PSA: Don't underestimate the positive mental benefits of exercise!
- Thread starter Doomanic
- Start date
Nice find.
I do tend to explore a little down lanes and singletrack on my roadbike in Summer. not so much this time of year though.
I already know pretty much every road in the county and every bit of off road riding within a 5mile radius of home so often it's just to see if a trail is still in good shape rather than a new discovery.
I do tend to explore a little down lanes and singletrack on my roadbike in Summer. not so much this time of year though.
I already know pretty much every road in the county and every bit of off road riding within a 5mile radius of home so often it's just to see if a trail is still in good shape rather than a new discovery.
- Thread starter
- #34
Unfortunately not. I live on the edge of the Cotswold where all the good woodland is owned by shotgun-toting gammons who hate MTBers.
For the OP and everyone else that finds bashing tarmac just too boring there is an alternative to having to ride trails that are just mud traps. I have that problem here. I can ride in the forests without problems because the ground is a sandy/loamy mix and well drained...BUT we are supposed not to travel to venues for exercise.
So my alternative is skills development. You only need to be able to identify one location close enough to ride to, that is offroad and gives the opportunity to practise some skills such as manuals and bunny hops. I have close by a track which is in fact a vehicle access in to a playing field. So it is just leaf covered gravel and a bout 80 metres long. I built myself a "hopometer" out of push fit plastic plumbing pipes which I can carry on the bike and then assemble when I get there. I can spend more than 2 hours just making repeated attempts at clearing the adjustable bar on the hopometer. As an addition I take a gopro and video my attempts for later analysis. I get nearly the same amount of exercise as a 10/15 mile mtb ride plus the challenge of developing new skills.
So my alternative is skills development. You only need to be able to identify one location close enough to ride to, that is offroad and gives the opportunity to practise some skills such as manuals and bunny hops. I have close by a track which is in fact a vehicle access in to a playing field. So it is just leaf covered gravel and a bout 80 metres long. I built myself a "hopometer" out of push fit plastic plumbing pipes which I can carry on the bike and then assemble when I get there. I can spend more than 2 hours just making repeated attempts at clearing the adjustable bar on the hopometer. As an addition I take a gopro and video my attempts for later analysis. I get nearly the same amount of exercise as a 10/15 mile mtb ride plus the challenge of developing new skills.
I'm surrounded by pheasant breeding woodland here. You get used to shotguns and where not to go at certain times.
But you've just reminded me. My first commute after new year the local roads were frozen so I decided to ride the whole way off road on the Eeb (about 20miles). It had been snowing and freezing so I set off nice and early. There's an old railway track (shared path now) not far from here that takes me the first 5 miles or so, generally only used by a few dog walkers at that time in the morning. Anyway. I headed off hoping the blaze surface would be less slippy but the track was completely frozen and once there, there's no real alternative route that's easy to bail to so I spent the first few miles riding pretty cautiously. Then it progressively got worse. Much worse. I could barely stand for about a mile nevermind ride and while stood there laughing at myself barely able to stand some dick with a shotgun in the (not pheasant breeding) woods behind me started shooting. It is shooting season but FFS it was barely past 8am.
But you've just reminded me. My first commute after new year the local roads were frozen so I decided to ride the whole way off road on the Eeb (about 20miles). It had been snowing and freezing so I set off nice and early. There's an old railway track (shared path now) not far from here that takes me the first 5 miles or so, generally only used by a few dog walkers at that time in the morning. Anyway. I headed off hoping the blaze surface would be less slippy but the track was completely frozen and once there, there's no real alternative route that's easy to bail to so I spent the first few miles riding pretty cautiously. Then it progressively got worse. Much worse. I could barely stand for about a mile nevermind ride and while stood there laughing at myself barely able to stand some dick with a shotgun in the (not pheasant breeding) woods behind me started shooting. It is shooting season but FFS it was barely past 8am.
Amateur
Seriously though... Well done. I've self-medicated most of my life. Bikes n vices
or just stay in, put New Order on and cop a disco biscuit
Steve38
Well-known member
Back on track
I’ve just got and started riding an eMTB after not riding my analogue for a few months
After just 2 rides my passion is back
I’m thinking about riding every day and planning new rides
That’s a mental health improvement if I ever saw one ?
I’ve just got and started riding an eMTB after not riding my analogue for a few months
After just 2 rides my passion is back
I’m thinking about riding every day and planning new rides
That’s a mental health improvement if I ever saw one ?
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