[Closed] Lost my appetite for mountain bikes...

Face it, you're a roadie.

Give it a bit, after a while nobs on the road trying to kill you mountain bikes will seem fun again.

ebike

Plugging up fireroads can get pretty tedious, but a good technical climb can be very enjoyable.

Go enjoy the exhaust fumes then.

No you probably aren't alone ..but and it's a big but ..you do have my sympathy ..

I'm also enjoying my "gravel" bike at the moment and the MTBs are taking a back seat. Just give it a rest and interest will likely return

Not been on my 'Mountain Bike' since June 2017,I prefer getting out on my road bike or Gravel bike.

I'll keep hold of the mountain bike as I'm sure one day I'll want to get back out on it.

I went through this with my mtb and got obsessed with my cx...then I fitted drop bars to my mtb and got obsessed with that 🙂

It's all bikes.

eBike

lost it a bit for a couple of years, then bought a new bike and loved it for a year and got a bit bored of driving to get to good bits.Then started enjoying gravelly/road biking for a good bit, mainly because I did it from the door, but now I've been all directions multiple times it was getting a bit samey.  Recently bought a new mountain biking and I'm loving it again. Gravel bike hasn't been touched since.

in summary you need a new bike.

I feel your pain tp.

Just about to fit narrower flat bars on my MTB with inboard bar ends to see what happens....

You're wrong.

The End.

I'm entirely with you OP. I don't know why, but one of the most fun days I have had off-road in recent years, is when I joined molgrips on a mountain bike ride using my CX. I actually enjoyed the climbs and flats, even if, at times, the harder bits of trail were a bit of a slog.

I now spend about 95% of my time on the road bike (or CX).

But isn't gravel biking just the easy, boring bits of mountain biking packaged for roadies?

😉

Find some new trails....or even better build some yourself. As for the uphill slog bit, yes it can be, but find some technical singletrack uphill trails to make it more fun.

If all else fails, then get a singlespeed.

Glad I'm not alone..

I think the issue stems from fact that for 90% of the routes I do on the mtb a gravel bike would suffice. Its only the downhill parts that it would be a chore on. And the 15 min of downs doesn't make up for the 90 min of tedium.

If all else fails then get a singlespeed

This.

Owing to a knackered drivetrain/MTB in bits I bagged a cheap single-speed to tide me over these last few months.  It has been an addictive almost revelatory experience.  Am still in slooooow rehab from a life-altering abdominal/ tear (inoperable) which had me off MTBing for a couple of years so I have to walk bigger inclines.

But ... the whole physicality/balance of hauling an MTb around and not worrying about shifting/grinding gears etc is addictive.  As are the silent, rattle-less downs.  And it's more lightweight of course.

I'm fixing up the geared MTB (thanks to the massive generosity of a part-used drivetrain from gnusmas of this parish) so with luck I'll do the hills again (and full day-rides) hopefully without re-injury.  It's a bit of a game trying to keep riising at all TBH, but without an MTB for escape I'm a basket case.

Have to say, the singlespeed for short technical rides and workout grinds up long inclines is just the ticket to wake up the kid that used to be you on yr first bike.

Singlespeed could be the answer, and also play with tyre-types/pressures.  I'm looking into some fat slicks or hybrids for the summer as they have for me  in the past transformed an XC hardtail into something much more sprightly and of course better/faster on paved transitions.

I still use the road/touring bike a little but the *right* MTB for the moment is a thing of joy.   Just got back from an 8 mile bridleway/Hills loop and the smell of the night air, grasses, wild honeysuckle and cowshit is the perfect scent-track.  And no cars.  No cars at all.

What's happening? Have I logged in to Road cc by mistake?

get an ebike or kit(patiently awaiting my order! 🙂 ), then burn yer road and gravel bikes! 😀

I don't want an ebike. One of the main reasons I cycle is to keep fit and the sense of accomplishment I get out of getting faster.

Nowt against ebikes btw.. I think they definitely have a place . Just not for me at the moment

Likewise I had a single speed and hated it. I want to push myself but it just made everything even more of a grind than if I had gears!

Isn't the problem just that

Took my mtb for a spin tonight for the first time in a while

after

compared to my road bike it feels slow and ponderous

solution: ride the MTB more!

