Grumpy old guy or should the young ones HTFU, or....
 

Out riding today, thankful for a beautiful day, beautiful trails, good health and much more.

Yet, it struck me how many young guys were pushing their bikes up relatively easy hills. If I can ride my SS up the hill, it is not that hard of a hill. Yet, a lot of guys in the free ride area were pushing their bikes up the hills. These were not DH bikes, I understand pushing a DH bike uphill.

Have a chunk of the younger guys gotten soft? Do a chunk of them need to HTFU? Am I just being a grumpy old man? Or, some combo of both???

Definitely a GRUMPY OLD GUY. Take it from another GRUMPY OLD GUY. I know one when I see one. :p

Could be they are rather new at it or they are just out there for the nice day it was?

They rode down a free ride trail with gap jumps, so probably not newbie riders. Also, it was 28 degrees when I started riding. So, although beautiful, likely not solely out for the day.

I am OK with this.... :)

Back in my mountain biking days I sometimes spent so much time pushing my bike up hills that I questioned why I spoiled a nice hike by bringing it with me.

I found that pushing a bike up a climb Is often harder than riding it, maybe they know something you don't,
Maybe for them It's a very Intense workout :P

Maybe they have already done 50+ miles of riding? :rolleyes:

Great tune.....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgw_yprN_-w

At 77 I notice exactly what the OP has stated. I am not that fast. On the level on my bent I ride about 15 on my bent, and maybe 13 or a little better on my trike. Yet-------------I still seem to pass a lot of young people.

I also take issue with anyone in good health pushing a bike up a hill for any reason.
But that being said I also believe that my generation also had its share of lazyass kids as I remember many of my friends and other kids in town pushing their Scwhinns up hills

If you never fail, you aren't challenging yourself enough.

Grumpy. Teenagers have a tendency to slack off when they can, always have. You and I probably did also, even if we don't remember it.

You are grumpy and out of line. There is no shame in walking a bike. Be happy people are out and about, enjoying life.

Yep.

If one has been a serious cyclist for twice as long as a young rider has been alive physical adaptation to the bike, efficient pedaling dynamics, well honed handing skills and a mindset used to dealing with challenging terrain were developed long ago. These are not insignificant in getting right smartly down the road/trail and can trump the strength and recovery rate of young newbies, unless the young newbies are also serious cyclists rapidly developing the same skills and mindset but with youthful power and bravura. You won't out-HTFU the local USAC Juniors either.

-Bandera

By the way, these were not teens. All the teens I saw were riding their bikes everywhere. These were all 20-40 year olds. I believe, based on where they were, that they show up to only ride the downhill (free ride) sections. It appeared that they just did not want to put out the effort. One group of guys just got off their bikes a couple hundred yards up a maybe half mile hill. Grumpy or not, I still think a large majority of these guys, in this situation, just need to HTFU. There is nothing wrong with breathing hard and your legs burning a bit. Yes, we all have days when pushing is the choice, but after two weekends in a row of watching this I think this is the norm for this group of riders.

just a few thoughts. Clearly they can do as they choose.

You just failed. Way to challenge yourself :)

Even in the NORBA days of mountain biking the Downhiller and Cross Country types were as different as Chalk & Cheese.
Totally different interests in how a bicycle was to be used, far more different than Trackies were to Roadies.

Today: Same, same.

-Bandera

I would like to be empathetic of your view but it doesn't work for me. Grumpy is not the term I would use. You do your thing and let them do theirs. This is not an age related view point. None of us have a clue as to why others do what they do. I am my own competitor and am happy with that. I push myself most of the time but there are times when I don't' want to ride but do anyway and just take it easy.

Do I ever walk a bike up a hill? I have, but it was when I was still in poor condition. I got over it by riding more. Did it bother me that I had to walk it? Yes because walking in road shoes with cleats is really tough. I started using a MTB to get into shape so I wouldn't have to walk it. But that was a personal decision. I didn't do it because someone on a SS passed me going up a hill.

A lot of 20 40 year olds hardly ever ride a bike. Nice weekend rides are not the same when you do them every couple of months or even weeks. If you commute and then have a weekend ride, your in much better shape.

This is me being grumpy! :)

Yes, when I have to push, it bugs me. But, we all find it happens at times. I think, after hearing some more opinions, that what bugs me is the folks who are trying to avoid exercise. I totally respect someone up there who is overweight, sweating, dying, and overall giving it their personal best (even if they are pushing their bike). I guess what bugs me are young people who push when it is to avoid some exercise. But, it does not ruin my ride, I never say anything to them, it is their choice. Just like it is my choice to share here and compare thoughts. Now, time to go ride a new place with my SS and see if I need to push it at times. :)

I've not done it since I was a kid, but there is no shame walking a bike up a hill. Check this pix out.

It was one of my few forays into the world of MTBs. I was climbing a hill with a look of grim determination, while others get off their bikes and walk.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...pshokhy7ke.jpg

Pretty impressive huh? Except one thing ... those people walking up the hill passed me!

The latest rage in Europe is enduro racing, but only the descents are timed. Many of the racers walk the uphills to save energy for the wild descents.

I have a ton of sympathy for the downhillers having to walk or push their bikes uphill. Have you tried lifting some of those DH bikes?

DH bikes I fully understand, I have owned them. Guys or gals struggling to get into shape, I have been there and fully understand. I am standing my ground regarding folks who just do not want to sweat or feel a little burn. If you saw the "hills" I am talking about you would probably also be shaking your head. Again, it is their ride. I am just confused by this behavior and find it kind of sad.

Walking is great exercise...They may have medical problems.

If you never walk your bike up a hill you're either a climbing animal or very selective in your routes.

(I have a couple of local hills I just cannot ride up fully. Even though I'm selective I'm definitely not a climbing animal)