Downhill / Freeriding for noobs

[beanbag]

Hello all,

 

I'm hoping somebody out there speaks English as I unfortunately don't speak much German. I've been using Google translator to use this forum, however I'd like to maybe meet up with some of you if you are interested in doing some trails, drop-off's, etc, with a total novice!

 

Like I said, I'm totally new to this game and I usually chicken out on drop-off's more than 2m, however I think with a little confidence, (and peer pressure), I'll go a little further and take the drops!

 

So, if you fancy taking to the trails or maybe you're totally new to this as well, let me know as it would be great to meet up, share some tips and tricks and then grab a few beers at the end

 

My current steed is a Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Comp '06, however this Christmas I had an amazing time trying out a Santa Cruz Nomad with Fox 36's :love: and Blur LT back in England. (Thanks for MountainTrax for lending me the bikes ).

 

Cheers,

 

BB

[bouncing_soul]

Hi!

 

I'm always interested in doing some trails...

...unfortunately my collarbone is broken, so I'm out for at least 3 weeks. :f:

My bike is a Orange 223... not the best ride for the locations around vienna, cause I have to push or carry it uphill... but thats ok for me...

How long will you stay in Austria? Maybe we can take a ride when my shoulder is ok again!

 

greez Max

[beanbag]

Hi Max,

 

How did you manage to break your collarbone!?

 

I'll be in Vienna until the end of June definitely, or longer if I get a new job!!!! Still, the weather is quality for riding now, so I'm hoping it stays like this! So much for skiing!

 

P.S. Nice bike! I've not ridden anything that aggressive before, although I imagine as you say, it's not fun up the hills. Maybe we can get Vienna to pay for a nice chair lift for us :bounce:

[AlphaSL]

hi beano,

 

I reckon you're not a novice at all if you do jumps up to 2m! I chicken out on drop-offs more 20cm Nah, kidding, but I guess I wouldn't go > 0.5m at the moment! Sheeesh... guess I have to work on my confidence!

 

You shouldn't have any difficulties finding riding fellas here... This is a cool forum, and even on days with horrible weather someone is going out to ride his bike (I personally prefer the more sunny days...).

 

Be sure to watch the "Bike Treff" Subforum here, this is the place where we arrange our public rides!

 

Mike

[Biker753]

Maybe we can get Vienna to pay for a nice chair lift for us :bounce:

 

ohh that´s a never ending dream!

but this won´t never happen

[beanbag]

hi beano,

 

I reckon you're not a novice at all if you do jumps up to 2m! I chicken out on drop-offs more 20cm Nah, kidding, but I guess I wouldn't go > 0.5m at the moment! Sheeesh... guess I have to work on my confidence!

 

You shouldn't have any difficulties finding riding fellas here... This is a cool forum, and even on days with horrible weather someone is going out to ride his bike (I personally prefer the more sunny days...).

 

Be sure to watch the "Bike Treff" Subforum here, this is the place where we arrange our public rides!

 

Mike

 

Hey Mike,

 

Cheers also for the reply.

 

I just want to clarify my technique is crap!!! Hence even if I come off 2m, I'm going to look like a total tit!!!! (And I've only done that once). I actually managed to spectacularly roll off that particular 2m drop as I chickened out, slammed on the brakes and came off. There is a video of the aftermath somewhere.....

 

Still, I'm slowly building up my armour collection so padded shorts with hip armour next and then finally some arm protection and a good lid and I'm all set to wreak havok!

 

I'll keep an eye on the Bike Treff forum, but I think Google will struggle! I'll put a post on there and see if anyone wants to join me on Sunday morning.....waeather permitting of course!!!

[endurance]

i´m living in north of vienna, this week i get my new fr/dh wheels...

 

i´d come to vienna for a little session

 

if anybody can tell me where to do fr/dh in vienna

[bouncing_soul]

Hi Max,

 

How did you manage to break your collarbone!?

 

I'll be in Vienna until the end of June definitely, or longer if I get a new job!!!! Still, the weather is quality for riding now, so I'm hoping it stays like this! So much for skiing!

 

P.S. Nice bike! I've not ridden anything that aggressive before, although I imagine as you say, it's not fun up the hills. Maybe we can get Vienna to pay for a nice chair lift for us :bounce:

 

Breaking a collarbone is quite simple... I was cruising around with a friend looking for some drops or descents. I found a drop in an old rock quarry... the circumstances were pretty shitty, but I did it. The first attempt was ok, but could have been better, so I wanted to do it again, that was the bad decision!!

 

In summer there are some bikeparks with lifts (but not even near vienna), but as I know there is only one opened for bikers in winter near Graz. So we gotta wait till summer or ride/push/carry the bikes up. For me its an important part of a nice freeride to push the bike up again and again, always looking for the best way down, always trying different lines.

 

greez Max

[MalcolmX]

I'll keep an eye on the Bike Treff forum, but I think Google will struggle! I'll put a post on there and see if anyone wants to join me on Sunday morning.....waeather permitting of course!!!

in the winter, there is always a nice old-men-ride just a bit out of vienna, in perchtoldsdorf. you can get there by train, but they start very early (too early for me most times).

depending on who attends the ride and how motivated you are, this might be a perfekt sunday morning fun ride for you (who says that retired people can`t go freeriding... )

watch out for the WPR wich means something like winter paraplui ride (paraplui is the "mountain" )

[fullspeedahead]

a nice old-men-ride

well, it actually isn't as bad as it sounds. Only the relaxed uphill speed may remind you of old men....

 

 

A part of this forum ist actually dedicated to "organize rides", however I could imagine that it isn't to easy for you to decipher where they start, if they use MTBs or a Road Cycles and where it actually starts.

 

But here's the link:

http://nyx.at/bikeboard/Board/forumdisplay.php?f=18

[AlphaSL]

Do you have access to a car? It would make things much easier to haul your equipment by car to better locations in the West and South of Vienna and start the rides there.

 

If not I think you can take the bike with you in the subway, but don't forget that you have to pay for your bike too. I'm living near the U4 station "Hütteldorf", and there are plenty of bike routes nearby. However don't expect demanding DH/FR tracks, most of them are cross country rides with a couple of nice downhill sections. As has been mentioned before, the classic DH/FR tracks are usually only available in bike parks like the Bikepark Semmering or Leogang - which are at least 1 hr away by car.

 

http://www.bikeparksemmering.at/pages/new/en/index.php

http://www.leoganger-bergbahnen.at/index.php?id=119&L=1 (english version no worky for some reason )

[beanbag]

Hi again all....

 

Fingers crossed this post works. I'm having nightmare network problems today.

 

Anyhow....cheers all for the info. I'll definately have to check out the Bikepark in Semmering this summer. I'm sure my brother-in-law will come over to check it out too.

 

I'm going to post a thread on the treff forum:

 

http://nyx.at/bikeboard/Board/showthread.php?p=1141371#post1141371

 

.....so if your up for a banter, lets meet up.

 

Nick

[anton]

hi,

 

I'm going to ride on Saturday(not sure) and Sunday(pretty sure) with another friend, doing some drops and stuff(laaerberg löwygrube there are also some little doubles and a big one, maybe I'll hit it finally , I just have to test my new fork, hope it will work out), if you are interested to drop'n'ride a bit with some youngsters - you're wellcome ^^ just send me an email [mejna5@hotmail.com].

 

cYa

anton

 

p.s.: ahhm sorry for bad english^^