Originally Posted by Jaywalk3r

No, you're flat wrong about that one.

The Raleigh rider is indeed impressive. The point is, it isn't about the bike, it's about the rider.

I'm not an especially skilled off-road rider. I don't have the skills to ride a road bike through that rock garden, maybe not even a cyclocross bike. But it would be no big deal with a quality cruiser or hybrid. I'm not sure why you are under the impression that that rock garden is some sort of insurmountable obstacle without a mountain bike. It simply isn't. Lots of "mountain biking" can be done without a mountain bike. If you think otherwise, well, the marketing departments of many bike companies have successfully sold you a bill of goods.