Good MTB club for a beginner

RMD

Well looking for a good MTB club, I was well into MTB two years ago but never joined a club or competed so I'd consider myself decent yet still got plenty to learn.

Got a fine bike and all the gear so want to get into it again. Anyone got a club or two they'd recommend to join as a beginner? Epic and Mad Mtb seem to be the only ones I can find which seem to be beginner friendly and active.

Cheers anyway.

blorg

I have been out with MAD a few times and +1 on them being very welcoming. They have a very good range too from beginner all the way up to the pros.

silvo

Epic are doing a beginners day in Djouce on Saturday:

http://www.epicmtb.com/forums/showthread.php?p=70994#post70994

RMD

silvo wrote: »

Epic are doing a beginners day in Djouce on Saturday:

http://www.epicmtb.com/forums/showthread.php?p=70994#post70994

Unfortunately I have my Theory test that day, how often do they have the beginner spins do you know?

mockler007

mad, search for morgan on this site and he is the club chairman,
they do alot of beginners ride out on sundays, check their website madforum and they have all the ride outs for you on it, its free the first time out but then you have to join, membership starts from jan to dec and cycling ireland dishes them out, race licence etc

Enduro

What type of cycling do you hope to get in to? Cross country / downhill / freeride / cyclocross? Or do you not know/ care. Where in Dublin are you based? Do you want to learn at comfortble rate, taking it slow and steady, or as fast as possible and push the limits at every opportunity (that's probably the key question)?

IMBRC and WORC are the other two big clubs in Dublin, by the way.

RMD

Enduro wrote: »

What type of cycling do you hope to get in to? Cross country / downhill / freeride / cyclocross? Or do you not know/ care. Where in Dublin are you based? Do you want to learn at comfortble rate, taking it slow and steady, or as fast as possible and push the limits at every opportunity (that's probably the key question)?

IMBRC and WORC are the other two big clubs in Dublin, by the way.

Have a Stumpjumper HT so I want to do XC, push the limits and fast as possible is how I'd like to ride but I have poor fitness so at the start there's only so much fast as possible I can do. Based in Clontarf, bit of a distance to the mountains but it's where everyone seems to be based.

Morgan

If you have the opportunity, head out on spins with a few different clubs and see who you get on with.

Enduro

Morgan's advice is best really.

EPIC tends to be a push yourself hard and fast type of environment. MAD seems to be a slwer and steadier environment. Try them both though. There is talk of another EPIC beginners spin (and possibly a series of them) next month. I can't remember if there are any dates yet. MAD's beginners spins seem to be more regular.

The one tip I'd give you is to work on your fitness independantly... you'll get more out of the club spins if you're fitter. Doing regular road spins up and down howth hill a few times (on an MTB or road bike) should be convenient enough for you, and will help you get your fitness levels up.

Just so you know, Morgan is in MAD, I'm in EPIC. The clubs get along like a house on fire! Either club is equally (in)convenient for clontarf.

blorg

Which is better though, that is really the question, MAD or EPIC?

Enduro

You'll have to turn up to an EPIC spin and decide for yourself!

Doc Savage

EPIC is better by miles than anything in existence...better than NAMA, The Pope..chocolate,..
in my opinion MAD is better for beginners, unless you are already fit and possibly a bit nuts..
I run the Beginner Spins in EPIC for now..but thats about to change, from December a much gentler soul will be looking after them once a month.
Speaking from EPICS point of View, we encourage commitment , its not something you can dip in and out of when the mood is on you and we demand that people get better or find something else to mess with..
We have had a whole new crop of riders this year who went from zeros to heroes in a very short time and they love it..
MAD are nice people, Morgan is a gentleman and will look after you, I'd be more inclined to fire you off a cliff before worrying will you be ok !
We are the biggest , most successful MTB Club in Ireland, and we are also one of the biggest Cycling Ireland Clubs..we cater for Road,DH,XC,Recreational,Kids and anything else you might be interested cyclingwise, we have trained Coaches and an assortment of Proffesional individuals willing to give up their time to assist newcomers..
and while we may appear rowdy,irreverent and dangerous, everybodies welcome to have a spin with us, they will turn rowdy ,irreverent and dangerous in a very short time.
Richie Byrne
EPICmtb

lazywhole

Do these clubs still exist in Dublin ?

Mec-a-nic

lazywhole wrote: »

Do these clubs still exist in Dublin ?

http://madmtb.com/v2_0/ - Yes

http://epicmtb.com/ - Yes

Enduro

And more besides.... WORC, IMBRC, Giant Dublin etc

Tenzor07

If you're an absolute beginner, start off with some lessons from biking.ie

If you have been mountain biking a bit previously then go look up a club...

Worc are not for beginners!