Wellington MX N00B here

[SpikedPunch]

yeah you've got it the right way, thats what i've been told too. Actually feels better too.
Interesting re the gripper seat. Mine currently is the slidey one but over xmas i rode a RM which had the gripper. I preferred mine as could move so much more easier by sliding rather than lifting. In saying that though, i just got a graphics kit for my bike which has a gripper seat. Haven't had good look but dont think its as grippy as the RM one so hopefully will be all good. My riding has also improved alot since xmas too which prob will make a difference.

Ooh, pix of the kit? The slippy seat on mine was REALLY slippery. Sort of a good training tool to stand up more, if I sat down on an uphill I'd slide backwards and do a series of unco wheelies

[L Rider]

Ooh, pix of the kit? The slippy seat on mine was REALLY slippery. Sort of a good training tool to stand up more, if I sat down on an uphill I'd slide backwards and do a series of unco wheelies

lol mine aint that slippery, sure would be changing it fast if it was.

[L Rider]

Will try & attach pic of graphics - hope this works

[SpikedPunch]

Sweet! Those'll look cool on. Make you go faster, too

[L Rider]

Sweet! Those'll look cool on. Make you go faster, too

haha i need all the help i can get to go faster!!

[thecharmed01]

Nice kit dude!!!!

Well, in that case I guess I'll just go with my instinct and stay back on the downs!!! Will sure as hell make it easier, my poor brain was hurting trying to retrain it LOL

[L Rider]

Nice kit dude!!!!

Well, in that case I guess I'll just go with my instinct and stay back on the downs!!! Will sure as hell make it easier, my poor brain was hurting trying to retrain it LOL

Thanx - can't wait to get them on my bike. Jst trying to sort out some other details firstly.
Being forward going down jst seems/feels way to easier to topple over. I aint got no riding style thou - sure must be funny as following me - damn annoying at my slow speed too

[mazz1972]

I've been wanting to do this ride for the last 2 years since it was first ever trail ride that I had done. From memory, it was one of the best too. At the start of the ride there was a small hill that for the life of me, I couldn't ride up and had to walk up it. That's how noob I was, never ridden a dirt bike before and I was put onto my mates CRF250R rocket ship. So now I want to wheelie up the damn thing.

Good luck - just don't wheelie off the side ok! It's quite a laugh being back at the carpark watching people trying to get up (but understandably a bit frustrating for the waiting riders too). Unfortunately we just can't avoid that hill. And it's probably going to be slippery on Sunday!

Horophenua MCC deserve the support too cos they put a lot into these rides and are getting a good regular "series" going.

Cheers for your support Kezza....it's nice to get warm fuzzies after the work put it! This ride in particular takes many hours of paperwork and organising before the fun even starts.

I am looking forward to Otaki, am getting my seat rebuilt this week so will hopefully have a slightly lower, grippier black seat to hang onto for the weekend......
Wll be good to meet some of you guys so make sure you find us!!!!!
We're a bit easy to find seeing as there arent too many kids under 2 hanging out LOL

Boots suck LOL

Gotta have boots.....have saved MANY an ankle....and they do soften up heaps.

Just in case the weather turns to total shit please phone the club infoline 0832 22595 on Sunday morning - it costs 12c per min but maximum of 3 mins and the message will be short and sweet if it's cancelled - not likely tho as it's supposed to fine up Saturday and Sunday and looking out the window (I work in Otaki) I can even see a touch of blue sky...also a few clouds but there's been no rain today so far.

Hope to see you there!!

[thecharmed01]

Well, went along to this, so WOOT for my first Trail Ride hahaha
This is part of what I posted in the thread for the ride......

I did ride, although I only did the first short loop, I didnt do the forest stuff or anything.
It was the third time on my bike and I think I actually did okay..... I got 3 runs of that short loop and got faster and faster each time.
Uphills were pretty good, I managed them all fine (other than one time I *DOH* managed to accidentally knock it into neutral) but the downs were a bit slower. Got one of the berms pretty sweet though so was rather happy with the runs all up.
Getting better with boots, gear changes and finding my footing and the confidence went up about twenty notches after that ride.

I have to say though, props to the organisers, as a VERY new rider - 3 times on the bike - I was really stoked that there was a loop I could ride.
I managed the first loop really easily even though I was very nervous first run out.
It's a shame that there isnt the possibility of a nana line for the hard sections on the larger loops as I would have loved to have been able to spend longer on the bike (time on the bike makes a huge difference to comfort and confidence) but I was given the impression that I wouldnt manage only two key sections (the steep slippery uphill that was giving riders grief and the river crossing) as I am too new a rider...... and those two sections being the only ways to go made me agree that I was stuck on the smaller loop.
Other than that 'wish' the day was AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!
Cant wait for more....

