Concerned husband

D

dstdub

New Member
Hi all,
My wife has seriously taken up mountainbiking with me. She loves the thrill and the challenge and after getting entry level hard tails, we splurged on quality full sus ones. She’s been riding since May every weekend, sometimes twice. We’ve been going to sprain ridge ny and hilltop and others.
Last Sunday, she took a pretty bad spill and over extended her arm trying to break the fall. Nothing’s broken but probably rotator cuff damage.
We won’t know until an MRI is done. I’m not a crazy rider myself doing jumps and all. I am more of an xc type but still like to do the logs and rock gardens
at relatively sane speeds. She’s been clearing some logs as well but she struggles a bit with rock gardens pedaling thru.

She’s fallen several times already and yet she rides again but this last one is pretty serious and it’s making me rethink things. It’s tough seeing her getting hurt but she’s saying she still wants to ride when she heals and I’m very apprehensive. I’ve been trying to share with her what I know at least trying to keep her safe but it seems not enough. Most of the falls, including the last one, was not really the hard technical stuff. It’s more like things you don’t think expect to cause a bad fall-leaves, branches and the like and it baffles us. Maybe I’m over coaching her or maybe not enough or maybe pushing her too much or not. So many maybe’s and what if’s in my head now.

Enough of the drama. I’m here because loves to ride & I was wondering if I can get some input on here on how I can help my wife improve bike handling and be more safe and maybe get insights on what others have done because I’m out of ideas and faulty theories on this.

What she is now: 35 years,118 lbs, 5’6”. Not a lot of stamina. Very cautious. Willing to learn. Hates off the saddle pedaling but enjoys climbing. Clipless ONLY on flat trails(like rail trails). Not very athletic. Hates working out. Full suspension bike.

Are there any purely xc trails in NJ? Should she take a break and hit the gym more before engaging in the rough stuff? Switch to road? My thinking is skills wise and mentally, she’s further up in the game. But physiologically, she’s a bit frail.

Comments/reactions welcome and appreciated. TIA.
 
Take her to Lewis Morris it's a great beginner trail for her to get started and to build stamina and strength. It's not really technical or rocky, it has it's far share of hills but nothing she can't overcome. Just check the dates because hunting season startes Dec. 2nd. Good Luck.......:popcorn:
 
Great posting - and I am curious as to what others have to say since I am a female who is still trying to get over some riding obstacles...I completely freak out on rockgardens myself.

I am not sure where you live - nor have I been to the places you ride - but there are a few places that I would recommend taking her to help "boost" confidence and work on things - Lewis Morris (near Morristown) and Deer Park (near Hackettstown).

As a rider who wanted to ride/keep up with her boyfriend who raced, I found that patience and positive encouragement went a long way with my confidence. I also had some great coaching from riding in groups. Marty's has a beginner's ride in the spring/summer at Lewis Morris - and gave me a lot of pointers.

Maybe once your wife is healed/recovered, she would like to join a ladies ride with the gals?
 
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Thanks for the quick responses!

A group ride, if she is open to it, would be awesome i think. Exposure to other riders other than me should be good. I'm assuming it will be organized here? We are in Nutley nj and wouldnt mind 1-2 hour drives to trails.

Did anyone follow like an excercise/riding routine of some sorT?
 
Wow...she is tiny.

I think that I have some trouble with more technical ground because of lack of strength in order to power through and over things. During the week, I ride on rail-to-trails doing some wind sprints just trying to get some kind of fitness base down so that I can ride the harder stuff a little better on the weekend.

Does she know how to pick a good line? I ride a hard tail and just recently got a front shock. I put a lot of effort into picking a good line or I'll crash.

Well, I wish her a quick recovery.
 
A few things come to mind. She probably needs to ride more aggressively to clear the obstacles that are causing her issue. In order to do that she needs:

1. Strength
2. Confidence
3. Stamina

All threee of those can be overcome with time in the saddle. I agree with what the others have said. Take her someplace like LM or Hartshorne or Allaire where she can build her biking skills.

As far as other exercises, I know people argue both sides of this issue, but I am a firm believer in hitting the gym. Pond for pound we are just not as strong as you guys. The extra strength helps me.
 
No body armor. She does have elbow and knee/shin guards. Funny you mention body armor, cause two weeks ago, she took the end of a handlebar on the tummy over an obstacle she normally ride thru. Hence my freaking out over yesterday's separate incident. she does try to pick her lines otherwise, she walks it.
sometimes i feel she's too relaxed and not push herself a little bit to gain a little something for the next ride. but then again,,i dont know what to think anymore.
thanks! I believe in some sort of suplementing excercises as well. every bit helps especially at our age.
 