Likewise I had a single speed and hated it. I want to push myself but it just made everything even more of a grind than if I had gears!

Toughen up princess.  I gave the same complaint (here).  I got that same advice (here).  It's working.  Best advice yet tbh because I was half-thinking of sacking it off but I persisted for another 3 weeks or so, and it started paying off.  Malvern is not at all flat and I'm not at all fit.  But it's working. YMMV but try harder before quitting.

But isn’t gravel biking just the easy, boring bits of mountain biking

It is exactly that with the only difference being it is typically longer than you would ride on your MTB.  If you live somewhere with no challenging terrain you end up finding an MTB overkill (unnecessary suspension forks, knobbly heavy tyres, not best geometry for fast flat or uphill riding etc,.)

I went rigid (and single speed) many years ago because of that.  I ended up with a very light rigid MTB with fast rolling tyres with little tread (i.e a flat barred bike for going fast on gravel)

Over the years I moved to off road fixed gear and am finding for easy terrain and fire roads a fixed gear bike with 43c tyres on it is absolutely perfect for me and I love a long uphill fire road.  An MTB would indeed feel like a chore compared to it.

90 min of tedium.

Why is it tedious though ? Surely it's only relative ? If you accept the ups won't be as fast as road due to terrain then why does it matter that they're slower ? Are they just gravel/fireroads ? Can't you make the ups a bit more woodland so there's some interest, some picking of lines, some avoiding the massive nettles, roots, rocks... etc ?

I struggle with how climbing even in a field/fireroad is less exciting than a road ? The only time a road climb has any importance to me is when i'm trying to beat a Strava best, the rest of the time it's just pushing pedals, there's no complexity, no difficulty, it's just, well, like an exercise bike ?

The reality for most, because we don't live in hilly/mountainous areas is that what bike companies want to sell as 'mountain bikes' result in people being over-biked  - magazines / websites insist that you aren't a 'real' mountain bike unless you have the knarliest full-susser available - you need inches of 'plush' travel whereas it means that you've got a heavier, slower, high-maintenance bike. The bike companies have also totally confused the market with numerous sub-niches of bikes, confusion over new standards that has resulted in declining sales of MTBs.

This week I took out my SS CX and MTB a couple of days apart for a 90 minute 'blast' around my local trails - a combination of sandy trails, tight technical singletrack, a long draggy climb of 5 minutes and a fast descent on loose stones. It was noticeable that the MTB was faster on the downhills, and I was working really hard on the climb - when I downloaded the ride stats the MTB ride was 10% slower. CX/Gravel bikes are more akin to what original MTBs were like - the latest 45-50mm tubeless tyres hit a sweet spot in terms of their offroad grip and yet they don't feel like you're velcro'd to harder surfaces. I ride for 2 reasons - fun and fitness and the skinny-tyred bike works me harder in terms of testing my skills, plus gives me an all-over workout. For the same amount of effort I get to go further / explore more trails.

Mtb and Road(and gravel) have always been about different things for me, just because they both involve bikes doesn't mean the goals should be the same. As you mentioned the road bike is ideal for getting fit and a sense of accomplishment, some type 2 'fun'. Mountain biking has always been about getting out in the hills, jumping off things and acting like a kid. Of course there is some crossover, you'll get fit mtb'ing too but I treat them as separate past times. FWIW I've been a roadie for 30yrs and a mtb'r for 25, both have had there time in the sun and very occasionally both at the same time.

For me climbs are always to be endured for the fun of the downhills - road or MTB ( or "gravel" whatever that is 😉 )

I don't understand perverts who enjoy riding a bike uphill.  What do you think you are - French?

Serious answer - its all riding bikes and its all fun.

I've had this. I took a significant downgrade in my mountain bike (from XTR/Ti etc to an inbred with SLX) and now view mountain biking as a way to hang out with mates who also like mountain biking

I think the issue stems from fact that for 90% of the routes I do on the mtb a gravel bike would suffice.

This is your problem, I'd move if the local riding was so shite. 😉

I put a rigid carbon fork on my Solaris and I've really been enjoying riding it. Still on tame local stuff but the rigid fork results in a lighter bike and there's nothing really technical around here that requires a suspension fork. Did a biggish ride on Friday night and had a great time

I'm vaguely considering selling my rigid SS El Mariachi but wondering if I might regret that...

