Looking for a riding partner in west la

Hi
My name is Adam and I am looking for some people to go riding with. I just got a new bike and I am picking up riding again after taking a 10 year break. I live in santa monica but I am happy to go anywhere to meet someone for a good ride. I am usually available fri-sun but could occasionally squeeze in a morning or evening ride during the week. Hope you are all well.

Best,
Adam

 

Welcome Adam! Tell us about your new bike.

 

Welcome! I recommend checking out the "I rode my bike today..." thread. We use it to post up casually where we rode. It will give you a good idea of what's out there, and who rides it when.

Today... For me it was a quick spin early this morning up Brown and down El Prieto.

 

Would you be interested in a midnight rendezvous?

 

Why do you got to be a weirdo.... all the time... huh?

Sorry about that Adam... he's from London as apparent from his Avatar...

 

Cuzzzzzz I want to ride with THAT at midnight...

 

Well, if @DangerDirtyD didn't scare away @adam l already, there's hope. Not sure for whom...

Welcome Adam. I ride a Rail too, but not familiar with Rail 5.

 

It's a F*cking Ebike.....ooooops, did I say that outloud.

https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/bikes/mountain-bikes/electric-mountain-bikes/rail/rail-5/p/30913/

My guess is he isn't gonna find many peeps here to ride with....seeing as none of us ride motorized cycles.

 

I am always astounded by the prices of e-bikes. That's close to what I paid for my Santa Cruz Hightower, CC (carbon) frame, Fox Factory Float 36 fork, SRAM XX-1 Eagle drivetrain, Shimano XTR brakes, etc. A very high-end enduro full suspension build.

Or for that price you can get a crappy bike and super crappy components, plus a motor and a pile of batteries.

 

...And the Love Boat continues!

 

arent you gonna miss me when you move.

 

Well as far as the Internet Galactic, we will be the same distance...

 

Almost close enough to e-touch.

 

Hey! You better b-eCareful!

 

Take it e-asy there, buster!

 

I'm both e-asy and eCheap...

 

I had back surgery a couple months ago so need a little help getting up the steep stuff. If anyone wants to ride this weekend lmk.

 

If I get to name the time, you get to name the place:

Saturday morning at 12:15am;
Sunday morning at 12:15am

 

Do you have an analog/Mountain Bike to ride when your back returns to fully functional?

 

They never go back.

 

My back is fukked, I'm old and I'm not accepting help from a motor.

Adam, best wishes getting back up to full steam. IME, pedaling a bike is a great way to keep the back strong and spine where you want it.

 

I think you are correct. Once they go fast up the hill with little effort, going slow and working hard loses its appeal.

 

Truth.

That time I was admonishing a motorized thingie rider before we realized it was a friend of ours (oops), he was going on about his ski injury but was overweight. (More overweight than we’d ever seen him.) I was frank about the fact that assisted riding is not helping his weight. In the end I was glad that I gave our old friend the tough love that I never would have if I’d known it was him.

Guys like that I don’t see ditching the assistance. People are inherently lazy. Add a motor and they get worse.

 

I do but hadn't ridden it in a while because of my back. At least I'm able to ride again and enjoy the trails which is the point to me. It is a lot better for my physical fitness than nothing which is what was happening for a a while. My surgeon cautioned that mountain biking is one of the worst things for my back so anything I can do to make it easier would help me build up strength. If there is anyone out there who has an open mind and wants to ride, lmk.

 

What will you be doing 12 hours from now?

 

e-bikes are illegal on most SoCal trails. As a new e-bike owner you might not be aware of it - the e-bike sellers do their best to hide this fact.

In the National Forests you can only ride e-bikes where you can ride dirt bikes or 4WD off-road vehicles. Check your local regulations, but e-bikes are not allowed in many state and county parks - or else are restricted to only a few specific trails. So your goal of "enjoy the trails" needs to be moderated somewhat by the knowledge that e-bikes are mostly allowed on pavement... and not as much on dirt.

 

If the bike is sized correctly: a mtn bike lets you ride more erect than a roadie, unless its a touring roadie. If you stay on mellow low angle trails like the Cheese, Palo, Grasslands, Sycamore cyn you will not get jammed by big jolts and will not need to lean too far forward. Swept bars can help too.
Happy trails riding erect

 

I know this might sound controversial, but a person can make riding easier by choosing smoother surfaces, flatter grades and shorter rides. I guess now that’s the old school way to work up to full MTB. But it’s worked for decades if not centuries.

I’d put more stock in advice from core riders with lifelong back issues than many doctors. Unless your surgeon rides hard I’d put him in with the many.

A motor is a mental crutch. If you think you need it, you do.

 

If you listen to a surgeon, you’ll be stuck with the old-folks’ exercises at the physical therapist. Stretchy bands and 1 pound weights.

Find a therapist that rehabs athletes, and better yet is an athlete—there are lots of solid age-group tri racers in the field. do their strength program.