I rarely meet mountain bikers in my day to day life and the general population on the whole think I’m mad for being into something they perceive as dangerous, dirty and expensive.

I’ve never seen more than a couple of hundred people out, even on the very busiest day in the Surrey hills and trail centres are even less busy.

I know there are a gazillion roadies on any given Sunday but how many serious mountain bikers are there I wonder. It seems to still be a really niche pastime despite all the marketing gumpf talking it up.

Define “mountain biking”. 🙂

28,294.2

People who ride proper off road bikes, off road. You know, mountain bikers.

psling – Member
28,294.2

I think I’m the .2 😐

It’s a serious question I’m sure the marketing monkeys at Specialized and Trek know and the purveyors of this fine site must have at least a passing interest in their demographic but it always strikes me at how empty the car parks are especially in winter..

it always strikes me at how empty the car parks are especially in winter..

I’d guess the vast majority of people ride from their house for their day to day riding, even if there’s a few road miles involved.

Yeah I’m in London I always forget other people have actual nature near them.

Car Parks?

I do wonder if the Wiggo Spring/ roadie uprising has meant less people are getting out on their mountain bikes.
Call me selfish, but I prefer it as a low participation pass-time.

the general population on the whole think I’m mad for being into something they perceive as dangerous, dirty and expensive

I don’t think they really do, you may want to think that though but its not true.

Is mountain biking really perceived as dangerous, dirty and expensive? Do people really think about it that much?

There is nothing niche about riding a mountain bike.

Ok, fair point, let’s count off. One…

I’d guess the vast majority of people ride from their house for their day to day riding, even if there’s a few road miles involved.

Do you reckon? I’d have thought more people drive to trail centres.

joolsburger

I’ve never seen more than a couple of hundred people out

For pretty much of the last year, if i saw anyone else on a bike it was a suprise!

I’m definitely a cyclist and I have a couple of mountain bikes but I’m not sure if I would be included in the count of mountain bikers.

I occasionally drive to the peak or north wales with the bike but I’ve only been to a trail centre twice (assuming Swinley counts). 90% of the time my mountain bikes are used from the house on tracks that wouldn’t make very good photo shoots, towpaths, bridleways RUPP’s etc. It’s off-road but I’m not sure if it counts as mountain biking these days.

As for perception, I think the non biking publics view of mountain biking is that it’s a bit grubby.

Do you reckon?

yep, more people ride local stuff from their house than visit trail centres by car.

wwaswas + 1 🙂

Where I ride, during “decent” weather onwards, on a weekend I will pass between 5 and 20 other mountain bikers in a 2/3 hour window, every weekend without fail.

But where I ride is a local place and not a trail center etc.