The Stooges & MC5 can lay claim to the origins of punk.
You forgot The Sonics.
Dunno about it ever being sexy but I think I know what you’re getting at. MTB was just a simpler, newer thing back then. It got more nerdy and techy – I think the product interest was always there but you can get deeper into the geekery now.
By 'sexy', I mean it was very popular with younger people, and had a much 'cooler' image. A mountain bike was THE thing to have for a while, back then. A Muddy Fox with the MF logo wheel discs was the pinnacle of cool. But MTBing is now seen mainly as a sport enjoyed by middle aged men who like to dress up in 'rugged' gear at weekends. It's definitely no longer 'cool'. And I think this has a lot to do with that 'compartmentalisation' of the sport; back in the day, all you needed was a mountain bike and you could go anywhere. Now, it's much more about dedicated trail centres, or Alpine resorts, rather than just riding wherever you want. The cool kids are all on fixies, vintage racers, e-bikes and scooters now. MTBs are 'over'.
“…top of the Fossway, Byker”
Now, it’s much more about dedicated trail centres, or Alpine resorts, rather than just riding wherever you want. The cool kids are all on fixies, vintage racers, e-bikes and scooters now. MTBs are ‘over’.
I'm not sure you're as in-touch with the MTB zeitgeist as you think you are.
There are more younger riders about now than I've seen for years, as I said before - it's all about off-piste tracks in the woods, not trail centres or the Alps.
For me 2003 single-track forum ride at gentress.rode northshore for the 1st time and started to build our own. Rampage for me showed what was possible too
Yay, @jedi is still around!
I remember that ride. 🙂
Agree with the comments about CyB and probably places like Glentress as well. A mix of capitalising on the new-found interest in MTBing and also driving it's growth. Varied "natural" riding where you know you're going to get a lot of value for money.
it’s all about off-piste tracks in the woods
Absolutely this. New stuff appearing weekly round here.
There’s a pink bike podcast where RC argues that the sport evolved from an adventure sport (IE can I make it to this point on a map) to an action sport (let’s do this bespoke trail with berms and jumps).
It was always both. As 18 year olds we did what 18 year olds are likely to do and we threw ourselves down trails as fast as we could, even as they were still 'natural' trails. But the older and the outdoorsy types were going out into the hills. And it still is.
I honestly think that the current era has seen some of the biggest changes. I think enduro racing has driven a lot of the changes.
Compare a 2010 trail bike to 2020 one. Apart from the origins of MTB I don't think any other period has seen such big changes in bike design.
I was along at Innerliethen on Sunday, it used to be completely dead unless there was a race on.
It was rammed. People on trail / enduro bikes using the uplift and riding stuff that would been seen as really challenging for average riders on "average" bikes 10 years ago.
Errmmm - unless you are racing its a pastime not a sport 🙂
“unless you are racing its a pastime not a sport 🙂”
You may think so, but as a physical activity it falls under the definitions of sport. It’s exercise which requires skill, which can be competitive (against the clock or others) if you so desire.
MTBs are ‘over’.
You need to go somewhere that has decent off road riding. In places like Hebden the cool kids are digging lines in the trees, watching 50:1 and Tommy C Hype on Insta. Most folk you come across on MTB are under 25, most that are building are school age. MTB is alive and well in the hills.
Hey @crazylegs I never left
Punk. Yes, excellent analogy.
Was it the Pistols?
The Ramones?
The Clash?
Dead Kennedys?All of the above & others too?
We all know the answer to that one so lets be honest about the origins of MTB too..
If you asked my music teacher at school he'd have told you Mozart was the original punk.. but I have a feeling he may have just wanted us to pay a smidgeon of attention
By ‘sexy’, I mean it was very popular with younger people, and had a much ‘cooler’ image. A mountain bike was THE thing to have for a while, back then. A Muddy Fox with the MF logo wheel discs was the pinnacle of cool. But MTBing is now seen mainly as a sport enjoyed by middle aged men who like to dress up in ‘rugged’ gear at weekends. It’s definitely no longer ‘cool’. And I think this has a lot to do with that ‘compartmentalisation’ of the sport; back in the day, all you needed was a mountain bike and you could go anywhere. Now, it’s much more about dedicated trail centres, or Alpine resorts, rather than just riding wherever you want. The cool kids are all on fixies, vintage racers, e-bikes and scooters now. MTBs are ‘over’.
I see more people of all ages & shapes riding MTB now than at any other time I can remember. That may well be because some folks had little else to do the last 18 months perhaps but as far as I can tell there are many who are still carrying on their new habit. Bottom line: more people are riding more bikes - of all kinds IMHO..
Hiya @crazylegs, I'm still here. I also got to add the uk freeride scene was soooo cool 2000 onwards .malc and the guys at lennox forest,fish, zac and the boys for the Surrey scene, Devon with kingslieghyon and haldon, cliff with Bristol and the list is huge . Loved meeting them and was influenced by all
