[Closed] 44% not interested in a uplift...eh?

I'm one of the few who prefers climbing to going downhill. Largely because my technical skills are still stuck in nursery school.

It's more intersting that 56% of STWers who responded [i]would[/i] be interested in uplift (presumably, without checking poll).

I bet that figure would have been a lot lower a few years ago.

The objectors largely seem to be the more “Mono-Cultural” MTBers from what I can tell, the ones for whom MTBing is an up hill, down dale slog, and frown on the idea of trail centres let alone DH, and to be honest that’s fine, why should they be forced to buy into every new niche and gimmick that comes along if they enjoy their riding as it is then let them. MTBing should be a broad church and there should be room for all sects…

I think it’s fair to say those of us who do “Mix Disiplines” i.e. XC, Road, BMX, and DH maybe the odd Race, as well as the committed DH boys tend to be the ones who book the occasional Uplift or DH race…

And really 56% buy in is pretty impressive when you consider how “young” MTBing as a sport is and especially uplift assisted DH as a subset within it…

Best venue in my view if you are “Uplift curious” is probably UK Bikepark, if you can get enough mates together for a mid-summer Private uplift you can probably top 18 odd Runs in a day, friendly, very competent people running a great service with “proper” vehicles and trailers, lots of trail choices, and you will be knackered at the end of the day, if you don’t enjoy a day there then it’s probably not for you…

I've been more bolloxed from a single run down Cwmcarn than I have from doing the entire Skyline. Really, it's a different kettle of fish. Ones a long steady burn, the other is absolutely everything you've got top to bottom.

Then you need to do skyline faster!

Back on topic, I ride XC i ride to get away from life and the crap. time to think and unwind, DH has no interest for me. never has. The closest to uplift i have got is using ski lifts in Verbier for those days when you just want a bimble and the only flat tracks are 45minutes climbing away.

I think Scotsman has it right with this. When I read the poll my interpretation was whether or not I have used some sort of assistance to get to the top of a hill. Yes, quite a few times. Chairlifts in the alps, mini-buses in the Sierra Nevada etc. Neither time did I think I was "Downhilling", I was just gaining some altitude easily so I can have more time enjoying the downs. They're weren't all desperately difficult downhills and also there was still some up and along. I like the challenge of a good climb, but I do get bored slogging up endless fire-road type climbs.

Maybe as a long time skier I "get" the idea of being taken to the top of a hill/mountain to enjoy coming back down again. I do agree that coming down can be as tough if not more so than getting up.

mrmo - Member

Then you need to do skyline faster!

or you need to do the downhill faster 😉

"Uplifts are aimed at DHers, which I am not."

Not neccesarily... Look at Fort William,

You are absolutley right. If I was in FW when the red trail was open, I'd definitely spend a day riding it. In fact I'd probably have a roll down the DH run if it didn't look too busy.

I ride DH trails on my XC loops and just I get off and walk-down the odd bits that frightening me. Maybe this sounds strange, but with me it's about [b]feeling intimidated by DHers[/b] rather than DH trails. Maybe it's the full-face helmets!? Or maybe I just don't see myself as an burly, adrenaline junkie!?

Re: Skyline - don't you find the final steppy descent the most exhausting bit? My skinny arms are usually vibrating with fatigue at the end.

Not interested.

Used to ride a motorbike flat out on the dirt for years in Oz, then one day I realised that was all about keeping attention firmly on the next section of track and not appreciating where I was, plus a lot was dependent on how much technology (skill compensator) I had under me.

Realised I was missing out on the best part. Now I prefer to pedal uphill on as little bike as possible and enjoy the views, take diversions, and just cruise downhill.

I can appreciate where I am whilst sat on a chairlift looking forward to the downhills 🙂

If you think lift assisted dh requires no fitness or stamina you really aren't trying hard enough. I've ridden big all day rides on and off road but nothing has left me as exhausted as a day on the chair lifts. As someone above said, I think a lot of the naysayers are more 'single discipline' than the rest of us.

personally, I love the fact that so many of the naysayer are quite clearly in the "I've never tried it but I dont like it" camp.

legend - Member

personally, I love the fact that so many of the naysayer are quite clearly in the "I've never tried it but I dont like it" camp.

