I hail from the same era and I agree with your sentiments. It's all MTBing to me. Just as in the past, my XC ride could easily turn into a bit of FR and some DH. Honestly though, I've never encountered the kind of experience the OP described.

...the hates pretty mutual in that case. I don't hate all roadies, and not all roadies hate us, but the ones that do are ALWAYS pretentious.

We don't have the cardio
they don't have the skill
roads are boring
trails are anaerobic
I am better uphill
I kill downhill...
Wohoo I beat you uphill on concrete
wohoo I beat you down a hill with 78% pitches and dirty...

blah blah...we are all different, but we all ride. To blame any hate on one side is well...very one sided.

The thing is, the skills and training from road to MTB (and vice versa) translate well to either side. Ned Overend was a good road rider (and still is) before he switched to MTBing and he had cardio and climbing that kicked a$$. The current race favourite (and last year's winner) of the Giro D'Italia, Paolo Salvodelli, and the current leader, Tom Danielson, are former MTBers. Salvodelli performed some excellent descents last year which allowed him to retain his lead. Even Lance Armstrong credited his MTBing experience for allowing him to save himself by avoiding Beloki's crash and heading offroad in stage 9 of the 2003 TdF.

+555

I have come across this before on my local trails. My friend and I were riding through some local forest trails (my hardrock Ax Fs and my friend, Trek Fuel 80) came across some guys on fs bikes stumpjumper fsr Giant something or other and a cannondale in the mix all about 3-5000 dollar bikes with full riding gear and what not. after some scoffing and some look at the ancient hard tail they got pretty pissed when I told them that theyre fat asses probably couldnt keep up with us....and they couldnt. enough said.

Would'nt most people get pissed if you told them 'your fat ass can't keep up' . You are lucky you didn't get your ass kicked spouting off like that.

I bet you rule totally rule Long Island

Are you serious ? You get pissed when they say hello ? Many times when I ride into town (6.5 miles 1600' elevation gain) I'll get passed by a road biker . The only time I get pissed off is when they pass without announcing their presence . A simple "on your left" or "nice day to be riding, eh?" would be fine.

I may be an old fashion guy but to me the fastest lightest bikes are still hardtails and a good rider on a crappy bike will still outrun a crappy rider on a great bike. Its supposed to be fun for everyone Just cause you went out and spent 5 thousand bucks on a bike and another 500 on lycra and shoes doesnt make you the king of the forest. I wear my alpine t shirt and some old trico shorts, helmet and some gloves(mostly for the pricker bushes my bike is old but I can ride it. Looking forward to building up my brand new rockhopper frame yay. Fat people shouldnt wear lycra and you shouldnt make fun of someone elses bike if you cant ride your own. If your gonna be snooty...be snooty about something your good at

I have to agree with you . When I meet people like Minesbroken , I thank myself for moving far away from the Northeast . Are there even any mountains on Long Island ?

As an almost exclusive XC rider i'm just the opposite, When i see the bighit machines prowling the backcountry, I feel more like bowing to them, climbing with those bikes must be brutal, yet these freeriders do it without complaining, plus the obstacles they attack and conquer makes me feel like my riding skills need more honing. I did an Epic gravel road ride yesterday (80) miles and a young man with us rode a single speed 29er with platform pedals. the rest of us were constantly shifting for the hills and flats, He coasted down the hills and mashed on the pedals going up them and never got more than 200 yrds back at any time! Impressive by anyones standards.

You gotta show some love first.
If you just say something to them or smile or yield the trail or something, usually people are pretty cool. Not always. But usually. Although it kind of s*cks to have to be the one who yields all the time, just because other people are intimidated.
And RIGHT ON about the fat 40 yos in spandex team kits. I hate team kits, they don't even look cool on 20 yo fit dudes.

Got to tell a story real quick though.
So I was riding ---- just me, no other buds. Hey, maybe that is my motivation problem. Anyway, I was ripping downhill, came around a blind corner and didn't really slow down. Another XC dude was riding up, and I locked them up and barely avoided a serious crash. Didn't actually hit the guy or anything. I said "Sorry" and I was laughing about it, because ---- danger averted. Let's keep hammering! But he didn't think it was funny, and kept on riding, like scrambling mad in granny, all huffy and shouts some **** about how "we" (even though there was just one of me) "never" yield. There is no way to win sometimes.

And also, I have been shoved off my bike by a hiker. LOL. Another story altogether.

The really funny thing was that it was clear that they were all lost. I was just happy someone thought I could free ride.

I'm not a nasty person I was taunted by these people for almost 30 minutes before I made the bet that theyre fat asses couldnt keep up. I rode away from them and got followed to the next stop spot. kept trying to just move along and mind my own business but they insisted on following and taunting my friend and I. Then when they said that our two low end bikes should be riding around parking lots and off of "their" trails I got pissed and told them that theyre fat asses probably couldnt keep up with us even with my cheap old bike. Then they got mad and said lets find out. I got up the hill faster than them and then waited awhile at the bottom and at the bottom I watched them get to the top one guy flipped me the bird and then they rode off in the other direction. relieving actually. I hate bumping into bad attitudes when I'm riding. I just want to enjoy it. Maybe you wouldnt want to bump into me but I wouldnt mind bumping into you...hell I might even help you with your flat or something to each his own.

