pablosnazzy

this is disjointed. this is strictly my skewed opinion. i need to vent, and here i go.

oh, and please read the whole thing before you flame me.

there seems to be a large group of "mountain bikers" who don't seem to get it. i've seen and spoken with people who seem to be roadies on dirt. one guy was boasting about his carbon hard tail, how it was lighter than any other bike, he asked how heavy my bike was, i said about 30 pounds, he snorted, somewhat derisively, saying "ugh, that's so heavy." i explained it was a full suspension, best for around here, he told me he doesn't need a full suspension, they ride like pogo sticks (he tried one 15 years ago) are too heavy and he doesn't like to ride on rocky stuff, it's not for him. i tried to explain about today's full suspension and the benefits, he was having none of it, wasn't even interested in learning what is out there.

i talked to a guy, suggested a trail, he said he wanted to ride this sandy double track road, he just wanted to "tick off the miles." cool, ok, why don't you just ride on the road?

my friend came back from riding the Trans Rockies up in canada, he said most of the guys freaked out and stopped when they got into the woods. once the trail became roots and rocks they just walked. he passed a bunch of guys in the woods, then when they got on the road, they would all pass him.

talking to many "mountain bikers" it seems they only want to focus on "getting a good work out," go on long climbs up gravel or dirt roads, and want to avoid any rocky stuff at all costs. They love going up a hill or riding on doubletrack, but try to get them to go down a rocky hill and they act like you suggested they wear poop as a hat. i'm not saying everyone needs to ride super techy stuff, that's not it.

it's the attitude that bothers me. there seems to be a bunch of people riding mountain bikes who refuse to accept they are riding bikes in nature. they won't even make a feeble attempt at riding over a rock or root, they avoid it. they are wrapped up in their heart rate and their ultra light parts. then there are the guys who, when you talk about riding something techy, they act like it's a completely different sport and something that has nothing to do with mountain biking. they are usually wearing tight lycra kit and look down on you because you have hairy legs, cut offs, and t-shirts.

if you want to buy a full suspension tricked out bike or a 16 pound carbon hard tail and ride it on paved bike paths and fire roads all day, that is cool. but don't say you are into mountain biking and then get all weird and upset when someone suggests you try a trail that isn't 100% smooth, or complain that a trail is too rocky, or worry that your $10,000 carbon bike will get scratched. (yes, a super nice guy who was a pretty cool fella, way more fit than i will EVER be, didn't want to ride a certain trail because he was worried his "$10,000 carbon bike would get scratched." his words).

again, i don't really care where or how you ride your bike, i really really don't. the reason i'm upset, the reason it bothers me, is because these guys have input on what trails to build, and end up building boring trails. these guys act like they are something special because they race and have that stuck up roadie mentality, and are tainting the whole idea of mountain biking. these guys say they are mountain bikers, but refuse to try anything out of their comfort zone, and refuse to actually try "mountain biking."

they bother me because...they just don't get it, and it's sad. and frustrating.

i consider the older mom who rides her crappy "mountain bike," taking about an hour and a half on our 4 mile "beginner trail," the lady who will NEVER ride any of the techy stuff, more of a mountain biker than the guy with the heart rate monitor, and i would rather ride with her, because she is, to me, the "spirit" of mountain biking. it's not the skills, it's the attitude. she just likes riding her bike, she doesn't walk around saying she is a mountain biker.

either stay on the road, or learn a modicum of skills and at least *try* to ride a mountain bike like it was meant to be ridden, and dammit, have fun and enjoy it, stop trying to make every ride a time trial.

if you want to ride a super light hard tail on smooth surfaces, if you don't want to ride over any obstacles that might slow you down or require some skill, why are you riding a mountain bike?

NCMTBIKER

I'm on your side bro....good points made for sure

scyclops

That part almost brought a tear to my eye. God bless you pablosnazzy, and all the older moms and real MTBers everywhere, and God bless America.

ed 

Quit your moaning and ride your bike, Pablosnazzypants.


I feel ya.

