While “Mountain Biking” has changed over the years, the reason I ride has not. Like you mentioned, not every ride is epic, and that’s just fine with me. I look forward to what changes will come and embracing the ones that suit me. The pleasure I get from being out in nature and one with my bike, regardless of what it looks like, will not change.
I ride my bike on trails because I enjoy it. I don't compete, ride for speed, or stress it. I want to improve my skills so I can ride rockier trails, but I don't see myself trying a downhill trail or even ones built up with a lot of wooden skinnies or jumps, unless they are designed to safely improve my skills before I tackle a ridge or trail with actual rock jumps. For me the fun is being outside on the trail. Getting there a little more quickly than hiking, and stopping to see the sights.
Yeah, we have a couple at our local trails. A riding buddy went to White Clay in Delaware and took a 6 foot fall off a skinny bridge when the rider ahead of him *stopped* for some reason, and yeah, I'm not gonna be doing that. I'll leave that to the young people who want the instagram clout.
While “Mountain Biking” has changed over the years, the reason I ride has not. Like you mentioned, not every ride is epic, and that’s just fine with me. I look forward to what changes will come and embracing the ones that suit me. The pleasure I get from being out in nature and one with my bike, regardless of what it looks like, will not change.
Hear, Hear, Michael!
I ride my bike on trails because I enjoy it. I don't compete, ride for speed, or stress it. I want to improve my skills so I can ride rockier trails, but I don't see myself trying a downhill trail or even ones built up with a lot of wooden skinnies or jumps, unless they are designed to safely improve my skills before I tackle a ridge or trail with actual rock jumps. For me the fun is being outside on the trail. Getting there a little more quickly than hiking, and stopping to see the sights.
Lower skinnies can be fairly safe, though I once ripped a derailleur off!
Yeah, we have a couple at our local trails. A riding buddy went to White Clay in Delaware and took a 6 foot fall off a skinny bridge when the rider ahead of him *stopped* for some reason, and yeah, I'm not gonna be doing that. I'll leave that to the young people who want the instagram clout.
Whoa, stopping on a skinny 6 feet up in the air = yikes!