance was gone.

The first few rides back though...

Wow.

A 14 hour day yesterday meant I missed out on the night ride I've been looking forward to all week. So I'm skiving off work and going riding this afternoon instead, bye!

Squeezing in as many rides as I can before the weather changes. Quick blast around the Bingley Bash this morning, just loads of fun.

I flippin' love riding push bikes in hills. I'm not so fussed for night riding, but riding bikes in beautiful places even if the trails are a bit dull is the best thing I do with my life. Yay, bikes!

Yep, brought my MTB to work myself today instead of the skinny machine. Nice offroad commute in, going for a play in Tong/Fulneck woods after work if anyone fancies joining me 🙂

Got to make the most of the dry trails!

I've been off the bike for about 3 years (forced absence) and now absolutely itching to get back out there and ride. Before I was forced to stop riding I was getting a bit jaded, but now I really can't wait to hit the trails again. Maybe a break was a good thing.

I've managed <500miles this year 🙁

The bulk of that was in a couple of weeks when I got the road bike out! Started commuting by bike again as the council's just made a proper cyclepath on my route so I feel obliged to use it! That should at least get the legs ticking over and some fitness back. Not much of an offroad commute at this time of year (there's a gravel track option in summer when it's not too muddy) but when I'm fitter it's possible to do a ~40mile loop including Swinley (or even longer to TH etc).

And I've been accumulating bivi gear this year, so some weekend touring is on the cards.

I'm hopeing that the doc's will let me back out on the mountainbike soon, I actualy really like the horrible/muddy/cold/wet/dark mid week night rides more than their summer evening equivelents! Once I've got the go-ahead I reckon a Parkwood should restore some MOJO 😈

Probably the single most positive thing I've had in my life, recently, love it. Kept me semi-sane through bad spots, helped me get my health back, meant I've met some great people and got back in touch with friends I should never have lost touch with... Filled a hole, you might say.

Mind you I could do without the broken bones and the hole in my wallet.

Northwind have to say a hear, hear.... mountain biking has very seriously got me through some quite stressfull times in the past. Only yesterday I had a crappy conversation at work that got me a bit pee'd off. A good wet blast this morning on alderbrook copse and winterfold has cleared my head and my soul. It should be prescribed on the NHS.

Not as good as-
Windsurfing (nice waves,somewhere warm)
Snowboarding (nice powder,somewhere steep)
BMX Trails (big good trails,somewhere quiet)
But they are all very expensive/time consuming/condition dependant so Mtb'ing will have to do instead (and annoyingly I'm better at it than the others).

Firstly, Ton, really pleased you're back in the saddle and riding.

Mountain biking I the autumn is awesome, the woody damp smell, the sound the bike makes as you ride through woods compared to summer.
The bike is a really good place to appreciate the changing seasons.

How are miggy woods these days? Not been in there since I moved out of the city centre...

It is awesome.

I love it. Sometimes I lack the motivation but once I'm out everything falls into place. It's seen me through some hard times too, when I 1st started MTBing I was going through a divorce, running a business that was rapidly going DH (unlike me, geddit?) & my Mums illness. I'm sure just being out in the countryside got me through it. Even now I just love being in the middle of nowhere as is possible.
It's rubbing off too, my lad Mark is well into it & we ride together along with his mates, theyre between 25-28 & I'm 58, & some young lads at work are into it as well, they look at me like some kind of Guru!
Unfortunately, years & years of riding in every weather condition that the UK has had on offer means I'm a bit of a 'fair weather rider' nowadays & I've got the T shirt to prove it! I'll keep biking as long as I can thats for sure!

I love it! I had surgery to my spine 2 weeks ago and am off MTB for 6 months. I got in lots of rides before the operation but I'm champing at the bit to get riding again. How will I manage to keep my patience til April 2015?

Having new lights means riding up to Epsom Downs after work ,watching this ??? and then once it's dark blasting down hill home.
Biking ,it's bloody wonderful.
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I'd go crazy without it, simple as that.

Good thread this 🙂

Like Drac and others, I've been unable to ride much since stepping into parenthood. Has given me a greater perspective on life though, and I appreciate any bike/running time more than ever.

Luckily I've ridden road/MTB on and off for most of my life, so I have loads of memories of trails/routes ...panoramas/vistas ... challenges/laughs ... mechanicals/accidents ... adventures/misadventures to reflect on - the combination of which give me a pretty grounded sense of joy and gratitude.

