Bought my first proper bike in `92 and still riding.
Since then Ive went through all the changes sampling all the (what were) new variations of the MTB scene from Rigid Steel XC through full on DH with all the fun bits along the way. I remember when riser bars werenew` and remember riding all day and staying overnight and having discussions outside tents about geometry and head angles and drinking beer over a campfire miles from anywhere.
I tried all the metals and carbon all different travel forks and I tried trials. I thought (and still think) Hans Rey is a legend. Had a pop at Freeride, North shore, hucking, etc etc. I`ve seen the pink and neon lycra was (sadly) a weight weenie, I looked forward to the next thing, the latest new review in one of the magazine. I remember getting my Fat Chance Yo Eddy! , which was one of the last in 1999 and building it up to my spec and riding everywhere in it to riding my Specialized BigHit at Innerleithen and everything in between.

Sorry to ramble on but my point is this. Ive tried it all and when it comes to down to it, the truth is this. Im now in spite of my years of enthusiasm, stuck in the past. Im back to where I was in the 90s with a Steel Seven hardtail. Its not a Fat but I love it although its been called an old shi**er by youngsters (clunker would be the apt word). I love Hills, natural singletrack, stopping, looking, appreciating, sunsets, finding new trails and life.
I have no interest in 29ers or any other wheel size fads and I dont need nor want a £6000 or £7000 bike. I do it for the freedom, the fresh air and I did it for the camaraderie which as you get older sadly dies. There was a time when I would have jumped at this new fangled trickness but cant get into but enjoy living in the past.

Am I alone or is anyone on a similar wavelength?

Maybe Im a sad b****** lol and I expect a bit of flak for this but I cant see myself getting away from retro. A bit like guys that hanker over Mk2 Escorts or E30 BMWs

Do you enjoy yourself when you get out on your bike?

Every time fella. Seriously. Not as much as I did when I was a youngster but definitely more in the right direction. Thats probably whats swung me.

Each to their own I guess. I’d rather have Ebola than have to ride a hardtail.

I have been about a while now & have seen/been through a few fads & I try to embrace them all. I love the sentiment of riding to see the trails, that’s why I ride, but I also enjoy building & fettleling as much as I do the riding. I have settled on a hardtail, but is does have those new fangled big wheels though, just enjoy what you have 🙂

Interested how you can both appreciate all the changes and remove 29 out of the evolutionary ahem – cycle.

I agree with your sentiment generally, but trying stuff is part of the same adventure. One caveat for me and call it a short coming; I like high end stuff that is built properly so an expensive bike is a natural extension of that.

Been riding since 02/03 somewhere early enough to have experienced fully rigid v braked death traps.

Don’t view everything new as a fad and glad some things have changed.
Wide bars, suspension that works up and down, frames that weigh something sensible, brakes that work even if it’s raining or your rim is bent.

Happy with what I have, will get another at some point, wheel size will be fit for purpose, style will depend what I’m doing. All in I’m much happier to be smashing round on my current carbon FS than a retro hardtail.

I did it for the camaraderie which as you get older sadly dies

You were making sense until you posted that

Been riding mtbs since 1994 ish & am riding more now than ever with a much larger circle of riders, some younger some older. I think my enthusiasm is now even greater.

Just ride your bike & stop over analyzing it

Horses for courses innit, like you I owned a pair of Axo Pony shoes & Power Grips, been through my fair share of bikes, currently settled on a cobbled together full rigid singlespeed for my main mtb. If I lived in the Lakes then I may well want some gears & suspension, but I don’t. I think I may well be moving the wrong way along the progression route as I’m now hankering for a 69er! (full rigid & single speed). As long as its fun.

Ride whatever make you happy.

So you’ve tried everything when it comes to geometry, suspensions, materials used etc.. but you won’t try a new wheel size because you’re not interested?

seems a somewhat contrary position to adopt…

i’ll try anything as and when funds allow, and i can honestly say the 1×11 29er alloy/carbon hardtail with a dropper, a short stem and wiiiide bars is simply the best bike i’ve ever owned, & i too am rather long in the tooth.

each to their own as they say (but you’re wrong 😉 )

been riding since the 80’s… now riding for my job and I love new ikit and technology……. Rodea clients hardtail on a couple of our trails enjoyed it for the novelty but thats it…

The important thing is that you still enjoy it, then why dwell on it all

Been in this since first copy of MBuk hit the shelves and followed most trends along the way inc wheel sizes,up early(ish) this morning off out for a ride “just” the local loop riding friends have come and gone but still love to ride 😀

started riding mountain bikes in 1986

still riding mountain bike

still enjoying the riding, “despite” my current bike being a carbon fibre 29″ wheeled steed, its still fun in the dirt and that is all that matters!

Also been riding since the mid-90s and I’m pretty sure my next (other) bike will be one of those new-fangled, short-travel, aggressive-angled 29ers (hyphens!). Not because it’s the latest trend, or that it’ll make me fastest, but because they’re brilliant fun on the kind of stuff I ride 95% of the time. No need to overthink things, as long as you’re having fun what does anything else matter.

For the type of riding you enjoy, it seems to me that a 29er would be well worth trying, you could stick with steel, maybe even rigid forked, but not trying it after all the types of riding and bikes you’ve experienced over the years seems a bit blinkered.

Go on, try one, you might love it, and in any case, a new bike is always good for reigniting your interest.

I’ve been riding atb’s since 1854, and I’ve fully embraced all the new technology and disciplines..