Nope - its " i have never tried it and am not interested in doing so"

I have no desire to do multiple runs of a couple of minutes of the same track. I might do FW red once.

I've done "uplift" at FW, it was quite eye opening how knackered I was at the end of a full day riding down the Nevis red.

If there were more places in the UK that offered a gondola or chair uplif I would definitely use them.

Don't know if I could be bothered with the cattle truck and shonky bus type of uplift though

I have no desire to do multiple runs of a couple of minutes of the same track. I might do FW red once

then go somewhere with a variety of tracks. Ft.Bill is the only one track uplift I go on (the red doesn't count as DH...... and it's fairly rubbish imo) but that's long and hard enough that boredom will certainly not be an issue. Innerleithen tracks are shorter but there are several choices of route down

Don't know if I could be bothered with the cattle truck and shonky bus type of uplift though

this sort of comment confuses me - whats not to be bothered with? Put bike in trailer, sit in comfy warm bus, ride, repeat. I'm guessing you didn't put in more than 8 runs at Ft.Bill, so you're not missing out that way either.

this sort of comment confuses me - whats not to be bothered with? Put bike in trailer, sit in comfy warm bus, ride, repeat. I'm guessing you didn't put in more than 8 runs at Ft.Bill, so you're not missing out that way either.

Fairly easy to understand really,

A gondola means you get back to the top without any hanging about,

You also aren't disgorged at the top of the hill in a mass group

Fairly easy to understand really,

A gondola means you get back to the top without any hanging about,

You also aren't disgorged at the top of the hill in a mass group

Never been skiing, clearly 😉

I am well aware that it's physically challenging. The point is that you can still ride those decents with having ridden up to them. I have been assisted by vehicles to gain altitude (otherwise all rides would start at sea level!) However, I don't want to spend a day just riding downhill and being given a lift up. I enjoy riding and that includes going up. If a truck or van can get up somewhere, then in this country it's not that difficult or time consuming to ride to.

Nowadays, I only have a limited amount of time in my life to ride and the point is I'd rather spend that time riding than sitting in a van.

Nothing against DH and if I had a DH bike then I might try it simply because riding up might become too much of a pain to ride up. But with my current limited time, I'd rather enjoy the riding up as well as down.

Nowadays, I only have a limited amount of time in my life to ride and the point is I'd rather spend that time riding [s]than sitting in a van[/s] downhill and getting a lift back up

fixed

I don't see what the big deal is. I've never done one, and while I can kinda see the attraction, I don't ride big enough downhills to make it that interesting to me. Plus there's something more satisfying about knowing that you rode UP the hill as well as DOWN it

Plus there's something more satisfying about knowing that you rode UP the hill as well as DOWN it

epicyclo - Member

"Now I prefer to pedal uphill on as little bike as possible and enjoy the views, take diversions, and just cruise downhill."

I think the FOD people could offer you a downlift service 😉

buzz-lightyear - Member

"Maybe this sounds strange, but with me it's about feeling intimidated by DHers rather than DH trails. Maybe it's the full-face helmets!? Or maybe I just don't see myself as an burly, adrenaline junkie!?"

I can understand that but slightly to my surprise I've found the DH boys seem to be pretty welcoming of noobs and obvious XC jeyboys straying onto their turf. Certainly seem more welcoming than a lot of trail centre or XC riders faced with an interloper.

Why do folk have to be so stroppy about this? No one is saying you are daft for doing uplifts just that some of us are not interested.

Its like dogging. I know it goes on and that folk enjoy it, I could join in if I wanted, however I am not interested ta despite enjoying the odd bit of alfresco nookie now and then

Different strokes for different folks

iv been doing dh for over a year now only because i live near cwmcarn and loads of other local tracks. i would never give it up for XC as i get the same buzz riding both.
but what does pee me off is some of the arrogance both set of riders have towards each other, whilst on an uplift day a few dhers were joking about the lycra guys and taking the piss and other days i hear xc'ers slagging off dh'ers saying they are not real mtb'ers.

i do think doing both will improve your riding and it has for me just need to get my ass fitter!! we all need improvment, and to be honest i would say only one dh track in the uk u need a dh bike for, cwmcarn has nothing challenging as FoD and most others in wales

TandemJeremy - Member

"Why do folk have to be so stroppy about this? No one is saying you are daft for doing uplifts just that some of us are not interested."