I was riding a local trail in the KCK region a while back. The trail has 2 loops. One is techy/rocky'er than crap, and around 2mi. The other is smoother (a few rocky sections) and 3mi. I was riding with my slower friend and these two dudes started heading toward us like a bat outta hell. They were riding their rigid 9'ers...obviously locals. I was on my Komodo when I had the Domain on it, I think. As I was waiting for my friend to catch up, these dudes blasted by me with a snobbish look on their faces that I really wanted to beeyotch-slap off. I swear...they actually veered in toward me to try to push me further away from "their trail".

I wanted to freakin' clothesline the little packers.


Obvously not feeling the flow...moreso just trying to best their last lap time. I can't be a hypocrite though. I've ridden a local trail in Lawrence, KS (LRT) that is sort of an indy 500 MTB trail. There are a few logs, chutes, jumps, etc...but all that stuff is connected with smooth fast twisty singletrack. It's a directional trail, so the only people you encounter coming at you are hikers. I will however...slow down for them. If you're coming up on hikers, bikers, horses, kids smoking doobs...just slow down a little and show some freakin' respect.


Session riders get it. Ride with dudes that like to session and it's a positive time. Enjoying the trail obstacles...appreciating other peoples skills. Not gabbing about your carbon goofy shyte. Just chill.

(cept when you fall...then it's a cackle fest)

liquefied

Who cares? Some people aren't into the adrenaline rush. Personally I enjoy a long embolism-inducing climb just as much as I enjoy a blast down a rocky, rooty, pitch-me-over the bars singletrack. I'm not the bike computer type but if others want to keep track of their exercise, fine by me. I have as much respect for the guy riding downhill on a 20-year old rigid bike as I do for a 50-year-old weekend warrior on a $10k wonderbike. As long as they're out riding and not being a dick hole then more power to them.

victim

I'd rather ride with a MILF too!!!

CSG

I ride my MTB on dirt roads, calm single track, two track farm roads and pavement. I long ago stopped doing anything approaching extreme. At 60 I'm too easy to break. Hope that's OK with the MTB police.

LesterOfPuppets

What cracks me up is dudes on mellow trails with full suspension. I love passing them wussies on Leif Erickson on my CX rig like they're standing still.

LesterOfPuppets

I'd rather ride a MILF. At my age I'll take a nice GILF too!

ljrichar

As I am a roadie who started mtn biking last year, I can see both sides. Some of these guys are racers so they have to worry about how fast they can get through a trail. That being said, some of the mtn races around here incorporate some of the rootier, technical trails so these racers just can't just stick to riding "fire roads." Even though I wear my lycra & shave my legs, I'm trying to embrace the mtn culture by learning other skill sets & actually having fun while I'm out there. Not all of us off roadies are evil.

JonathanGennick 

I just want to +1 your entire post. It is the attitude, isn't it? Some riders are unwilling or unable to see biking through anything other than the lens of their own abilities and preferences. The result can be like a set of silos in that you end up with communities of different styles of biker who never really interact much with each other, and yet there is so much to be gained from mixing with different types of rider and trying out different ways of riding.

sunstorm

Guess it just doesn't matter that much to me. Seems like there's room for everyone. I like single track, but I'm a clutz, have bad knees and wrists, and on weeks where we'll be doing surgery, I won't take the risk of doing real damage (my $140,000 dollar education will not be railroaded by one clutzy moment, even over simple rocky or rooted terrain.) To be honest, some days I'm just too tired, fatiqued, hurt, overwhelmed, stressed, distracted, etc to focus on a trail, but I still want to get a ride in....away from cars, blacktop, and urban scenes. Hope I'm not being judges so harshly.

Repack Rider

I ride a mountain bike because after 40+ years of cycling, I no longer care to ride a road bike. So I ride one of several MTBs everywhere I go, including local errands and gnarly singletrack. Full-suspension for dirt rides, one of my older rigid frames for everything else.

Whoever designed the Tamarancho singletrack where I ride was not one of your high-speed riders.

dminor 

Hey, I used to ride everywhere on full suspension - - techy trails, mellow trails, fireroads, even paved rail trails - - because my freeride/DH bike was the only dependable bike I owned. Yeah, those 2.5s were boat anchors on the level-and-smooth; but payday came if the trail ever turned sharply down and was littered with boulders .

