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I started "proper" MTBing 15yrs ago in my 20s. [u]Most[/u] of the peeps I rode with then were in their late 20s to early 40s.
Now, I'd say the average ago of those I ride with or meet is somewhere in the 40s. Sure, a fair few 30s, 50s and 60s, but barely any 20s.
Where's the young blood? Was there a trigger for people to get into MTBing 15-20yrs ago ... are more people getting into it now in their 30s/40s/50s? Do you see this totally differently?
I'm talking Surrey Hills and N Downs BTW.
Now, I'd say the average ago of those I ride with or meet is somewhere in the 40s. Sure, a fair few 30s, 50s and 60s, but barely any 20s.
Isn't that just your riding circles? Lots of other stuff for 20somethings to do and bikes are expensive and there's an excess of choice but I still see (and ride with) 20somethings. Just a bit further south than you.
Yep all the children were riding the big jump lines at bmcc at the weekend. The old buggers were riding the normal trails.
The youngsters are on the dark side / fixies. Fewer have cars and are willing to drive to ride. The oldies are stuck in the past.
200 odd kids were smashing around whistler for Kidworx, the talent on show says there are plenty of kids riding and doing very well at it
we had over 50 kids at Glasgow Riderz on Saturday.... 🙂
Isn't that just your riding circles?
Yes, to [u]some[/u] degree. I'm talking about those I ride with or see out on the trails across the broad expanse of SH/ND, ie from Guildford across to Box Hill.
Sure, I understand the challenge re cost and travel.
Whistler and Glasgow ... sounds like the kids are getting their groove on in the north.
we had over 50 kids at Glasgow Riderz on Saturday....
Are those the kids of the aforementioned 40 something MTB'ers though?
same in west yorkshire i see so few youngsters riding, big 40 for me this year, and to be honest other riders seem older (or had a tougher paper round)
the few times i've been to trail centres the crowd has felt younger 25-30 maybe.
even the ard rock event last week, the veterans and seniors presented the big majority of riders.
"[i]the few times i've been to trail centres the crowd has felt younger 25-30 maybe[/i]"
This possibly. At Pedalabikeaway Center in FoD you will see a lot of younger riders shredding the DH runs and a lot of 50+ riders too. They also have the Little Fodders, age 8 upwards.
But when I'm riding natural stuff in the Brecon Beacons or mid-Wales, if I see other riders at all, they'll be older rather than younger.
Are those the kids of the aforementioned 40 something MTB'ers though?
yes, most likely, but in relation to the OP's question,
..... the young blood is developing at the grass roots level, with loads of kids, from aged 8/9 upwards, who are riding every week, with many of them racing on the local xc circuit.Where's the young blood?
We have over 30 kids on the club waiting list..
Was there a trigger for people to get into MTBing 15-20yrs ago
I'd guess it was off the back off BMX and pissing about down the woods with your mates because playstations hadn't yet been invented.
I'd also guess that the "cycling is the new golf" effect is skewing the perception that there are a lot of older riders. Lots of people seem to get into it in their forties as a means of getting a bit of exercise and getting out of the house away from the kids. I'm one of these.
The trigger for younger kids today is, i suspect, different than it was for us 40-somethings.
All the youngsters I see out on our local trails are either the kids of the 40-somethings or their mates.
Back to the young blood thing, I remember loads of kids sessioning the jumps on the "quarry" beside the Starvael CP. But that was back when beanies were worn instead of helmets and the odd ambulance was called upon. Haven't seen kids up there for years.
Yep all the children were riding the big jump lines at bmcc at the weekend. The old buggers were riding the normal trails.
I was out yesterday around Bradford-on-Avon with my brother and his 14 year-old son. My brother and I stuck to the trails. My nephew was flying down and taking the jumps. No lack of skill or interest on his part, I can tell you!
Another 40-something here, and yes it also seems to me that there really arent many 'youngsters' taking part, even though most of the local towns, Stokesley, Great Ayton, Middlesbrough, Guisborough have the North Yorkshire Moors on their doorstep. I suspect the ridiculous expense of bikes and kit these days doesnt help.
It’s not easy now, especially with all the main stream media influencing people that they need up to date equipment etc.
Certainly over the last two or three years, the amount of top level British athletes winning seems to have dropped. Tahnee and Rachel are still up there, but in Enduro and DH, we don’t seem to be filling the top 10 like we were a few years ago (Although 1-2 at world champs last year’s says otherwise….)
I still see quite a few younger guys out riding, being in my late 20’s, most of the guys I ride with are older, a few the same age, and only 1 or 2 that are younger.
May I also suggest there may be a Stw bubble going on...
Mtbing is not really cool unless you get Todo dh or slope style which is not on most peoples door steps.
MTBs have also become crazy expensive and riding bmx or fix gear is cheaper more accessible and doesn't require the silly clothes
Well, judging by the frequency of the messages I get that read "Dad, pls can I borrow your P7 tomorrow? Going with mates to CyB/Gisburn/etc", I guess there are at least a few 20-somethings still interested.
I'd say you could be blinkered by your own riding circles. Yea, I don't tend to notice the younger riders (15-20), but there's more people in the 20-40 group I guess, as with most sports.
I've always found this interesting - I got into MTBing as a teenager, buying and riding inexpensive bikes until they broke. Used to be out in the local woods all the time with friends.
As we all drifted off to Uni/jobs/apprenticeships, I'm the only one who stuck it out and continued to ride. So, in my current group of MTB mates I'm easily the youngest by 15 years. Sadly, youth does still not make me the fastest!
On the road bike however, there are loads of folk like me in their 20s who are part of the local club, or as one of them aptly (ironically?) described it, [i]scene[/i].
I think it's quite trendy and fairly easy to get into Road cycling, whereas MTB riding perhaps isn't as accessible if you're new to cycling as a sport. Also regularly organised and well attended road club rides, centered around a cafe or coffee serving bike shop has a great social element that attracts people.
Kids want to do interesting stuff that pushes and excites them and don't really expect to hurt themselves ever.
Middle aged guys want to have a bit of fun, keep some fitness and not to have to have too much time off work if they run out of talent.
The difference means the two groups don't really mix much.*
*broad generalizations of course and it's a sliding scale crossover point. 😀
Where's all the young blood?
In the pub/shagging
I would say that, around here certainly, that it would be easier to get into mtb than road.
And it's old farts like like me, well into their sixties, that push the average age up.
Kids have sneaked off into the woods with shovels to build jumps that us old biffers don't even know are there, until we come across them accidentally one day.
That's what seems to happen round here anyway!
Delighted to report that in my village/town popping massive wheelies, hanging around on MTBs and being outside is back in fashion with the Youth. The kids built some sweet jumps on some land I run past regularly ...next step is some oldies find a reason to ban them and put up lots of 'stop enjoying yourself' signs. Plus ca change.
i have only been riding for about 2yrs since bad climbing accident, (45 but had a tough paper round) if I go over Cannock but stay away from the trail center then its all around my age but on the official routes they are mainly younger , I look at it like climbing oldies like me learnt to climb on a crag so riding in a natural environment and getting lost is normal but my young fella learnt to climb on a indoor wall and dosent really get on with riding natural , he likes to know where hes going and whats coming up, not saying either is better its just generation gap and what was on offer when we were growing up to the convienience that's available now