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Promoted by the gravel thread, it made me think that perhaps what I consider MTB riding is somewhat dated.
You see, MTB has changed much to me in the 30 years since I started doing it. It’s still mainly local, it’s still natural trails, it’s still about the climbs as most as the descents.
I guess it’s more about time outside and being in the hills than adrenaline rushes and gnar.
Am I alone in this? Or has this pastime left me behind?
FOr me it's everything.
Today for example was 90% road, 10% local trails. Some days it's a skills/jump day, some days it's BPW/Afan. Some days it's me cruising, some days it's me pushing the boundary of what i can or cannot ride.
Mostly, if it's outside and it's with mate, it's MTBing to me. I love it all
Especially the cake 🙂
Riding about off road on a bike. That's about as simple as it gets.
Riding is kinda like meditation for me these days.
For me its about getting out into the scenery. The analogy I use is for me my bikes are tools to get to places - like a landrover. Its not about the adrenaline rush - like a rally car.
I call it "wanderingaroundthescenerybiking"
Thats not to say I do not enjoy a nice flowy bit of singletrack or even a trail centre, but my main thing is to get out there and enjoy the countryside
At the moment, non existent as for various reasons I needed to sell my bikes.
It used to be my freedom, my medication and my escape from it all. Cant wait for the day I can afford a new bike.
For the last few years it has meant extremely precious time with my son, before he grows up and disappears into the big wide world.
Before that, when I had a normal life and health, it was good friends, getting out into the countryside. It was pretty much everything to me.
Shit, typing that it's no wonder I've been so damn miserable lately!
Spot on lunge.
Riding a bike off-road.
That might be a pleasant trundle through the local woods, a 40 hours/300km bikepacking trip, a carry to the top of a Munro and ride down, some scary forest stuff, fatbiking along a beach and over rocks or a day at a trail centre. The definition of mountain biking has got wider over the years. It hasn't left any of those behind.
Gravel biking is just a blend of mountain biking and road biking, the exact proportions of which will depend on your location and route chosen.
I only do it because of the cool outfits.
However, I do love it because it gets your heart pumping and your legs aching. Most of all though it's being outside in the hills and woods away from the crazy people.
That's what it is to me. Escape.
You can still mountain bike for next to nothing on a 26 inches for the poster who has had to sell all his bikes. For me it's the attitude you have when u ride one does not need to be in the countryside offload.can be urban tòo although I would not call commuter by road mountain biking
For me, definitely the adrenaline rush from the tech, and the endorphins from pushing hard.
Doesn't have to be mega tech stuff - I'm perfectly happy trying to blast a hardtail around flattish singletrack, and in some circumstances, enjoy a good climb.
The getting out and seeing the countryside, personally I prefer to do on foot. (Not that I haven't or won't winch and push my way to a Peak or Lakes summit).
"Getting the miles in" either road, gravel, or XC, unless you are lucky enough to have some very equal friends or clubmates; is either
a) boringly slow*
b) risk of heart attack fast*
c) a solo activity, which I don't have the time for (pre-corona)
* plus the knowledge that you are inflicting the opposite onto someone else
MTB is riding off road. I wander how many MTBs are actually ridden on field edges, forest tracks and canal paths compared with how proper trails up in the mountains
My only MTB is currently rigid (haven't ridden my sus fork in a couple of years now)
The feel of dirt under your tyres.
I was out on Wednesday, taking my nationally sanctioned daily exercise, riding from my door.
I'd figured out a 10 mile loop that was a mixture of road, path and trail. First part of the ride was a couple of miles of road and path before I turned on to a dirt trail.
That sensation of tyres on dirt, you can feel it. Through your feet, through your hands and through your arse on the saddle. You can feel the connection between the bike and the earth.
It wasn't a particularly exciting trail - I wouldn't normally ride it if better options were available but the connection between rider, bike and dirt still feel the same.
Bikeparks & uplift days. I have absolutely no interest in any other type of bike riding.
Although now having an ebike has opened up trail-centres again which I haven't been to in many years.
The feeling of moving through the scenery with a mind emptied of the worries and anxieties of daily life, hearing nothing but the curlews, the rumble of the tyres, and the wind. And some squeaking, possibly from the saddle rails, plus a loud clicking from the bloody main pivot bearing.
Remote woodland, tight switchbacks, big mountains, big lovely berms, fireroad climbs and singletrack descents, riding in the park, jumpers for goalposts, half time oranges, hmmm, isn't it?
To OP, Nah, get a map (*englandshire), follow the red dotted lines, lovely tracks to assault courses untouched by the hand of man with everything in between, a flask/sarnies or throw in a cafe/village shop along the way as you wander blissfully along, even in the busy SE you can still be in the middle of nowhere, with the option of going somewhere different for novelty and ‘excitement’ or nipping along known trails to your currently favourite snacking location through the varying views and seasons.
To me, riding for the trail is mtb, riding on dirt to get in miles/for the scenery is cycle assisted rambling/gravel.
Nothing wrong with either and i do plenty of what I'd class as gravel on my mountain bike as I live in east anglia.
For me its...
- Mid week local blasts on a HT through the forest singletrack near me. Keeping fit and having fun, breaking up the week.
- Weekend 3 - 4 hr loops on a FS in N Wales/Peaks/Lakes with an equal mix of fun, adrenaline, exertion and escape.
- Days out to far away bike parks for a focus on fun and adrenaline a couple of times a year.
Plus i ride gravel
plus i ride road
Its ALL good and variety keeps me interested.
Simple relaxation fresh air wildlife countryside and FREEDOM that can be on Dunkery Beacon Exmoor doing jumps in the Forest of Dean or riding along canal towpaths like the Kennet and avon never got bored of riding off-road been doing it since 1988 road is a different matter these days not to keen on that anymore.
Passes the time in between surfing.
It is being out on my mountain bike.