Noob with craptacular bike!

[xwhoopax]

Hey guys. My name is Jeremie.

My interest in biking has been growing so i was browsing the interwebz and stumbled upon these forums. read a couple posts, and lovin the info im getting from here and hoping to get more info as i read on!

I'm a noob at mountain biking. And all ive got is a Diamondback Outlook that ive been riding around but lookin for some trails and whatnot to get more comfortable. And really just happy to be riding at all. After i do that, i'm lookin to move up to a full suspension bike, but of course as a student, it may take a bit of time to get the funds for that ha.

anyways, i was wondering what the fully loop (fullerton loop) is like. I YouTubed some videos from there. Doesnt seem too hard and looks like a great place to learn some technique.

[bajamtnbkr]

from San Diego!

[Waldo]

Welcome aboard/ Fully Loop is fun and has the advantage of hosting the weekly STR rides which are fun and newbie friendly. You won't develop much in the way of singletrack skills, but general bike handling and fitness can be improved.

Don't sweat the bike - just go ride it. I saw two guys at Aliso today heading down Mathis on Next brand bikes that probably cost them under $100 at WalMart. Looked like they were having fun to me!

[bighit8]

Welcome, the loop is easy, but fun. And never underestimate an easy trail, it will bite you're butt.

[Keith B]

Well said Waldo.

[xwhoopax]

Originally Posted by Waldo

Welcome aboard/ Fully Loop is fun and has the advantage of hosting the weekly STR rides which are fun and newbie friendly. You won't develop much in the way of singletrack skills, but general bike handling and fitness can be improved.

Don't sweat the bike - just go ride it. I saw two guys at Aliso today heading down Mathis on Next brand bikes that probably cost them under $100 at WalMart. Looked like they were having fun to me!

fitness... yeah i need that! haha. but fun is what im after. and so far, this diamondback has brought me plenty. thanks for the warm welcome. ill try to get some buddies out to the fully loop just to try it out. but sadly, i cannot make the thursday rides since ive got night class on thursday! i fail i know. lol.

also, since im from the San Fernando Valley i was wondering if anyone knew anything closer and on the same level as the Fully Loop.

[faded1004]

i was a beginner, at biking and this website a few weeks ago. i went into it full swing and built my own bike. i totally recommend the newbie ride for the fullerton loop. i did it and i was totally out of shape. they stop very often and they will be very welcome to give you pointers.

try to make sure you come out to one newbie ride sometime... they are pretty fun and social.

[kanga]

I'm not far from you, near glendale/pasadena, and most of what we have around here is long steep climbs and really fun descents, when you get your skills down.

The OTB group (otbmbc.com) rides tuesday and thursday nights (I saw you have a class thursdays) as well as weekends and the rides are usually local to the valley or pasadena.

But for general training and fitness the verdugos have plenty to offer. They are long fire road climbs, and once you know your way around there is some fun stuff there too.

In studio city the Betty Dearing trail is something we usually ride occasionally on our weeknight rides, but there are lots of hikers to deal with. There's some fun stuff right under your nose around there too... just gotta know where to go.

Welcome, and see ya on a trail soon!

[Waldo]

Originally Posted by Keith B

Well said Waldo.

First time for everything

[FatWhat?]

Welcome again from SD. Unfortunatley I have nothing to enlighten you on the Fully loop.

[xwhoopax]

@kanga

ive only been to two dirt trails around here. one being on la tuna cny (i think its la tuna) right off the 210. but there isnt much i can do there. the long paved hill that gets you to the dirt is tiring and then when u get to the dirt, theres an even steeper climb lol that i just cant do with my bike.

and then theres the NIKE missile site off mulholland i think which starts with a long dirt climb but is do-able. then theres a long fun downhill portion and little places to wander off which are fun. and the ride back downhill is really fun.

but id like more of an easy ride with some places to stop and practice some things like some short steep downhills or little jumps and bumps and the sort just so i can learn to handle em one by one and then progress to something where theres a ton of these things happening at once lol.

but man, thanks for all the info everyone! and for the friendly atmosphere! sure glad i signed up here.

[DBD]

Sounds like you need to check out Chesbro Cyn in Agura. Just North, off the 101 near Kanan. Nice easy climb, almost as close to flat as you can get, with a small section that has a short somewhat technical section on the way up (or down) that a lot of new riders session on. The tech part is a small roll in and the climb up is a bit techy but short, talkin' 20 or 30 yrds(?). Get to the top, turn around and do it again.
Once you are done playing on that spot you can continue on up the trail and there is some fun little stuff and it is a nice ride as well. Just watch for the horses and hikers.

Welcome.

[northshore]

[BrewMaster]

Welcome!

[Pugz]

Welcome, there is also a Sunday morning newbie ride and the loop if you ever have time.

[kanga]

Hey, one thing you should check out is CORBA's free skills clinic. The next one is on April 5th out at Malibu Creek State Park. Friendly atmosphere, and you'll work on the basics... doesn't matter what bike you're on.

http://www.corbamtb.com/cgi-bin/cale...nt&event_id=50

[jeffj]

We've got some stuff you should like (a half hour north on I-5). Shoot me a PM if you've got the time to come up and ride. Doesn't have to be on a weekend.

[xwhoopax]

thanks kanga,

tha COBRA thing seems awesome. free learing session FTW. i think im going to HAVE to go to that. depending if ive got time that day, but i hope i do.

thanks DBD,

that doesnt sound too far at all. might have to check it out one day. i wrote it down.

and thanks Jeffj,

i will take you up on the invite someday!

[DBD]

Originally Posted by xwhoopax

. . .
thanks DBD,

that doesnt sound too far at all. might have to check it out one day. i wrote it down. . .

You are in NoHo correct?
If you jump on the 101 and head North about 15min (traffic allowing) you will be at Chesbro. Also as Kanga mentioned Malibu Creek, it is an easy but fun area to ride. Even if you do not do the CORBA class you should hit that area up anyways.

[kanga]

A couple more to think of.... betty dearing trail in Studio City. There are some sections you'd be walking, but it's close enough that you could ride to it from where you live.

Next thursday our group is doing a ride at Cherry Canyon. This is a small area with a network of single track and fire road. Lots of easy stuff, and the climbs aren't too long. Good beginner place to go that not many people know about.