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Every MTBer across the land should be made to do a mandatory trail maintenance/building day each year.
Imagine how much more trails we'd have?.
Bikes are not “rigs”, they are bikes.
Shit riders on expensive bikes are still shit riders.
Bike tech improvements do lead to better bikes every year.
Past a certain age, more effort goes into maintaining skills and fitness than progressing them.
Ugly bikes ride bad.
Good looking bikes look good because they are the right shape, and they ride well.
"All cycling is merely energy focused into motion - we are just a body and machine in harmony experiencing the terrain subjectively. There is no such thing as Gravel or Enduro, riding is one action and our experience is the projection or reflection of ourselves. Here's Tom with the weather - "
Cannock is an absolutely awful place to ride.
Well I'm told the off-piste is pretty good, and the DH bit looks alright, but the marked XC trails are very much not my cup of earl grey.
* shudders and thinks of the flatness and the pebbles, the pebbles *
There is no cycling industry conspiracy of planned obsolescence, just a load of enthusiastic but relatively low-paid, partially competent and under-resourced enthusiasts who don't really talk to each other and jump on bandwagons out of fear of being left behind.
Apart from Sram's refusal to make a wider range 11sp XD cassette - that's obviously deeply evil.
Bikes are gradually getting better.
They haven't put on weight.
Weight isn't the be all and end all.
Trails don't have to be built to be good. In fact building a trail can ruin a set of perfectly good natural features.
They haven't really put on much cost if you account for inflation (the odd halo model may break above inflation, but I'm sure there's always been something out there more expensive).
just a load of enthusiastic but relatively low-paid, partially competent and under-resourced enthusiasts who don’t really talk to each other and jump on bandwagons out of fear of being left behind
Partially competent is probably overstating it somewhat.
My MTB has a 60mm stem *shocking*
Full suss bikes should come with proper instructions on how to dismantle the moving bits and change the bearings. And they should be held together with normal ROBUST off the shelf components rather than fancy cheese/alloy contraptions that are not up to the task of being undone once they've been torqued up and left in the mud and grit for a bit (OK a year or five).
Not that I'm having a frustrating mornings fettle or anything...
Swinley is one of the dullest places on earth
Hardtails are bloody uncomfortable. Anyone who chooses to give themselves back ache and a sore arse is an idiot!
I don’t care that I might be a rubbish rider, I love my bike, and ultimately you drive a car that can do 150mph and don’t use the full potential of that either, so don’t judge!
And for anyone who even thinks of looking at a Lefty fork and saying “you’re missing a bit” or “I think a bit has fallen off mate”, you’re the 7000th person to come up with that ‘original’ joke. You’re the cycling equivalent to the numpty golfer who when asked “what’s your handicap?” Responds with “my clubs”........not original either.
Happy Christmas you lovely bunch of grumpy individuals!
Swinley is one of the dullest places on earth
Not been to Cannock then?
Hardtails are bloody uncomfortable. Anyone who chooses to give themselves back ache and a sore arse is an idiot!
Never had back ache or a sore arse from riding one. You’re doing it wrong 😀
Obviously sitting down too much.
Gravel biking is more of a concept than a reality this side of the pond...
Cotic are followers not innovators.
Haha. Or maybe you are!! LOL
GCN in a recent video about gravel bikes said that gravel bikes were invented because mountain biking has become boring - they're right!
On a complete (though Christmassy) tangent, why do people obsess about pigs in blankets? I can take or leave them at best, at worst they’re a cocktail sausage wrapped in leather.
Cotic are followers not innovators
Geometry terms yes.
They have made steel full sus bikes work on a scale that nobody else has managed though.
GCN in a recent video about gravel bikes said that gravel bikes were invented because mountain biking has become boring
MTB is the best it's ever been. Gravel bikes were invented because road biking had become boring / too dangerous.
Gravel bikes were invented because road biking had become boring / too dangerous.
100% this.
It's a way for roadies to get off road that requires zero skills.
MTB is the best it’s ever been.
Sadly God didn't keep up the payments for his geography changes to keep up with the MTB advances. The point GCN were making was that the mountain biking out of the front door has now become a bit dull on modern bike (apart from the lucky few with gnar on their doorstep) and that's where gravel bikes step in.
But planning my road route for tomorrow morning the thought of cutting the corner off and riding 15km of estate road rather than 20km of A road would appeal.
MTB is the best it’s ever been. Gravel bikes were invented because road biking had become boring / too dangerous.
Nah. Gravel was invented as everyone is so over-biked that they’ve made their local trails dull. So they have a choice, drive for longer to get somewhere interesting and spend less time riding, or get those local trails interesting, perhaps by mixing in some quiet roads.
Gravel bikes were invented to sell more bikes. Roadies have been racing, racing I tell you, on gravel since errr bikes were invented. Well 1892 anyway.
