That’s a bit of a sweeping generalisation…

to a point, and i think it is more obvious on the road than off. You can hide lack of fitness off road by having a reasonable amount of skill, and if your short of time, skill is easier than fitness IMO.

On road, time makes you fit and skill-full, not too many short cuts and whilst a bling bike may be a very nice thing to have it won’t make you climb any better.

Add in the mentality that sees road bikes ridden into the ground and far less of an upgrade thing going on.

Out of interest what do you ride kudos100?

If you cant ride a 3 foot drop off, I dont think you can call yourself a mountain biker.

That is willy waving of the highest order.

Back in the day, if you said to someone you were a mountain biker, they would think of you as a bit of a tough guy (but cool with it aswell)

😆 😆 😆

The difference is that I’ve never claimed to be a skilled rider and will happily laugh at my uselessness. Love my bling bikes though.

Do they make you go faster? Perhaps if you think a bling bike will make you go quicker, it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. Until you hit a tree 😆

I’m not sure about that.

I ride ss & rigid because I’m too dumb to work all those little levers at the right time.

Anyhow, all bikes are good fun.

Out of interest what do you ride kudos100?

A carbon nomad, with full xtr, cane creek db and chris king hubs on flows.

😆

It’s all about how much fun you have. 8)

Perhaps if you think a bling bike will make you go quicker, it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.

Nice kit helps novices as well as experts.
In fact expert riders need the bling even less than us mere mortals.
Watching Macaskill on his average Orange 5 is inspirational and obviously part of the marketing strategy.

The difference is that I’ve never claimed to be a skilled rider and will happily laugh at my uselessness. Love my bling bikes though.

CG +1

I’m a very average rider, both technically and in fitness terms, with quite a nice bike, so I guess you’re right. I justify it on the basis that I need all the help I can get and it’s money that I would otherwise spend on cake and chocolate, so it’s sort double whammy win/win scenario. I try not to judge other people on that basis though, probably because if I did, I’d have to face up to my own inadequacies.

STW handbags out again. Don’t get your knickers in a twist, I am mearly asking a question. If you have a bike dripping with high end shiny bits, good for you.

I can see it would be hard to predict that starting this thread might lead to handbags. You must be shocked and amazed. 😉

People spending extortionate amounts on very expensive bikes and then riding like a bellend just ruins it.

Does it really ?

If you can have your enjoyment ruined because someone else rides a nice bike badly, I would suggest you are a bit over sensitive.

I personally couldn’t give a stuff what anyone else rides, or how they ride it.

Makes sod all difference to how much I enjoy myself.

If you cant ride a 3 foot drop off, I dont think you can call yourself a mountain biker.

There’s a set of drop offs at Swinley (on the top of the drop down to “the wall”). Seeing as no one rode them, does that make this a knitting forum?

bencooper

I always seem to get dirty looks whenever I turn up at Glentress with my old GT RTS, no helmet and ripped jeans.

Have you thought that it might have nothing to do with your bike but the fact you’re not wearing a helmet?
When I see someone mountain biking without one I don’t give them the time of day, whoever they are or whatever they ride.

If you can have your enjoyment ruined because someone else rides a nice bike badly, I would suggest you are a bit over sensitive.

It doesnt ruin my enjoyment, just the image of the sport.

When I see someone mountain biking without one I don’t give them the time of day, whoever they are or whatever they ride.

Like I said, mountain biking used to be badass and a tough athletes sport.

Now its full of ignoramus’s who spend too much time worrying about wearing helmets and not enough time riding to the max

image of the sport.

What? You think anyone actually cares – and its not a sport – its a pastime unless you are racing. Its a daft pastime for daft people. Fun tho no matter what the bike

Like I said, mountain biking used to be badass and a tough athletes sport.

When was it ever? Its always been a pastime for people who Like mucking around on bikes. Its not an extreme sport, very few folk who do it have any degree of cool AND ITS NOT A FLAMING SPORT UNLESS YOU ARE RACING

Like I said, mountain biking used to be badass and a tough athletes sport.

sadly.. I’m willing to bet that you believe this..

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

seriously fella.. you is deluded.com

I can see it would be hard to predict that starting this thread might lead to handbags. You must be shocked and amazed.

A moment of madness BWD. I had forgotten about the huge amounts of sand wedged in the vaginas of some of the men on this forum 😆

I rode for 3 hours yesterday at Cannock and honestly couldn’t tell you what anyone else was riding or how shit they were. I’m not interested as long as they’re not directly affecting my ride. Though the little flock of numpties huddled at the bottom of the werewolf ‘drop’ should maybe stand off the main line in future whether they’re on bling bikes or not.