Yesterday rode my MTB 75km on road, fire-track, woods-y paths and lots of singletrack. I guess we did about 7 or 8 descents and climbed around 1250m. In between we had breakfast outside int the sun, tea and ice cream later on in the sun and then cold beer in the sun. At no point did I think 'well for 50% of this ride at least a different bike would be better'.

Because it wouldn't. It would be more efficient maybe but we're all riding long travel MTBs that climb fine and descent better.  Next week we might just go ride lots of local ups and downs and never touch the road. The week after that we'll go do a big welsh loop taking in all sorts of technical challenges up and down.

There's no point in trying to analyse what type of bike is better. Differs for each individual. Personally if I'm outside I want to ride my MTB. Sold my road bike and old CX bike is sat on turbo unused since I recovered from knackered ankle.

No idea how many years I have left to ride MTBs over any kind of challenging terrain. So intend to make the most of it. The thought of riding past brilliant singletrack on a road or gravel bikes makes me very sad indeed.

YMMV...

I don’t want an ebike. One of the main reasons I cycle is to keep fit and the sense of accomplishment I get out of getting faster.

Give one a go, you'll be surprised how hard you have to work, especially your upper body.

In fact give one a go full stop, they just take the 'slog factor' out of riding, i'm coming back from a long term injury and getting one has been a revelation.

CX/Gravel bikes are more akin to what original MTBs were like...

This is true. I put 50mm tyres on my CX bike, and it's great - the perfect do it all machine, there's not many places you can't take it. Love my MTB on the descents, but it rarely gets ridden these days because they only make up a tiny portion of the ride, and the rest of the time it just feels like a chore.

I have it in my mind that I would like to try a really fast XC hardtail, like maybe that will fix it (at least for proper mountain biking terrain), but I'm not sure.

https://www.scoopwhoop.com/Michel-Lotito-The-Man-Who-Ate-An-Entire-Airplane/#.b7ewh7mpx

Singlespeed does, er, make the trails come alive. Alternatively, build some £40 ramps and have a laugh in the back street-

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You are [u]never[/u] too old for skids and wheelies.

Just do what you enjoy then - sounds like mountain bikes aren't for you.

but singlespeeds uphill is great fun, engages all sorts of muscle groups that normal sit n spin stuff doesn't and has the added excitement of wondering which bit will fail first, chain, bars, knees or lungs if you are hauling up something really silly.

but then I am a pervert and love the feeling of turning myself inside out on a climb

If summer/dry trails arrive and you prefer riding on the road, then you're a roadie. Nothing (much) to be ashamed of. I'm sure there's much enjoyment to be had from max heartrates, mileage calculations and average speed stats.

I'm the exact opposite to this. My adult cycling journey started with a cheap mountain bike which was used to mince down canal paths and fire roads - I never went down a decent trail.  I liked the freedom and bought a road bike which was better than the above.  The first time I went on a decent trail that was it - I've been hooked ever since to MTB.

I now find road cycling rather tedious which weeksy summed up perfectly. To me cycling on the road is just pushing pedals.

Many mtbers have become slaves to stats geeks too. Infact the entire #Enduro model is based on roadie principles.

Dress and accessorise in the same style as all your buddies. Meet up and ride around pre-destined routes in small bunches. Challenge each other on various "segments". Go to some **** Cafe to sip overpriced hot water with crushed exotic beans. Upload and compare #stats. Sound familiar?

Nope, not at all.

Sounds like I need to finally admit I'm a roadie then.. Although to my shame I kind of knew this already.

I use to use the road to get fit, as it made mtb so much more fun. Having had some time off and getting fat, then more recently putting in the road miles to recover some fitness, I finally took the hardly ridden bling carbon xc bike out thinking I could do it justice . I came back thinking I'd have enjoyed the ride more on my bottom of the range caadx.

I feel the same about MTB at the moment. The MTB around here is rubbish, Thetford is 30 minutes drive away, Woburn 1hr, much further to anything with rocks and long descents. The MTB riding I do do is all about riding flat out which is boring after a while and isn't much different to the road. Since getting a CX bike it's opened up all sorts of other options for which I'm not bothered about going as fast as possible, it's just enjoyable to be out on the bike. Riding from the front door is much more compatible with having young children too.