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Had a few more bikes than my relatively short (compared to lots on here) riding career would merit. However this little beauty first hit the trails in 2005 and is still with me 6000 miles later.
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Truth be told, it is probably the best bike I have ever ridden and will never get rid until it dies.
Not niche, no fancy bits, not an expensive frame. Just a fantastic bike.
it's not what you're riding, it's how riding makes you feel.
Spot on WW!
I lost my mojo a few years ago after rupturing my spleen - I am not a crazy as I used to be (not that I was really crazy) but still enjoy technical rails but I also have got into road work and pegging it on XC trails more and the buzz it gives me when I am blowing out my arse if great 🙂
I gace up searching for the perfect bike, I now own quite a few very different ones, none of which is perfect, all of which fit me OK and are fun.
ton - Member
well i am sick to **** with it all, sick of the bikes and the wasted cash.
Is there a sweepstake on how long you keep your latest bike?
I think I've been lucky.
Mainly due to a lack of cash, Ive only had two bikes since I started MTB again in 2005. The first was a stumpy FSR that was too small for me, but it was the cheapest way to get back into biking as my mate was desperate for cash. I've cot a secondhand commencal meta now (which fits me) and I'm loving my biking.
My mates have spent untold thousands on bike after bike in the same period, but they don't seem to get any more out of their riding than I do, or are any faster/fitter/more skilful. I'm pretty certain that if I had the cash I'd have done the same as them as I too, am a sucker for the bling.
Odly, thinking about it,
Riding buddies up North - It was a big deal when one guy got a HL 5-spot as his mk1 superlight was gettign a bit long in the tooth, plenty of guys on horribly choppered having just bunged 100mm forks into them when the 63mm ones that replaced the original rigids wore out, one guy on a thorn took up the lifetime warrenty on his 853 rolhoff frame, I think that might have been the newest bike in the grioup still at 8 years old!
Riding down south - bit of good natured ribbing about my SS hardtail form the group, everyone else is on 120-140mm bouncers apart from the occasional high end/niche brand hardtail or brand spanking new 'winter bike'.
Not exactly the same, but I did also get a bit carried away and have had quite a high turnover of bikes and bits over the last two years.
But I've ridden them all enthusiastically, my riding has improved (a bit) and I've learned what sort of bike I really like/need/want.
And I have also rediscovered the joys of riding XC - as well as all-mincing, freemincing and social DH.
And hey, you might have hit "rock bottom" (as they say at AA) with the buying addiction - but at least you're still enthusiastic about riding!
🙂
I am a person who is fairly solidly attached to his roots. I have an old 27" fixed road bike, very similar to my first, I have the same taste in music (british blues) and am still in love with the same woman I met in '69 (I think she's still in love with me). And I still support the Villa.
But oddly enough, in my real sporting passion, windsurfing, theres absolutely no bloody way I'd bother going out on one of those awful boards & rigs we had back in 1984. But you couldn't get me off them at the time.
Well, you could get me off them, quite easily, but I just got back on.
It's not about the bike.
Once the sun comes out the trails dry, fitness improves and you start riding with a smile agian. You WILL fall back in love, especially when you see them bluebells.
Have to agree with a few of the comments, about it's not all about the bike. I think lowey is spot on, the company and scenery can make a huge difference too. Take last weekend for example.... My folks 60th on Saturday night, and a ride 60 miles away the morning after, could have stayed late got plastered and not bothered riding, but the prospect of getting cold, wet and muddy with a good bunch of folks, and spotting hills, fells and limestone pavements through the mist was too good to miss.
Keep focussing on gentle pootles about on sunny days, on whatever's left in the garage/shed and build up from there. Hopefully catch you at some point on a forum ride too, it's not the same without being able to send you into puddles and streams first for the ton depth test!
Keith
Yes, it's how riding makes you feel, but if the bike you're on makes you feel nervous on the trail because it's too twitchy or knackered at the top of a climb because it's too heavy then a change of bike may help you 'feel' better about the supposed fun.
