Well... I started riding the North Shore around 15 years ago and there are structures like that (bigger and smaller) on lots of trails, which I have fallen off of many of them! I ride on average 3 times a week. Also, 10+ seasons riding 30+ days a year at Whistler Bike Park is more than most people do in a life time. Practice takes time and so does confidence.My highest respect!How often did you ride to get enough practice and confidence / routine to ride such structures? Daily?
Pic of the Day
- Thread starter Kilham5
- Start date
KnollyBro, those of us in the motorcycle world, especially off road motorcycle, have a term called ATGATT...all the gear all the time. Your mention of pads and other protective gear is perfectly logical when the riding or any physical activity that can involve some relatively serious injury is considered. Now I'm not promoting full body armor for riding one's ebike down to the store to get a jug of milk, but there are times, right?
This concept of wearing an appropriate level of protective gear for the task at hand was something I found occasionally odd when I got into MTB. I mentioned to you about my Moab adventures in the past. A good friend and I would spend 2 weeks every year there riding our MTB's, and we both wore full coverage helmets...Specialized Deviant...knee/shin guards, and even Answer Products lightweight body armor that had front and back panels along with shoulder and elbow pads.
We were old guys then, but we really enjoyed sending it on some of the rougher sections of trail out there. We would frequently get odd looks or even comments sometimes from other cyclists about our gear. The fun part came when we would fly by them on our decently big hit bikes at full speed through rock sections, drops, and such. No...we weren't Simmons and Schley, but our gear and bike selection gave us confidence and a level of capability that we could take advantage of.
I will never forget one ride in particular on Porcupine Rim. We had stopped at that "High Anxiety" overlook of Castle Valley to eat a snack. This is a big stopping point for most riders doing the rim before the fast, rocky sections begin. A young lady in about her early 20's came up to us and asked why we were wearing so much protective gear. For one, we jokingly told her that we were older guys who wanted to keep riding instead of ending up in the nursing home. She laughed. For two, more seriously, we mentioned that we occasionally crash and the gear came in handy for that.
She was dressed like about 50% of the riders you usually see in Moab...lycra shorts, open face helmet, fingerless gloves, etc. Nothing wrong with that, and I'll defend anyone's choice to wear whatever they're comfortable with. So she and her small group of about 5 riders take off down the descent. My buddy and I look at each other and wonder how long it will take us to catch them...or maybe not. Anyway, we head off, and as we get to one of the very fast, chunky, rock sections, we see a small group of riders in a tight pack standing around someone on the ground. We stop briefly and sure enough, it is the same young lady laying on the ground. Her friends are attending to her, and she is conscious but just about out of it. You can tell she took a header face first into the rocks, and she is bloody and buggered up facially. I'd call concussion too, but I didn't stay in a Holiday the night before. We ask if they need any help, but they say they have it handled and thank us for asking. We make our way down to the Colorado River to the end of the ride, thankful we wear significant protection.
I don't relay that story to make fun of the young lady. I mention it because many bicyclists have some thoughts like her that protective gear isn't necessary. Sure, it comes down to where and maybe how you're riding, but I suggest wearing the amount and kind of gear that you feel comfortable with.
This concept of wearing an appropriate level of protective gear for the task at hand was something I found occasionally odd when I got into MTB. I mentioned to you about my Moab adventures in the past. A good friend and I would spend 2 weeks every year there riding our MTB's, and we both wore full coverage helmets...Specialized Deviant...knee/shin guards, and even Answer Products lightweight body armor that had front and back panels along with shoulder and elbow pads.
We were old guys then, but we really enjoyed sending it on some of the rougher sections of trail out there. We would frequently get odd looks or even comments sometimes from other cyclists about our gear. The fun part came when we would fly by them on our decently big hit bikes at full speed through rock sections, drops, and such. No...we weren't Simmons and Schley, but our gear and bike selection gave us confidence and a level of capability that we could take advantage of.
I will never forget one ride in particular on Porcupine Rim. We had stopped at that "High Anxiety" overlook of Castle Valley to eat a snack. This is a big stopping point for most riders doing the rim before the fast, rocky sections begin. A young lady in about her early 20's came up to us and asked why we were wearing so much protective gear. For one, we jokingly told her that we were older guys who wanted to keep riding instead of ending up in the nursing home. She laughed. For two, more seriously, we mentioned that we occasionally crash and the gear came in handy for that.
