Mountain Biking - Can you explain?

I hope no one gets upset but I have to ask this.

I'm not a mtn biker but my 33 year old son is. He doesn't ride the trails or off road for long distances. When he has to ride it isn't very far, maybe 1 or 2 miles tops. He primarily does what I'll call "stunts". He likes doing things like jumping off the roof of his shed, short drops on the trail (usually less than a 20 foot drop), or jumping over stumps and rocks.

I'm a roadie and don't understand how this can be considered cycling.

Oh don't be a stick in the mud, RonH!

It may not be cycling as you know it, but it most definitely is cycling. Wheels, pedals, leg power...these are the constants in cycling (although unicycles and hand-powered trikes may bend those rules).

Biking is a multidisciplinary sport, if you ask me, and road riding is ust the tip of the iceberg. You have XC mtb'ing, BMX, downhill, trials, track/sprint, cyclocross...perhaps others. Check it out, you may actually enjoy some of these variants. After all, they all involve bikes.

Peace
BK

Its not about the distance.... Its about the experience.

Its not about the distance.... Its about the experience. :beer:

Well said. I ride both road and mtb and feel as stated above. It realy does not matter how far you ride as long as you enjoy it. The type of riding your son does creats a huge adrenalin rush. Looking over the edge of some thing, may be only 2', but still getting nervous and scared causing the adrenalin to flow and then going for it. The feeling of surviving so to speak is magnificent.
On the other hand, long gruling road rides give a diff feeling as does a long xc ride. They all have their purpose.
Slainte:beer:

Originally posted by dirtbikedude
:beer:

Well said. I ride both road and mtb and feel as stated above. It realy does not matter how far you ride as long as you enjoy it. The type of riding your son does creats a huge adrenalin rush. Looking over the edge of some thing, may be only 2', but still getting nervous and scared causing the adrenalin to flow and then going for it. The feeling of surviving so to speak is magnificent.
On the other hand, long gruling road rides give a diff feeling as does a long xc ride. They all have their purpose.
Slainte:beer:
Thanks for a good explanation of what is going through my son's head. :thumbup:
I guess I forgot the sensations he is experiencing since I haven't enjoyed jumping off high places since I was a kid.

Maybe thats the point. It makes him feel young. I know it makes me feel like a kid in a candy store when I am doing thrilling things.

Although jumping off roofs hurts more than what I do. I don't have the money for that kind of adventure. :)

I don't have the money for that kind of adventure.
:lol: When my friends stop to air off a big jump repeatedly I usually sit out. Not because I'm a weenie (though I'm sure they think so) but because I can't afford it!