EDIT: My last few bikes have been Specialized - my missus calls them Spiritualised because she knows how much I enjoy my freedom/escapism 🙂

vickypea, hope you heal well love, and remember to do all you physio, cos it will help you no end.

good luck 😀

Yep, its amazing. Been going at it for about 23 years now, more than 2/3 of my life, and I still absolutely love it... more than almost anything. Keeps me fit, sane, sharp and feeling young.
I wonder how people cope without it, or something similar.
I often wonder how my life would have turned out had I not found mtbing (undoubtedly much worse)

I've been unable to ride much since stepping into parenthood. Has given me a greater perspective on life though, and I appreciate any bike/running time more than ever.

Exactly my experience too! My eldest daughter has just started school now, so just starting to get into riding again. I'll probably only get 2 shortish rides in per week, but I'll make sure they count!

Aye to all that.

I've had a pretty amazing summer/year when it comes to biking (I may start another feel good thread around that idea soon) when other parts of life haven't been as flowy. And very uncharacteristically I've not even been out of the door today, dithering over expectations of myself to do various things when really the best thing I can do to get things moving or just to relieve myself of having expectations is to get on the bike and see where I get to.

I have spoilt myself this year in terms of where I've ridden but I need to remind myself for the coming winter that it's a wonderful thing to just ride wherever and whenever I can.

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It'll do until I can afford a spaceship.

Frequently not in a great place at the moment, but throw my leg over a bike, any bike, & I'm in a better place for a while.
Never met you Ton, but your an inspiration.

high5 that ton. mtb rocks!

It's been pretty @#$%^& good to me.

I love just getting out on the bike,with friends or on my own, off road or quiet country lanes on the road bike it's all good.
What a great invention the bicycle is.

Thanks ton, I will definitely do all the physio. Currently doing walking 🙂

i just love it....dunnno why people bother road riding tbh gotta be the most riskiest thing playing with the 1.5 ton armoured kid carriers on a daily basis then whining on here how you've lost 🙂

I'm lucky and got a nice bike commute but weekends is for full suss fun and even got the dogs doing it which is even more fun...so chilling...

vikeypea, mrs_flap had serious spine surgery 17 years ago. She was told she wouldn't be able to run or cycle. She regularly runs 10k and has done three (road) centuries this year. Good luck !

Just to say I really appreciate this thread

I've never met Ton but its just great to here that he is back on form and having fun

I'm also touched out how many people have been able to say how little they ride for various reasons. I'm still partly recovering from injury and its the season for viruses and knackeredness (teaching is brilliant but those 2 things make the autumn harder). Often when I come on here I think I'm the only one not on a bike for 8 hours plus per week

So I'll treasure the fact that I was on my bike last Sunday and will be out again this afternoon. That'll make I think 9 rides in the last month. I'll enjoy that for what it is rather than worrying about who has done more

This year my work/life balance is a mess, been out twice this weekend Friday and Today. With views like this I have to make sure I keep the balance right as you feel so much better for it, hardly ridden this year with so much on and many demands but it's been good to be back in the saddle last couple of days.

Don't get views like this waiting for a phone to ring or sat at a desk. I've not ridden as much as I have the last three days all year.

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Its addictive.
Just got in from ride.....buzzing 😀
Nice bike forge197.

Managed to get in 70km's of riding over a long weekend, makes the Monday morning blues less blue, maybe more cyan.
Looking forward to autumn and winter, makes the Hong Kong trails more bearable.

Bravo OP. Offroad cycling is where it's at for me too, but I've not been near a mountain since March 🙁 .
Li'l J takes up most of my time .I still get plenty of cx joy tho and Ive just dicovered the Northern tip of the Chiltern Hills ,just getting lost and finding some new bways and cheek gives me great pleasure. 🙂
Like others , I also use it as head therapy.

Thanks caffeineokdbean, am very pleased with it my first Cotic, it's a joy to ride.

At 43 with one child and an understanding missus I've ridden more this year than ever, or at least more variation.

PMBA Enduro yesterday and a Lakes trip booked in for November.

Apart from snowboarding, which other sport allows you to push the limits of traction and mostly just punish yourself with cuts and bruises? Where every penny spent rewards you with fitness and smiles? Where everybody you meet is friendly and happy to swap stories & trails?

This year, as usual, I've been given loads of really good route advice from the good burghers of STW inc Ton,chased 5 very fast locals down MT Semnoz and been shown Haldons best bits by NukeproofNik of TQ3riders, all because we love to show people the best bits (unless you live in Hebden Bridge & I've got my own insider for that).

Bring on the mud, yesterday's Enduro showed up my lack of slippery skillz 🙂

Ton - canal route 66 & 67 for me ride from Cookridge to Stourton every day our paths might cross....most off-road and side streets MAGIC early morning with lights.

Single speed Pomp downhill to work - climb home.