Hey

a couple of weeks after my knee recon and Ive put a Giant anthem X2 on layby. Should be good fitness for rehab and keep me amused since my summer is over before it began.

Since this is by far the best forum going around thought Id start here. I also know a lot of kiter's ride mountain bikes when there's no wind.

I live just north of Newcastle and wanted to know of some nice easy tracks that will get me going. Nothing too extreme as I dont want to come off and stuff my knee again.

Also what are the best websites for mountain bike info?

Is there anything else I should know about this sport before going out and getting my new pride and joy dirty?

cheers

I'd give the clip-in's a complete miss, unless you are riding with some faster mates.

Leeds, up your neck of the woods, kind of near you is The Oaks Fire Trail in the Blue Mountains. Better access for Sydney crew though....

If you park at the bottom, and get the train to the top, you get about 500 vertical metres under your bum, and you have a nice down hill trending trail....

http://www.trailflix.com.au/tfx_new/trails.php?id=theoaks

In general, previous MTB experience, BMX, or Motor Cross Experience is a great advantage.... Just so you have a feeling of what to expect in sandy sections, etc....

i dont get why cyclist are always sooo against moto riders i agree that some are idiots but we dont all go out to wreck jumps and rip up trails just to ruin ur fun! We go out there and do the same thing u do we just like goin faster without pedalling or wearing tight clothes.

And leeds try glenrock trails or even go the fernly track (worst thing to happen to glenrock/redrock area ever) if u dont want to fall off.

Sorry to hijack your thread Leeds.....

ok - You obviously didnt read my post - I am a fellow motorbike rider having a go at the way the Watagans has been trashed by some (not all) of the motorbike community.

I admit my thoughts are very biased as I am a landholder in the area and have had several confrontations with riders who, despite gates and signage, continue to tresspass onto my land. My family (3 generations) allowed the use of a significant connecting trail for many years, but as the volumes of riders increased so did the erosion problems. The decision to put up a gate was made when I encountered a 4wd club using our fire trail (not public property) during an east coast low rain event.

Since then I have had the gate gas axed off numerous times as people (as one pillock put it) "exercise my rights to use this fire trail". Motorbike riders continue to hack trails to get around the gate and the signs are constantly being removed.

I seriously doubt that if the motorbike numbers were converted to MTB's that I would be writing this - sorry ok - but as a fellow motorbike rider (XR 250/600 F650GS) I am ashamed when I see the damage left behind generally throughout the area

buy a dirtbike do wheelies and break gates

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Well said Ben. I have an XR250 (wish it was an XR400) that I get out about 3 times per year. I ride it on well formed (or constructed) dry gravel and natural sand tracks, which are open for public riding, for most of the year.

XR250 v's XR400. The 400 is an easy winer. The 400 is about 5% heavier, and up to 5% harder to manage in really tight and twisty stuff, but for general trail riding it has roughly 50% more power, 50% more range per gear (6 speed sequential box in the 250, and only 5 gears in the 400 - so less gear changing), and probably 50% higher top end speed. The 400 is a far superior bike. Other great things about the XR400 & 250 - Bullet proof engines, extreme low maintenance, no battery to go flat (kick start only), awesome suspension.... what's not to love !!

On the MTB front, this Specialized Link leads to the "Specialized Pitch Comp" model (dual suspension, disc brakes, etc etc). These guys fitted the bike to me, and no sh!t it fells 20% faster than my previous bike.
www.totalrush.cc

Simondo - the (sadly) defunct XR650R (not the aircooled L, but the watercooled R) is my favourite all time XR - sadly I dont have adequate skill to ride it flat out - but yeah XR's rule - mechanically simple and under stressed means long engine life

ok - give me your address maybe I can come and roost your lawn