The Changing Face of Mountain Biking: Up vs Down, Fitness vs Courage – Page 2 – Bike Forum

roverpig · 2015-04-14T09:26:57Z

I was reflecting as I rode around a local trail centre last week (Pitfichie, but I'm sure the same applies elsewhere) on how much mountain biking has changed since the trail was originally constructed. The Cairn William trail has loads of interesting (and challenging) rock features on the climb up to the summit (followed by a fun but not too challenging descent). However, watching other riders and looking at the wear on the trail it looks as though hardly anybody tries to ride these features these days. Most will ride round them and many seem happy to push up the steep bits. Focussing instead on trying to go as fast as possible down the descent. Fair enough, I have no problem with people having fun in any way that they want, although I do find it funny when people go online and complain that the red route isn't hard enough (did they really ride all the features on the way up?). But it's interesting how the focus seems to have shifted so much towards the descents over the years. See, for example, the interest in uplifts. I guess some of the interest in ebikes may also be from those see the climb as just a necessary evil. The skillset required and the risks involved seem to have changed too. To ride up the trail as it was originally conceived would require a high level of both skill and fitness. However, if you get it wrong you'll do so at very low speed and are unlikely to hurt yourself. Of course, throwing yourself down a tricky descent requires skill too and some fitness, but it often seems to be more a test of courage than of fitness and if you get it wrong you are much more likely to end up in A&E. As I say, each to their own, but I wonder when mountain biking stopped being about riding up and down mountains and became all about the down.

andytherocketeer

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i have pedals. they go all the way round and make my bike go uphills.

seems strange having 10 or 11 gears, pushing up or hitching a lift, then the only pedalling is one half turn between each berm to get the pedals in the right position for a bend in the other direction 😉

doesn't necessarily need to be technical uphill. just interesting, or scenic is good too.

but I'm one of those luddites with 3 chainrings still. and use them all. and when in "the Alps*", I have actually pedalled up, putting the mountain in to mountainbike rather than just roll down an (admittedly technical) BMX track.

(*which seems to equate to "Morzine" and "Les Arcs")

Posted : 14/04/2015 1:12 pm

mikewsmith

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good effort there Andy getting 1x, BMX tracks and all that in one post

BMX in Les Arcs

Posted : 14/04/2015 1:16 pm

richmtb

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I'm wondering whether this a real trend or a marketing trend?

The marketers have always gravitated to the downhill side of the market, this has always been the higher profile part of the sport even though it might not be relevant to what most of us do on a bike. Its an easy angle to push these days given how capable the average "Trail" bike is.

I've always enjoyed the challenge of a good climb, though.

Boring fireroads aren't derserving of much effort but a nice switch backy bit of singletrack is a rewarding challenge. If you are rewarded by a nice descent then even better.

Posted : 14/04/2015 1:43 pm

ajc

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Rode up pitch hill on Sunday to see people pushing their bikes up a gentle slope to the top, presumably so they can session the xc single track. Got to peaslake to hear someone moaning that bike park Wales was fully booked for 3 months (the uplift) so they weren't going to go. I just don't understand going out for a bike ride and then pushing everywhere. That's just taking your bike for a walk.

Posted : 14/04/2015 1:47 pm

oliverracing

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yeah, I've noticed that I often come away from trail centers disappointed at the climbs, I like descending too but most places seem to have that well sorted.

One place I was really impressed with the climb was the first major one on the brechfa black route, good techy steep and long enough to really hurt. I also quite like the techy climb on whites level at afan.

I will confess that my trail center bike of choice (also is my 100mm "long travel" bike) has bar ends and runs double chainrings most of the time! The rest do have curly bars though!

Posted : 14/04/2015 1:56 pm

grenosteve

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I like a good downhill section with jumps and berms etc.. but big climbs, on or off road, are the most rewarding bit of cycling for me.

Did a nice half-road half-byway climb at the weekend, a good 12k in length, and nearly 400m up to one of the highest paths in the peak. 🙂 The downhill wasn't amazing, but I enjoyed the 20 min rest at the top while I enjoyed the amazing views (and tried not to be blown away!).

You need to ride big hills to see these places...

I do get the impression a lot of riders shown up trail centres and only do downhill runs, and just crawl up or push up the up hills, as a means to an end. Each to their own though, as long as your having fun. 🙂

Posted : 14/04/2015 2:08 pm

amedias

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I've noticed that I often come away from trail centers disappointed at the climbs

backwards nightride 😉

Posted : 14/04/2015 2:14 pm

fuzzhead

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Been riding since the early 90s and it's always been about the jumps and the downs for me!

Posted : 14/04/2015 4:30 pm

chiefgrooveguru

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The Trans-Provence strikes me as the ideal in mountain biking.

Posted : 14/04/2015 6:43 pm

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