Papa Wheelie

When ever you think you are the gnarliest rider out there, riding the tightest, most techinical trails with the greatest of ease, along comes somebody else who is laughing at you because you are struggling, and going so slow, at something that is SO EASY.....

Airburst

I'll admit to doing a fair bit of doubletrack riding, but I do have the decency to use my ancient rigid Saracen for that, which I've put 1" semislick tyres and dirt drops on. About half the MTBs I see being ridden offroad around here are on doubletrack, and a lot of them seem to be expensive full-suspension rigs, with massive 2" knobbies. Strangely enough I can keep up with most of them, despite being fairly unfit. That's gotta say something...

wavejim

OP, I don't know how old you are or anything about you. That said, and don't be offended by what I write, I read too many ***** posts on the various MTB forums. I understand your concerns but you are acting the same. You blast people for not acting the way you act. You are telling others how they should ride. It seems like you got butt-hurt because the "elite-types" made comments about how you ride or what you ride.

DON'T let other people bother you so much and get away from the hypocritical thinking that seems so prevalent. Embrace the fact you have wheels and places to ride the way you want. Get involved with local biking clubs and friends who enjoy the same stuff as you do. Learn to ignore others that act like snobs but don't be hypocritical.

tanguy frame

slow day at work?

Mr IGH

OP expects everyone to be just like him or they're d-bags, it's the number one thread...some old sub-forum. Not everyone is an ex-BMX rider, doesn't make them "roadies", just makes them different. Takes all kinds, OP, why are you always ripping other riders who don't do what you do?

I'm still running tubes too....

liquefied

... that it's not a race?

pablosnazzy

um, i'm not, including this thread. try reading it again, slower maybe, and try reading it without looking to be offended.

please, list all the threads where i am "always ripping other riders who don't do what i do."

i'd like to see them.

oh, and i run tubes to on all my bikes but one...so what is your point?

Daspydyr 

At 57 and recovering from a bad fall, I understand what you are talking about. BUT, I bet you also understand the other part. If you can sneak up on some deer sleeping under some growth or you want to see what that shiny stuff is down by the creek and you have to just dig in and ride, then go for it. I really like my bike, just as I like my fishing tackle, but the stuff is stuff and meant to get dirty. I have been an explorer since I could first sneak away from mom's grab. And that is why I like Mountain biking. I can get places where I might not ever get to if I had to hoof it all the way. The road less traveled is still the preferred path.

robncircus

Voted: dumb thread. Same thing happens on the road - some riders like to climb, some like flat routes, some only ride crits, etc.... Different strokes for different folks. And, some people possibly can't hit tech stuff due to any number of variables: injuries, recovery, lack of skills, or maybe they're having a good time and just don't give a f*** unlike the OP. Two examples:

1. My dad was an avid mountain biker int he 90s. Loved it. Crashed real bad one daya nd tore the rotator cuffs in his shoulders. Could only ride easy fireroad after that. Guess he's not that hardcore according to the OP.

2. I rode with a guy a few weeks ago. Shows up on an expensive carbon f/s bike. Doesn't care to ride any tech. We got to talking and it turns out he's a cariovascular surgeon of some sort. He falls and breaks a hand, wrist, whatever and guess what - not only does he not work, people can die. He's got the $, so he bought himself a sweet bike. Good on him.

Still a dumb thread.

Fred Smedley

I guess when all the "Roadie Types" start riding the knarly rocky rooty steep singletrack the op can start a thread ******** about all the dinks jamming up the trail.....

Daspydyr 

^^^, oh no, FIRST, he supports UMD! Second his picture has them curved handlebars. What are those called, DROPS?

Yeah, Pablo SNAZ gets off his meds from time to time, but he is the old school trail rider and captures the free spirit of early Mountain Biking where the bike is the tool and not the ring on your finger.

Santa Monica eh, I know you got a few good trails there! Why ride skinny tires in that neighborhood.