Why Mountain biking?

I’m assuming that most, if not all contributors to this forum would consider themselves serious mountain bikers. i.e mountain bikers who appreciate bikes, components and kit and have it take up a large proportion of their life.

So, what got you so into this sport? What moment or experience occurred that gave you the bug and desire to spend more money on bikes than a car and go riding as often as possible to as many places as possible?

What’s your story?

Learnt as a kid – went racing as a 15 year old for 4 years – loved every minute of it

Gave up at 21 in favour of partying and studying, got into a career and could never get back into it

Then, in Easter of 2011, went to Glentrees with a couple of mates and fell in love with it all over again – rented some modern FS bikes and realised that it was the only sport i was ever any good at and how much i loved it

Bought a full susser and have been hooked ever since

In the last 15 months i’ve ridden 2 to 5 times a week, which is an incredible stress releif, got amazingly fit, made masses of great mates, improved my riding no end and ridden in many of the ‘must do’ rides in the UK – topping it all of with a trip to the Alps last month to compete in the Passportes

Friggen love it – the freedom, the comradarie, the banter, racing each other and seeing the best & most beautiful parts of the UK

The best hobby ever 😀

Moved to the countryside, about 20sec ride from trails…

i got too old to be a proper cyclist so gave up road riding

Had an accident on a road bike while at Uni (a decent story in itself) and, as the roads were in a terrible state (no change there then), replaced it with a mountain bike, joined the Uni MTB club and the rest is history.

Was a recreational triathlete (i.e. not competing for rank) from age 19 up to 27 when I was cut up by a car on my way home from work ,my left knee shattered the rear passenger window and I ended up with a ruptured patella tendon and a knee joint full of pieces of glass.

The doctors said due to the large number of cuts to my knee cartlidges I should refrain from running as the high impact could cause it to split.I spent the next 5 months recovering,feeling sorry for myself and getting fat (5 inches added to my waistline). My wife in a bid to get me out and about suggested we go cycle touring in France , we went and had a great time but I was apprehensive about riding on the road. Another mate suggested MTB so I gave it a go and loved it. At least if I hurt myself while riding it’s generally my fault.

It doesnt snow 365 in the uk!

reminds me of being a kid, ❗

It just looked the coolest thing ever to me at say 15-18 and when I cam over to the mainland (from NI) at 19 and was able to see them, test ride one and buy one, I was hooked.

I went to the grundig world cup at newnham in 93 and was inspired to give it ago, my brother already rode so I devoured his stash of mags and was hooked.

So, what got you so into this sport?

My sister went out with a MTBer in about 1990, I was 14 or so. He had an Orange Prestige.

I’d been cycling about the place as transport and exercise on my Emelle road bike, but his bike was fantastic. Saved up for a Kona Fire Mountain and it became something I do.

Was always bike crazy as a child, so it was a natural progression when mtbing started to make inroads in the early 90’s whilst i was a teenager. Girls and beer got in the way for a few years at Uni, but otherwise ive been biking as much as possible for years.

Mine is the same reason as most mtbers.

Nearing mid life, and showing the signs … large belly and atleast a couple of chins.

Bought a mtb (too fat to look good on a roady bike)and spun off the excess weight over the next 6-7yrs … now awesome enough to look good in lycra and ride a proper bike … a road bike 😆

Not many beach breaks in Malvern. 😕

In all seriousness tho, I’ve always loved the freedom bikes have given me, even when a kid in the 70’s – moved away from cycling in my teens then “rediscovered” it in my late 20’s and it still gives me that sense of freedom and inner smile when nailing that piece of singletrack at warp factor 11 – not many things can do that when 50 is fast approaching. 8)

I’m really a hillwalker.

Some of the more remote Munros are more easily accessible by bike, so I bought a mountain bike.

Then I developed some issues with my feet, which sort of stopped me walking so much.

Along the way, I started to notice that whenever I was biking, I had this smile fixed on my face 🙂

Used to do a lot of sailing and had to bike everywhere as I lived in the sticks (not a rural village most people picture when you say you grw up in the miiddle of nowhere, the propper sticks, it was a 40min walk if you wanted to see an electric lampost or a sign that wasn’t just directing you to “all major routes”).

