Just some thoughts I wanted to share, perhaps it will spur some interesting discussion. Or maybe it will go down in flames. Either way, I feel there are a lot of misconceptions about mountain biking and I want to clear a few things up.
First of all, mountain biking has always been about pushing the limits of what is possible on a bike. The forefathers who built their cruisers in Marin county, what did they do with them? Bombed the hills. That's right, the sport is based on DH riding. And trying new things. To deny that and to say that XC on mellow trails is somehow more "pure" is simply ignoring history. Always remember where you came from. That doesn't mean you always have to push the limits, not at all. But a lot of people who influence the direction of the sport ARE pushing the limits, whether it is 24 hour racing, 100 mile xc race on a singlespeed, fastest line down a hill, etc. It's just the nature of it. Many people drawn to bikes for some reason want to see their skills progress. 10k feet of climbing in a day? 30 inch bunnyhops? Same feeling of accomplishment.
I occasionally hear about "extreme mountain biking" as a reference to dh/fr. The only people calling it that are the ones who are not familiar with it, or only know of spectator sports and never get off the couch and break a sweat. I think that name will die out in the near future as it becomes more popular. If you go to BC... NOBODY calls it extreme, it is just mountain biking. The old guys up there with attitude problems aren't *****ing about freeriders, they are out riding hard themselves, it's the norm. Lazy people call things "extreme sports" because it takes more energy and dedication than they can imagine. As a personal example, I think bullfighting and MMA is extreme.
Almost ALL of the guys I ride with started out and still enjoy XC and backcountry riding. We are a lot more well rounded than you might think. It's not just little kids jacked up on energy drinks. I'm closer to 50 than I am to 20. Professional career, generally productive member of society, responsible, etc. Not running down old ladies in the park and scaring kids. I rode xc for over 10+ years before I got into freeride and I still do. We're just normal dudes who have always enjoyed riding bikes.
Adrenaline junkies: I enjoy adrenaline in a controlled situation but I am not reckless. I do not like to crash. I will not simply huck myself off a jump and hope for the best. If I cannot visualize it and "know" I can do it, I won't try. I am actually a lot more cautious now than I was when I first started riding XC and flailed all over the place. Most adults who can afford $3k+ bikes need to be able to work on monday and are not stupid about getting hurt for no good reason.
Earn your turns: awesome. Great way to balance your life. Simple and reliable. Another of the many ways to enjoy the sport. Share the stoke, but if you feel the need to preach, remember we all ride for different reasons, and there will always be someone more hardcore and more pure than you. Your epic is some other guys warm up ride. Instead of riding up the trail, he (or she) rides from town instead of driving to the trailhead. Full suspension? Real men ride hardtails. I mean full rigid. On handmade steel frames of course. Except for the "real" real men who ride organic bamboo frames bonded together with free range grizzley bear sinew which wasn't shot with a gun, but stabbed with a pointy stick in northern montana then butchered with a sharp piece of flint and dragged across three states on foot. Etc. Live and let live. Relish in the fact that you're a bad ass, and true bad asses don't need validation from the weak.
Lazy Shuttle Monkeys: Common misconception that riding downhill is for lazy people. Well, it can be. But if you are pushing it hard, it wears you out fast. I honestly feel more shredded from a day at Whistler riding the lifts than I do on a long XC ride with a ton of climbing. Legs, upper body, everything. You'd be surprised.
The future: Freeride and DH will become more and more popular but XC will never die. XC is great and easily accessible, but DH/FR is off the hook ridiculously FUN. I've ridden xc, backcountry, road, bmx, commuting, alpine skiing, snowboarding in many different places, etc, but nothing compares to dh/freeride for me. Not even close on the fun factor. Your personal satisfaction with the sport may vary, but ask around, talk to some of the local freeriders and you'll see. The ones that are hooked are HOOKED.
First of all, mountain biking has always been about pushing the limits of what is possible on a bike. The forefathers who built their cruisers in Marin county, what did they do with them? Bombed the hills. That's right, the sport is based on DH riding. And trying new things. To deny that and to say that XC on mellow trails is somehow more "pure" is simply ignoring history. Always remember where you came from. That doesn't mean you always have to push the limits, not at all. But a lot of people who influence the direction of the sport ARE pushing the limits, whether it is 24 hour racing, 100 mile xc race on a singlespeed, fastest line down a hill, etc. It's just the nature of it. Many people drawn to bikes for some reason want to see their skills progress. 10k feet of climbing in a day? 30 inch bunnyhops? Same feeling of accomplishment.
I occasionally hear about "extreme mountain biking" as a reference to dh/fr. The only people calling it that are the ones who are not familiar with it, or only know of spectator sports and never get off the couch and break a sweat. I think that name will die out in the near future as it becomes more popular. If you go to BC... NOBODY calls it extreme, it is just mountain biking. The old guys up there with attitude problems aren't *****ing about freeriders, they are out riding hard themselves, it's the norm. Lazy people call things "extreme sports" because it takes more energy and dedication than they can imagine. As a personal example, I think bullfighting and MMA is extreme.
Almost ALL of the guys I ride with started out and still enjoy XC and backcountry riding. We are a lot more well rounded than you might think. It's not just little kids jacked up on energy drinks. I'm closer to 50 than I am to 20. Professional career, generally productive member of society, responsible, etc. Not running down old ladies in the park and scaring kids. I rode xc for over 10+ years before I got into freeride and I still do. We're just normal dudes who have always enjoyed riding bikes.
Adrenaline junkies: I enjoy adrenaline in a controlled situation but I am not reckless. I do not like to crash. I will not simply huck myself off a jump and hope for the best. If I cannot visualize it and "know" I can do it, I won't try. I am actually a lot more cautious now than I was when I first started riding XC and flailed all over the place. Most adults who can afford $3k+ bikes need to be able to work on monday and are not stupid about getting hurt for no good reason.
Earn your turns: awesome. Great way to balance your life. Simple and reliable. Another of the many ways to enjoy the sport. Share the stoke, but if you feel the need to preach, remember we all ride for different reasons, and there will always be someone more hardcore and more pure than you. Your epic is some other guys warm up ride. Instead of riding up the trail, he (or she) rides from town instead of driving to the trailhead. Full suspension? Real men ride hardtails. I mean full rigid. On handmade steel frames of course. Except for the "real" real men who ride organic bamboo frames bonded together with free range grizzley bear sinew which wasn't shot with a gun, but stabbed with a pointy stick in northern montana then butchered with a sharp piece of flint and dragged across three states on foot. Etc. Live and let live. Relish in the fact that you're a bad ass, and true bad asses don't need validation from the weak.
Lazy Shuttle Monkeys: Common misconception that riding downhill is for lazy people. Well, it can be. But if you are pushing it hard, it wears you out fast. I honestly feel more shredded from a day at Whistler riding the lifts than I do on a long XC ride with a ton of climbing. Legs, upper body, everything. You'd be surprised.
The future: Freeride and DH will become more and more popular but XC will never die. XC is great and easily accessible, but DH/FR is off the hook ridiculously FUN. I've ridden xc, backcountry, road, bmx, commuting, alpine skiing, snowboarding in many different places, etc, but nothing compares to dh/freeride for me. Not even close on the fun factor. Your personal satisfaction with the sport may vary, but ask around, talk to some of the local freeriders and you'll see. The ones that are hooked are HOOKED.
