Mountain Biking - Posers*rant*

Good day!
Was riding in the park on my road bike today. So I’m passing by this group of guys, about 5-6, all with DJ bikes bikes, sitting on the side of the loop. So I do a lap, while thinking about stopping and asking them where they ride in the park and how often they meet. So I come around once again, they are still there. This time I slowed down and took a closer look at their bikes and riders. Here’s the deal: not a scratch on most of the bikes, Banshee, Specialized, and a few more looked brand new. Not a single guy had a helmet, but one guy had full leg and arm protection, lol. What good will it do without a helmet :rolleyes: ? Anyways I decided not to stop, POSERS thought I. Was I wrong to assume that?

Maybe not posers persay, but definit dumbasses for not having helmets on while doing park.

To each their own. I don't really understand your rant. What got you so worked up?

Unlikely, but maybe the whole lot of them just bought new bikes this weekend and are feeling things out. Maybe they take really good care of their bikes. Maybe they're riding just a particular stunt off the trail you passed them at. Who knows?

But why judge? No need to assign that label to them, especially if they're doing no harm. Sure, by definition there are "posers" out there, but you can't make that determination with a single pass or two on a trail.

You have to get to know a guy to know what and how he rides, what he buys, and if he's all talk or has some game to back it up. And even then, if someone wants to ride his $3500 DH rig to Starbucks in bright sponsored spandex, where's the harm in that?

I see the same thing on a local trail here in LA. It's a multi-use trail, a lot of people walk their dogs there, but invariably there are guys that ride there in full body armor.

Wait, they were chilling without their helmets on!?? Oh my goodness! They've got to be posers!!! Maybe you just couldn't see their helmets, maybe they just don't like the helmets...

I don't know... I guess I had to see them.

Possibly they were just trying to get into the sport or were just trying to figure out what to do. I think that most "posers" are just trying to get into the sport and are not sure how. So, if you see them again get to talking with them and maybe you'll get a few more riding buddies. No reason to shun newbies/posers- help 'em out.But hey, either way- as long as they got those $$$ bikes from the LBS-great:D

Ever wonder what they might have said about you?

I suppose you'd think I'm just another 40'ish year old loser if you ever met
me on the trails too...

The look on the 20 yr. old's faces when I pass them uphill/downhill/where ever?

Priceless....

I don't judge people if I can help it....

I hate that kinda stuff. Their are kids who come to the skate parks to do the hubs and stuff like that, with bike that are $2400 dollers. I had a Kona Stinky, another had a Banshee Morphine, and another I had never seen before, and can't remeber. But I never saw them actully do anything. And here I am on my sport mart bike doing the 5 FT gap, which is pretty small, but I was at a skate park.

I hate that kinda stuff. Their are kids who come to the skate parks to do the hubs and stuff like that, with bike that are $2400 dollers. I had a Kona Stinky, another had a Banshee Morphine, and another I had never seen before, and can't remeber. But I never saw them actully do anything. And here I am on my sport mart bike doing the 5 FT gap, which is pretty small, but I was at a skate park.

why did 2 come up?

did you check their hair? if it was PERFECT then posers they may be, but if it was messed up from the wind of the ride into the park, probably newbies with more dollars than sense. a lot of people buy stuff on impulse of seeing what their friends just got and have that "I need one of those" thing. a lot of people in my area will buy a bike,use it a couple times and it ends up collecting dust. they are not posers. they REALLY intend on learning and riding but something new comes along and in the shed the bike goes. some people have no clue as to the need for a helmet either

well, you have to take into consideration a couple of things.

-clean bikes: i know someone who dirt bikes almost every other day, his bike is SPOTLESS. the kid is awsome on the bike too.

-helmets: anyone who actually dh would wear a full face, it is kind of hard to miss 5 full face helmets.

-just sitting there: maybe they were waiting for something, or they were just chilling and talking for a little.

-components: could you tell that they had some replaced components, like wheelsets, tires, or somethings like that?

-hair: i have longish hair and it is ALL OVER when i am done riding. if they had perfect hair, most def. posers

I don't know about the hair thing guys. I like to think that i'm not a poser and I ride somewhat hard and I think my hair looks better after I ride. Maybe it's just me.

