[cookieMonster]

Seems to me we all sort of fall into two camps; we either insist on pedaling every ride 100% or we don’t mind getting off and pushing. I’m just interested in hearing why.

I’m firmly in the “don’t mind pushing” camp.

I’m not talking about being unfit and thus not able to climb a pitch that other, more fit riders are able to pedal up. I’m talking about trails that are just too steep to pedal up. Of course, if someone isn’t fit enough to pedal up a climb, but is willing to get off and push, I feel like they’re still doing the work and it’s still legit.

I know plenty of riders who won’t do or at least shy away from rides that feature unpedalable climbs. In my opinion, those are the types of trails that are awesome to descend.😉. There’s even a few loops that we have in which I generally prefer to just ride and push up the descent side and then ride back down rather than pedal twice as far the easier way.

I just want to hear both sides of this; no judgment either way.


Admin edit: add photo for front page feature

 

[dysfunction]

Some days I walk things I normally ride. I just don't care to much about this.

 

[PhillipJ]

I'll try to ride up almost anything, probably fail and be happy to push to get up there.

I certainly don't push up the down trails, I like my teeth in my mouth, not embedded in someone else's bike.

 

[Schmeg]

In northern Maine we don’t have bike parks so to speak. We just have a lot of land available to ride on and we do have areas set aside for MTB, snowshoe, ski etc. With many trails designated as MTB. I just haven’t seen a trail yet I couldn’t ascendmwhile on the pedals. I generally stay on the bike and am prone to stay that way. I have an extems running background so strength and VO2 is t usually an issue within reason. With that said I am 61 and am more careful with knee pressure so I know when to bail when I have to.

 

[looks easy from here]

Most of the time I'm pushing/carrying up something it's because I crashed trying to decend it and want to try it again to clean it, but it's too steep to ride up. Regardless, I don't mind it.

 

[Kmccann137]

Push atleast once a ride. I live in NJ and ride technical trails that are super chunky.

 

[LMN]

I do everything I possibly can to avoid pushing my bike. For me it is absolutely misery, it is like hiking but harder and slower.

As for unpedalable climbs, I do what ever I can to make every climb a pedalable climb.

 

[J.B. Weld]

Kind of like how I feel about pushing my car.

 

[milehi]

I push when singlespeeding, a lot. The trail I have in mind while typing this is 2300' in 4.5 miles. There's a road up but it's dangerous.

 

[Monty219]

I enjoy doing everything possible to not walk/ push but don’t mind it at all if i have to dismount and push. Many years ago it bothered me more but a combination of mellowing with age and a decade+ of whitewater kayaking where you sometimes have to walk a feature to not die (due to either skill or the feature’s runnability) (much like biking in some cases, but generally a more frequent occurrence as one is learning and advancing) has led to not caring at all.

 

[kapusta]

I've got no issues going on a ride where I know there will be some pushing. Heck, some of the best rides I know of have a hike-a-bike. In some ways, hike-a-bikes make it even better becuase it keeps the traffic way down. It also means that the trail is pretty old-school and NOT a modern flow trail, which makes it even more betterer.

 

[Nat]

I try to ride everything but it doesn't bother me if I have to walk. That applies to both up and down.

 

[ccm]

Being able to ride everything up is equal to riding everything down, or vice versa, as far as the feeling of accomplishment for me.

For example cleaning the climb but walking the big features on the down is equally uncool as cleaning everything on the down but walking the up.

 

[Pisgah]

Pushing a bicycle sucks.

 

[plummet]

I chase the barely ridable natural steep goat track.

We ride, then push then carry bikes to get to the top. There is even a time when you can no longer carry and you have to throw your bike up then climb,,,
The most fun tracks riding down are the ones you have to carry up

 

[sgltrak]

I try to ride most everything, but I don't shy away from rides that involve some hike-a-bike because that usually means there was some sort of adventure involved.

 

[Monty219]

I chase the barely ridable natural steep goat track.

We ride, then push then carry bikes to get to the top. There is even a time when you can no longer carry and you have to throw your bike up then climb,,,
The most fun tracks riding down are the ones you have to carry up


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True adventure rides!

 

[Sparticus]

I do everything I possibly can to avoid pushing my bike. For me it is absolutely misery, it is like hiking but harder and slower.

As for unpedalable climbs, I do what ever I can to make every climb a pedalable climb.

Pushing a bicycle sucks.

I'm with LMN & Pisgah, tho I can't deny that I push my bike more than I used to.
=sParty

 

[Blue Dot Trail]

I aim for 100% pedaling (Although, I may not always achieve it).

 

[plummet]

There is a wealth more of excellent track out there if you can open your mind to a bit of bike carry/push to access it.
Typically it is the road less trodden and you can bathe in the remote splendor that very few else even knows exist.