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Had a Dawes Countryman as a teen, spent all my time taking bits of it making it lighter and also riding mate's Raleigh Bomber, lived near some decent countryside and loved getting out all day. Whilst in sixth form worked in Halfords selling and servicing the bikes, still remember the day we first got a Specialized Rockhopper in. Mate ordered a Chas Robert's Dogs Bolx...
Later got a lovely green rigid StumpJumper Pro with Suntour bits, started racing, seeing new bits of UK.
Got older, Stumpy was stolen, bought a Dekerf did the odd race / pub visit with the Magic Bicycle lot on Whitechapel Road.
The rest is history and many bikes / bruises later, it is still the best downtime I have. It's an accessible activity and easy to travel with your bike and ride new places. It's generally not weather or season dependant. When I'm working I really miss getting out and riding - even when doing it badly. If it came down to a choice without hesitation the road bike would be the one to go, in essence I think its about a sense of freedom.
Moved to the New Forest aged 10, and my closest (geographically) friend was 45min drive away.
So I had the whole of the NF to explore by myself - and offroad on 2 wheels seemed the best option!
Always enjoyed cycling - so now I commute on by bike, race BMX, race DH, and still do all-day epic offroad rides 🙂
[b]I[/b] knew what you meant fervouredimage, I was just trying to explain some of the "im not serious" comments.
1990 told to stop running if I wanted to have shins & knees in later life.
was always into outdoors and spotted a Townsend MTB in mellors Cycles in Shrewsbury, bought it the next weekend, never looked back.
serious mountain bikers. i.e mountain bikers who appreciate bikes, components and kit and have it take up a large proportion of their life.
While we're picking apart the OP (sorry), I would query your definition - I'd consider myself a serious mountain biker in that I spend a lot of time doing it and it's an important part of my life, but to me it's about the riding, not the equipment. I couldn't give a damn about having the latest fancy gear - I ride a five year old 3x8 speed bike and it takes me everywhere I want it to. I buy new bits / bikes when the old ones are worn out, broken or stolen.
To answer the question though, similar to a lot I first got into MTBs in my teens, gave it up when sex and drugs and rock'n'roll and accountancy took over my life, (which later became wife and kids and rock'n'roll and accountancy) then hired some bikes one day for something to do in Dalby forest, got bitten, went back several times more on hire bikes, bought a new bike, started going out at every available opportunity, not stopped.
Improved fitness is a benefit but a happy coincidence rather than a driver for me.
To quote a very cheesy film, I like the way the world looks from the back of a bike. I feel like on a mountain bike you're interacting with the landscape in a way you can't in any other way - like those climbs, when you're walking you don't really feel that this bit of the hill is a bit steeper than that bit in the way you do on a bike, on rough terrain the way the rocks and bumps follow each other is the ride you have - on foot you step over / around things, only on a bike do you really feel the difference between some bumps that go da-da-da-DA rather than da-da-DADA-da. Those "da-da-das"? That's you and the landscape together in harmony. Man.
like riding as a kid, then drifted out of it in favour of guitar, drink and weed.
Years later I got a bike (cheapo halfords one) to tootle on to see if I liked it. I did, but I recognised that my bike was heavy and poo. I got a Trek 4500, bit lighter, faster and made my commute a world easier. Went to the lake district, and my mate had just got a spesh FSR, he dragged me off road loads... enjoyed it but recognised my bike was wrong for it. When the 4500 was nicked replaced with top of line Avalanche with bouncy forks and discovered the meanwood valley trail right near my home... and fun!
Many years and bikes later here I am.
Seemed like a good idea at the time. Also learned to ski at about the same time.
Then promptly moved to the Netherlands for a few years.
Was lucky enough to grow up in a small town with lots of woods and hills. Went hooning around what I'd now call nice singletrack as a kid, first on my "racer", then on my Dad's Raleigh Lizard, then eventually bought my first MTB when I was about 12. Rode that for years, lost a bit of interest through Uni etc., then my old bike got nicked when I was using it for commuting. Got a half-decent hardtail with the insurance payment and the rest is history.
Now mountain-biking is my main job for half the year!