She was dressed like about 50% of the riders you usually see in Moab...lycra shorts, open face helmet, fingerless gloves, etc. Nothing wrong with that, and I'll defend anyone's choice to wear whatever they're comfortable with. So she and her small group of about 5 riders take off down the descent. My buddy and I look at each other and wonder how long it will take us to catch them...or maybe not. Anyway, we head off, and as we get to one of the very fast, chunky, rock sections, we see a small group of riders in a tight pack standing around someone on the ground. We stop briefly and sure enough, it is the same young lady laying on the ground. Her friends are attending to her, and she is conscious but just about out of it. You can tell she took a header face first into the rocks, and she is bloody and buggered up facially. I'd call concussion too, but I didn't stay in a Holiday the night before. We ask if they need any help, but they say they have it handled and thank us for asking. We make our way down to the Colorado River to the end of the ride, thankful we wear significant protection.
I don't relay that story to make fun of the young lady. I mention it because many bicyclists have some thoughts like her that protective gear isn't necessary. Sure, it comes down to where and maybe how you're riding, but I suggest wearing the amount and kind of gear that you feel comfortable with.
steve_sordy
Wedding Crasher
I used to think protective gear was unnecessary until I started bleeding!
I bought my first mtb and booked a skills course that started the day after. I only bought a helmet because it was a condition of the course. The day after the course I was enthused by my new skills and I was gung-ho. On a cinder descent, on my 100mm hardtail, I hit a hole and did a Superman OTB. I landed flat and bounced like a dead cat. I broke my helmet in two, bruised what felt like all my ribs and had long and deep cinder-filled scratches down both knees and forearms. It was nearly two weeks before I could wear long trousers and long-sleeved shirts without bandages.
As I steadily fell off more and more, my protective gear increased. Nowadays, when I fall off, crash, run out of skill, (whatever), I usually don't get hurt. I get limbs wrenched and get the wind knocked out of me, but no cuts, gouges, scrapes, and very few bruises. I have come near to being impaled once, and I almost broke both thighs at the same time (ouch!), but fortunately no big drops onto pointy rocks yet. There's time!
I bought my first mtb and booked a skills course that started the day after. I only bought a helmet because it was a condition of the course. The day after the course I was enthused by my new skills and I was gung-ho. On a cinder descent, on my 100mm hardtail, I hit a hole and did a Superman OTB. I landed flat and bounced like a dead cat. I broke my helmet in two, bruised what felt like all my ribs and had long and deep cinder-filled scratches down both knees and forearms. It was nearly two weeks before I could wear long trousers and long-sleeved shirts without bandages.
As I steadily fell off more and more, my protective gear increased. Nowadays, when I fall off, crash, run out of skill, (whatever), I usually don't get hurt. I get limbs wrenched and get the wind knocked out of me, but no cuts, gouges, scrapes, and very few bruises. I have come near to being impaled once, and I almost broke both thighs at the same time (ouch!), but fortunately no big drops onto pointy rocks yet. There's time!
LOL!...on our main local trail that Strava thing is kept up with by a few of the locals. I didn't even know it was a thing for MTB, just roadies. Only 2 or 3 of us around here do the emtb thing...our trail allows them. One day of our guys took the shop's demo Rail 7 and did the Strava thing out there as a joke. Man, there were some raised eyebrows apparently, and he finally let the cat out of the bag that it was on an emtb. Much fun was had and no bruised egos were involved.
Love my old clunker ìt gets taken to the bottom of a hill occasionally and left till i get back as it has panniers.
HORSPWR
E*POWAH Master
HORSPWR
E*POWAH Master
Your photos always have a richness and saturation that is awesome. What are they taken on?
I would like to take all the credit for my extensive background and time spent setting up lighting and cameras while working in the porn industry but most of the actual credit has to go to the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, cloudy days and the "Auto" color balance filter to reduce the flat/washed out original image.
