[Closed] MTB retreating into the closet...?

No. I can't imagine caring enough about what other people think to have that attitude.

I generally just say I enjoy "cycling".

Though that's partly because its been several years since my bike saw a "mountain".

I enthuse about it, why should we hide that we're into something interesting? A brief account of what we get to see and experience and others seem excited too, especially when I talk about night riding!

Maybe you're not selling it well?

What's to be embarrassed about? I think there are many riders (if not the majority in fact in your age group). Do you feel it's perceived as immature for your age?

I'd question whether I'd want to converse with someone I had to feel self conscious around.

No. I can't imagine caring enough about what other people think to have that attitude.

That's money right there.

I'm approaching 40 and work in IT but I can't see why I should be embarrassed about MTBing, it's vaguely cool if anything (compared with shite like 5-a-side footie and running which seem to be the only forms of exercise my colleagues get).

why should we hide that we're into something interesting

mtb'ing isn't interesting to those who don't cycle.

I'm not a "mountainbiker" and don't particularly enjoy "cycling".
I absolutely love riding bikes tho and wouldn't ever be embarrassed to tell anyone I like riding mtbs, BMXs or roadbikes (most'll already know as I'm out in the street pissing about on one so often). in my 40s now and have always been the same.
never understood grown adults being embarassed about doing what they enjoy, OP you sure you actually do enjoy it?

MTBing, it's vaguely cool if anything

😆

Nope, happy to tell people what my hobbies are and have no interest in whether they think me or my hobbies are cool or not.

It's part of what makes me.

No. I can't imagine caring enough about what other people think

OP doesn't say what it is he finds embarrassing about mtbing: the ostentatious flaunting of disposable income on over-engineered bicycles and frivolous use of free time??

mtb'ing isn't interesting to those who don't cycle.

It depends on how you discuss it. If I mention being out in new areas of natural beauty when the seasons change, seeing animals and the humour of occasional clumsiness people seem to be engaged. If I talk about the latest part I've upgraded they start dropping off.

Do: talk about something they can relate to.

Don't: talk about headset standards, CNC, fatbikes, ti, or other nerdy details. They can't connect with it.

Anything can be interesting, you just need to understand how to talk about it!

I can understand riding on the road being embarrassing, but off-road? Nah. Can't see it.

mtb'ing isn't interesting to those who don't cycle.

Well I think it's summed up for me by a couple of posts from the other thread. When I started mtb some 20 years ago it was...

mountain biking used to be ordinary folk going into the hills and valleys with their bikes to have a pleasant ride and take in some scenery.

Just somewhere else to ride a bike, get fit, and see what you could ride up, over and down. Now i suspect this probably true...

mate.. mountain bikers have always..always.. been thought of as very uptight nerdy bell-ends by the rest of the world..

Don't: talk about headset standards, CNC, fatbikes, ti, or other nerdy details. They can't connect with it.

Thankfully someone invented STW to save the general public the pain of such detail!

never understood grown adults being embarassed about doing what they enjoy, OP you sure you actually do enjoy it?

Love it, spend most of my free time riding bikes, and the rest of it reading about riding bikes 🙂

GlitterGary - Member
MTBing, it's vaguely cool if anything

Compared to what?! Trainspotting,badminton
,syncronized swimming even the golf is cooler these days.

wrecker - Member
No. I can't imagine caring enough about what other people think to have that attitude.
That's money right there.

Yep.

GlitterGary - Member
MTBing, it's vaguely cool if anything

Compared to what?! Trainspotting,badminton
,syncronized swimming even the golf is cooler these days.

No. I can't imagine caring enough about what other people think to have that attitude.

There seems to be a lot of responses affirming this sentiment.

Why is it then that for a hell of a lot of people this forum is all about getting others to validate almost everything they do?

I don't think it was ever cool, but i don't think it was uncool either back in the day. It's now sad to see a pastime I love being described as less cool than golf and popular with nerdy bell ends.

Rorschach - Member
GlitterGary - Member
MTBing, it's vaguely cool if anything

Compared to what?! Trainspotting,badminton
,syncronized swimming even the golf is cooler these days.

Bit of a strange way to quote GG [b]LOL'ING[/b] at someone saying MTBing is cool, don't you think?

Personally, I have no idea what the OP is blabbing on about.