[Got into it 1987 as an alternative to windless windsurfing days]
Yes that was it - but a bit earlier. Had MTB ever since mainly for just getting out and occasional big day, I live somewhere where there is a lot of potential. Mountain walking is my main thing and mountain biking is just an extension of it. Even done a few backpacks with bikes in Scotland many years ago - all ended badly and wished we didn't have the bikes!
My son has now got into it and it is his main thing - mainly trail centres, as a result I have upgraded my bike to me more contemporary and to keep up in my taxi, first aide & bicycle repair man role. I have also really got into the maintenance side of it and fast becoming a shed man.
Always lived on the edge of a moor, and used to ride my Grifter/Road Bike over the moors.
Grew up next to grizedale forest and enjoyed riding bikes. No longer bother with it really though.
Ironically I got into it after moving down south to live with my grandparents after my mum died in '96. A couple of lads I became mates with were into it and I started to tag along on rides with them on my shitty Barracuda and caught the bug pretty quickly so saved up my cash for four months and bought a '97 steel Rockhopper.
Feel out of love with it in '01 and switched to BMX which just seemed like more fun. My BMX got nicked at uni, so that put an end to cycling for a while until I was bored one summer and decided to build up a new bike. In 03 I have an FSR up and running which became a Stinky. Moved back up North after uni was was addicted for again.
I had another hiatus a few years ago due to lack of funds due to the recession...it seemed madness to have a couple of bikes worth thousands of pounds in the garage after a big pay cut. Tried to go down to one bike, but hated the Patriot 66 and I gradually lost interest and that was sold two.
End of last year, I was a bit fat and bored so built up a Spesh SX Trail and an addicted again. Have lost a load of weight, feel much better and think about riding all the time. Downside is I'm skint because I keep buying stuff!
It's the only sport I really enjoyed as a kid and has kind of been a constant on my life for a long time. I love the feeling of cleaning a set of doubles, or blasting down a good piece if singletrack. I like the techy side too and enjoy fiddling with bikes.
It was a natural progression for me......I loved bikes of any kind but I especially liked riding them around our local forest, even on road bikes, but usually on a Grifter and then a Bomber. In 1985 I bought a 15sp Raleigh Maverick and I thought it was the best thing since sliced bread, it was just perfect for the kind of riding I was doing.....and ever since I've been hooked on MTB's.
I'm 23 now, got into mountain bike trials at about age 14 from seeing moto trials locally then seeing the mtb version on telly or something.
I've always just loved the sensation and simple pleasure of flying along on a bike, but other things got in the way during late teens so stopped riding.
Got back into it during last year of Uni, wanted to get fit and also see what was happening in the mtb world after being out for so long. Had various mountain bikes for about 4 years now, still really enjoy going fast on a bike, but it's taken over completely now and I love every aspect of it, the exploration, the fun, social aspect, personal challenge.
Moved to Windsor two years ago. Took kids cycling in Swinley as part of Palmer Velo cycling club on Sunday mornings. Bought a rigid SS 29e off here. Raced some of the Gorricks and AYTE. Visited some trail centres with the kids. So, started at 43, and first mountain bike was already niche.
Grew out of my BMX in '85-'86 when there were a few 'ATBs' about. Got a really basic Raleigh for about £150, rode it down Peckforton gap in Cheshire, wellies and tracky bottoms on with my eyes rattling and loved it.
Rode that trail a few years back and I'm suprised I made it in one piece )
i started because i couldnt afford a racing car, now I have spent pretty much the same as a racing car on bikes but wouldnt have it any other way...
Bought a bike as a promise to my kids and myself when I gave up smoking. Went out on a canals on my own, that was ok, but then went out with a mate nearly killed myself on a jump I thought I'd already cleared, and that was it got the bug.
For me:
- Developing technical skills to be able to clean trail features.
I get a bigger buzz from cleaning a particularly techy section than being first to the top of a fireroad. I dont "need" to be first to the top, happy if I'm not always last
- Socialising with people with similar motivation
- I continue to be amazed at the repeated pummeling a mountainbike can take.
- Its an aid to physical and mental fitness
Used to be bike-crazy as a kid, did BMX racing up to about the age of 14. Got a roadie at 16 and used to ride it everywhere. Then went to Uni and fell out of the biking habit. Post-uni I got into rock climbing and that became my obsession. Once I got a decent job I bought a roadie again and started biking to help with fitness for climbing. Then I randomly bought a mountain bike off the internet on a whim (a Trek 7000). I didn't know anyone at the time who did mountain biking so it sat in the house for nearly 2 years unused. Then I knackered my shoulder climbing, and at the same time one of my mates got into mtbing so I started going out with him. I quickly realised that it was much more fun than climbing, and thanks to the bmxing and roadie-ing I was also pretty good at it. The climbing equipment has now been sat in a box for about 7 years, and now I'm on bike no. 4 since the Trek.