Anyway, ton, I know what you mean. I'm always searching for what might be a better bike for me and I've only very recently come to the conclusion that the differences on the majority of decent main brand bikes is so small as to not be really worth it. Get one that's good enough and fun enough for the riding I do and stop looking over the fence. So, I've a few bikes and bits to sell myself, but I've settled on a Chameleon 9 speeded with 140mm air forks and an Orange 5 9 speeded with coil Lyriks. I razz around the woods for 2 to 3 hours at a time and do some socialble DH in the FoD, so they both suit what I ride perfectly.
EDIT - and I can SS the Chameleon if I ever feel a bit perverted too. 😉
My first proper MTB was a Rocky Mountain tange prestige steel hardtail with Quadra forks 60mm travel, v-brakes, raceface and XT/XTR bits. I put some Judy DHs with 80mm on it with a coil spring upgrade. It was brilliant. I still have it in the basement and sometimes fantasise about buying some SIDs and building it back up, but with a disc on the front.
I've rationalised to one MTB and trying to get back to that light, capable hardtail bike. Going to be moving all my bits onto a steel frame and hoping it will be the modern equivalent of what I used to ride.
To be honest I don't feel I've wasted any money. Well perhaps - those Pace I bought for my 5 probably weren't quite the right thing over the original Foxes, for instance. And I might've preferred 100mm forks on my Kona. But those are just setup choices.
I've got 5 bikes that are all spot on for the things that I want them to do, and they are all stacks better than my first bike. I've had good and bad rides on every bike I've owned, had fun and thrills and spills. Never really mattered what bike I was on from that point of view 🙂
I've rationalised to one MTB and trying to get back to that light, capable hardtail bike. Going to be moving all my bits onto a steel frame and hoping it will be the modern equivalent of what I used to ride.
Irony. You're still thinking too hard. Just ride the damn thing(s). Chasing a lost era is just as futile as chasing an impossible dream.
Ton - I feel for you being enforced off the bike. I bet it was doubly frustrating at HTN, but it was good to meet you and thanks v much for marshalling.
It is distinctly all experience in that rich pageant of finding that you were happiest when life was simple. Only, be careful not to look at the past through rose-tinted specs - I bet even on your first bike you wanted something different/better/it wasn't quite right.
What you remember from those simple days is how riding made you feel - I bet your memories are all of enjoyable experiences, rather than the detail of a particular bike.
So, it's not the fault of the bike(s). It's not your fault. It's just that you're missing something you love.
Get that ticker of yours fixed, and enjoy getting back out. Go on a no pressure ride. Dawdle along. Look at the view. All that stuff. And don't worry about the bike. It's all about the ride.
I felt very similar a while ago - bought a GT avalanche to replicate the one I'd used for street riding, dirt jumping, trail centres and so on. At the time I also had a couple of nice road bikes, a turner 5-spot and so on. It was rubbish, broke lots and I sold it after about 5 rides.
As mentioned earlier, the key to happy riding isn't a nice bit of bike bling, its having the time to ride. Carrying my knackered old GT on the back of a honda prelude on a rack that could have given out at any point, on the way to Glentress for the first time was probably the best biking holiday I've ever had. I've got probably over 10k's worth of bikes sat in the garage now that I just don't ride - my new XC bike has been out once, looks mint but just never gets used and I haven't got the fitness to ride it like I used to. SImilarly my dream bike (Yeti) gets out maybe once a week for a couple of hours down the quarry, my road bike with my nice new wheels in is just sat there and the alfine equiped 29er has done a grand total of 3 miles.
Don't worry about the bike, bling or not. Focus on having time to ride it, change something to give you more time to ride. It really isn't about what kit you're on, its what you do with it that counts.