I think I adjusted quicker to this, because I've been through all of that thirty years ago on dirt bikes. I just try to smile and be friendly anyway. Even with a full-face, people will see the smile in your eyes. Even if you don't succeed in diffusing their bad attitude, you'll come away feeling better knowing that you tried.

Fat or not, old guys like me shouldn't be in that stuff. Way too much information! I'm still kind of a string bean, but I'll be the first to admit that nobody wants to see me in spandex. I'll take a loose-fitting jersey or shirt and baggies any day.

That is so totally snobbish. People with expensive bikes knocking your lower end bikes. You should have said something because that isn't right. I remember passing a couple of people who were on stumpy fsr pros while I was on my crappy trek 930 in phoenix. They were walking an uphill and I passed em. It was awesome. Most times you'll find alot of snobbish people who haven't rode a day in their lives talking smack just because they went and laid down a credit card for an expensive bike.

Another time here in california while I was going up montara. I was trying to average 10 mph while climbing montara, and I passed some dude. I don't know if I pissed him off or not but he tried so hard to pass me. Never did though, because I hate it when people pass me. For the most part though, I've found everyone is really nice and courteous when I pass them.

Sorry about my assumptions of you . please direct my comments to the jerks you had the misfortune of meeting.

I completely agree, that is just plain wrong. Some people just can't afford $2 or $3 gs for a top of the line MTB. I won my frame in a raffle like 4 years ago, and if it wasn't for that lucky day, I wouldn't even have a MTB at all. It's hard enough paying rent and gassing up the rig.

I just can't be that angry and uptight when I'm riding ---- it just makes me too happy to even think about talking **** to someone else out on the trail. Makes me wonder why they are out there in the first place.

Thanks for the retraction I do like most of the people I meet out there, even the joggers say hello every morning when I'm out there early but that one time these people were just outright nasty. I probably shouldnt have said what I said but they pushed the right buttons I suppose. And then again I do love my bike its been very good to me. (we occaisionally defend each others honor Just think some people are alittle too serious sometimes is all. I almost felt unwelcome like the time my girlfriend and I went to the bowling alley on league night and were bowling while drinking a couple of beers, borrowed balls and rental shoes on and we were being scowled at by the league bowlers for drinking and not having our own balls. Its a crazy world we live in. obsessive snobby people are everywhere unfortunatly so I and the people like me just have to grin and bear it

nice guy like you can wear whatever you want man and I wouldnt make fun. I just want to ride

hey im not saying all that, but when theyre like hellow with some dorky expression like, youre so slow, on their face then yeh im like "flukin roadies i hate ehm" usually when they do this and im not recovery riding i will speed up and spinn under their draft and then pass them, show ehm whats its like to be boss

Sidekick , Eh ? gmoneyhobbit - The Boy-Wonder !

I find most XC riders are like skiers who hate snowboarders!
For what reason, i'm not sure... but my guess is, is that they think
we are recklace or something.

This is classic. You'll encounter this and everthing like throughout your life in all sports as they evolve. Resistance to change and lack of appreciation for heritage fuel the fire.

Years ago I was heavy into ski racing, back then there were a large number of boarders who WERE wrecklace and inconsiderate. Parking themselves in the middle of the slope or crossing tight above, out and then around you. The large majority composing a younger, immature and rebel crowd...rebelion is deep in it's heritage. Now, those younger snowboarders have grown up and you'll see that population continue to be the majority and mature along the way. Snowboarders these days aren't the arrogant young brats they were back then, and their stereotype matures with them.
I'm also an old school XC rider, but haven't come across any negative encounters with any other brand. Some XC riders hate the FR cause they think they know best, and I'm certain, in the beginning and prboably even now there are the careless goons on both ends who taunt each other's anger. I'd be pretty pissed myself if I have somone flying, admitadely carelessly, around a blind corner and nearly taking me out, only to have him laugh afterwards. In that state I'd assume he's laughing AT me. With all that said, most of the old schoolers are porbably more uptight than the FR as the two styles lean two two different generations of the sport.

I ride hardtail mostly because my heart tells me to; it's what I know. Also because I'm comfortable with the level of control I feel that it offers me.

I meant to answer someones question about mountains on long Island before and forgot to. Although there are no mountains to speak of here, there are lots of big hills on the north shore. Lots of trails are even famous world wide such as the green belt trail. I have bumped into mtb riders from all over the globe on that trail. It offers a unique experience with both loose sand and hard packed dirt and a challenge for almost any riding style. I am lucky that I live so close to such a great place to ride. I have ridden many trails all over the place and its as good as any. My local trails however are fun for me also as they are closer and pretty challenging in there own right. I can lose myself for hours in there and not be more than a 15 minute ride from my house at all times. If you would like to see my local trails I have pictures you can look at on my website at https://www.kriskraft.net enjoy