How do you know...

[Wild_Fi]

How do you know when you are ready to take the next step and advance from intermediate trails to the advanced ones?? I really want to try some of the more difficult stuff at Lebanon, but I'm alittle apprehensive. For one thing, I don't have any body to ride with. I am a little worried to go-it-alone back in there. Also, I have never really done any large obstacles, like drop offs and larger log piles. And thirdly, I have no idea of what to expect back there!! I look at some of the pictures on this web site and I think to myself - yeah right, but maybe... I can ride the intermediate loop no problem, but I still ride right past the advanced trail entrance and I want to turn in so bad!! When you all started out, what signs told you you were ready?? Just curious and any assistance/advise is greatly appreciated!

[Brick]

How do you know when you are ready to take the next step and advance from intermediate trails to the advanced ones?? Generally speaking, if you're comfortable with the log crossings on the int loop, you should have no real huge suprises back on X. If it makes you feel better, when you get to the x/xx/exit junction, walk over and look at the first log pile, it's really pretty typical of what you're going to find back there.

There aren't a lot of nasty suprises on x, and you'll find its a fun trail. The log crossings are ramped pretty well both front and back, the rock garden is well laid out (although the approach still gives me fits), and most of the obstacles are in the first 1/3 to 1/2 of the trail.

disclaimer--I've never done the xx loop, I don't feel like I'm "at that level" yet with my riding as I find new things to work on each time I'm back there. Maybe next season.

[robc]

Lebanon is very well laid out and there really are no spots where anything heinous comes at you without warning. I say go back there and ride the loop! The worst thing that can happen is that you get off the bike a few times and "portage" a few obstacles that you don't feel comfortable with. At least then you'll know whats back there. I had a couple buds that were scared off by the thought of it being an expert trail, but I talked them into trying it and they had a great time. Good luck!

[manual63]

I say you just try out the X-Loop. Like the first two said, it's not too bad.

I just have a few pointers for you:

- Don't use the front brake when going over log piles.
- Keep your weight back while going over log piles, maybe even lower the seat just a little so you have clearance to lean back.
- If you are not comfortable with something, stop and walk over it.
- There is one rock garden in the X-Loop that will be really tough for you at first. Stop and walk it to see if you want to try it. If you try it, stay to the left over the rocks and you will be able to make the sharp right turn easier.

In the end, you can always come out to a group riding session, I did one called the skills session, and get pointers, at not cost, from beginner level to experienced riders. I also do lessons for a minimal fee. You can Email or IM me about that if you are interested.

Hope this helps...and most important....have fun!

[tmac]

I really want to try some of the more difficult stuff at Lebanon, but I'm alittle apprehensive. For one thing, I don't have any body to ride with. I am a little worried to go-it-alone back in there.Just post-up here when you want to ride, lots of folks out there are looking for riding buddies. If you call it , they will ride. Nothing helps more than learning from others on a group ride.

Remember, you can always hike-a-bike when you aren't sure you can make something.

You may also want to head out on a Saturday afternoon when the trails are pretty busy, find a clear spot alongside the trail at some of the obstacles, and within 1/2 an hour you will have seen lots of ways to clear the obstacle.

[transplant]

Just go back in and try it. There's nothing more frustrating than being stagnant in your skills. Pretty soon just doing the X loop only will get boring and kill your enthusiasm for the sport. Challenge yourself, you'll be surprised at what you can do. Until recently the teeter always gave me fits. The first time I tried it I was going too fast and the world dropped out from under me. Now it's cake. The feeling of accomplishment is a rush, too.

[syntaxjunkie]

First of all, you're smart to want to ride with someone. Not just for the obvious safety reasons, but because you're more likely to push yourself and try things when you're riding with someone else. Gives you an audience for bragging about your exploits back in the parking lot, too.
:banana:

As far as the X and XX goes, there's already a lot of good advice here. For me, the hardest part of riding these sections has been to remind myself that, if I carry enough momentum into a rock garden and pick a halfway smart line, my suspension will buy me all the leeway I need to clean it. The worst thing you can do is get into a rocky section and start trying to steer around rocks--you lose all of your momentum, your front wheel gets jammed and down you go. When it comes right down to it, rocks are just really hard dirt--nothing to 'em.

It took me awhile to get comfortable with the idea of riding the elevated ramps, the teeter and the camelback in the XX. What got me through it was riding with somebody--I figured if they could do it, so could I. Might not always work that way on your first try, but it's a good way to start.

Good luck and happy riding.

[bigwheel]

How do you know when you are ready to take the next step and advance from intermediate trails to the advanced ones?? For me, it's usually when the bruises start to heal.:confused:

Everybody else said it well. At leb, just go in and give it a try. The trail is relatively flat, and there is nothing that is going to sneak up on you. You can always walk your bike over things you're uncomfortable with.

I suggest that you start by going into the X, and skipping the XX. Then, you can pick up the beginning of the dream trail, and catch one of the nicest sections at leb - a section that you'll miss if you don't ride the X. The X has a couple log crossings in the beginning which you can pretty much close your eyes and just ride over. There are only 2 tricky obstacles. A bridge, and a rock garden. You can easily walk your bike through them at first.

Once you are comfortable with the X, you will find that the XX isn't that much worse. There's just more stuff.

[Wild_Fi]

Hey, Thanks to all!! I think I am going to give it a shot this weekend if the weather allows. I appreciate the tips and advice. See you out there!!

[Standard]

speed cures all :cool:

[Wild_Fi]

I figured I would let you all know how it went... Not good!! I never made it to the advanced trail... I hopped the first log on DreamII and went down because my tire flattened... Tubeless!! How did that happen (an omen perhaps??)?? Oh well... with my schedule this may have been my last ride of the season, but we will see. When I do finally hit the trail I will let you all know how it went... Thanks again!
And one more thing, I appreciate the absence of sarcasm and negative remarks to my original post, I was a bit worried that I would get flamed for asking a confidence question, and I did not... only quality advice and encoragement!!

