As I read through this thread I tried to come on board and understand the intent to the original posters message and tried to assess it as a rant against snobs who buy the best stuff and boast they are mountain bikers for status and not for the love of the sport...basically something like "A Dr/ Engineer on a $6000 epic riding riding the easiest trails telling everyone they just finished a 3 hour grueling mountain bike ride and asking everyone what they ride and if they rode that day"....hope that is it, if not I kinda see the post as one looking down on others for not riding to acceptable levels of riding that they set.

Couple things I would like to note. Those that classify themselves as purist and criticize those that go out and get the new expensive bikes cuz they have ridden the same hard tail or bike for the last 15 years and doing fine...these are the people keeping your local bike shops alive so they can give you deals on those little parts you periodically have to replace on that bike of yours. They are also pumping money into a growing industry that is actively lobbying for trails and laws in support of better mountainbikeing as well as pushing innovation in research and design.

The type of trails a person rides is a person choice and should be based on their preferences and ability...not the bike they ride. Couple of points here. Friend started mountain biking after road biking for year. Was given...yes given...a nice full suspension mountain bike to pursue new interest. Went riding with friends that pointed out they were real mountain bikers and with that bike you don't take the easy trails....you hit real mountain bike stuff....gave pointers on how to maintain speed through the technical stuff and pick the right line...the person is no longer riding as they are recovering from broken arm, dislocated shoulder and facial lacerations from a crash on there second ride out. My son rides technical and does well. Daughter not as brave but loves climbing and single track...avoids real rough stuff. Son rides his stumpy, which is a good bike though older...daughter just bought new fancy GF 29er hard tail. Son doesn't appreciate the sport tho does have some talent...only goes periodically to show he can outride everyone...daughter loves it and though doesn't ride the roughest trails always goes when she has a chance even though she is always last coming in and we have to wait...boy is always first and let's here know it...I enjoy riding with the daughter so much.

My point being hopefully you don't classify people by the bike or trail they ride. People ride different bikes and trails for different reasons. There are people that are bike snobs....yes annoying as all get out...I personally do not like the ones when you pull up to them they ask you the type of bike you have before saying hi even....hahahaha...funny....but well worth avoiding and you shouldn't let them get to you. I have meet 10 times more kewl people on the bike trail then snobs. I believe I understand were the OP is going here...but the way it is worded can be misinterpreted as being sort of a snob as well and hence some of the feedback provided