I slept in the living room last winter got the place to myself. I had the fire on all night, no way I would use that mattress. Toilet well there is a shovel if you prefer the outside option.I wish I hadn't seen that mattress or that toilet
You may need to get some stabilisers.I used to think protective gear was unnecessary until I started bleeding!
I bought my first mtb and booked a skills course that started the day after. I only bought a helmet because it was a condition of the course. The day after the course I was enthused by my new skills and I was gung-ho. On a cinder descent, on my 100mm hardtail, I hit a hole and did a Superman OTB. I landed flat and bounced like a dead cat. I broke my helmet in two, bruised what felt like all my ribs and had long and deep cinder-filled scratches down both knees and forearms. It was nearly two weeks before I could wear long trousers and long-sleeved shirts without bandages.
As I steadily fell off more and more, my protective gear increased. Nowadays, when I fall off, crash, run out of skill, (whatever), I usually don't get hurt. I get limbs wrenched and get the wind knocked out of me, but no cuts, gouges, scrapes, and very few bruises. I have come near to being impaled once, and I almost broke both thighs at the same time (ouch!), but fortunately no big drops onto pointy rocks yet. There's time!
Not being to shy I think I would not plan to stay there or need to be pretty lost without any option. But maybe it looks different when being on site.
Who or why are all these pictures with cattle(?) on the walls?
It's an open bothy in the hills anyone can sleep there for free. Probably a bit of decoration or might be history of what the cottage was originally used for. Some of them are also used by the estate for deer stalking in the season. . Knochkan is that ones name and is accessible by land rover so a lad has been renovating it for years in some of his spare time not much progress to be honest. Saying that a bridge to get to it was rebuilt a couple of years ago and its a professional job. It's a very popular hobby nowadays in Scotland anyway folk just walking in to sleep in places like this there are hundreds of them . Popular ones are only a couple miles from a public road . Some folk are just going there for a party and trash the places. There are very remote ones in fantastic places only passing hill walkers would use . I have kayaked in to loads but always take a tent in case it's full of people. Most huts would not have a toilet if you want to call it that just a shovel to go outside with they are usually near a burn so plenty water. Here endeth the history lesson.Not being to shy I think I would not plan to stay there or need to be pretty lost without any option. But maybe it looks different when being on site.
Who or why are all these pictures with cattle(?) on the walls?
Still wet on tracks so the road bike was used today . Went to RAF Lossiemouth to do a spot of plane watching. Red Arrows have been based here for a few days practicing their display manoeuvres at Tain . Saw them playing about then 9 Typhoons took off as well.
There's a popular(ish) Scottish artist specialises in doing those Highland Cow paintings. Not my thing, but I know a few people who have them in their homes. I guess the ones in the bothy are prints of these for a bit of colour?!
Steven Brown Art - Colourful Highland Cow Art & Homeware
Meet Scottish artist Steven Brown and his iconic Highland Cow paintings the McCoos and animal art the McZoos! Shop Wall Art, Homeware, Kitchenware & Gifts!
www.stevenbrownart.co.uk
Yes I'm trying to remember the ones in that bothy they are on canvas so not prints. Highland Coo art maybe I've seen that artists work before. It's a wonder nobody has nicked them That place is four miles from the public road though. .There's a popular(ish) Scottish artist specialises in doing those Highland Cow paintings. Not my thing, but I know a few people who have them in their homes. I guess the ones in the bothy are prints of these for a bit of colour?!
Steven Brown Art - Colourful Highland Cow Art & Homeware
Meet Scottish artist Steven Brown and his iconic Highland Cow paintings the McCoos and animal art the McZoos! Shop Wall Art, Homeware, Kitchenware & Gifts!
Could still be a print onto canvas though rather than an original. My mum gets canvases made of holiday photos quite frequently, and they cost next to nothing online.
I think the real Mccoo pics are actually quite expensive.
Someone must’ve ridden / hiked there with them… so you’d think someone could easily make off with them too!
The mattress on the other hand…
In deed it is: Angus McCoo - Canvas PrintsThere's a popular(ish) Scottish artist specialises in doing those Highland Cow paintings. Not my thing, but I know a few people who have them in their homes. I guess the ones in the bothy are prints of these for a bit of colour?!