[manual63]

Now that we know you failed big time.......can we flame ya!!!

Just Kidding.

Keep it up. You will get it. I think everyone has a story for their first time through the X and XX loops......and most of them don't end up good.

It takes time and practice. Enjoy!!

[PEDRO]

lebanon is a perfectly do-able trail for anyone who has been riding for a while

my 8 year old bro can handle XX on his hard rock sport and hes only been riding for 2 years

u just need someone to go with u to give u the heads up on wats coming

i learned to bike from my dad yelling back to me "speed up ahead" "SHARP TURN!" "LOG" "get into a small gear"

just practice and be ballsy and youll be fine

the funny thing about leb is that the the scariest looking things are usually some of the easiest

like the teeter toter

Pain is temporary Quiting is forever

[nil821]

If you never fall you will never get better, and scars are like tatoos but with cooler stories to back them up. When it comes to obstacles, just think "flow." "I will flow over this." Just point the bike, ride loose, and have a good time. Don't panic and hit the brakes, just flow with it.

[Wild_Fi]

Well, it has been a while since I posted this topic. I feel I should update you all on how it went. I rode the X loop today for the first time. It was just awesome!! It was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I did ride it alone, so I took it pretty slow, but I feel already that I can hit it hard next time... Thanks all for the encourgament and hope to see you all out on the trail...

[mcarples]

Well, it has been a while since I posted this topic. I feel I should update you all on how it went. I rode the X loop today for the first time. It was just awesome!! It was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I did ride it alone, so I took it pretty slow, but I feel already that I can hit it hard next time... Thanks all for the encourgament and hope to see you all out on the trail...
:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

[Steeds82]

thats great to hear.....keep it up. I started out like this as well, and stupidly taught myself ( aka learned from my mistakes ) everything i know now. but i remember going to leb. and just going with it and falling down quite few times and running into a few trees ha, not the smartest things, but still sometimes you just have to do it, if you have no one else to teach you. but I learned a lot from reading posts on here when I started to look into it more, so thanks all at MORC. :banana: Now im trying to spread it to my friends that dont know about mountain biking, ive got one hooked and working on another now. so it feels good to spread and teach all i have learned from you guys and my adventures and mistakes.

[Trevize1138]

Well, it has been a while since I posted this topic. I feel I should update you all on how it went. I rode the X loop today for the first time. It was just awesome!! It was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I did ride it alone, so I took it pretty slow, but I feel already that I can hit it hard next time... Thanks all for the encourgament and hope to see you all out on the trail...

Geeeez ... took ya long enough! :crazy:

Just kidding, of course. Congrats, dude! You're an expert rider now :). No pressure.

Be sure to check out the "Group Rides" section of this site and hook up with a crew sometime. And, don't be afraid of the XX loop. Anything in that loop tougher than what you saw in the X loop has an "easy way" around it, including the teeter and the camel hump. So, if you've ridden the X loop, you can certainly ride the XX loop if you just ride around the bigger obstacles. It can help to see things in-person.

What'd you think of the rock garden in the X? Another bit of encouragement for ya: that rock garden is considered more technically difficult than *anything* the XX loop has. As it's been said before, stuff in the XX loop can look scarier, but that X loop rock garden is the pinnacle test of skill for many.

[undsioux7]

- Don't use the front brake when going over log piles.



I was riding with a buddy at leb who is a beginner and he learned that the hard way! He was going over one of the log piles and must have unconciously pressed his front brake and over the handlebars he went!
I asked him right after if he was alright so I could laugh about it because I was already giggling too much to hide it. He was just fine, but I know the mountain bike gods are going to get back at me for laughing at my buddies misfortune. :D
Ive taken a lot of spills and always roll right out of them with only a few scratches, but haven't gone over the handle bars.... Yet.

[mara]

I like riding trails that are just a little bit too difficult for me. I get to try new things that are outside, but not way outside my comfort zone and it makes me a better rider. Okay, or it makes me crash, but that's good too. The feeling you get when you clean something that scares you is awesome :D

{ Now if I could just do something about those rocks. . . :eyeroll: }

[manual63]

I like riding trails that are just a little bit too difficult for me.

This is actually a really good tip. If you ride just above your skill level, you will improve your skills. If you always stay within your comfort zone, your comfort zone will never grow.

I always suggest starting out with smaller things like curbs. I remember telling Chris to practice rolling off of curbs doing a manual so he could learn to land rear wheel first off of drop offs. Then move up to a 1 foot drop, then a 2 foot drop and so on. If you go to the 2 or more foot drop first and you don't keep that front wheel up.......ouch. So get good at the basics of a skill on smaller stuff, then build up to bigger things. Somewhere in here I recently mentioned jumping driveway curbs that look like little jumps. Some are better than others, but I did this a lot as a BMX kid, and I sill do it when I am riding my MTB on the road, and it seriously dialed/dials in my jumping skills.

Something as simple as doing S curves in a parking lot, learn where the limits of the tires are and practice pumping the bike when you apex the curve. When you are on the trail, you will thank yourself for knowing how your bike handles. Find sand in a parking lot and learn how to slide in it and turn through it.....I could go on and on about how you can push yourself beyond your riding abilities to become a highly skilled rider.....and doing it how I am suggesting is a safe way to learn these things without the danger of endoing or hitting a tree.

[Wild_Fi]

What'd you think of the rock garden in the X?

Well, It wasn't pretty but I did make it through. I just kinda sped up a bit and pushed through. I really don't even know what I did to make it. I know I was totally stoke when I cleared it!