Someone said cycling was good training for sailing (which puts massive loads on your quads and hip flexors), so I took up cycling on days inbetween races, then eventualy sold the boat to fund a motorbike.

First bike when I was three days old. Just never stopped after that. Tried a couple of road clubs and as a result of those experiences, pretty much stuck to mountain bikes.

Not sure really as i live in the east midlands where the off road riding is terrible. I always used to bmx in my teens but sold mine as all my mates stopped riding.. bought a trailstar with the money. Used it for a bit then got bored of it. Few years later really needed to start losing weight so i got the bike out and started riding roads every day… then i thought i’d give off road a go and got into it. Started doing jumps etc in my last year of uni as was a 15 minute ride away from some awesome jumps. Now got a bmx again and doing much more of that kind of riding as i can’t be arsed to drive to mtb destinations on a regular basis.

Was knocked off my bike as a kid after school, bloke paid for the bike, but instead of buying another cheap Raleigh, I bought a better 2nd hand one out of the local paper.
Better bike, did more with it.
Tried xc racing a year later (age 14) got hooked, haven’t stopped riding since- 16 years later, just got slower…

Bought a Rockhopper back in 88ish and rode it a bit for a year or two but wasn’t part of any “scene”. Didn’t really discover the technical side of things and tbh found it a bit meh.

Pretty much gave it up for the next 15 years and got into rock climbing instead.

Now I’ve pretty much given up climbing for mountain biking, mainly because I’ve got great trails on my doorstep, a great bunch of mates to ride with and not enough time to climb as well as ride.

At the risk of sounding poncy, mountain biking gives me so many things – a chance to connect with the natural world, challenge myself technically, get a buzz, keep fit and have a laugh with great friends. And, crucially, to forget that I’m old enough to know better. 😆

I feel so sorry for those poor sods sat in front of the TV

I started out road touring / Youth Hostelling etc in my teens. Joined a roadie club, raced time trials, crits & the odd road race.
On holiday in Devon (1988 or 1989?) I happened across a small local MTB race and thought it looked like fun.
Bought a mountainbike and that was it.

Since I was 16 I’ve always been into off-road stuff of one kind or another (hill walking, m/cycle trials, enduros, 4X4 trials) and in the late ’80s I was racing sled dogs.
I wanted something to keep me fit in the off-season so I bought a mountain bike (1988 Kona Explosif). Then I started doing a bit of racing and that’s about it really.

In the late 90’s I bought a Trek full susser to ride around London because I thought it looked cool and it was 1/3rd of normal price.

A few years later a neighbour who had seen me riding it said he was going for a bike ride at the weekend and did I want to come?

Had a great time. Been riding ever since. The Trek is long gone – it was not only rubbish but far too small- but it did the job for quite a while. I still ride with the friend who got me started. Never did thank him – must do that!

Can’t walk or run because my feet and knees are knackered. Swimming’s too boring. Have to do something or I’d be a fat chuffer.

A client did me a deal on a bike, that was my first proper MTB about 10 years ago.

Went riding solo but found it a bit dull.

Then I fell in with a regular nightride, and it turns out I live in a brilliant riding area. (Doh!)

I continue because it delivers a unique combination of year-round outdoors fun, appreciation of our environment, social (with a good mix of different people), decent pints, hard exercise, there’s kit to meddle with, it’s accessible because I can ride from the door, and some travel now and again. What’s not to like?

I don’t feel sorry for people sat in front of their TVs. Meh. But I do feel sorry for kids growing up in high density urban environments who don’t have access to this, and probably don’t even know it exists. No wonder they grow up a bit angry eh?

It was a means of getting from A to B when I was at 6th Form. Had a car but no money to buy petrol, and my dad had a GT Karakorum sat in the shed gathering dust. The need for transport carried on while I was at Uni so I cycled pretty much everywhere, most noticeably the weekly 30 miler each way to play football for Gringley Celtic. Cycled to work for years, then moved to Scotland and started working for a bloke who was bang into mountain biking. I rocked up to Carron Valley on my 1996 Rockhopper (in 2007) and he smiled in amusement and loaned me a Gary Fisher. Never looked back since.

