Not propaganda:

The Rev, pwning

Riding a bike does not get better than this. Without a doubt, the Family Single track was the best part of my week. I didn't know bike riding could be so fun. The adrenaline rush you feel speeding around corners while you bob and weave between trees can't be topped by any Halo game. I am serious.

Going to the gym really helped me ride the course. I had a lot of energy for parts of the trail Rev and Brick said drains most newbies. My history of skateboarding must've helped with balance because I didn't fall of my bike, either. In summation: I pwned.

More Thexers need to attend these rides. Just get a decent bike from Dick's Sporting Goods, a Camelbak, and a gym shirt. You can be all hardcore like Brick and Rev and get an $800 dollar bike, padded shorts, etc., but my equipment didn't stop me from enjoying myself at all.

I had a tick stuck to my leg when I got home. Nasty. Came off after some coaxing easily enough.

I think I cycled through all my gears more in the past day than I have in all the time since I've had the bike. Now I understand why bikes come equipped with so many gears. You actually use all of them for these trails.

Fun stuff. Great memories.

Glad you had fun. When we went down the mountain I kept expecting to lose you on one of the hills, but you hung right in there. GG.

I think you're right about the gear and enjoying yourself...except I weigh 45 lbs more than you do. You saw the rocks. My ass finds the padded shorts a little less optional.

I pick up a tick out there occasionally. I check myself before the post-ride shower. It usually seems to happen if I sit on one of the benches out there. Somehow the ticks figured out that the benches attract large mammals. It probably beats hanging out on a bush hoping a deer wonders by.

Looks like a good time. Hope I'll be able to join you sometime.

I would like to go sometime as well, just have to get a bike. I have been thinking about buying one from walmart since I really cant afford much more than $60 right now. Any thoughts from the experienced riders?

Justin,
After our goods arrive I plan to take Christina's $69.99 Target mountain bike on a ride and see if I like biking, fully understanding I will probably destroy it in the process. Heck, I should take some pics and blog about it if the bike actually makes it more than a few rides.

Anyway, I suppose then we'll know how well cheap bikes hold up.

Yeah, Ive been looking at this one:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4231518

I'm sure I wont be out every week doing hardcore stuff like brick and theRev...atleast for a while, so I will probably go ahead and get a cheaper one just to have it for when I do try to test the mountain.

Looks like a lot of fun. I want some...

Stay away from Wal-Mart if you want to buy a mountain bike. At least go to Dick's after you save up some money.

...or you could spend $70 to see if you like riding before spending a few hundred dollars on a real bike.

Nobody expects the Wal-Mart bikes to be worth a crap, but using one for a few rides is cheap insurance if I find out I dislike riding.

My standard advice for people looking to buy a bike is to save up and hit one of the LBS's (Local Bike Shops). The fit of the frame is really important. If the bike is too small you will get tired quickly, and if it is too large you'll have control issues. Also, if you buy a low end full suspension, then you are buying extra weight with a built in mechanism to absorb the energy that you are trying to use to propel the bike.

Rule of thumb ... if you are looking at a bike that has a kick-stand, then you are looking at a bike that was designed primarily for urban use with a nod towards the occasional trip off-road. They are also usually geared higher for use on pavement.

If that’s what you see yourself doing, then why drop the $$$ on a high-end bike. I know a guy at work who spent around $600 on a Trek, and as far as I know he's only taken it off-road once in 2 years. He only rides the paved trails on the Greenways. That is a waste of a good bike...plus it's the wrong bike for riding pavement.

Last year I rode some of the lower trails with a guy on a Wal-Mart bike. He loved to ride, but didn't have the bucks to buy high-end. He said that he basically had to re-work his drive train after every ride. He also ended up trailing everyone else because some of the hills were just too much for the bike (chain popping off, bent cranks, etc.) He worked harder than the rest of us, but he was out there having fun.

I really don't care what you ride. Midnight's plan is sound. If you get hooked you'll want better gear. If you decide it isn't for you then you won't be out the big bucks. I'd just like to see if there is interest. It's easier for me to haul my lazy carcass up there for exercise if I'm meeting people. Plus, I know there are several people here who are active, and this is fun.

If I enjoy riding then I'll most likely buy a low-mid priced bike.

Similar to your advice about LBSs, I know first-hand that local stores for running shoes are much better than your mall variety store. The people there have expertise and customer service that I'm willing to pay for, but the shoes really aren't any more expensive than Foot Locker. I expect the LBS experience is similar.

Just be careful with the Walmart bike. The brakes on those things are horrible. You know, preferably stay away from cliffs and watch out for trees coming at you at 30 miles an hour.

And remember your level of fun is going to be diminished because of the large lead weight you'll be dragging around. Otherwise hope you enjoy it, you probably will if you enjoy other endurance sports like running, etc.

Very helpfull, I wished I would have read this before I went and hasseled in my own thread. if you guys plan on going out again, post up some info. I'll get my stuff together in the meantime.