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I just read some guy in another thread make the statement that
If you are really into riding MTBs you simply wouldnt live in London.
Now I don't live in London, in fact, living in Norfolk I'm probably considered even further down the MTB pecking order by some. I simply can't understand why where you live can be seen to dictate whether or not you have the right to enjoy something or not?
I'd love to live in southern California, Canada or the Lakes for example, but I've got other things going on in my life as well as cycling. Am I being over sensitive here (because my local hills aren't very gnarly), or is this sort of geographical snobbery a bit silly?
there are no mountains in London or Norfolk and that isn't snobbery
stems from northerners who for some extraordinary reason consider living that far north and being the home of whippets etc is something to be proud of... 🙄
It satisfies their angst from living so far from civilisation, cuisine, any serious economic activity, sunshine, effective public transport and focaccia.
it's a serious business if you are a northerner or sweaty sock.
Here we go again!
As mentioned on another thread, the cellar is well stocked. Decent claret for those with class, watery pish for the Northerners. 😉
havent you noticed on here yet???
people tend to speak from their 70's teatowel holder quite frequently.
😉
yep, can't see what this has to do with snobbery. Some places are better suited to mountain biking than others. No one is telling you that you can't enjoy doing what you do where ever you live are they?
its partly because there are no mountains
its also a general jealousy/ irrational dislike thing that a lot of northerners / rural types have about london
Well Jon, that was the way I read it. I think that's what it meant.
I'm not pretending there are mountains in Norfolk or London SFB - but if that were the criteria for being able to enjoy riding, Yorkshire wouldn't be any good either.
It's grim up norf (except Yorkshire)
its also a general jealousy/ irrational dislike thing that a lot of northerners
say WHAT ?? Jealousy has nothing to do with it!
kimbers - Member
its partly because there are no mountains
There are no mountains in Devon, so does that mean that no one in Devon can be a mountain biker?
yes london is the finest of places to live if your a mountain biker.
if only i could swap north wales for london...ah well i will struggle on. 😉
Yorkshire wouldn't be any good either.
FYI Yorkshire has mountains. I know because I rode over one of them yesterday:
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http://public.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pppdy94BOWA6IwSn_FdnpBJfJPlHt5X-Os7A0JJPsFKORlIXzxLYePV7KbxIfiUsAW-xKQe7vmMV39ut7U6F7AA/DSC_0196b.jp g"/> ?psid=1[/img][/url]
but you cant see the london eye from up there sf..
Thats a large hill not a mountain.
Thats a large hill not a mountain.
that's half way down...
but you cant see the london eye from up there sf..
is that good for biking ?
Norfolk does have mountains. Nobody ever heard of Beeston Bump?
There is no universally agreed definition of a mountain.
What tires for streets paved with gold?
I don't consider (my native) Somerset to be superior to London. But I only enjoy being in London for about 48 hours max.
Somerset, on the other hand...
FYI Yorkshire has mountains. I know because I rode over one of them yesterday:
I can't see the mountain, it must be that hill blocking the view.
20 hours tops.Somerset, on the other hand...
😉
is that good for biking ?
no yer daft bugger that was me point man.
There any decent Margaux Captain?
Bien sûr, Sandwich. Santé
Because living East of the Tees /Exe isn't good for easy access to upland Britain?
There are no mountains in Devon, so does that mean that no one in Devon can be a mountain biker?
WRONG!
High willhays and Yes Tor are over 2000 feet and therefore mountains in this country
[i] I simply can't understand why where you live can be seen to dictate whether or not you have the right to enjoy something or not?[/i]
Not sure that's really what he's meaning. I think he's just suggesting London is a rubbish place to live if you really enjoy mountain biking. Personally I wouldn't live in London for lots of reasons. Quality of live, access to hills and mountains and many other reasons.
He's not dictating, just passing comment.
[i]20 hours[/i]
Ah, but a slower pace of life = equivalent to about 1000000000 London hours.
Hark at 'ee & his spreadsheets.
TJ posted some video the other day of some northern riding, on a downhill straight double-track that was so rad, they were all sitting down...and still one of them manged to fall off.
bless 'em
I dunno.. I just get annoyed when people say there's no good riding in the South east. It's not true 🙂
High willhays and Yes Tor are over 2000 feet and therefore mountains in this country
Since when is 2000ft the qualifying height?
Of course you can be a "mountain biker" if you live in London, Im sure there are plenty of them that live there.
What they actually do though is very different to a proper mountain biker.
The London types tend to mince round southern trail centres or leafy bits of single track in the surrey hills once per month - they just call themselves "mountain bikers" as it makes them sound impressive to their office buddies at work, and it gives them a hobby to spend their vast wages on.
Since when is 2000ft the qualifying height?
Although England is the poor relation on the British Mainland in mountain scale there are still over 200 which reach over 2,000 feet (610 metres) in height.
http://www.walkingenglishman.com/mountains.html
Davidtaylforth, you'll not be getting a bite from that one, I'm afraid.
The OP was quoting Scruff and, believe me, he's got nothing to be snobby about, he'm from Great Wyrley.
But he's right. He gets up into those hills around Cannock about 5 times a week, sometimes on his way to work, sometimes on his way back, sometimes when he officially is at work. I don't think he'd swap that for Hampstead Heath.
Thankyou for your support!
Yep David, that's the sort of attitude I'm talking about. 🙄
Because I live in east anglia, most of my riding is done on leafy singletrack - which I really enjoy. I also enjoy Wales or wherever when I get the chance. I find it surprising that some people evidently think that makes me inferior to them, and less worthy of the title "mountain biker". Maybe it's all in jest and I've just lost my sense of humour today...
Edit: sadly he did Captain - I obviously have lost my sense of humour today. 😀
no probs edric.
[i]Yep David, that's the sort of attitude I'm talking about[/i]
I think he's yanking your chain. At least I hope so.
Surely they are getting more at the area than at you? I've ridden on some lovely stuff in East Anglia, and been overtaken by lots of "proper" mountain bikers. However I don't think I'm being exactly controversial when I say the riding is places like Wales, Yorkshire, Scotland etc is going to be better.
And another thing. The M in MTB doesn't stand for mountain. It stands for Multi.
And there ain't a lot of Multi in London.
Because living East of the Tees /Exe isn't good for easy access to upland Britain?
Whats that make the North York Moors then?
Kenny - yes, I realised (belatedly).
I can't dispute that there is more challenging riding in other parts of the country - which I wish I had more time to take advantage of.
This thread has gone off at a tangent... OP you asked what geographical snobbery is about....
Answer: Swindon
No, its about reminding mancs they really just live at the top end of the midlands.
Edric 64 - Member
There are no mountains in Devon, so does that mean that no one in Devon can be a mountain biker?
Yup, but they can be cross country riders. Can't take the mountain out of mountainbike...
And it isn't snobbery, it's fact.