No, you obviously don't get it, but don't let it get you down, you probably never will. I have been riding bicycles on-road and off-road for the well over 40 years and I still have people I've known all my life ask me why I don't just get a car. Some people are able to "get it" and others never will. No harm, no foul.

We often see threads on the BF that start out "SS/FG, I just don't get it..." or "Why ride a recumbant?", and the simple and straight answer is.... "If you have to ask why, it won't do you or I any good for me to take the time to explain it to you."

You sound to me like you are indeed a "recreational" mountain bike rider. Great. Enjoy yourself and ride safe. If you want to ride around in the city, stay on the MUPs. They were built for people who don't want to contend with cars and crowded roads. But realize that everyone is not like you, and some of us don't ride purely for "recreation", or even ride "recreationally" at all.

I personally seldom ride for "recreation" because to me bicycling is a sport. "Recreation" is bowling or golf to me. When I am bombing down a set of singletrack switchbacks or I'm hopping my way up a 20' set of stairs at the local college, or I'm shouldering a car out of my path as I blast through downtown traffic, or I'm commuting to work on my fixed gear road bike, there is no recreation to it at all, its pure sport.

The only thing we probably have in common is that we both ride bicycles, but you do it your way, and I do it mine.

Ride Safe!.