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Re. trail centres, as Garry said the XC loops have mostly been in a form of managed decline the last decade, and with the "rise of enduro" people are more interested in off-piste lines in the woods - plus I think more people are heading out into the proper hills than 10 years ago.
The ones on their phone as as likely to mount the pavement and kill me walking to work
No they're not, but I think you knew that already.
I used to ride mostly on road, with a few trips on rough tracks with my touring bike. But a few years ago I bought a cyclocross bike and I suddenly realised how much nicer it is riding on the bridleways - no cars! A year later I bought a cheap hardtail mountain bike and ventured onto rougher tracks. Cycling UK has also being working on getting better access to the rights of way network for cyclists - the North Downs Way riders route for example. A Cycling UK survey found that there is a huge desire to ride off-road along bridleways and byways. I've got no interest in spending sh*tloads of dosh on bike kit, but I'm enjoying cycling more than ever -- both on- and off-road -- and love exploring the countryside on my doorstep.
Re. trail centres, as Garry said the XC loops have mostly been in a form of managed decline the last decade
Is there any quantifiable evidence to show this supposed trend? My experience (having been visting trail centres for well over 20 years) is that they are still absolutely packed on a weekend. A good thing, I must add.
I was meaning more in terms of creating new (XC) trail centres and investment in maintenance.
But in terms of popularity my experience has been that some (Llandegla, Glentress, CyB, Whinlatter) can still be dead busy while others (Afan springs to mind) are way quieter than in the past.
I inherited a road bike (1955 Dawes Debonair) in the early 80s, joined a club and rode it lots until a) stupid drivers and b) working in a bike shop, persuaded me to buy an MTB (1986 Rockhopper). Have had a number of MTBs since then. Avoided road riding until the 2012 Olympics 'effect', bought a steel Audax bike (Dawes Sportif Elite) and got some miles in. Great on a quiet road or when light touring but never really happy due to the risk from passing traffic. I live in the west of Scotland and have recently retired. I've just plumped for a gravel bike (PX Tempest). I can now mix n match Sustrans / Argyll Forestry Roads / quiet singletrack roads without the terrain or distance limitations of either a road bike or MTB. It truly is perfect for the type of riding I have always wanted to do. Could probably sell most of my other bikes now.
I can now mix n match Sustrans / Argyll Forestry Roads / quiet singletrack roads
Funny, that's where a lot of my intended gravel weekends are headed, Arrochar, Inveraray, Glen Etive, Lochgilphead areas. Lots of stuff that was just a bit too tedious on the MTB but not rideable on the road bike.
Also some big coastal loops in Morvern that I'm really looking forward to, proper terra incognita for me
Multiple tyres/rims on a 29er HT.. all we need 🙂
So many things wrong with that, I'm going to 100% presume or hope you are joking.
So many things wrong with that, I’m going to 100% presume or hope you are joking
Presume away, I'm planning on a 140km sportive in it in Belgium
My life as a cyclist has oscillated between road and MTB, like most people I suspect. I started in the early MTB days in the late 80s, then got into time trialling as a student, then went back to MTB in the early 2000s. After getting bored loading my MTB into a car to ride anywhere interesting, I switched back to the road in about 2009, and have been a keen club roadie ever since.
However I now have young kids, so have discovered the joy of riding with them off road. There's no way I'd take an 8 and 5 year old out on the roads of the South East, after all. That led to the purchase of a Kinesis gravel bike and dusting off my old 2004 Santa Cruz, and now I'm looking at buying a Bird Aether for blasting around Swinley and other trail centres with the kids, or with my new found fellow MTBing dads. I'll still get out on the road once a week though!
Is there any quantifiable evidence to show this supposed trend? My experience (having been visting trail centres for well over 20 years) is that they are still absolutely packed on a weekend. A good thing, I must add.
Depends which ones you look at.
Swinley seems to get smoother each time they empty the car park meter.
Glentress blue and red used to be as smooth as a BMX track when I first visited in 2013 ish (admittedly I think they had just had a load of funding to do some maintenance) last time I went it was a lot rougher, I couldn't even follow the trail on some sections it just widened out into the trees!
Cannock has always been just about maintained, there's always erosion, but every time I've been it's been much the same.
