 Poster: A snowHead
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I notice that for a number of you skiing and mountain biking seem to go hand in hand, one statement I read even suggested that you could improve your skiing by taking up mountain biking. Apart from the obvious ie general fitness and maybe building strength in the legs what are the other benefits of mountain biking in realition to your skiing?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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It gives you something to do in the mountains in the Summer 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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there's a certain amount of transference of skills to in terms of general confidence, trail reading, being out in nice places etc
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I did wonder if it was more to do with the common environment of the two sports rather than a fitness thing.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Come to think about it, maybe its just something to do with liking spending large amounts of money on equipment.....
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I find it's the other way round. My skiing helps my mountainbiking by overcoming the fear of steep bits.
I can get down steeper stuff on skis than I can on my bike.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Mosha Marc, Vice versa, i think they both help improve each other.
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| Mosha Marc wrote: |
I find it's the other way round. My skiing helps my mountainbiking by overcoming the fear of steep bits.
I can get down steeper stuff on skis than I can on my bike. |
True. But I can follow much narrower paths at far higher speed on a bike 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Mogs, biking is
- fun
- gets you fit
- it's good to be out in the mountains when not surrounded by drunken idiots...
- if you can hack a steep rocky single trail on a bike then steeps on skis will hold no more terrors for you.
- fun 
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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I use my bike for fun and keeping fit (should use it a lot more though  ) but haven't used my mountain bike for what it was meant to be used for which is obviously in the mountains the way you guys do. I can certainly see the attraction. Strangely enough more since I started skiing
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Both can wreck your knees, both give that adrenaline fix unavalable on most other terra firma sports. In both you end up going where you are looking
... so watching that rock or patch of ice equally dangerous for both.
Moving on from which both are safer wearing a helmet
(and I'm expecting flack for that!  )
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You know it makes sense.
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| Quote: |
both give that adrenaline fix unavalable on most other terra firma sports
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I think THAT is the common element.
Otherwise, you can WALK in the mountains, which most of you probably do anyway. But you won't get the SPEED and the adrenaline "fix" walking.
As for steeps, I don't relate the two. I can SAFELY descend much steeper terrain on ski than I DARE to attempt on bike. And I'm a better biker than I'm a skier. A much lower center of gravity on ski and the one metre long metal edge makes a ski a far better descend platform than any downhill bike.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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abc, I agree with what you say a ski can descend much better, but the terrains are much different, skiing is done on a smooth surface, biking done on a rough surface.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Liam wrote: |
| abc, I agree with what you say a ski can descend much better, but the terrains are much different, skiing is done on a smooth surface, biking done on a rough surface. |
Ever tried sand? 
(or the fine, loose dirt, the kind they have all over the southwest of US & Sierra?)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Have biked on loose terrain, control is minimul, if not nothing, if the ground moves underneath you, there is nothing you can do, except ride it out until you get to the bottom.
Mountain bikes move by the rotation of wheels, as skis move by sliding.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Mogs wrote: |
| I use my bike for fun and keeping fit (should use it a lot more though ) but haven't used my mountain bike for what it was meant to be used for which is obviously in the mountains the way you guys do. I can certainly see the attraction. Strangely enough more since I started skiing |
Is it a real mountain bike, or a pattern bike? Basically, how much did it cost? If it's under about £350 it probably wouldn't stand up to being used off road for very long.
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It's a mountain bike, bought second hand but in good condition. I think about £300 new. Being honest I tend to use cycle paths so a mountain bike is an overkill. I am not sure how much off road (or rough terrain) I am likely to do on it but I do fancy trying some testing but prepared mountain tracks. I am afraid my age is more against me than my bike I like the idea of trail reading though and having another reason to be in the mountains in the summer than just walking
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Mogs, Just noticed your location there. Have a look at the Afan trail, lots to play around with and you can decide at the time whether you fancy the forest ride or the more direct ride to base camp. I've lived in Cardiff for a while now and normally ride up and around the Brecon Beacons and have only recently found the wonders of Afan and Cwmcarn. They are both stunning rides. Both these places are fully laid out mountain bike trails so there won't be any nasty surprises!
More here
[Edit: also, have a look at the Sustrans network for gentle but tidy trails]
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Mountain biking looks a bit sad. It is wise to stay clear if you are over about 25.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Mogs, As fatbob says singletrack is good, quick decision making is required or you can end up anywhere, another good trail out in Wales is the Marin Trail, which is in Betys Coen ( sp????) You should give that a go, its not to technical, and is suitable for an intermediate rider and upwards.
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Thanks for all the info. I like the sound of single track riding. I will definately check out the Afan trail which is pretty close to where I live. Where do you obtain your trail maps? Is there normally a depot to obtain these and give out info on conditions etc?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Mogs, You'll probably be able to google it, and print a PDF map of. Not had a proper look through this site www.mbwales.com it has loads of trails on.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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I just did a skills course at Glentress at the weekend and we spend most of the day comparing it to skiing as the other 2 people in my group also skied in the winter.
In mountain biking its all in the hips apparently, you have to get your weight forward( always being told this when skiing), pressurise the front wheel (tips of the skis) for more control when going round corners, have more weight on your outside leg ( ski) when cornering, there were loads of similarities and we were even talking about carving with our bikes at one point. hopefully if I get good at one it will help with the other
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Whitegold,
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Mountain biking looks a bit sad. It is wise to stay clear if you are over about 25.
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On the contrary, I'm almost always grinning on the mountain-bike, even when it's tipping with rain. You obviously don't know how to have fun 
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You know it makes sense.
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Whitegold, as a 46 year old not quite sure you are right. Besides if you stick to singletrack in woods, only the squirrels get to see you!
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| lynseyf wrote: |
| hopefully if I get good at one it will help with the other |
From what I am reading here it seems that most agree that mountain biking will improve your skiing. And I can see the logic in that. But do you think the same applies in reverse? That skiing will also improve your biking?
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Whitegold wrote: |
| Mountain biking looks a bit sad. It is wise to stay clear if you are over about 25. |
I found the best way to "stay clear" is to leave the sub-25 year old in my dust.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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From what I am reading here it seems that most agree that mountain biking will improve your skiing. And I can see the logic in that. But do you think the same applies in reverse? That skiing will also improve your biking?
I certainly found it easier to understand what they were trying to get me to do on the skills course i did because of what I'd been learning skiing this winter
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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jtr, wait a bit, although there are only 3 weeks to go, still plenty of time for a few more riders to pull out for medical reasons and it starts in the UK this year.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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stoatsbrother, Good point. I believe that "having" asthma and therefore having a legitimate reason for taking the associated medication seems to be the current trend in the peleton.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Mogs, There's a lot of info about S Wales riding on this site: http://www.mtb-wales.com/index.php
Their forum seems to have a number of friendly folks fixing outings, if you would like to use the interweb to meet strangers. I like MTBing - nearest thing to skiing without snow.
Sustrans have a good website too with maps of their routes: http://www.sustrans.org.uk/default.asp
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Kramer, Llandegla is a handy set of trails just across the border, it also leads to the moors, Llangollen's Horseshoe Pass, single track descents etc. If you end up somewhere else let me know what you thought of it. Cheers... and have fun.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Actually Scarpa we're going to be pretty close to your neck of the woods. You busy?
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FAQ
. Think I might take up knitting then 