I now ride a ti 29 fat truss fork unicycle on the frontline in active war zones with raw meat attached to my skull for protection (and to attract The laydeeez)

I Have 1 day off a week and love to get on the trails its all i think of in the week. I have a 2010 boardman fs built by a main man at sram all trick bits on and whilst id love a 6000 bike i cant help but love mine and id rather put 6k towards a new motor

I’ve just got back in from my first ride on my new rigid hardtail 29er with alfine 11 and mud tyres…
It was intended as a shakedown run prior to the winter slop arriving, but actually I really enjoyed the simplicity of the ride.
For the past four years I’ve had five inches of air sprung plushness soaking up the experience (and I will admit – my cockups!) yet the trail really did come alive with the lack of bounce… Not in the same “shit I have no brakes and no tyre” way as a CX bike, but just in a playful direct manner!
Now though, after half a decade away from hardtails, I need to work on my quads and standing pedal technique!

Bought my first proper bike in `92… …I remember when riser bars were new

I got my first MTB in ’88 – it had riser bars…

They didn’t have riser bars in ’88 from what I remember.

They were bloody great things like on the klunkers. Properly wide too. This was on a 24″ wheeled Peugeot but it was definitely a mountain bike, just a small one.

Ahh, yeah, I know what you mean.

If your’e enjoying it & are happy with what you ride,then that’s what matters.The things I love about mountain bikes are the places the bike gives me access to,just getting off road & the circle of friends I share this with.The bike is just a tool to enjoy my hobby.I rebuild my old motorbikes when want to mess around in the workshop.

there was a video of a guy riding a super steep alpine descent going around the other day, and some of the comments on it were amazing to me, things like “that’s a walking trail not a bike track”, “why?”, and so on. I guess some people have only ever experienced mountain biking as riding a full susser on purpose built bike trails.

Been riding since 94 as a spotty Herbert on a Marin Palisades..and although my bikes have got considerably better…I can’t say the same about my style/technique or fitness. The one thing that has never changed is just being out there in the countryside, putting aside all the shit from home/work and life in general. So what if you live in the past. The past is often full of happy memories and if you want to ride a bike that reminds you of them then that’s great…keep doing it and give the rest a 2 finger salute!

My little crew of riding buddies all ride ‘different’ styles of bikes on our local trails – from full Sis /hardtail and full rigid – 29er 650b and 26 respectively – When everyone’s out having fun the last thing on anyone’s mind is what bike who’s riding – it’s literally of zero concern …. And I really don’t care what bike anyone else rides for that matter …

My little crew of riding buddies all ride ‘different’ styles of bikes on our local trails – from full Sis /hardtail and full rigid – 29er 650b and 26 respectively – When everyone’s out having fun the last thing on anyone’s mind is what bike who’s riding – it’s literally of zero concern ….

Been rising mtb since 92 in that time I’ve had rigid, Hardtail (my first suspension forks were the expensive but completely rubbish Manitou 1’s), full suss such as Orange sub5, Turner 5 spot, Superlight etc.

I’ve done singlespeed, rigid singlespeed and now 29er.

I’ve ridden end to end, Moab, Morocco and the Alps.

Now I have singlespeed, hardtail and full suss 29ers and wouldn’t go back to baby wheels. They make no sense to me.

Just like riding my bike really.

Just dicking about in the woods is enough to keep me happy and has been since 1988. I don’t really worry too much about the bike other than making sure it works as I prefer riding in the winter which takes its toll on parts. I do fancy a new bike as mine’s getting on a bit but at £2500++ for anything comparable – FAT.

One thing I wouldn’t do is ride a hardtail again I had a borrow last year when was considering it but it smashed my spine to bits after a few hours and slowed me down a lot.

All the changes are good and it’s great to have choices but things are getting bloody expensive.

Op, get with the Modern Programme ASAP or you will die a horrible painful death of a night of a thousand knives (in the back of course) by all us Programmed zombies who see you as an Outcast and a danger.

as long as yer happy riding WGAF what anyone else thinks 🙂

Ride whatever bike you have and have a laugh. Follow it through with a beer or two. Fall over and do it all over again.

That was like a mountain bike version of Losing My Edge

I now only ride the trail behind the Nationwide in Swindon, active volcanoes, South Central Los Angeles and Hurstwood trails.
Stark bollock naked apart from a Rapha cap and a waxed moustache.

You tell this to the kids today and they just don’t believe you.

Thanks for the responses guys.

Some varied and interesting comments so fair play for being honest.

I never intended to imply my choice of bike and method was right so my original post maybe wasn’t as cogent as I’d planned.

On the cameraderie thing, I live in smallish community and my old pals have grown up, moved on or moved away. Although an old mate has proposed an epic weekender before the winter arrives so it’s not so bad.

All the best

Am I alone or is anyone on a similar wavelength?

No.

I love Hills, natural singletrack, stopping, looking, appreciating, sunsets, finding new trails and life.

Receiving loud and clear.

😀

I’ve been on STW since Go-far days and I’ve never ridden a mtb…

(but I kind of know what you’re saying op; it’s good to look back and be reflective and it is possible to move forward contentedly without embracing every new development. Find your enjoyment but don’t dismiss what others do or enjoy) 8)

fatsimon mk2 – Member
Been in this since first copy of MBuk hit the shelves

Those were the days…

Oh and still are too!

I get what the OP is saying, I’ve been riding since around 92. My first proper mtb was a Dawes One track which I upgraded over time with Deore DX and RC35’s loved that bike, frame snapped and the replacement was stolen. I’ve tried it all since then and fallen in and out of love with mtbing but always end up coming back to a steel frame, 29er now but steel hardtail and won’t ever change that now because that’s what works for me and always brings the smile back. I might get a USE suspension post as I get older but that will be the only change. I remember the first copy I brought of MBUK, they tested a Orange Aluminium ‘O’, Kona Kileau and a Raleigh Activator 2.