Some people seem to be dismissing it based on total misconceptions though. You need a big bike, they're not good enough, it'll be all stormtroopers sneering at you for being a jeyboy, it's only for downhillers... And so on.

Am i the only one that loves both XC and DH. I love riding UP and DOWN on XC routes with my XC Bikes etc but when im on the Downhill bike with little gears, one big ring and weighing 38lbs with 203mm travel with big ass 2.5 Tires you wont see me riding up any hills so an uplift for me.

I have found since doing DH towards the end of last year its equally as tiering as XC.

At the end of the day if you dont like you dont like it fair enough but dont say you hate it if you have never tried it.

ononeorange - Member

I'm one of the few who prefers climbing to going downhill. Largely because my technical skills are still stuck in nursery school.

Spot on, that - describes me to a T.

Although interestingly I think my biking skillz have helped me in learning to ski. Certainly I can handle speed a bit better than the other half, who just freezes.

I have invented a new type of MTBing - "Uphill"

Here is the plan - we ride like billyo uphill, then at the top there is a van waiting to take us safely down again, so we can ride back up.

Who's with me?

Kin ell just ride yer fekin bike who cares how ye ride, just don't ride in lycra with SPD's and no rear suspension, which has to be at least 8" of travel with boxxers up front and you must have single ring with device 😉

"Here is the plan - we ride like billyo uphill, then at the top there is a van waiting to take us safely down again, so we can ride back up."

That would be ideal for my mate Rich. He really enjoys climbing hard on his rigid Ti, and tolerates descending. Although he recently confessed to enjoying some descents at Afan!

On the comment about riders being narrow minded. The friends I've me through riding DH ALL take part in various other 'churches' of cycling. It is quite common for DH riders to also ride road. Most ride XC and of course many ride 4X or dirt jumps. Downhill only forms a small part of most downhillers actual riding. When I was a complete novice years ago I found DH uplifts or riding spots were far more friendly than being a novice at a XC riding spot. So there is no stopping anyone trying for those reasons.

In my experience, if someone turns up at an uplift on an XC bike the DH riders will usually comment in RESPECT for riding the track on a 'small' bike even if the rider is going slow.

Is there something putting you off?

Mainly as I'm in it for the explore, scenery etc and to be honest I've had various offroad bikes with built in uplift and 12" suspension and I've done my mindless tearing about on them (and REALLY enjoyed it), although I'm quite happy to get gf to drop me at the high end of a good one wayer.

Oh, being self employed, uninsured, over 50 and not that skilled are contributory factors.

I can't see I'd ever ride down something that needed me to be transported to the top other than by my own efforts.

"Not paying money to spend half their riding time in a minibus"

You don't [i]need[/i] to be driven back up to the top, it's just better as you actually get more riding time in than if you're pushing/riding back up. 15-16 runs on the FOD uplift compared to about 8 when pushing or riding back up to the top.

more riding time in than if you're pushing/riding back up

you get more time riding than if you were riding back up. FAIL!

Not keen on uplifts for several reasons.
1. I only know 2 places well enough to comment but in both cases its just as quick to pedal up. Those being FoD and Cwm Carn.
2. Why spend money to limit my time on the bike?
3.I hate the principle. Just like I hate cafe's and trail centres. Why come to the countryside then want the features of the city? Go for whats there not what you want there.

penalty for failure in terms of injury (for me) would be too high

I would be knackered with a serious injury.I clean and repair bus stops and shelters and am a window cleaner .If I break a limb I cant work.I could do this in other hobbies

. I can think of many jobs where a broken limb could cost you 1000s in lost earnings

you get more time riding than if you were riding back up. FAIL!

