[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-

[img] [/img]

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.

"And the 15 min of downs doesn’t make up for the 90 min of tedium."

This summarises the main reason I bought an Emtb. I actually think of the electric paddles as a FFWD control for tedium. It allows me to do the equivalent descents a full days enduro event would have in about 2hrs. or I can just use it on full power assist to repeat DH runs until the battery is empty. (Say 4 full DH runs, at places where on my DH bike it would be a 40min push per run). I've hardly done any uplifts since getting mine despite having a season pass for my local DH uplift service.

If you honestly think the assist will affect your fitness simply take your roadbike for a spin afterwards. But bear in mind you can use the assist level on an Emtb to taylor mtb rides to use HR zones as you might do on a roadride and there's nothing stopping you putting all out efforts into an Emtb (Assist tops out at 15mph and an Emtb will be at least 15lb heavier than any other bike you might have)

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.

I think you're thinking about it all wrong, or to put it another way, you seem to be enjoying gravel/road riding more. That's fine. My rides are all about the 2mins descending after an hour's climb, but each to their own.

I find myself feeling sort of similar to you OP, I think it comes down to available time as much as anything.

Road and Gravel currently have the appeal of being that bit more accessible from my door, to get the most from my MTB I have to either trundle a bit further to the local cheeky woodland trails (which aren't that extensive and get pulled apart periodically) or load the bike into the car for a trip somewhere, it wasn't always like this, when I got into MTBing I lived near enough to more places to ride and was young enough and had more free time to jump on the bike and go for a full days riding without any real fuss.

As for it seeming like a slog up hill? Well it is. It tends to be a rougher loser surface, often with more technical stuff to deal with, and obviously it's not quite as engaging as going back down. but it's all part of riding an MTB, It always has been but yes it's harder and means your available energy reserves won't take you as far as they do on a road bike... Unless you cheat and let a motor do all the work 😉

I still find MTBing fun, But I've changed over time, I do it less frequently and thus it's become a bit of a "Occasion" than simply going for a Ride.
I don't have the same spare time (whole days/weekends) I used to be able to give over to riding an MTB. and the faff of getting kit together for a ride just detracts from the enjoyment, it all seems to take up too much of the time I could spend riding...  It all means that you sort of end up expecting a bit more excitement and fun from any time you do spend on a mountain bike, and of course if it's just a bit 'Meh' and you're tired out after a handful of hours it can serve to put you off the whole experience a bit.

On the other hand, pull on the gimp outfit, fill a water bottle, slap it in the cage on either the Road or Gravel bike and go, a couple of hours on a bike which you've not had to plan or faff as much for, and if it is a bit 'Meh' it doesn't really matter, it'll be better next time probably...

Of course it could be worse, you could have taken up Zwift...

Just don't ride it in the same roads/tracks as you would the road bike/gravel bike. MTB's come into their own on the rough stuff, but it's like pedaling treacle if you've been riding a road bike for a while.

Why do people faff more over going for an mtb ride than a road ride?

Keep your bike maintained and ready to use. Don't use anything that's not sensibly durable and you need exactly the same things to ride mtb as road. (tube/multitool/pump, phone/money). Hardly anyone ever ventures more than 5 miles from a road when out mtbing so why would you need anything more than when you're 5 miles down a deserted country road in stupid (to walk in) shoes?

Rigid 29er.  Much better on smooth stuff than a FS or even hardtail.

+1 for ebike. . I never thought I'd say 'that was a fun climb' until I got an e bike. I have found fun factor has increased, the ups and downs have balanced out, more downhill runs are possible and I'm loving finding technical uphill challenges.

Contrary to common thought, fitness definitely does not decrease - generally I'm getting out more on the bike and will stay out for longer, but if time is tight I can do a quick blast whilst being able to control effort and heartrate- making for an effective workout. You can still work really hard, even on full motor assist, but generally I now don't have to pick my lungs up off the floor.

Of course, to maintain fitness with an e bike you do need to either ride by yourself or with other e bikers as otherwise you would just be cruising up the hills.