Fun tho no matter what the bike

those that have this attitude are ace and I love riding with them. those that get all worked up about such trivial piffle have no friends and smell of wee 😆

those that have this attitude are ace and I love riding with them. those that get all worked up about such trivial piffle have no friends and smell of wee

But tazzy, you smell of wee and love riding bikes. The two things are not mutually exclusive! 😆

Oh FFS!

Just ride your bikes people!

I never notice what bikes people are riding and just don’t care. It always makes me laugh when people say – “you know Fred – he rides a dodahwhitsist” ‘cos I just don’t have a clue what bikes people ride

But tazzy, you smell of wee

yes, but it’s not mine, it’s what I have to put up with in “specialist” establishments to afford my bikes

Shit bikes = skilled riders?

just the image of the sport.

oohh pleeease. Do you oil your chiselled torso for the ladieeez?

yes, but it’s not mine, it’s what I have to put up with in “specialist” establishments to afford my bikes

Jesus man! We all love bikes, but no need to sell your body on the street to pay for them!

I would happily sell my bikes if I could be returned to good health.

davidtaylforth – Member

Its to do with the whole image of the sport really. Cycling has a bit of a “cool” “hardcore” “underground” “edgy” image, especially mountain biking.

Does it? By who?

I always find it amusing how worked up people get over what is essentially just people riding bikes in woods…!

If you have money and want a nice bike, buy one.
If you don’t want to spend lots of money on a bike, don’t.

Whatever bike you have, if you enjoy riding it, you’re doing it right.

🙂

Its to do with the whole image of the sport really. Cycling has a bit of a “cool” “hardcore” “underground” “edgy” image, especially mountain biking.

People spending extortionate amounts on very expensive bikes and then riding like a bellend just ruins it.

I mean fair enough, you dont have to be a great rider, but at least give stuff a go. If you cant ride a 3 foot drop off, I dont think you can call yourself a mountain biker.

Back in the day, if you said to someone you were a mountain biker, they would think of you as a bit of a tough guy (but cool with it aswell)

Not anymore, they almost laugh at you nowadays.

I don’t think you could be much further off the mark with this.

Firstly, if you want to call yourself a mountain biker. Then by all means do, it holds no kudos or credibility.

The reason for this is not people who aren’t gnarcore riding bling bikes. It’s that back in the day, mountain bikes were universally expensive. If you had one, it meant you had money, which made you cool. Now you can buy something that looks like a mountain bike for, what £70. People who don’t ride don’t know what they’re looking at, past suspension and disc brakes. Mountain biking no longer has kudos, because the image is no longer the preserve of those with money.

And it’s a better sport for losing the try-hard “Rad.” image.

Oh No. I’m agreeing with TJ again.

There will be exceptions (people who race etc) but do you think there is any truth in this?

The guys I know who are really good riders, ride half decent bikes, but nothing special. I have met and have ridden with loads of people who have super bling bikes, but can’t ride for toffee.

What is your experience of all the gear, no idea? A myth, or something you see on a regular basis?

Gets the award for dumbest post EVER IMO.. 🙄

Like I said, mountain biking used to be badass and a tough athletes sport

How the **** would you know? You’re only about 19 years old.

It doesnt ruin my enjoyment, just the image of the sport.

Your worried about the “image of the sport” 🙄

As said earlier, I think you are being a tad oversensitive.

(and maybe a bit deluded too?)

It doesnt ruin my enjoyment, just the image of the sport

Out of interest, how do the general public become aware of this degradation of the ‘cool badass’ image. Do they wander into the forests and stand by gnarly drop-offs and assess how many people are attempting them? How exactly does the man on the clapham omnibus tell the difference between hardcore & mincer. Lack of teeth & scars?

I would happily sell my bikes if I could be returned to good health.

Likewise. With the proviso that I could purchase more bikes after 😀

Had a great day out yesterday on my bling bike, made me ride much, much faster than I could ever have done on a cheap collection of cr*p. Came across some poor chap on a 1990 Kona and felt really sorry for him, he was clearly trying very hard too look cool to the extent that he wasn’t even wearing a helmet! As I flew past him on thousands of pounds of plush high end perfection the wind of passing knocked him flying into a tree…

Last I saw he was being airlifted off the hill and will never ride again. If only he had worn a helmet and spent some cash on a proper bike…

Like I said, mountain biking used to be badass and a tough athletes sport

No, 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.