Anyone who doesn’t have a “P” couldn’t give a crap about the forum and hence no-one else should give a crap about their pop ups and over heating PC’s.
While I was being a bit tongue-in-cheek about gravel, I honestly thought it was a genuine grassroots thing from the US - and that it was more of an interesting and safe alternative to tarmac than an offshoot of MTB.
I haven't seen the GCN thing, but as explained here it sounds like a rationalisation of the fact that gravel bikes seem to have mainly been bought by mid life crisis men who feel left behind by MTB over here.
People moan about gravel bikes as a way to air their hang ups and try and remove some of the massive chips on their shoulders. They don't get them so the people that do and happily ride them must be;
- Having a mid life crisis
- Have no skills so cannot do proper MTB
- Need one because cycling on the road is boring
- Any other crap they can come out with
It didn't say, middle of the road opinions.
Gravel bikes make sense in places like the US and Iceland, where there are tonnes of unmade roads. That's why Lauf started up there.
In the UK, it's basically a cross bike, with slightly more modern design. You'd be better off with a rigid mtb.
Cotic are followers not innovators
<Geometry terms yes>
That's what I mean. Basically a BTR copy.
That being said, Cotic's are good. Am considering a Flare Max.
Don't get me started on Stanton. Fanbois lose their perspective over them.
Nobody is moaning about gravel bikes Kerley, seems a bit of a touchy subject with you though.
😉
As above, the argument that enduro bikes have made gravel bikes necessary is BS. Local trails have changed to reflect modern bikes anyway and hardtails are still available.
I tried a gravel bike myself but it was the worst of both worlds for me, and I switched to a winter road bike with full guards.
Local trails have changed to reflect modern bikes anyway
Someone seems to have forgotten to inform my local council of this fact where I live in the south of England about what they are meant to have done to the bridleways. Also looks like I need to send an email to the estate manager where I live up in the Highlands - the unreasonable sod has done bugger all to change the estate tracks to 'reflect modern bikes'. I've got tens of kilometers of them to explore and the cock has not dug a single berm or double for me. Where do I complain?
I tried a gravel bike myself but it was the worst of both worlds for me, and I switched to a winter road bike with full guards.
Happy for you. However that doesn't mean they are not good for others.
Gravel bikes make sense in places like the US and Iceland, where there are tonnes of unmade roads.
Or in the UK where there are loads of gravel roads. Just because you don't live near them doesn't mean that for people who do, a gravel bike makes sense.
Nobody is moaning about gravel bikes Kerley, seems a bit of a touchy subject with you though.
Couldn't care less, I don't even ride one myself as they are too heavy. However, as I said there seems to be a lot of crap spoken by people who just don't get them or find them a suitable bike for their use. If you don't get them that is fine but doesn't mean they are not great for others.
Gravel bikes were invented because road biking had become boring / too dangerous.
Wrong.
Gravel bikes were invented for two reasons: that the not very good roadies could show their superior skills and fitness to the fat lads on mtbs.
And for the fat lads on mtbs to pretend they are roadies ... safely hidden from the good roadies.
All this brow-furrowing over gravel bikes boils down to one question - do I like drop bars?
If you don't- it's a compromised MTB
If you do - It's everything you love about your road bike but not limited to roads!
Anyway I thought a proper MTBer was supposed to idolise drop bar era Tomac alongside their MBUK cut out and keep Jason McRoy posters?
Swinley is one of the dullest places on earth
Did you miss the “controversial” bit of the thread topic?
You’d be better off with a rigid mtb.
Explain please.
Are these ‘opinions’ genuinely held, or are they just controversial statements, for the sake of it?
'Gravel bikes have zero to do with MTBing'
As above, the argument that enduro bikes have made gravel bikes necessary is BS.
It is, plenty of people had gravel bikes well before Enduro bikes were a thing.
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Like being back in 2008 with all this gravel talk.
kerley
Or in the UK where there are loads of gravel roads. Just because you don’t live near them doesn’t mean that for people who do, a gravel bike makes sense.
The beauty of a gravel bike is even if the nearest trail is 20 miles away, it’s viable to ride there instead of going on this forum to find out if you should get a van or an estate car.
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBOOBZ29SX/on-one-bootzipper-29er-sram-sx-mountain-bike
Better off with a rigid mountain bike.
The opinions don't have to be held, they have to be controversial.
Any gravel riders that haven't come from the road will eventually come back to MTB when they realize that riding your local trail on a road bike while possible is still shit.
Much better to either build some better stuff, drive for a bit or buy an ebike and ride up the stuff that you struggle to get down on your gravel bike.
...aaaand they're we have it, yet another good thread ruined by gravel bikes, people moaning about how modern bikes are running MTBing, and old people bitching about things that don't matter. I'm surprised that nobody has thrown in an e bike jibe yet to hit the full definition of STW Godwin's Law.