I guess I have a hard time understanding mtb posers...I understand like poser thugs, gangbangers,etc... but mtb'ing??? Really, if you have a mtb and you ride it like it was meant to be ridden, aren't you a mtb'er? I just cannot understand having super nice mountain bikes for no reason... Cars and clothes- sure, but the only people that are going to appreciate a nice mountain bike are people that know what to look for, you can easily get a POS X-mart bike for $150 that looks totally stellar to the untrained eye. I know lots of the "hippy-type/outdoorsy" people (I call 'em yippes= hippy+ yuppy) that grow dreads, wear the clothes, try to act the part, but they never actually have done anything outside or even understand the purpose of the clothes they wear etc...
I guess I just dont get it :)

You are in the east. Something I have learned over the last few years in the industry is east coast street guys think a helmet is on par with dating the girl with a hairy upper lip. I can always tell when we start getting the east coasters through, the dj and skate park are packed with people not wearing helmets.

You are in the east. Something I have learned over the last few years in the industry is east coast street guys think a helmet is on par with dating the girl with a hairy upper lip. I can always tell when we start getting the east coasters through, the dj and skate park are packed with people not wearing helmets.

Hey, I'm from the east and I wear a helm...

Oh wait, I'm not a street rider.
:p

The sickest street rider I know has a spotless bike. Why? It gets painted once a year or so, and he is so good the bike never hits the ground. I wouldn't really judge until you see them ride. Heck, I am a crappy street rider and my bashguard and frame are chewed to ****, because I don't have skill.

Good day!
Was riding in the park on my road bike today. So I’m passing by this group of guys, about 5-6, all with DJ bikes bikes, sitting on the side of the loop. So I do a lap, while thinking about stopping and asking them where they ride in the park and how often they meet. So I come around once again, they are still there. This time I slowed down and took a closer look at their bikes and riders. Here’s the deal: not a scratch on most of the bikes, Banshee, Specialized, and a few more looked brand new. Not a single guy had a helmet, but one guy had full leg and arm protection, lol. What good will it do without a helmet :rolleyes: ? Anyways I decided not to stop, POSERS thought I. Was I wrong to assume that?

Cut them some slack, by your own admission they were 5 or 6. Kind of young to be real hardcore. Gotta give them their props for just getting out there. Most 5-6 year olds are just starting to put away there Barney tapes, they are not sitting at the trailhead hoping to be noticed.

Cut them some slack, by your own admission they were 5 or 6. Kind of young to be real hardcore. Gotta give them their props for just getting out there. Most 5-6 year olds are just starting to put away there Barney tapes, they are not sitting at the trailhead hoping to be noticed.

You misread, a group of 5 or 6 people, not people who are 5 or 6 years old.

Death to all posers!!!!!!!!Posers suck!!!!!!!!! Well........not death,just pain and suffering..........aw,just let em' pose.

i ride singletrack for hours and get my bike absolutely covered in mud, but always clean my bike after a ride. Ive had a couple of people yell out 'POSER!' when riding around the city doing some UA coz its always clean.

Wait, they were chilling without their helmets on!?? Oh my goodness! They've got to be posers!!! Maybe you just couldn't see their helmets, maybe they just don't like the helmets...

I don't know... I guess I had to see them.


Yes, they probably hid them behind bushes so no one can see them. That's what i do, i throw my 100 dollar helmet on the ground and hide it.

did you check their hair? if it was PERFECT then posers they may be, but if it was messed up from the wind of the ride into the park, probably newbies with more dollars than sense. a lot of people buy stuff on impulse of seeing what their friends just got and have that "I need one of those" thing. a lot of people in my area will buy a bike,use it a couple times and it ends up collecting dust. they are not posers. they REALLY intend on learning and riding but something new comes along and in the shed the bike goes. some people have no clue as to the need for a helmet either

lol, didn’t look at the hair too hard, but tires were clean.


Cut them some slack, by your own admission they were 5 or 6. Kind of young to be real hardcore. Gotta give them their props for just getting out there. Most 5-6 year olds are just starting to put away there Barney tapes, they are not sitting at the trailhead hoping to be noticed.

Um, the number of the riders was around 5 or 6! what, you thought a 6 yar old kid was riding a dj Banshee? Was I not clear enough?


Death to all posers!!!!!!!!Posers suck!!!!!!!!! Well........not death,just pain and suffering..........aw,just let em' pose.


http://www.bikeforums.net/image.php?u=18228&dateline=1118447775

speaking of posers!!! this kid's bike is better than mine and he makes a video about this and calls himself a trained professional?? And says death could happen?!?!? HAHA! http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6260206246554420448&q=sucky+stupid+dumb+dirt+jumping+noskill+kid+with+a+kickass+bike
however there is this 7th grade kid i ride with who i'd swear is a poser at first sight but he's a little better than me at the DJ's. go figure he's been freeriding since forever and i've been doing dj's since august 26th :p

Its a hard scenario and i wouldnt really have an opinion until i saw them ride, people can often be really deceiving by their looks. But there doesnt seem to be a huge amount of posers around here

speaking of posers!!! this kid's bike is better than mine and he makes a video about this and calls himself a trained professional?? And says death could happen?!?!? HAHA! http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6260206246554420448&q=sucky+stupid+dumb+dirt+jumping+noskill+kid+with+a+kickass+bike
however there is this 7th grade kid i ride with who i'd swear is a poser at first sight but he's a little better than me at the DJ's. go figure he's been freeriding since forever and i've been doing dj's since august 26th :p

since forever? keeping in mind that "freeriding" with a 26" bike has only really been around for the last what, 5 years?