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cool. I've had my eye on one of those. It would be a great experience for us both. And yes , whether valid or not, "we" become background noise to the wife. 🙂

ryderX said:
Try something like this:
http://www.ertc.com/article.php?table=article&mode=search&archived=false&type=ertc&article=16
A few years back my wife did a clinic out in Moab. I was amazed at what she learned and gain over a 3 day weekend. She learned more in 3
days than 5 years of me yelling screaming and cursing. Go figure.
Click to expand...
 
A few summers ago I actually did a "girls learn-to-ride" clinic at Mountain Creek (I think Ellen was one of the coaches) - it helped - so keep an eye out for these too...there are often clinics posted on the forum in the spring.
 
Some lightweight pads would be a nice addition. A wrist guard would be good too if she breaks her fall a lot with her hands first.

For you stressing how much she is not athletic, I say she seems to be a real trooper. You could stop more on rides to let her work on some tech. She will get the hang of things. I would just let her have at it. Every time I try to advise my lady friend she just gets annoyed. Women... 🙄 I just shut up now and let her learn on her own.
 
Not sure where hilltop is, but Sprain is pretty difficult for a beginner. As others suggested there are other parks that are good to build confidence in ..

These are in the trail directory http://www.mtbnj.com/wiki/Category:Trail_Directory:
Lewis Morris/Patriots Path
Allaire
6 Mile Run
Kittatiny
Hartshorne
Tourne
Stewart
Deer Park/Stephens

In Long Island, the trails are even smoother .. practically no rocks, minimal roots. Check climbonline.org.
 
I think she just needs more saddle time. These little accidents seem to happen more to newer mtbers, this is normal.
You seem to be the one concerned with her safety and this is normal however you gotta step back and let her do her thing. As long as she is wearing a helmet and not bombing downhills and taking 10' jumps she is fine.
As others have suggested you can also try some more beginner friendly trails and work into more technical stuff. It sounds like she is riding within her ability but sometimes stuff just happens...she'll be fine😉
 
Hi There.

Your wife sounds a lot like me when I started to ride. She's a trooper. She falls and gets back up again and will keep trying. That is key. I'm nursing 2 fractured ribs and all I can think about is getting back on the bike.

In the spring look for some riding clinics. You'll see them posted. They are free and she will learn a lot. I did a great one at Chimney Rock last spring and it was very helpful. Also look for ladies beginner rides. Pixy, and the gals on here ran a couple last spring where I learned so much from all of them.

Also, you may be an excellent teacher, but I find I have learned more by riding with a variety of people. I have done the best with people who were a lot more skilled than me. I followed them, watched the lines they picked, watched their technique and asked questions. In fact I still do!

An invaluable piece of advice... If she can't ride or isn't confident riding a line, get off the bike and have her walk the line you took or that she would have taken with the bike. That way she becomes familiar with the line and how the wheels will flow through it. It builds confidence.

I am not a big fan of pads, but I can see the value in wearing them because that extra bit of protection helps build confidence. Also, I think a huge part of mountain biking is mental. If I am not in the right frame of mind I can fall off the bike on flat ground, in the parking lot. And don't think that hasn't happend to me before, because it has 🙁

I hope some of that helps 🙂 When 'm all healed up I'd be happy to ride with her. We have a lot of beginner parks in central jersey that will be great for buidling her confidence up. I hope to see her on the trails 🙂
 
Knowing how to fall is really important. We used to drill the death out of it in HS football practice. Its so important to know what to do when your on the way down to minimize your injuries. Sometimes your in a bad way from the start, but knowing what to do is real helpful.

Google "the art of falling"
 
Sorry to hear that your wife got hurt. I sure hope she comes back for more. Mountain biking is just too much fun! 😀

I second the idea of easier parks as mentioned, and a possible women's ride or clinic. Back when I was a mtbchick, I had the opportunity to teach at women's mtb clinics around the country, and I believe that mountain biking is great for all types of women. Some people just need to take things in baby steps, gaining confidence with each step. Every person has their own risk allowance, and this should always be respected. Make sure your wife only tries what SHE wants to try.

As for the rock gardens: Yes, momentum can be your friend, but confidence, basic skills and a little finesse can get most girls through the same rock garden, and maybe even falling less doing so.

I hope to be organizing some women's skills clinic days in the spring. If I do, I'll make sure to post them up here.
 
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yes, she is really a trooper. That is why i'm stressing because her eagerness to do stuff might hurt her more and take the fun out of things.

but i appreciate all the comments. Its good to have some of my own thoughts confirmed as being right as well as dispelling some & learning some. I'm feeling a little more comfortable taking her out again when she heals especially hearing comments from posters who say they were, or started out like she is now.

"All posts duly noted"!tnx
 
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