Mountain Biking - Up or Down?

I used to think mountain biking was about coming down the mountain and I suffered through climbs driven on solely by the distant promise of an exhilirating descent...but I'm a lot better now--stronger up and down, and frankly I've come to prefer climbing to descending..the nastier the better. Sure I still love coming down the mountain, but my dreams are filled with long ascents these days.

What about the rest of you..which side of the mountain does your mountain bike long for?

Downhill definitely, but I still enjoy a good uphill slog, it makes the downhil feels that much better

Downhill, I find it funner although, as Cornish said, each time I go to my favourite DH there's a nice hour or so of uphill so the downhill is well earned and feels better. :D

I'm starting to enjoy uphills, too. They're a different sort of challenge. I don't think I'd say I like it more than the downhill, but it's still enjoyable.

Since I've started road biking more I've realized that, on trails especially, I am enjoying the uphills more and more. I think that I like it because I have the small chainring to slip into now, which isn't there on the road bike, so it feels much easier to climb.

what goes up must come down

I love downhills:D probably because pedaling up them on my tank of a bike is oh so painful and tiring:p

Uphill because it's harder.

Uphill because it's harder.

In what capacity. I can find reason to disagree with such a blanket statement.

I love dh and like xc. Both do the job for me and give me different rushes.

I always liked the challenge of climbs on my roadie. Since I got into XC a few months back I've realised I did not know the meaning of "challenge". I now know the meaning.:)

Downhill. But there would be no downhill without uphill ;)

In what capacity.

Physically. Mentally. Spiritually. Maybe even fear.

The emphasis puts my point into perspective.

Wanna hear something funny?

I don't get many opportunities to ride purely off-road during my daily "exercise" rides, so I spend a lot of time on pavement. My favorite new "habit", while going up and over the highway overpasses is, as my thighs are burning and I am starting to think "no fun!", I start pushing myself, mentally, by chanting, "I'm Lance Armstrong! I'm Lance Armstrong!" Gets me up and over every time! (I ought to be saying "I'm Mario Andretti!" on my descent...especially when I get to the bottom, where there is often a very sharp curve. Talk about a thrill!)

What makes my "Lance Armstrong" meditation even more amusing is that I am (most definitely) a woman. Hey, whatever works, right?

Wanna hear something funny?

I don't get many opportunities to ride purely off-road during my daily "exercise" rides, so I spend a lot of time on pavement. My favorite new "habit", while going up and over the highway overpasses is, as my thighs are burning and I am starting to think "no fun!", I start pushing myself, mentally, by chanting, "I'm Lance Armstrong! I'm Lance Armstrong!" Gets me up and over every time! (I ought to be saying "I'm Mario Andretti!" on my descent...especially when I get to the bottom, where there is often a very sharp curve. Talk about a thrill!)

What makes my "Lance Armstrong" meditation even more amusing is that I am (most definitely) a woman. Hey, whatever works, right?

You need more practice if freeway overpasses are making your thighs burn. :)

Hey...give me a break...I just started riding a bike again after a 15 yr. break & after months of being off my feet & going to rehab. after a major surgical complication that almost resulted in an amputation.

I'm getting there.

I like to whole package. Uphills are for passing! At least that's what my hardtail tells me.

What? Your bike doesn't talk to you?

I prefer going up. But I'm also pretty much a sissy going down. Singletrack switchbacks downhill are my nemesis for some reason....