Dunno if it's just that they're busier, but not quite self sustaining, or if the average bike is no longer a hardtail so people are less bothered by bumpy trails.
So many things wrong with that, I’m going to 100% presume or hope you are joking.
It was riding my Trek Superfly with slick 40s on it that convinced me that gravel was a goid idea, raced 2 seasins of CX on it too.
Would perhaps still be using it but couldn't get comfortable on flat bars any more, and got fed up with squealing discs in wet weather.
If I was forced to cut back to one bike I'd probably be keeping the Superfly, certainly the most versatile.
I’m planning on a 140km sportive in it in Belgium
Well the word 'sportive' says a lot - about your current riding style, whatever about your desires and ambitions that I'm not sure. You'll be able to complete it and should comfortable provided it's set up properly for you, but I'd get frustrated at the gears spinning out, and annoyed at the riding position on the descents - in fact the riding position in most areas really. That's just naming two of the issues.
I do ride my 29er on the road for short spins, 1 hour max... but that's only if its extremely bad weather or for a recovery spin or something.
Well the word ‘sportive’ says a lot – about your current riding style, whatever about your desires and ambitions that I’m not sure. You’ll be able to complete it and should comfortable provided it’s set up properly for you, but I’d get frustrated at the gears spinning out, and annoyed at the riding position on the descents – in fact the riding position in most areas really. That’s just naming two of the issues.
I do ride my 29er on the road for short spins, 1 hour max… but that’s only if its extremely bad weather or for a recovery spin or something
Have we gone straight for willy waving and I'm better than you already.
You crack on mate, you are correct.
I bought a new road bike just before Christmas to replace a 13 year old frame (components updated and upgraded over that time). I think I got my money’s worth out of the old one. The new one has to go for a similar timescale.
Mines now 16 years old, and was an old model then, think it actually dates back to the 90's!
Pro's and cons though, in my reluctance to not make a mistake in buying a new one I've been dithering on a new oen since the CAAD10, now decided on a SystemSix ultegra, as long as there's a <£2.5k 56cm one in the sales next year, there wasn't this year and it'll take me 12 months to save that much anyway.
Well the word ‘sportive’ says a lot – about your current riding style, whatever about your desires and ambitions that I’m not sure. You’ll be able to complete it and should comfortable provided it’s set up properly for you, but I’d get frustrated at the gears spinning out, and annoyed at the riding position on the descents – in fact the riding position in most areas really. That’s just naming two of the issues.
There's a whole (several?) threads of Weeksy buying then selling a CX bike, go dig one up. It doesn't necessarily make sense, but you won't change his mind!
I think I've had 3 CX bikes. 3 road bikes.
Hated them all. Longest I owned a CX one was 7 days, shortest was 15 hours
Still debate buying one for indoors
I did a road ride today, on my 160mm bike running 2.5s. it wasn't fast. Lol
I fall directly into the category the OP described.....
I am a "roadie" at heart, having been a serious racer in my teens (regional RR champ, national squad, etc) and a keen road cyclist for all the 35 years since.....
Mixed in to those 35 years has been plenty of MTB'ing - whether it was as a winter alternative to the orad, riding with the kids as they were growing up, a bit of fun at the trail centre, etc..
But now, in the past 12 months, I've gone the other way.
I have a very nice custom built stainless Reilly road bike that is hanging in the attic, and have sold all my other road bikes.
I have three MTB's hanging on the wall in the garage, which all get used, every week - two 26ers (an Orange 5 and a Nicolai Helius) and a carbon 29er hardtail Cannondale FSi.
If I buy another bike, it'll be a short travel 29er.
And all this because:
The roads are in a shit state where I live
Drivers have a death wish against cyclists - almost every ride I see "close calls" and many of them are deliberate attempts to intimidate cyclists - why? I have no idea but I've had enough of it.
I'm loving riding my MTB(s) and just riding for fitness in the great outdoors!
Hated them all. Longest I owned a CX one was 7 days, shortest was 15 hours
Lol! I've rarely liked a bike straight away, they all feel 'wrong' at first, if I got rid of any bike that didn't feel right straight away then I wouldn't have any bikes...