I'm tempted to jack the whole working thing in, move to canada to work in a bike shop and ride as much as I can. There is more to life than boxes arriving from CRC
coyote
I can relate to your comments about your Coyote, in that I've still got a 1999 HT3 bought for £30 in 2001 and TBH I still haven't found a better hardtail despite having owned at least 30 in the interim.
when you see them bluebells
I cannot wait for the bluebells. They lift my spirits every year. 😀
Currently got 4 sat in the garage, only really use one. I have never paid more than a grand for a bike. I don't mind using last years model or cobbling a bike together out of second hand / ebay / dodgy american imports as I like tinkering with stuff.
I had a 850 quid coiler in the alps when all my mates were on Nomads and one had a Brooklyn, can't say I enjoyed it any less (until my forks gave out!).
The line up at the mo is;
Cannondale Prophet - 150 off ebay for frame, 120 for domain forks, Hope wheels that I've had for nearly 6 years. Ridden twice.
Ti456 - 799 for the frame and had all the other bits on a doner bike. Riden all the time.
Inbred rigid ss - Bought the frame to use up spares I had lying around with the intention of selling it but i think I will keep it! Ridden with the dog when I can't be arsed walking.
Scott Sub 20 - 150 quid second hand off a guy at work - used for my 5 mile commute every day since October - must have saved me that in petrol alone.
To get to this point i've had (in cronological order);
A trike
A kettler go-cart
Raleigh Afterburner
Raleigh Grifter
Puch Pathfinder (racer)
BMX PK Ripper
Abbey mountain bike
Specialized rockhopper (the yellow one with pink graphics)
GT Karakoram (got stolen)
GT Karakoram (got stolen)
GT Karakoram (got stolen)
GT Karakoram (got stolen)
GT LTS3000
Kona Muni-mula
Marin Rock Springs
Scott Nitrous 20
Kona Kahuna
Kona Stinky
B1 Hornet
GT Avalanche 1
Kona Coiler
Kona Smoke
Inbred 456 summer season 18 inch
Inbred 456 summer season 20 inch
Kona Dew (sold it after being run over by a car)
Prophet 19inch
That's why I've not a penny to my name.... Still happy thinking back over the times I've ridden each of these (apart from trying to ride the Stinky on an xc ride)...
I'd rather pop an eyeball out with a toothpick than go back to a long stemmed, ridged, 6 speed steel hardtail.
I love my DH bike and my Bitch (it's not really a Pitch any more, let's be fair), so much so that when I walk past the dining room (where they live on the wall like art) I get a feeling that I can only describe as what Heroin addicts must when the see a small packet of brown powder.
GT Karakoram (got stolen)
GT Karakoram (got stolen)
GT Karakoram (got stolen)
GT Karakoram (got stolen)
Didn't learn from your mistakes then eh? 🙂
I've kept my Marin SS (at my parents'), Scott Octane (I like it), 456SS (makes me proud despite my lack of skills) and a Kinesis SS 69er. The best bike? Trek Y3 I had years ago, Spesh FSR from the late'90's I had for 2 weeks, Puch SS the removal boys lost when I was moving to Eire. Lessons learnt? NONE WHATSOEVER!
The weather is warming and its getting lighter - There is now light at the end of the tunnel 🙂
Molgrips;
Insurance replacements on each one! Did love those bikes though, I'm sure I was faster downhill on one of those than on my stinky (or maybe it just felt faster when my teeth were rattling!)
How did they all get nicked tho? Did you change your security stragegy?
Being young and daft mostly, and having crap combination locks! My security strategy changed after my cousin had a 'word' with the guy who we were pretty sure nicked the bikes 😈
I get a feeling that I can only describe as what Heroin addicts must when the see a small packet of brown powder
Ha ha (lol-ness!)... I know exactly what you mean. It's brilliant. I actually have too many bikes for someone with no place to live (7 at present), but I love them all, and I ride them, lots, because they are all different bicyling 'flavours' for my many moods. They're beautiful little pieces of asthetic locomotive mechano, which live in doors as works of art, yet once outside get covered in mud and crap. They cause me all sorts of heartache and grief when things break and fall off them late on a Saturday night, but they have each taken me to wonderful places also. I probably never sell a single one of them ever.