Steven Brown Art - Colourful Highland Cow Art & Homeware
Meet Scottish artist Steven Brown and his iconic Highland Cow paintings the McCoos and animal art the McZoos! Shop Wall Art, Homeware, Kitchenware & Gifts!
Och aye the noo yer richt anuff ma freen. Oh yes now you are right enough my friend.
Yes I've a Rad canvas print up the stairs noo I think about it.
Couple of years ago someone left the door open and sheep got in. Wind blew it shut and sheep starved to death. So it's haunted as well
Baaaaa
Ewe don’t say !!!
billwarwick
E*POWAH Elite
This is all that remains of a fine old blue brick and stone Victorian railway bridge over a disused railway line which has been destroyed to make way for HS2
This is a tunnel being built following the line of the old railway straight through the middle of a Warwickshire village. The old embankment is on the right hand side. The old railway line used to be one of my winter playgrounds. The tunnel will be covered with earth when completed. And the third picture is a local residents totally accurate verdict on the project
This is a tunnel being built following the line of the old railway straight through the middle of a Warwickshire village. The old embankment is on the right hand side. The old railway line used to be one of my winter playgrounds. The tunnel will be covered with earth when completed. And the third picture is a local residents totally accurate verdict on the project
I would love to have seen a damp squid up next to the White elephant ..
( No.1 apparently in the list of misquoted phrases)
billwarwick
E*POWAH Elite
Don’t forget Hodge, that the world is your lobster!I would love to have seen a damp squid up next to the White elephant ..
( No.1 apparently in the list of misquoted phrases)
Crocodile is when snapping!
Semmelrocc
E*POWAH Master
Oh boy ...
Great turnout today up at Kielder ..7 riders for a bit of a mix-up of parts of the Lonesome Pine / Deadwater & Osprey trails ..well I say seven but that number soon dropped down to six as we somehow managed to lose Colin very early in the ride with absolutely no idea how it happened..we spent a good while re-tracing our tracks but to no avail we never did see him again ( however it transpires that he got ahead of us when we did the section of Deadwater ).
It goes without saying that we are all sorry to have missed you Colin .
A few pics .. L to R Jaco , Phil ..followed by Dave & Ant ..
Wayne still waiting at the bottom to see if Colin appeared
Ant taking in the scenery near to where the Black downhill track hits the Forest Drive ..
Wayne doing a bit of mechanical work on his bike ..could I also add my extreme thanks and gratitude to him for meeting me a full hour before the rest of the lads to sort out my bike ..top bloke
There are a couple of little humps where it's possible to get a "little bit of air" ..as you turn down to Fams Bridge ..with the emphasis on "little" ..
Trying to capture that on a pic is next to impossible ..or my timing is crap !
Just about got him on the second hump
Lunch stop at Wainhope Bothy
Many thanks for the craic & company lads ..excellent as ever
*Apologies for the duplicate pics
It goes without saying that we are all sorry to have missed you Colin .
A few pics .. L to R Jaco , Phil ..followed by Dave & Ant ..
Wayne still waiting at the bottom to see if Colin appeared
Ant taking in the scenery near to where the Black downhill track hits the Forest Drive ..
Wayne doing a bit of mechanical work on his bike ..could I also add my extreme thanks and gratitude to him for meeting me a full hour before the rest of the lads to sort out my bike ..top bloke
There are a couple of little humps where it's possible to get a "little bit of air" ..as you turn down to Fams Bridge ..with the emphasis on "little" ..
Trying to capture that on a pic is next to impossible ..or my timing is crap !
Just about got him on the second hump
Lunch stop at Wainhope Bothy
Many thanks for the craic & company lads ..excellent as ever
*Apologies for the duplicate pics
Normally go down the wee rut on left of steps and round the tight corner which is not on pic , trust me it's 90 degree . Never checked before i set off but dropper was not dropping the cable had slipped ? . Bit of a scunner trying to sort on trail so took the easy route. Still wet out anywhere that isn't getting any sun . Bridge bit going in to Findochty is called the rotten shorie ???
Tone461
Active member
Bet you never knew Afan had a beach ? Ok, Not strictly true. An evening visit to Aberavon beach before a bit of a mashup the next day of firetrack and single track at Glyncorrwg centre. Good for the soul
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