If you recall, the point of Fully Rigid as a title for this column was done, partly, in jest, the whole idea being that someone who says they ride a “fully rigid” mountain bike maybe doesn’t understand that it’s simply a rigid bike versus that of a hardtail or a super duper squishy cheater bike (yes, I have one and it’s cheating!) or a bike with a motor in it, aka motor-bike. The point being that some of us/all of us have something to say about any/all/some mountain biking “things” and that reality is, we don’t always agree.
Anyway, the whole idea of Fully Rigid is/was to explore issues within the mountain biking community, the thought being: we have issues. Let’s discuss them.
Don’t we? Have issues?!
Of course we do.
Let’s take off our shoes, lay on the couch, and process …
I was riding the Cuyamacas the other day and saw this sign:
At that moment, well, after taking the photo, actually, I thought:
For the next Fully Rigid, why not post the sign and let the readers say what they wanna say about it?
That’s what we’ll do!
Leave a comment and let’s see if the conversation turns out to be something like what Fully Rigid was set up to be in the first place. A space to acknowledge challenges we face without our little MTB world and that internet space being a place, of sort, to talk about them.
Who’s first?!
Fully Rigid is a monthly column by James Murren about Mountain Biking Issues within the Mountain Biking Community.
Personally, I don’t have an issue with e-bikes. If that’s your cup of tea, more power to you (so to speak). Like Jeff and his friend, I may consider one when the unassisted pedaling gets to be too much. Since getting out into nature on the path less traveled is a huge part of why I ride. If that means adding a battery or a third wheel or a seeing eye dog, I’m all for it. Just as long as the beer is cold when we’re done
Definitely a few different sides to look at. Personally, I do not have one and don't plan to unless I'm physically unable to pedal a normal bike anymore enough to have fun. I ran into a trail user a few months ago (well into his 70's) who said "I'll get an e-bike when I'm old".
:)
That being said, I lug a chainsaw out in the spring to help clear logs. It would be so much easier/faster with an e-bike to help on the climb out.
A friend of mine recently picked one up, he'll do a big loop in an hour, same that would take me at least 3. Still in the woods, still pedaling, still not on the couch. but 3x more fun? Might be hard to argue with that, but you don't know until you try...so.