TBH, the thread wasn't ruined by gravel bikes, it was ruined by those folk that have no sense of humour. Plenty of other stuff was dismissed up thread with little argument.
Riding round with the entire contents of Millets strapped to your bike has nothing to do with mountainbiking.
Pugsleys aren't slow and are great to ride all day for days on end.
Bike packing is just bike touring.
Small panniers are better for most off road touring than sticky out wobbly seat packs.
On most rides some kind of mudguard makes cycling much better.
Unless you are going fast all the time and/or are very young, slammed stems are worse than handlebars level with the seat.
Baggy shorts are less comfortable than stretchy ones and make a horrid swishing noise.
Cycling clubs always have at least 5 or 6 over bearing dicks that can't bear change or anything "new"
Guys who object to lycra because it is too revealing are (a) are repressing their homosexuality and/or (b) have small cocks.
Are these ‘opinions’ genuinely held, or are they just controversial statements, for the sake of it?
That's the fun of this thread! Spout whatever pish you want, no comeback or need to explain, only the terminally offended bite! 🤣
Spout whatever pish you want, no comeback or need to explain, only the terminally offended bite!
And therein lies the problem, some of us are using the thread as a sort of confessional for our most unpopular yet deeply held opinions* whilst some are just using it for lazy trolling.
Get ye behind us Nobeerinthefridge! 😉
*can I just add: I find the whole Jason McCroy cult-thing a bit weird?
My MTB has a 60mm stem *shocking*
Making it at least 30mm too short!
Most MTBers have never even heard of STW never mind posted on here.
some are just using it for lazy trolling.
Trolling is against the forum rules, so I can't believe anyone is doing that.
Most STWers have never even heard of MTBs let alone been on one.
Riding in the mud is fun once, every ride is a chore. The future is integral mud guards.
Chris Porter is pretty much spot on about bike geo and most bike manufactures know it.
They are just edging towards it as if they jump there in one step they'll have no where to go for the next five or six years.
[quote="scotroutes"] He can call himself whatever he wants but Veronica Ivy is still a bloke.
Deliberately misgendering someone is on a par with using the n-word, regardless of whether the person in question is an arse or not. Don't do it.
on a par with using the n-word,
scotroutes also has history of trying to make a joke of that too...
Suspension is not needed for 50% of UK Mtb rides..... Suspension makes them boring and painless and mtbing should be painfull.
Rigid mtb's are not the same as gravel bikes... Rigid mtb's are shit on the road, road bikes are shit on rough roads. Gravel/cyclo-cross bikes are ok on everything...... And are fun if you like drop bars.
Most stw forum members are miserable bastards.....
A lot of craft ale is fairly unpleasant over hopped fruity pish and sells based on trendy can designs.
Conversely, garden variety lagers like Tennents or Carlsberg are great post ride drinks.
Making it at least 30mm too short!
Or 20mm too long.
Padded shorts are for the weak.
No one gives a **** what you ride and how you ride it!
Unless you are going fast all the time and/or are very young, slammed stems are worse than handlebars level with the seat.
I assume you're vertically challenged - my 29er would be a big wheeled Brompton by the time I got my bars level with my saddle!
No one gives a **** what you ride and how you ride it!
Unless it’s an ebike. Then folk know exactly why you have it, how you ride it and love to tell you their (usually negative) feelings about it.
Edit - forget it. I was getting involved in the misgendering argument, then remembered this thread is about controversial cycling opinions.
Steel full suspension bikes are overweight, overpriced, overflexy scrap metal.
Mathieu van der Poel is cheating somehow
Berms are making riders crap at cornering and dealing with off camber sections on natural trails.
Walna scar is boring. Dalby red is very repetitive and lacks flow.
Afan is actually the best Welsh trail centre.
Gravel bikes are headed the same way as 27.5.
Nowhere.
A few years from now they will both be remembered as the evolutionary dead ends they patently are.
People who don’t know the difference between peddling and pedalling should not be cyclists.
See also breaks and brakes.
And trails vs trials, my pet hate: Surely vs Shirley. Off topic though, apologies
scotroutes is both (a) and (b), sorry couldn't resist.😁
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And trails and trials, and my per hate, Surely and Shirley. Off topic though, apologies
perrrrrrr.... 🐈
my controversial opinion...........
This tread has run it's course
And trails and trials, and my per hate, Surely and Shirley. Off topic though, apologies
perrrrrrr…. 🐈
Ta, fixed that
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Subscriber
my controversial opinion………..This tread has run it’s course
Tread carefully.😆
Videos of "famous" mountain bikers sliding the back end into every turn are not helping the image of MTBers and encourage trail wrecking behaviour from a few.