Why do people faff more over going for an mtb ride than a road ride?

Keep your bike maintained and ready to use. Don’t use anything that’s not sensibly durable and you need exactly the same things to ride mtb as road. (tube/multitool/pump, phone/money). Hardly anyone ever ventures more than 5 miles from a road when out mtbing so why would you need anything more than when you’re 5 miles down a deserted country road in stupid (to walk in) shoes?

So much this. Only thing I need with me in this weather is some water in a bottle, I don't generally bother with tools etc either, as you say, I'm never more than an hour or so walk from the car or home if it all goes tits up and I break something.

Get shorts, top, shoes n helmet on, jump on bike, ride. Zero faff.

If I'm going out for a day, I'll grab my bumbag as well, all my stuff is in there already.

Having to hose myself down and peel off mud-covered clothes for the last endless UK sludge-fest of a winter dented my enthusiasm for mtb a bit, but now it's dry i'm getting giddy just thinking about my local trails 🙂

Might try zwift this winter when it gets too boggy, I have zero desire to go and suck in exhaust fumes and wonder when a van wing mirror is about to re-shape my skull on the roads.

I guess it it's about what you want out of each experience.

So many mtbers seem to want a playstation type experience, great descents etc. For me it's as much about just being out there, and seeing friends. Road riding is for the type 2 fun.

Any hobby/pass-time or sport is what you make it.

A long fireroad or non technical trail is boring on a heavy FS .... but the same climb (end points) and more direct technical route up can be great on the FS and I'm sure the even more direct route fun on a e-bike.

The trick is matching the trail to the bike... or bid to trail.

I just picked up a 7kg crabon Ultegra Di2 road bike to commute on and thrash around on weekends. It's awful. The gears are too hard for my hills, ride is harsh (even with 25mm rubber), braking is crap and the position is uncomfortable. How does anyone enjoy riding these things??? I'm about to sell it..

^^good stealth ad right there.

I currently just have a hardtail and don’t find it that bad on the road. Just a bit slower (and a lot comfier) than the NS RAG I had. If you’re not enjoying it, just stop doing it.

I started mountain biking in 1988 when it began to boom and for years I was absolutely fanatical about it; as I got fitter and stronger and was able to afford better bikes I joined local clubs and did Polaris mountain marathons all over the country. Living in Rossendale put me in a great location and gradually my cycling world expanded to take in all of Calderdale, which has some of the best trails in Britain as well as the Lakes and the Pennines. Then after 21 years I began to tire of the mud, the hurried shivering changes in a freezing garage after night rides, the wear and tear on kit and bike, the constant cleaning and servicing, the bickering in the club and the club members' lack of interest in exploring new routes outside their area. Then one day in April 2009 I found a brand new Specialized Roubaix dumped off a bridge near my house. Took it to the Police who gave it back to me a month later and that was when I became a roadie. It was also when I realised that I actually wasn't very fit either so since then I have been building strength and fitness and have ended up with an endurance bike and a naughtly little Italian climbers' bike, which I only ride on dry unsalted roads but which gives me a huge amount of pleasure as it weighs only 6.4 kgs, climbs like a goat and descends like the horsemen of the Apocalypse. Plus, I also need all the help I can get at my age!

If you want to read about cycling obsession get hold of a little book called The Escape Artist by Matt Seaton, a good book on the lore and etiquette of road cycling and the best explanation for leg-shaving I've seen. It also has a tragic twist in the tail.

I'm in the same boat. I CBA driving to trails so I bought an Arkose and now do mixed on and off-road rides from my door, using lanes to link up bridleways. It's brilliant fun, and pretty much what I was doing on my MTB in the early 90s.

I've moved over to MTB more after a driver broke my spine. I have 3 road bikes gathering dust - I only use one on Zwift.

I'm lucky in that I don't need to touch roads near me and we have plenty of natural trails - admittedly it's more XC type riding, but it's good for fitness - I can mix up relatively flat miles or take to the hills. I can go out for an hour, or even half a day, but still not be all that far from home.

