Natural Riding is Much Better Than Trail Centres?

'Regarding easy/hard, my friend friend has a good saying:
"if you are finding it too easy, go faster".'
In the same way as if the music is crap ,play it louder…I presume.

Aye, in the same way as not being able to think of a good analagy so just making one up.

Could be worse…I could lack the ability to spell.

I like to think of riding like drinking alcohol… I have different drinks I enjoy lager, beer, wine spirits in much the same way as different bikes I ride.

And then I have different places to drink – bars, restaurants, home, other peoples houses, outdoors, pubs etc.

All have their place in my life but I do some more than others but it depends more on who I am with which really makes it enjoyable.

🙂

Another crowded artificial red.

Totaly overcrowded yesterday in the rain.

Rorschach – Member
Could be worse…I could lack the ability to spell.

worse it is then – first thread of yours on the list and I didn't even have to go beyond the title

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/is-thge-arse-falling-out-of-mtbing

Rudedog – you obviously haven't read his profile either 😉

I'm with the don't care either way brigade. Hamsterley is only 20 minutes away by car but that is 40 minutes + set-up/arsing about ie. 1 1/2 hours, instead of which I could be on my bike straight from my front door into very similar terrain. I would undoubtedly enjoy it (and do occasionally) but it's purely a time/riding balance and more often than not the 'time' factor wins.

…bloke who paid £4k + for a Cube full suss…ONLY rides locally to me…(Suffolk)

That's ridiculous. It's like spending £40k+ on a sports car and only driving it on roads with 70mph or less speed limits.
Whoever would do such a thing ? 🙄

Where I live and started mountain biking in Sardinia there are NO trail centres, only natural trails. One UK visitor commented that this 1000 m singletrack descent was the “best natural trail he’d ever been on”Cala Sisine from Su Irove Longu. A Slovenian said another nearby 1000 m vertical descent was a singletrack worthy of the Alps. And no mud. Peter

but for me there’s no real challenge there anymore

Interesting, this is how I sometimes feel when riding natural trails. I start longing for a berm, jump, northshore to spice it up.

Sounds like your ‘Natural trails’ are a bit shit. Guess you need to find better natural trails,
Or go faster,
or get a fully ridged to make your shit trails feel G-narly
or ask Gee atherton & steve peat to pass you the baton as you are a real riding god 🙄

(uturn)
I like a bit of a change myself tbh. SS hardtails for the flatter familier trails of home, full sus 5inch for rocky steeper all mountainy style stuff. I’m no riding god but if it’s gonna be an easier ride, i take a bike that will maximise the enjoyment. and like wise if I’m off to sierra navada.
(/uturn)

Natural trails for me .I to read a map and find my own routes with decent views chucked in.I’m not bothered about jumps and stuff because it’s not what I do .Trail centres are good though because it keeps other trails quieter and those who can’t read maps and like to be spoon fed can use them

it’s nice that you like doing what you like doing, but why so sneery and patronising towards different people liking doing those sometimes different things that they sometimes like doing?

you’re not a very happy person today are you?

(and, as above, ‘natural’ trails often aren’t any quieter, some of them are packed!)

X

That’s why you chose quiet trails that aren’t busy! I can’t see the point in driving to trail centres and riding on pallets and boards when there is so much natural stuff th explore.Sarn Helen or the Ridgeway tostart with plus the thousands of miles of other paths that exist.I started mtbing to explore the countryside quicker than I could on foot and 26 years later that still holds true.

Sounds like your ‘Natural trails’ are a bit shit

I live in the Peak District. I’ve ridden there on and off for 20 years or so, as well as the Lakes, Wales, a bit in Scotland, Austria and Spain. I love riding natural trails. I love planning a route and setting out with my map and some friends. It’s a different experience from the trail centre one, which for me is all about the thrill of the riding. Nothing more, nothing less. I don’t get the same continuous level of thrill and challenge riding natural trails in the Peaks.

or get a fully ridged to make your shit trails feel G-narly

I have a fully rigid. Trails that my full susser cruises over do feel much more challenging – and fun – on my fully rigid. On occasion I have pretended my road bike is a CX bike. Blame the bike or blame my attitude.

I’ve served a reasonable “real” mountain biking apprenticeship I think. If I only ever rode my MTB at trail centres and uplifts in the big mountains from here on in I don’t think you’d hear me grumble. In the meantime I’ll tootle around my local crap trails 😉

…but why so sneery and patronising towards different people…

Are you new here ?

I think trail centres are brilliant, the busier the better – they keep the real trails quiet for the rest of us.