*sigh*....aaah youth.

that video: what is that kid? 10?! and he's riding a 26" bike with like, 6" of travel? i see kids come into my shop all the time getting $1500 freeride bikes because that's "what's cool" now. bikes that weight roughly half of what they weigh. bikes that are too big for them, have more travel than they'll need...but most importantly, bikes that they cannot handle. get a BMX bike for crying out loud. learn to handle one of those, and transfer the skills over to a larger bike when you have the body mass and skills to handle one.

[/rant]

since forever? keeping in mind that "freeriding" with a 26" bike has only really been around for the last what, 5 years?

*sigh*....aaah youth.

that video: what is that kid? 10?! and he's riding a 26" bike with like, 6" of travel? i see kids come into my shop all the time getting $1500 freeride bikes because that's "what's cool" now. bikes that weight roughly half of what they weigh. bikes that are too big for them, have more travel than they'll need...but most importantly, bikes that they cannot handle. get a BMX bike for crying out loud. learn to handle one of those, and transfer the skills over to a larger bike when you have the body mass and skills to handle one.

[/rant]

What shop are you at these days?

Not a single guy had a helmet, but one guy had full leg and arm protection, lol. What good will it do without a helmet :rolleyes: ? Anyways I decided not to stop, POSERS thought I. Was I wrong to assume that?
you should see julien, the rider from twenty-four bicycles. rides sans helmet all the time. like mael said, a lot of the eastern street riders don't always wear helmets, but some will wear shin/knee guards.

speaking of posers!!! this kid's bike is better than mine and he makes a video about this and calls himself a trained professional?? And says death could happen?!?!? HAHA! http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6260206246554420448&q=sucky+stupid+dumb+dirt+jumping+noskill+kid+with+a+kickass+bike
however there is this 7th grade kid i ride with who i'd swear is a poser at first sight but he's a little better than me at the DJ's. go figure he's been freeriding since forever and i've been doing dj's since august 26th :p

Looks like hes having a good time. You guys wouldn't last a day in bc. You would be too busy claiming everyone is a poser (a lot of people here are decked out in full kits and stand around chatting it up, good times). Go up the mountain/park/dj's and get smoked by 7 year olds. This sports about fun. If they are having fun on 1000$ bike and still riding, good on them. Besides they are helping keep the costs of bikes down for me, so all the power to them.

I don't disagree with slothman though. Short and young = bmx. It would progress them that much faster.

This sports about fun. If they are having fun on 1000$ bike and still riding, good on them.

I agree 100%.

Take this poser talk to the roadie forum (although I believe they spell it "poseur" over there since they're more sophisticated than we).

What shop are you at these days?

mike's, in SF. i'm just a wrench, thank god, so i don't have to deal with customers too often. i wouldn't last 10 minutes on the sales floor there.

I agree 100%.

Take this poser talk to the roadie forum (although I believe they spell it "poseur" over there since they're more sophisticated than we).

Or worse, the fixie forum. Half of the talk over there is about 'hipsters' posing as track bike riders in an effort to reek of 'Berkely'/NYC I am cooler than thou.

I'm not sure if you guys know what i'm talkin about. the kid in the video, i don't know him at all. That's not the 7th grader i know. And freeriding i thought was riding freely. Doing what you want, jumping off stuff, doing wheelies, screwing around. He's been doing this, whatever you want to call this... since forever. And i think the kids a poser because he's posing as a trained professional, he says he is one, he's not.

And i think the kids a poser because he's posing as a trained professional, he says he is one, he's not.

And you feel the need to point this out because.........................

i thought people were saying that he wasn't and was just having a good time. whatever, this is dumb

I am the biggest poser on this site......yeah baby!!!! I can't ride worth 2 cents but I sure do look good in the parking lot!! I look faster than than Mael,Kona and Gastro !!! :D

I'll grant you that 66, the pink lycra skinsuit you wear *does* look fast.