Why is it then that for a hell of a lot of people this forum is all about getting others to validate almost everything they do?

I can't speak for others, so I'm not sure, but I don't think I've read much that fits that model. You do see some people on here seeking some sort of validation, but most just post what they like and invariably get a mix of answers.

Personally, I have no idea what the OP is blabbing on about.

+1

"Don't: talk about headset standards, CNC, fatbikes, ti, or other nerdy details. They can't connect with it"

Shit I ride bikes and can't connect with that. Isn't this perhaps what the OP is taking about, mountain biking used to be about get out not on the road, these days some people ride mtb's becuase its 'cool' ^

Thankfully someone invented [s]STW[/s] the Chat Forum to save the un-nerdy amongst us [s] general public[/s] the pain of such detail!

Why is it then that for a hell of a lot of people this forum is all about getting others to validate almost everything they do?

Personally, I have no idea what the OP is blabbing on about.

+2

It's just riding bikes isn't it? The same I did when I was a kid, the same I'll be doing when I'm 70, hopefully.

[img] [/img]

Hard to imagine riding a bicycle could be cool for anyone over 7.

This is me aged 7 - and even at the age of 35, it's still my default setting.

Noteeth, that grin, now that's what it's all about.

coffeeking - Member
'Why is it then that for a hell of a lot of people this forum is all about getting others to validate almost everything they do?'
I can't speak for others, so I'm not sure, but I don't think I've read much that fits that model. You do see some people on here seeking some sort of validation, but most just post what they like and invariably get a mix of answers.

+1

I'm always interested in seeing other people's bikes, especially if they have modified them or done something interesting. That applies even if I have no interest in owning/riding a similar bike.

I also like the details of long trips in the mountains. Good for ideas for places to go and a headsup on conditions, eg I've learned enough about the WHW to cross it off my list of must do 🙂

Let's face it, apart from on here nobody really gives a sh*t either way

I'd be more embarrased to tell people I work in IT.

Biking is ace, just ride and dont worry about it, its only on forums that you get all the hand wringing and nonsense, in the real world most people are just happy riding their bikes.

Noteeth, that grin, now that's what it's all about.

Plus, I still had all my front teeth. 🙂

Biking is ace, just ride and dont worry about it, its only on forums that you get all the hand wringing and nonsense, in the real world most people are just happy riding their bikes.

Funnily enough it's only since being on here that I've started to think about it!

Sancho - Member
I'd be more embarrased to tell people I work in IT.

😆
Ain't that the truth......

I generally just say I enjoy "cycling".

+1 Most people know what cycling is, even if they don't do it.

IT is broad church. No, I can't fix your PC. But I can design your space mission.

Had an amusing incident with a pretty lady border guard at Munich airport - she asked what I was doing in the country and about my work. So I told her and she went visibly oooh-ieee 😆 She looked really pretty in her uniform too 😀 It made my week.

Believe that in Germany "engineer" is a title that's still held in reasonably high regards, unlike here in the UK.

if anyone pokes fun just offer to take them out one day and scare the sh1t out of them...

My non cycling chums think its a bit nerdy, especially after picking up my copy of singletrack magazine and laughing at the articles and the tone of it . Sod em I dont care!

My non cycling chums think its a bit nerdy, especially after picking up my copy of singletrack magazine and laughing at the articles and the tone of it . Sod em I dont care!

Invite them to spend an hour trawling this forum 😉

I'v just got back from Crown Court. I did my little application went to the Robing room had three conversations. one about my son the others were a lengthy one with someone supposed to be preparing a trial, about a skills course at grizedale he'd just been on, the other was to interrupt a mate and discuss "playing out on our bikes " over xmas. All participants were over 40 talking in public and not in the slightest bit embarrassed.

All enthusiasms are nerdy to non participants and to be frank talking about your latest upgrade as opposed to where you have been what you have done and where you plan to go is a tad nerdy even to many mountain bikers.

No, I can't fix your PC. But I can design your space mission.

It's not rocket science.

i was out on the bike with a mate who is about 53 he looks about 40 i consider myself to be fitter than most of the folks my age. i noticed a couple of blokes in a van having a right good laugh at us as we rode by lycra+baggies+lid+other cycling related stuff makes for much hilarity, however i would rather look a cock than look as bad as they did for their age.