Forum menu
The End of an Era
 

[Closed] The End of an Era

Posts: 9112
Free Member
Topic starter
 
[#10703732]

As of this afternoon, I no longer own a mountain bike.

I bought my first MTB in the spring of 1991, after four years of road racing (including the Manitoba High Schools Championships! Woo Hoo!). It was a new GT Tundra Something-or-other.

Then, two years later, it was stolen, to be replaced by GT Outpost. That bike took me all over Canada, and served as a multi-use vehicle until 2002, including the launch of the first MTB club in Northeastern Saskatchewan.

In 2002, I bought a 2001 Trek Fuel 90, which I brought with me to the UK when I moved here in 2003. That lasted until I bought a 2009 Fisher Big Sur as a present to myself for finishing my PhD.

That got stolen two years ago, to be replaced by a 2017 Genesis Tarn 10.

And now I have none. The accident I suffered on the road in October means that I can no longer sustain the bumps that come with MTBing. I was never any good anyway, and MTBing had moved on well beyond my interest, but it is still sad.

I could share many stories of enjoyment, and tales of what inspired me, but those are for campfires and beer.

In the meantime, it’s limited to drop bars for me now.


 
Posted : 06/07/2019 7:38 pm
 tdog
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Now do one! 👋🖕

😜


 
Posted : 06/07/2019 7:43 pm
Posts: 902
Free Member
 

That's pretty gutting. At least you can still ride a bike, even if it's got the wrong shaped bars! 😉 Hope the roads are kinder to you than the mountains were!


 
Posted : 06/07/2019 7:44 pm
 tdog
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Seriously though my first proper mtb was a GT full suss that was stolen.

Nearly completely wrecked that thing to pieces (GOOD TIMES)


 
Posted : 06/07/2019 7:44 pm
Posts: 10962
Full Member
 

What? You're on here and you don't own or ride a mountain bike? You'll fit in just fine!


 
Posted : 06/07/2019 7:49 pm
Posts: 46112
Full Member
 

A sad day for you.

Now, have you got a copy of the Eurovelo routes? Time to plan some more adventures.

http://en.eurovelo.com/


 
Posted : 06/07/2019 7:49 pm
 croe
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

The accident I suffered on the road in October means that I can no longer sustain the bumps that come with MTBing.

I'd be looking for flow trails and pumptracks before the dullness that is road riding.


 
Posted : 06/07/2019 7:52 pm
Posts: 9112
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Thanks for that map, @matt_outandabout.

To be clear, I understand now that I was always really a roadie trying to MTB, and in any case, at least I still have my CX!

Finally, @malv173, I laughed when I read your kind statement that you hoped the roads are better to me than the mountains. It’s true I broke my collarbone on the hills, but I broke my skull, neck, back, and ribs on the road.

So all in all, the mountains were probably safer. 🙂


 
Posted : 06/07/2019 7:52 pm
Posts: 46112
Full Member
 

I keep visiting the Eurovelo site...one day....


 
Posted : 06/07/2019 7:55 pm
Posts: 16529
Full Member
 

I could share many stories of enjoyment, and tales of what inspired me, but those are for campfires and beer.

And that is what it's really all about. On road or off, it's the memories made that count.

Enjoy the next chapter of your riding story mate!👍


 
Posted : 06/07/2019 8:02 pm
Posts: 9222
Free Member
 

Time to get a fatbike! 😉


 
Posted : 06/07/2019 8:04 pm
Posts: 13282
Free Member
 

Time to be a fat biker! 😀
Seriously, if you’re on a bike then it’s all epic.


 
Posted : 06/07/2019 8:08 pm
 Kuco
Posts: 7216
Full Member
 

Look on the bright side you can still ride a bike 🙂


 
Posted : 06/07/2019 8:16 pm
Posts: 6353
Full Member
 

Am sorry to hear that.i wish you well with whatever riding you do 👍


 
Posted : 06/07/2019 8:18 pm
Posts: 58
Free Member
 

Enjoy whatever riding your doing SR thats all that matters. But regarding your injuries it's still early days don't think for a moment that at some point you won't be able to ride a MTB again. The trails will still be out there if and when you fancy riding them.
As for the sport moving on, well it has for some but I'm still doing what I've always done, just riding my bike in the same way on the same trails I have been doing for the last 30yrs.


 
Posted : 06/07/2019 8:21 pm
Posts: 0
Full Member
 

I still have my CX!

Good man.


 
Posted : 06/07/2019 8:46 pm
Posts: 13554
Free Member
 

As long as you’re still riding it’s all good


 
Posted : 06/07/2019 9:05 pm
Posts: 13356
Free Member
 

It's the end of an era but not the end of the world. I'd be gutted too, I find road riding just...meh, & only do it for simplicity. You'll soon adapt I'm sure.

I suppose the team are after a new netminder now?


 
Posted : 06/07/2019 9:21 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Ive not ridden my mountain bike for three years due to injury. Before that I was out three times a week on the trails, hols to spain and the alps...surgery coming up but I've no idea if I will be able to ride my mountain bike again, it's a great source of sadness.


 
Posted : 06/07/2019 9:24 pm
Posts: 9112
Free Member
Topic starter
 

I suppose the team are after a new net-minder now?

Funny you should say that. Up until about two months ago, they kept messaging me to ask if I could play.

It’s hard to explain to hockey players that injury can sometimes bring about retirement.


 
Posted : 06/07/2019 9:47 pm
Posts: 13356
Free Member
 

It’s hard to explain to hockey players that injury can sometimes bring about retirement.

It must be bad enough that happening while actually playing hockey never mind falling off a bloody daft bike!
Bobby Orr's knee for instance?


 
Posted : 06/07/2019 10:01 pm
Posts: 0
Full Member
 

Sounds like the perfect excuse to get a massive hulking ebike, fit 200mm downhill forks, and run them at about 20 psi for a magic carpet ride whilst you steam roller through everything! More comfortable than the average rigid/ dropbar road bike......


 
Posted : 06/07/2019 10:30 pm
Posts: 6886
Free Member
 

Ebike ebike ebike! Just think 170mm each end and mega quick, just don't wait at the bottom of a climb then when I go up on my normal bike try and overtake me half way up. Like the taunts at llandegl today, remember I'm puffing!

What's actually causing the pain?


 
Posted : 06/07/2019 10:31 pm
Posts: 17335
Full Member
 

Not ridden off road seriously since my accident in 2015. The wrist simply can's sustain the shocks. The rest of the body recovered fine, but even with front suspension, the wrist takes a hammering.

And I ride my cross bike too, so welcome to the club. All bike riding great, and that includes me popping to the vets on my recumbent trike this morning - also paid for by the accident.


 
Posted : 06/07/2019 10:33 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

It could have always been worse. At least you're still able to ride a bike after that horrific accident you had earlier in the year. Speaking as an MTB'er who'd been on the road bike all of this year, this road biking malarchay isn't that bad actually. Has a 'cliquy' scene about it, but so does mountain biking these days, but my fitness has improved a lot I'll be back on the MTB later this year I'm sure, but still enjoyed road biking and will be keeping a leg in it.


 
Posted : 07/07/2019 9:14 am