Natty Newbie episode nine: 15 things to love and hate about mountain biking

Join Natty Newbie as she tries mountain biking for the first time. After six weeks in and out of the saddle, Natty has formed some strong opinions about her new sport. Here’s her love and hate list. Don’t forget to enter the fabulous competition to win a starter mountain bike and kit worth R19 000.

Love
My stronger legs and firmer butt.

Hate
Cycling into a headwind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love
The bike wash at CycleLab. It leaves your bike with that same squeaky clean, pampered feeling you’d get from a tour to the hairdresser.

Hate
Cleats that get clogged with mud and won’t release your feet.

Love
Endorphins cruising through my veins after a strenuous ride.

Hate
Air vents in my cycling helmet  – it’s midge season now and the little blighters get into the hole and bite my head. I can’t scratch without stopping and taking off the helmet. Of course, air vents will be great when the midges are gone and my brain starts to boil in the summer heat. But for now, they’re a pain.

Love
That triumphant feeling when you successfully negotiate a difficult piece of terrain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hate
Feeling stupid when I have a silly fall (like yesterday and the day before and the day before that!).

Love
The days when my legs feel strong and are working efficiently. The feeling of power on the pedals is great.

Hate
People who cruise past me when I’m giving it my all – and they aren’t even panting!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love
Splashing through puddles.

Hate
Wiping out in puddles.

Love
My 29er (Merida Big Nine TFS 300).

Hate
People with lighter, better bikes than mine (even though they probably paid much more for theirs).

Love
Bombs – quick fix air.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hate
Tyre slime on my work clothes, carpet, car … everywhere thanks to a totally pap tyre.

Well, that’s it for now. Feel free to add your own loves and hates in the comment box below. In the meantime, please enter the competition to win a Merida Big Nine TFS300 29er and start up kit worth R22 000.

Till next time, pedal on…

Natty Newbie

Contact CycleLab for a great selection of products in the online store, advice, tours, online race entries and details of the stores round the country.

READ OTHER NATTY NEWBIE BLOGS 

Natty Newbie gets into mountain biking

Natty Newbie starts mountain biking episode two: Bike set-up

Natty Newbie episode three: Six things Natty learned about mountain biking   

Natty Newbie episode four: Mountain biking first spills 

Natty Newbie episode five: Weight watching techniques

Natty Newbie episode six: Stretching her limits in a yoga class for cyclists

Natty Newbie episode seven: How to fix a puncture

Natty Newbie episode eight: Expanding the mountain biking family

WIN Ride, Sanlam Reality and CycleLab are giving one lucky reader the chance to win the full starter kit as described in this blog. All you have to do is follow the series and answer the question below.

Click here to enter the competition. Closing Date is 31 October 2012. The items on the prize equipment list may be exchanged for similar goods of the same or lesser value to cater for individual fit. Click here for the full equipment list for the prize.