3rd ride on the bike and I think it went really well!!!

Sarah, was bloody awesome to meet you!!! I am very glad you came over and introduced you, we have to figure out some kind of system for meeting new kiwibiker people LOL
I dont think the Pink Carnation thing will work..... are there stickers? LOL

I really enjoyed riding with Sarah, made me up my game a little although I think that was happening anyway as every run I did I felt more confident and I know I got faster.

There was a lot of learning happening as I was riding though and I felt like I achieved a lot in the three short laps I was able to do.
Managed to ride a couple of the berms much better, leaning the right way and all without falling off.....
Managed to get myself skidding round a few corners, again without falling off and staying relatively in control while doing it....
I figured out standing up on the uphills and using the suspension more, and my legs more made the bumpy uphills easier. I tried a few sitting and was getting really thrown around, but when I stood, I felt a lot more in control over the bumps and was able to pump the throttle a bit more easily.
Standing on the downs too when I could made me feel a bit more confident with them, going back to my habitual weight back stance from the mtb was actually feeling really good on some of the steeper DH sections, particularly one rather steep, rutty, gravelly, dry section toward the end of the 1st loop. I found the last time I rode it, on my feet and toward the back, I managed to ride it with no brakes in second gear and didnt feel as much like it was going to go pear-shaped on me.

I think I enjoyed the Trail Riding a lot because it reminded me of being on the MTB, but without the effort LOL
No pedalling fricking ROCKS!!!!!!!

How did you find it Sarah????????

[crfchick]

Well, went along to this, so WOOT for my first Trail Ride hahaha
This is part of what I posted in the thread for the ride......


3rd ride on the bike and I think it went really well!!!

Sarah, was bloody awesome to meet you!!! I am very glad you came over and introduced you, we have to figure out some kind of system for meeting new kiwibiker people LOL
I dont think the Pink Carnation thing will work..... are there stickers? LOL

I really enjoyed riding with Sarah, made me up my game a little although I think that was happening anyway as every run I did I felt more confident and I know I got faster.

There was a lot of learning happening as I was riding though and I felt like I achieved a lot in the three short laps I was able to do.
Managed to ride a couple of the berms much better, leaning the right way and all without falling off.....
Managed to get myself skidding round a few corners, again without falling off and staying relatively in control while doing it....
I figured out standing up on the uphills and using the suspension more, and my legs more made the bumpy uphills easier. I tried a few sitting and was getting really thrown around, but when I stood, I felt a lot more in control over the bumps and was able to pump the throttle a bit more easily.
Standing on the downs too when I could made me feel a bit more confident with them, going back to my habitual weight back stance from the mtb was actually feeling really good on some of the steeper DH sections, particularly one rather steep, rutty, gravelly, dry section toward the end of the 1st loop. I found the last time I rode it, on my feet and toward the back, I managed to ride it with no brakes in second gear and didnt feel as much like it was going to go pear-shaped on me.

I think I enjoyed the Trail Riding a lot because it reminded me of being on the MTB, but without the effort LOL
No pedalling fricking ROCKS!!!!!!!

How did you find it Sarah????????

You did SO WELL C1!! All that MTBing experience really comes through in your trail riding - I think you are really gonna kick my arse (which is great, will make me try even harder tehe!). Was fantastic to meet you too (even tho I wasnt sure it was you at 1st!), cant wait for the next ride. Waiawa Gorge was fantastic, well organised, well marked out, great variety of terrain, Wish I could be riding there RIGHT NOW, hehehe! And hell yeah, we need a way of recognising other kb'ers don't we (not pink carnations, cringe!!)
Did you guys ride Kezza?

[L Rider]

Before xmas time Reckless on here organised a run of KB tshirts, stickers & flags. Think this is the 2nd run of them he's done (possibly does once a year,not sure). Lots of pple got the tshirts & stickers done so we wear them & have managed to meet lots of other KB's. could PM him & see if he will be doing another lot & when.

[L Rider]

Well, went along to this, so WOOT for my first Trail Ride hahaha
This is part of what I posted in the thread for the ride......


3rd ride on the bike and I think it went really well!!!

Sarah, was bloody awesome to meet you!!! I am very glad you came over and introduced you, we have to figure out some kind of system for meeting new kiwibiker people LOL
I dont think the Pink Carnation thing will work..... are there stickers? LOL

I really enjoyed riding with Sarah, made me up my game a little although I think that was happening anyway as every run I did I felt more confident and I know I got faster.