haha good point. I meant riding down hill 😛

Edric 64 - Member

penalty for failure in terms of injury (for me) would be too high

I would be knackered with a serious injury.I clean and repair bus stops and shelters and am a window cleaner .If I break a limb I cant work.I could do this in other hobbies . I can think of many jobs where a broken limb could cost you 1000s in lost earnings

these are of course sensible concerns.

but just to play devils advocate...

some of my sketchiest riding/descending moments have been on big xc rides, 3 or 4 or 5 hours in. when i was tired, my concentration failing, and a sketchy xc bike with a saddle up my exhaust, and skinny nervous wheels...

in comparison i feel quite safe at an uplift day, on a stable confident bike, with steam-roller wheels, and a sugary snack in the van every 30mins, and the option to call it a day when i feel done.

can you still get uplifts around the afan skyline loop? - i'm not saying it's a dangerous loop, but i'd be much more likely to crash if i had to pedal all the way round. letting a van do the tiring work would make it all much safer...

i am of course, an idiot.

Edric 64 - Member

"I would be knackered with a serious injury.I clean and repair bus stops and shelters and am a window cleaner .If I break a limb I cant work.I could do this in other hobbies"

Riding's a little bit dangerous. Not very dangerous, but injuries do happen and avoiding uplifts won't avoid crashes. If you start racing or doing full-on DH stuff then yep, it's more dangerous but there's a choice there. And you can armour up a lot more if you choose when you don't need to think about riding up. The relevant part isn't how you got to the top, it's just how you ride back down.

I've never hurt myself on an uplift, but the first time I did one at fort william, I came home and decided to do a recovery ride in the Pentlands... Halfway round my very easy XC loop I stopped paying attention and went over the bars, broke 2 ribs On harder trails I focus more, sure there's more traps there but I reckon I'm less likely to fall into them.

Not keen on uplifts for several reasons.
1. I only know 2 places well enough to comment but in both cases its just as quick to pedal up. Those being FoD and Cwm Carn.

Are you Lance Armstrong ? You really believe you can ride to the start of the mojo at Cwmcarn or to the top of FOD quicker than the bus, then repeat that 12 times in a day?

So why do nearly half here not want to even try? You don't need a silly heavy bike, you don't need full body armour and crashing your brains out is not compulsory.

Genuinley interested in why people - erm, aren't interested. Is there something putting you off?

Because riding the same bit of hill repetitively, with 'relatively' crowds around does nothing for me. Also, most uplift tracks are proper DH tracks that my skills and bottle do not allow me to enjoy.
Bring on big skies, big hills, adventure, peace and quiet, satisfaction, stories, achievement and the finest downhills around.

there's about 16 different lines at hamsterley, hardly 'the same bit of hill'...

There's probably as many different routes as there are seats on the mini-bus, snot exactly crowded either.

just sayin...

(although i think i understand what you mean; it's all on 'the same [s]bit of[/s] hill' - bloody good fun though)

Interesting this. As an old knacker who could do with losing more than a few pounds, I find the idea of an uplift attractive. Even when I was younger and fitter the ups were merely a necessity to get to the 'fun part' and while never remotely a 'downhiller', that was definitely the aspect I looked forward too and still do. I never felt downhill was better because I'd earned it and yes, if I lived in Scotland or somewhere you could have an engine attached and be able to use it, I would definitely have one as I used to love it. It's the same with road riding, which, with no disrespect to roadies, I find really boring and would rather take the dogs for a walk. It's purely [b]my[/b] personal preference and wouldn't the world be a dull place if we all liked the same thing!

My view is that if I want to get aerobically fit, there are quicker, cheaper and much less hassle methods of doing so eg. swimming or running.

I get out on my bike because I enjoy it and as long as the ups are interesting, not necessarily technical, then I'm happy with that and can accept the compromise. What I detest is miles of fire-road for a few minutes of 'down'. It's one of the reasons I like living where I do, in a valley, because it usually means the last leg home is gravity assisted 😀

letting a van do the tiring work would make it all much safer...

Hang on, I thought we had established that uplifts are just as tiring as riding xc. Keep it consistent!

the day that stw establishes anything, will see satan driving to work with snow-tyres

(are they worth it? aren't they? etc)

and that's why it's so entertaining.