But I may well yet buy more... 😯
I've never 'wasted' money on bikes. It's impossible to 'waste' money on bikes, surely? Unless you don't ever ride them.
Riding buddies up North - It was a big deal when one guy got a HL 5-spot as his mk1 superlight was gettign a bit long in the tooth
I still ride a mk 1 Superlight but I've always lived south of Oxford - do I get honorary Northenability?? 🙂
after reading through all this, it has cheered me up a fair bit.
didn't realise i was so down till i read what i had put on the op.
it was supposed to read as a bit of a rant and a bit of a self piss take.
i do realise that buying bikes cant make you a better rider and that it wont make rides happier.
i always have and hopefully will again enjoy and love riding with the same spark as i did before.................we will see.......... 8)
Where were you at hit the north? Someone mentioned you were one of the marshalls, you're not the little girl stood by the motorway are you? If so well done! Prob the most enthusiastic marshall ever!
konaboy2275
no mate, big bloke in red at the bottom of the long slippy descent.
My riding hasn't changed and I'm happy with my bike(s). I realised a long time ago there is little advancement to be had from new bikes - however it doesn't mean I don't buy.
I've just built up and On One Inbred singlespeed whilst i've been waiting for my Whyte 146 to finally get delivered. It is a blast from the past when I did ride rigid and refused the suspension upgrade.
Old-school is fun and improves your skills but you still need to indulge a little. Either way it should always put a big smile on your face...thats why we do it, right?
i do realise that buying bikes cant make you a better rider and that it wont make rides happier.
Steady on old chap, I wouldn't go that far.
😉
Prob the most enthusiastic marshall ever!
I remember two teenage girls at I think it was a SITS maybe year before last - they seemed to cheer every single rider until about 2am, then were up at 7 and continued til the end.
That's stamina!
Can't say I know how you feel. I have more fun now on reasonably up-to-date bikes than I ever have. There's no need to buy a bike every year looking for some holy grail - just pick a decent all-rounder and get on with it. Unless endless wishing, shopping and tinkering make you happy. Personally, I'd never want to revert to rigid, cantilevers and all that, and I'm not bothered about the latest fad, novelty or attention magnet either. Just do whatever you enjoy. Simple. Hope you get back into it.
Ton - Are you reletively new to mountainbiking? from what I've seen of you on here you've really not had all that many bikes. mamadirt seems to have a far better attitude on how it works.
GW............are you sniffing glue?
sniffing yes, glue no. 😐
genuine question tho? how long have you been mtbing? and how many bikes have you had in that time?
GW, longer and more than you............ 😀
I'd seriously doubt either
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Ton dont know u but always been a fan of your blunt openess and it saddens me to see a guy like u on the down.Bikes and biking is a passion that some of us have enbraced and found very rewarding for the great rides but also the pleasure of trying different bikes out and having a good play with new kit.I take it youve had a few health issues lately that i hope can be overcome.Ive always treated biking and exercise as a good investment in my physical and mental health that hopefully will see me thru to a ripe old age.Whether your a good or bad rider is kind of missing the point.I guess if your into seeing who has the biggest willy then egos can play a part but reaaly thats probably missing the point.Get well and get your mojo back
Raleigh Domino (broke in half)
Raleigh Speedway (outgrew)
24" wheel racer (outgrew)
Emelle racer (did many miles on then sold)
Kona Fire Mountain 1992 (sold)
Orange P7 1994 (bought with student loan, finally nicked in 2007 🙁 )
Pace RC300 (bought with redundancy payoff, nicked 2007)
Gary Fisher Cake (nicked 2007)
Orange Patriot (with Marz 66/Fox DHX...mm.. nicked 2007)
Scott low end road bike (nicked 2007)
Kona Heihei
Orange 5
Orange Patriot (AM kit this time)
Kona Dew
Kona Zing
Ton, now you know its not about the bike, you can just ride and have fun.