Started in the 80's racing and stuff... Now just ride for pleasure. Suppose I'm more of a cruiser these days.
'Fast enough to get somewhere. Slow enough to take in the journey.'
Budgie bike, BMX, buggered-up ol' racer, bargaintastic mountain bike and an upwards curve of expenditure from there. Why? Because spinning two wheels with momentum is lots of fun, and time in the air even more fun!
I was a bum. Did no exercise or sport from a young age. smoked pot too much.
Then I grew up. got a career. A wife. Needed to modify my lifestyle.
I took up running as I cant throw a ball or kick one either.
Running became addictive then the knee problems and shin splints started.
I needed to maintain my fitness with low impact exercise. Living near Llandegla and the berwyn mountains, as well as enjoying mountain walking meant mtb is the sport I choose. 😀
Now I cant wait to get out riding, sometimes with friends but I actually prefer riding alone, gives me time to think.
What moment or experience occurred that gave you the bug and desire
1985 - 1989. Looking out of the window of an aeroplane coming into/leaving Malaga airport on many a family holiday. Staring down at all those lakes and mountains and wondering.... one day I'm going to explore that place 💡
Didn't get a MTB until about 1992 though.
I like exploring.
Always rode a bike, but mainly a road one to get about- growing up on a farm, it was a necessity!
Went to university in Sheffield in 1994, and i was getting into climbing, having got the hillwalking bug. Some of the guys i climbed with had mountain bikes, and would ride them when the weather was a bit crap for climbing. Bought a secondhand Diamondback Topanga,and after a bit i found i could explore more on a bike, and fell in love with it.
Mid-'20's, the clubs and laydeez became more of a preoccupation, but having worked in South America for a year, I went down the "most dangerous road in the world" in Bolivia. When i got home in 2001 I bought a Rockhopper. haven't looked back since.
I've got more into technical/descending stuff, and having done Gorrick for the first time in 4 years last weekend, i am keen to get back into racing. -Not that I was ever really "into" it, but i did a lot of events.
In the end though, it's about exploring another little corner of the planet i've not been to, or not been to for a while. I like a big map-crossing road bike too, but an MTB will let you see more natural sights, sounds, specimens, etc than a road bike ever will.
I noticed none of my golfing friends were turning up to our weekend events, eventually I found out they'd started mtb-ing, so I decided to join them.
Joking, just always loved chunky tyres and getting muddy, nowt better than exploring off road.
Always loved the freedom of cycling but on a road bike you are limited to the roads, so bought my first MTB in '93, a GT Tequesta.
True freedom, no rules. 8)
'Fast enough to get somewhere. Slow enough to take in the journey.'
I like that.
I got (back) into cycling as recovery / physio for a knee problem - I'd been limping for a two or three years trying to get the problem diagnosed (14 years later it still isn't diagnosed) and that had caused muscles around the knee to get weak. Cycling was a low impact way of getting my knee busy again. Previously I'd preferred hill walking but the knee problem means I can get up hills but I can't really get down them again.
I don't think I consciously chose mountain biking over any other kind of cycling but back then (late 90's) road cycling didn't really seem to exist - I don't remember there being any road bikes in the shops.
But the appeal of mtbs was - you can travel further through the countryside than you can of foot, you can get to places you can't by car
shit at everything else.. 😐
Always into bikes as a kid, then MTBs came to the UK in the 80s. Lusted after a Muddy Fox Courier but they were too expensive so bought the original Ridgeback 601 in about '86. Upgraded to the Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo in '87 and been riding ever since......
Moved from inner city Leeds back to the Borders in 2001, one of my old mates was well into mtb so with my first bonus I bought a Scott Purgatory and went to see what the fuss was about, more for the exercise than owt else. Absolutely loved it from first ride round GT red (pre Hub when you'd see about two other folk all ride on a saturday) and thousands of pounds later still well into it, although don't ride as often as I'd like.