a2psyklnut

I guess it depends. Media coverage would make things better for the pros I would think. I am not a pro rider and could care less what people think about my riding. I really just ride. I am also not a believer in a sport requiring coverage to progress. It needs riders to progress.

But also I would love for people to know what I do. (selfish I know). Most people think of mountain biking as a casual trip or at the most a roadie on a smooth single track riding through rolling field. I do not ride like this and it is sometimes very difficult to relate my riding style to non riders. Once again that is being selfish but I really am not a rolling hills kind of rider. I don't take in the environment I attack it.

I am in fact playing devils advocate with myself when it comes to this topic. Media coverage means more people riding which means more money. But it also means more people riding. Advocacy groups would have a field day in the states (we don't worry to much about those groups here) if the rider count quadrupled in an area hurting more trails.

I totally agree with your assesment of xc racing on tv etc...

But in the end I am a rider. (extreme xc / freeride with a bit of dh thrown in)

My favorite part of allof these naming conventions is we are the only ones who know it. Once we get out to the real world and talk to non riders. If I called myself a freerider they would look at me like I was dumb. In the end I end up saying I ride mountain bikes in this type of terrain and prefer these kinds of obstacles blah blah. I find it funny actually