I think I am turning into a poseur..... I bought some goggles today (needed) but I ended up gettign the limited edition signature series James Stewart MX O frames, as opposed to the normal O Frames, these ones are white camo and everything \m/

I think I am turning into a poseur..... I bought some goggles today (needed) but I ended up gettign the limited edition signature series James Stewart MX O frames, as opposed to the normal O Frames, these ones are white camo and everything \m/

I pose so hard, I wear my goggles on the back of my full face while riding xc ... woooooooooooo

Like some of you guys said...
who cares what people do on their bikes.
If they want to go out and buy expensive bikes just to ride around,
have a lil fun w/o being hardcore and maybe get some exercise....
WHAT'S THE HARM IN THAT.

I am a bigger, better, faster and cooler poser than any of you*













*I reserve the right to be smaller, slower and uncooler than any of you at any time

[QUOTE=DMN]I am a bigger, better, faster and cooler poser than any of you*

Oh no your not!!!!!! Pink lycra,body armor,TLD helmet, Huffy. I am the man!!

Oh no your not!!!!!! Pink lycra,body waxing pink fluffy helmet, Huffy. I am a woman!!

Ok fella what ever makes you happy :p

well, to the original scenario... it's hard to say...

maybe they were about to ride and their full-face helmets were still in the car as they were waiting for someone??

or they were just out cruising? (back when i was a pure XC rider i ALWAYS had my helmet on. now that do a fair amount of riding with a fullface i often ride short distances -- like uphill -- without a helmet as the full face is HOT HOT HOT). but yeah, the guys who ride downhill or do jumps or stunts w/o a helmet are just stupid! taking your helmet off b/c it's hot is one thing, but choosing not to wear one b/c it's not cool is just dumb!

as to bikes being clean and unscratched --- yes, my bikes look 5 years old after about 2 months (my Kona i bought last December looks ancient with scratches from the brake cables, one dent in the bottom tube, etc.!), but i do know some guys with really great sponsoring who get multiple bikes that get changed out every couple of months. so their bikes almost always look brand new (oh, wait, they are always brand-new) as it looks good for the "sponsoring")

as for posers: i mostly just ignore them or laugh a little. but yeah, if they wanna fork out cash that's ok as it pays for R&D for the bike industry and maybe i can buy something "used" but basically unused...

i guess the only thing that really annoys me is just stupid stuff -- i was in the shop a while back and there was this really awesome looking anodized frame being built up with lots of cool parts... then i noticed there was a double disk going on front and i asked the shop guys what the bike was for (i ride a 6" disk and think about a little bigger one and do lots of sick downhills, but who needs a double-disk? -- ok, i also only weigh 170lbs) and the guys say it's a poser bike for some guy who is a beginner mountain biker! with Rohloff hub and a sick fork and all... and the bike will probably be ridden a few miles so the lazy rider looks cool! but, whatever, maybe i can buy the Rohloff off him for like 1/4 the price in a few years!

anyhow, maybe it's just me, but i think the guy on ok-or-not-so-good equipment who kicks everyone ass is the one who is really cool! (but then maybe i'm biased as i tend to be that guy - at least more than a poser)

I AM a poser. I ride a GREAT bike, have GREAT equipment, ride in GREAT parks and still suck,skill wise. isnt that the definition of a poser? better stuff than the rider should have to meet his/her skill level? Id rather be a poser than a FRED

I AM a poser. I ride a GREAT bike, have GREAT equipment, ride in GREAT parks and still suck,skill wise. isnt that the definition of a poser? better stuff than the rider should have to meet his/her skill level? Id rather be a poser than a FRED
Top of the line bike and afraid to get it scratched up?

Holy crap guys im such a poser i wear my trusty volcom hat when riding street........Oh no!! And yes i do wear shin pads!!!

Holy crap guys im such a poser i wear my trusty volcom hat when riding street........Oh no!! And yes i do wear shin pads!!!

Meh, how's your new bike treating you?

Wish i could say great, but i have been waiting on my wheelset for quite some time now. Its great every time a truck goes by i look out the window hoping its the ups guy. I really think the shop is slacking and being lazy. The day i get it built up i will get some pictures of the frame and some pictures of me sucking on it.

Wish i could say great, but i have been waiting on my wheelset for quite some time now. Its great every time a truck goes by i look out the window hoping its the ups guy. I really think the shop is slacking and being lazy. The day i get it built up i will get some pictures of the frame and some pictures of me sucking on it.

Whend did you order the wheels?

A little under 2 weeks ago it was a custom build from a shop that sponsored a team i used to ride with, so its like well hes not paying full price so he can wait...