Sorry! No mountain biking patterns!  This page is to share with you another one of my favorite pastimes...BIKING!  To me it doesnt matter if it is mountian biking, road biking, BMX, whatever.  I love them all!  But honestly mountain biking is my favorite, with a lean towards the "Downhill" scene.

I have a small forum where I will post my biking adventures, and feel free to post your own, or have any discussions.  My forum is called "The Path 2 Life" hummmm, paths.....

I never ever saw a bad side to mountain biking until recently.  I cannot bring my Arwen (she is my sugar glider) with me!  She wants to know who this new creature is that has managed to steal me away an hour or so a couple times a week.
BG (Before Gliders) I used to mountain bike all the time.  I mean ALL the time.  My living room smelled like a bike shop, bike parts all over.  Mountain bike leaning on the couch ("Do NOT touch that bike!  You sit in the chair!") I used to race "downhill" style too.  Trophies.  Possible sponsorship in the nationals.  Then a freak accident (NOT bike related) made me bedridden for 1 month and off the bike for 1 year.  In that year I got old and fat.  And never rode again.  For 10 years.  Then a couple weeks ago I hear it.  My bike calling me from the garage "Dost thou not love me?"  I knew I would need some riding partners to help me.  To encourage me.  Some wonderful fellas from work have stepped up and started taking me out on trails.  I have ridden 4 times in the past 2 weeks and found a new partner who says he will ride every other day with me (woo hoo!)
Yesterday's ride was the best so far!  I started to remember some of my "groove" and conquered 2 hurdles.  One I went over a log I was afraid to go over.  Two I chose to NOT go over a log I was afraid I would feel stupid for walking over.  The best?  I dropped 1 of 2 very heavy pieces of baggage.  Remember when I said I got old and fat?  Well....I am no longer old!
I am eagerly waiting for the next ride!  Hopefully Arwen will understand that this is something I need to do for a few hours a week.  At least until they make bike helmets and body gear in glider sizes.

I have lost 5 inches off my waist!

Read all about JORBA and why trail maintenance in so important.  Trails just dont appear out of nowhere, someone has to build and maintain them!  Please, if you love to mountain bike, then support proper trail etiquette and maintenance!

Visit JORBA!

Note to my customers: if your name is on the JORBA membership list, you will get a discount on items purchased off my site!  Contact me for details!

So far I have joined only one mountain biking forum.  And so far it has been the only I needed.  The members are funny, informative, and very helpful!

Visit mtbNJ.com

DRIVING TIPS: WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU SEE A CYCLIST
We all need to learn to share the road.  We do not own it.  We share it with other drivers, motorcycle riders, cyclists, pedestrians, and sometimes we may even see horses.  We all need to remember to drive or ride with courtesy.  While driving a vehicle we also need to remember that we will cause the MOST HARM to others such as the motorcycle riders, the cyclists, pedestrians and horses.  So we as drivers need to be the most courteous!

 
I have been hit by a car 3 different times.  Each time the DRIVER was in the wrong.  Recently a friend says to me, “I never noticed cyclists on the road before.  Until you started riding.  Now I see them everywhere.  What should I do when I see them?”  This is very disturbing and purely a case of you don’t see what you don’t expect to see.  I blame this on NJ’s DMV driving test and manual.  There should be more attention given to this subject in driving classes and tests.

So what do you need to do?  First of all I want to tell everyone you need to STAY ALERT AND EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED.  While this may sound silly to stress, it truly amazes me how many accidents there are on the road today.  And I would say almost all of them are because you either weren’t paying attention or were driving too aggressively!  SLOW DOWN!  Better to get there late then never!

With the health of people (most being overweight) and the economy (most being broke) I think more and more people will be taking to riding bikes.  It’s fun and relatively inexpensive.  With more and more people being concerned with being “green” you will see more and more people using bikes for commuting to work.  

Drivers need to understand that the cyclist has every right to BE THERE!  That being said, I will admit that SOMETIMES cyclists also do things they should not be doing.  And those types make it bad for the rest of us.  But as a driver of a large heavy vehicle with higher speed capabilities, isn’t it better to just be patient for a couple seconds, rather than risk killing someone just so you can get to where you need to go?

Cyclists should NOT use the sidewalk, unless walking their bike.  Cyclists should NOT ride against the traffic.  Cyclists should NOT ride side by side, if doing so impedes traffic. Cyclists SHOULD ride in the road to the far right as is safe and practical.  Cyclists Should use hand signals when turning.  Cyclists SHOULD realize they have all the rights and responsibilities of a vehicle.  Cyclists SHOULD be using an intersection just the way a vehicle does.  However, due to their vulnerability, they may choose to ride to the front of the lane of cars to make themselves more visible.  Please allow them the space and time they need to cross or turn.

Please do not toot your horn!  It is very unsettling to us.  Unless you are driving a car that makes no sound, we know you are there.
Please go ahead and pass! While we want you to slow down, and give us extra space when you pass us, we also don’t want you to follow us forever.  As soon as we are able, we will move over to give you room.  I have had drivers so concerned with passing me they rode behind me for quite a distance, that is unnerving as well.
Please just give us an extra second or two! When you see a cyclist on the road and you know you have to make a right hand turn soon, please DO NOT SPEED UP TO PASS US THEN MAKE THE TURN RIGHT IN FRONT OF US!  This is cutting us off and you could be sited for “failure to yield” if an accident does occur from this maneuver.
Don’t underestimate our speed. I wish I had a dollar for every time I am really moving along and someone pulls out in front of me thinking I am going slow and I have to lock them up to avoid a collision.  Remember, we are considered a vehicle on the road.  So whether we are climbing a grueling hill slowly or flying along happily down one, we have the right of way just like any vehicle.  Please just wait that couple extra minutes for us.
Please just give us a little space. If you pass us as we are approaching an intersection, please be aware of your position when you stop at the light.  If you just drove by me and you are approaching a red light and you are in the right lane, please leave a little room for me to squeeze on up to the corner.
Please let us have the right of way at intersections. When we make eye contact we are not trying to stare you down.  We are trying to make sure you have SEEN us.  Please let us cross or make our turn.  We also did not get in front of you to be “first” but only to be more visible as we are more vulnerable to injury in an accident.
Please learn to use your blinkers. Please learn to use your signal lights.  This isn’t only good driving skills on your part, but is safer for you as well, as other drivers and the cyclists know what you are planning.   Since bikes do not come with blinkers, cyclists use hand signals to let you know what move they are planning.  We may also wave to get your attention, request you stop or wait, or thank you for being courteous.  If we hold our hand up indicating for you to slow down or stop, we are not trying to “rule the road” we are only trying to keep ourselves safe from harm, or even you from being ticketed.
You can be ticketed! If you bump a cyclist and they take your plate number and report you, you can possibly be ticketed.  Remember that cyclists are considered VEHICLES by NJ law.
Thanks!