There was a lot of learning happening as I was riding though and I felt like I achieved a lot in the three short laps I was able to do.
Managed to ride a couple of the berms much better, leaning the right way and all without falling off.....
Managed to get myself skidding round a few corners, again without falling off and staying relatively in control while doing it....
I figured out standing up on the uphills and using the suspension more, and my legs more made the bumpy uphills easier. I tried a few sitting and was getting really thrown around, but when I stood, I felt a lot more in control over the bumps and was able to pump the throttle a bit more easily.
Standing on the downs too when I could made me feel a bit more confident with them, going back to my habitual weight back stance from the mtb was actually feeling really good on some of the steeper DH sections, particularly one rather steep, rutty, gravelly, dry section toward the end of the 1st loop. I found the last time I rode it, on my feet and toward the back, I managed to ride it with no brakes in second gear and didnt feel as much like it was going to go pear-shaped on me.

I think I enjoyed the Trail Riding a lot because it reminded me of being on the MTB, but without the effort LOL
No pedalling fricking ROCKS!!!!!!!

How did you find it Sarah????????

Great to hear that you're sussing out those downhills - such an awesum feeling when you do a trail & feel confident on what you achieved. I'm still just doing the small loops at trails - nothing too hard for most pple but parts are a challenge for me. don't wanna jump too far in & get put off majorly

[thecharmed01]

Great to hear that you're sussing out those downhills - such an awesum feeling when you do a trail & feel confident on what you achieved. I'm still just doing the small loops at trails - nothing too hard for most pple but parts are a challenge for me. don't wanna jump too far in & get put off majorly

It is an awesome feeling, and even better when you hear good feedback. It always amps me to go faster and try harder when I am able to get feedback.... like when I have someone fast following me and telling me that I actually did a certain corner in the right way, or if I did this part differently I would be able to get it quicker..... then I just have this need to get out and do it again to try out the advice.
S'why I am so keen on a good rider, who is a bit patient to follow me and nit-pick what I am doing......

Managed to surprise my partner though which was funny......
He thought he was going pretty fast (and I thought I was real slow) but he saw us on the top of the hill, we were stopped for a breather and a chat.
He kept going, barely stopped (his bike wont idle and is a pig to start) to wave but when we got to the bottom of the hill, he said he was quite shocked as he hadnt been down all that long when we turned up LOL
He thought we would be way longer.
Yes, I was rather proud of myself LOL

I would really like to find a good rider who would be keen to take a few of us girls out on a "skills course" type exercise.....
I think it would be well worth paying someone for their time if they were keen.
Sarah and I were talking about it, and in thinking about it, I might start up another thread...

[L Rider]

It is an awesome feeling, and even better when you hear good feedback. It always amps me to go faster and try harder when I am able to get feedback.... like when I have someone fast following me and telling me that I actually did a certain corner in the right way, or if I did this part differently I would be able to get it quicker..... then I just have this need to get out and do it again to try out the advice.
S'why I am so keen on a good rider, who is a bit patient to follow me and nit-pick what I am doing......

Managed to surprise my partner though which was funny......
He thought he was going pretty fast (and I thought I was real slow) but he saw us on the top of the hill, we were stopped for a breather and a chat.
He kept going, barely stopped (his bike wont idle and is a pig to start) to wave but when we got to the bottom of the hill, he said he was quite shocked as he hadnt been down all that long when we turned up LOL
He thought we would be way longer.
Yes, I was rather proud of myself LOL

I would really like to find a good rider who would be keen to take a few of us girls out on a "skills course" type exercise.....
I think it would be well worth paying someone for their time if they were keen.
Sarah and I were talking about it, and in thinking about it, I might start up another thread...

I've got my SIL who i ride with - she's also learning & has same bike as me but lower gearing so tight bits & hills her bikes a bit easier so she tends to gain on them. Great though having someone similar to ride with. i ride way too slow for hubby. I like to just go at my speed & tackle things my way. Great feeling when there's something you couldn't do that you end up mastering.
power adventures do woman's coaching up this way & its not a bad price for the day. I would have thawt there was something your way but maybe not.
Def need someone with patience. When i first when out with hubby it was bit of a disaster & put me off going out with him (i have since but took months before i would). I was struggling & we were both getting agro at each other yet SIL finds him very patient haha

[L Rider]

forgot to say - that would have been the highlight of the day giving your partner a surprise at your speed!! good on ya.