Hello new MTB rider!!

Hello every one I live in San Clemente and I just bought a brand new 2017 trek fuel EX 7!! Took her on the trailes in San clemente yesterday ate it but kinda glad I did I have less fear of falling now. Love my new bike I'm just hear to learn and maybe join some people on some rides and make new friends to ride with!!

 

Welcome to our happy little community.

Ride lots, write lots.

Join in on a group ride. We have a little bit of everything around here.

 

Welcome, @Seabass ! Nice looking ride you have there and a good choice to get into the sport. As J says above, there is a little of everything around here and we're a pretty friendly bunch. There are short group rides, both technical and non-technical, as well as death marches... I'm in Rancho Santa Margarita, so I ride in the Santa Anas a lot, as well as Whiting, O'Neill, Caspers.

Take a look in the ride reports sub-forum and you'll see what some of us are up to. The "I rode my bike today" thread is insanely long now, but it has a lot of short ride reports covering a wide range of areas.

We post rides pretty often... And always like to meet new riders.

 

What they ^ said...and chime in. Don't let this be your debut and swan song at the same time.

 

Welcome @Seabass Love the handle! Nice looking rig - congrats. Thanks for joining the best little forum this side of the Pecos. Don't EVER ride with the first two guys who responded. They will rip your legs off and laugh about it!

Actually, they are great guys to ride with, but they can outclimb and outlast just about anybody who dares call himself/herself a mt. biker!

Get some miles on the San Clemente Singletracks under your belt and try Whiting next. Stay away from Aliso until you really get the feel of your bike uphill and down.

What shoe/pedal combo are you using?

 

Yeah my friends took me in Aliso I hated them for that!! I had an iron horse back then I almost died!! I forget the name of the peddles but they are bigger and metal they were 110$. Right now I'm using running shoes any recommendations on shoes to wear??

 

Any shoes with a reasonably stiff sole if you're not running clipless. No need to buy bike-specific shoes unless you go clipless.

 

Welcome @Seabass! I dig your new ride! Looking forward to hearing some ride reports from you, too.

 

This may need clarification. Some people refer to clip-in pedals as clipless. They require a cleat on the shoe and you clip in for a secure pedal connection. These can be a little problematic if nervous about unclipping when necessary. They represent an acquired skill. Most shoes made for clip-in pedals have stiff soles for a positive transfer of effort. More efficeient pedaling, but harder to walk in.

The other type of pedal is called a flat. It has sharp pins to grip just about any shoe. I recommend a skate-style sole for these (the most popular brand by about 10:1 is a brand called Five Ten). I will disagree with Mark who said any shoe will do. I recommend a shoe made specifically for mt. biking which will have a slightly stiffer sole and be much more durable where it needs to be. Flats are far more forgiving while riding, but will take chunks out of your shins or calves if they hit you unexpectedly (like when you put a foot down for almost any reason).

Do NOT ride mtb with the pedals that are on your bike in the photo. There is no way you will stay on the pedals when you need to, unless you attach old-fashioned toe clips.

Just say no...

 

Hey, dood, welcome to the joint! You'll have lots of new dirt to check out if you hang around this crowd. Thanks for posting up your stoke! Let's go cruise some Santa Anas dirt and look for punctuation CHEERS!!!!!!!!!

 

Hey @Seabass !
Welcome to imtbtrails from no where near the ocean...

Mikie of Frazier Park

 

The ones on the picture I posted were the demo peddles I got these

 

Welcome! Ride ride and ride......write too when u can. I am only getting out twice a week lately for short stints, but it still does wonder for the soul! Lots of great vibes here......

 

Welcome, fellow Trek rider!

 

Welcome from Corona !!

 

"kick his ass _____!"

 

Those are the new fangled nylon ones. In the 80s mine had leather straps and a metal toe cage. They may still be in the garage somewhere...

But good advice here for Mr. Seabass.

 

Please ensure us that you have removed the reflectors from the wheels.

 

Hey @Seabass, if ya couldn't tell, we have your best interest in mind. Before you ride, you better dress out and snap a pic of you and your bike for our critique. We don't want an upstanding IMTBT member to go out looking like some freeking noob. See, you hang with us and we'll have you at journeyman status lickety split!!!!!!!!!!

AYE!!!!!!!

 

Oh c'mon now @mike there's a difference between going out with demo pedals and going out appropriately equipped. I am glad to see it's the latter!

As @Runs with Scissors said, any shoes will work on those cool flats that @Seabass is rockin', but in time, he may wish to get something specific to MtB.

As for the rest of the fashion advice, I'll leave that to @jaime who has clearly taken over that role from the previous sarcastically self-appointed mtb fashion consultant (me).

 

I'm the one with beard

 

Okay, I finally looked at all the pictures. Nice pedals, man!

TFPU that group shot. Those dogs aren't too interested in posing, hehe. Get some FiveTen shoes and full finger gloves and no one will know a thing. That bike on the right looks prime for a museum!!!!!!!!

 

@Seabass !
Well as you can tell from the banter you have already been accepted by these hooligans!
Congrats on the sweet ride! I hope to get out on the trail with you bud. You came to the right place!
Ride lots/Post lots!

Mikie

 

Ok... The guys have taken care of your pedals. What about a little emergency kit for the trail? Nothing worse than having to walk home or back to the car because of a flat tire or broken chain. I know this from experience.

I always always always carry a small bag under the seat with a spare tube, tire lever, some extra chain links in various sizes, and a multitool with chain breaker. The pump is either on the frame or in the bag...

 

...and a Jersey... you need an imtbtrails jersey.

 

Already done they hooked me up at the bike shop

 

Yeah it does that bike my step dad bought in 94 and just got the fox shock rebuilt and he still rides it full carbon

 

they still rebuild those shocks???

Welcome aboard !!!

 

Right it was the fox center shock was not holding air and after lots or reasearch we found someone he sent it out to and they were able to fix it

 

Welcome

Most important thing is you got your first fall out of the way. Now push yourself until you fall again and repeat.