Despite the mud fest, it beats worrying about getting hit by a car again - I never want to go through that again.

I was never interested in manmade trails, mountain biking was about spending hours on the bog studying maps and working out routes then going and riding them. Then people began publishing guides so we went and rode a few of those routes. Then trail centres came along but they were boring and the litter was annoying. I can ride my road bike straight from my house and get the same feeling of self-reliance and adventure that I used to get on the mountain bike, out in remote countryside alone or enjoying the company of a couple of like-minded pals, stopping at a pub or a cafe and coming home feeling absolutely beasted.

GtiJunior and I recently rode out of Manchester city centre with his Uni club and it was a good ten miles of suburban riding before we were in rural Chshire were we were still bothered by SUVs and German saloon cars so I can see that your place of residence can have a big bearing on your enjoyment of cycling.

Took my mtb for a spin tonight for the first time in a while and cut the ride short half way through. I’ve been mainly riding my road and gravel bikes recently so am reasonably fit, but the mountain bikes always feel a bit of a chore.

I know exactly where you're coming from. I've ridden mountain bikes since I was a kid (30 years+ now!) and never had any desire to ride on the road until a couple of years ago when I started to get involved with junior coaching at a local club. Skip forward to today and the MTB now accounts for less than half of my riding (by duration), with the the road and gravel bikes splitting the rest. I'm not the world's bravest rider (and never have been!) but always enjoyed slogging up and down hills and I've found that since doing more road / gravel that I enjoy this bit of the riding more than the very technical stuff.

I now actually find myself looking forward to riding for 5 hours without a break now, something that I would never do when riding the MTB. That said, I've just come back from a work trip to Slovakia, where a local XC rider took me out into the hills and showed me just how unfit I really was over just 25 miles of his local trails!

I've also had the same concerns as you but, frankly, I don't worry as long as I'm out riding and having fun. If that's on the road bike then so be it - it's still cycling 🙂

I find road riding hard work for exactly the same reason you don't like mountain biking much - that is that the slogs uphill are hard to enjoy when the downhill isn't exciting enough afterwards - whereas with mountain biking at least with an uphill slog you have the downhill adrenaline to look forward to...

Doesn't it sort of also depend on the bike? An enduro sled might feel quite different to a hardtail which again might feel different to a rigid bike

Rigid 29er.  Good on road and off.  There's more to MTBing than local singletrack.  Or at least, there is in some parts of the country 🙂

Doesn’t it sort of also depend on the bike? An enduro sled might feel quite different to a hardtail which again might feel different to a rigid bike

It does very much so..although the bike in question is a lightweight carbon xc bike so should not feel like a chore to ride up hill

I find road riding hard work for exactly the same reason you don’t like mountain biking much – that is that the slogs uphill are hard to enjoy when the downhill isn’t exciting enough afterwards – whereas with mountain biking at least with an uphill slog you have the downhill adrenaline to look forward to…

Yes! After posting my complete ambivalence toward road riding, I decided to give it another shot today... and it wasn't so bad after all. Weather and views made it better, but it's still like riding a clothes rack...

Change who you ride with. The ups become less tedious when you and your mates are taking the piss and the ride ends in the pub.

It all depends where u live, I have riding on my doorstep, so I use a gravel bike for fitness and miles, not so much interest in road bikes, I feel sad that on some really good off-road biking places I am one of only a handful of riders in a day, week that is riding these places.

with local government and agencies destroying natural trails (read access for all smooth cleansed tracks) I want to ride now.

As dovebiker says so many people are overbiked, so a tricky trail isnt so tricky, I had a bigger enduro bike, could point it down anything and anyone could make it go fast , sold it.

xc hardtail 90mm and a 130mm hardtail and a 130mm full susser is plenty enough

I find it's mainly the faff which saps my enthusiasm. 1 hour round trip for me to ride a trail I cover in 1 hour. Three hour round trip for anything else. I can understand the attraction of starting a road ride from your front door.

Constantly changing standards and the specificity of bikes is also a PITA.

No such thing as over biked, more a case of under trailed. 😊