Partner convinced me to buy hybrid bikes so we could ride on the tow path near our house.

Always loved riding my bike when I was a kid. It all came flooding back and I was hooked.

In less than a year I bought a carbon xc bike and graduated from the tow path (had been doing up to 40 miles)to riding on the moors above our house.

Now ride all year round and have two mountain bikes (Ti and 29er) and a carbon road bike.

Love all aspects (aside from the poor quality of some so-called high end stuff), ride at least 3 times a week and do most of my own maintenance.

I’m assuming that most, if not all contributors to this forum would consider themselves serious mountain bikers.

are you new?

Been riding since I was a kid, to varying degrees as the years have passed, but never stopped. Just ace innit, gets you places easily and quickly if you wish or you can just meander or ride in a big circle wasting time in an entertaining manner. hybrids are for getting places, road rides are for abusing your muscles, BMX is for showing off, mountain biking has all of the above and more. All good but mtb is betterer.

I Loved my BMX – but with my 10th birthday approaching the general consensus was that I needed a bigger more grown up bike, I was almost set on asking for a Road bike, but Peer presure persuaded me that MTBs were the future, got an MTB, most of my peers stopped riding bikes while I carryed on, actually got my Dad into it too as a result.

most evenings and weekends I was out riding till I went to Uni’ at 18 and it went on the back burner. I left Uni’ a bit tubby, still owned my old MTB though so I got back into riding more jumpy, droppy stuff, and it lopped a good couple of stone off me, so I carried on and started buying tougher HTs and FS bikes rode more and raced a bit of DH…

I’ve Slowed down in recent years since Kids entered the picture (and the fitness is suffering with it) but still have several MTBs that I ride regularly, I would never be without an MTB… My Road bike or BMX would be sacrificed long before an MTB got canned…

Always messing with bikes from aged 10 onwards, our garage was always full of bits, used to tinker all the time and make my mates wheelie bikes( grifter back wheel on a standard bike with small front cog and either 5 speed derraileur or 3 speed sturmey archer plus cow horns and a knobbly front tyre) then got into BMX and then became a roadie doing sunday rides with Sid Standard( LBS) then put the bike away and didnt touch one for 25 years so now at 44 have got the bug again and im truly sad that I have missed out as I think I could have got into Downhill or at least some good Enduro racing had I been younger.
My mind says Gnarrr my body says Nah

I had a BMX as a Kid and did a fair bit of riding round the local town but not much else.

At 18 my uncle said he’d brought a bike, so I decided to buy a proper bike too, I got a 1997 rigid dawes Saratoga. I cant really remember why I suddenly decided to buy one. Over my teenage years I had nt dont much exercise although Id playing a bit more footy from 16-18 than before.

As soon as I got one knew it was for me. It just seems to combine so many things I like, being outside, exploring (a big one esp when younger), transport, freedom , skills, jumps, moving.

I kinda assume everyone must love cycling although I know my cousin hates it.

Bought a Marin to ride to work in 1990 it needed fixing and the mechanic said you should go to Leith hill on this. One off road ride and hooked.

Nothing better than dicking about in the woods on bikes.

Rode motorbike trials for years so love being offroad. Mountainbiking gives access to more trails than motorbikes. Didn’t take it up till I was about 33. (22 whole years ago)
Think I’m as fit as i need to be too.

I’m assuming that most, if not all contributors to this forum would consider themselves serious mountain bikers. i.e mountain bikers who appreciate bikes, components and kit and have it take up a large proportion of their life.

I think you assume way to much.

I ride a ‘mountain bike’, which is pretty much no different really to the type of bike I’ve been riding since the 1970s. And I still ride the same type of terrain. It doesn’t take up a large proportion of my life because I have other hobbies I equally enjoy.

I don’t consider myself a ‘mountain biker’, let alone a serious one.

Used to go riding with my dad when I was a young ‘un, got his hand-me-down Cannondale aged 13, which got me into ‘proper’ riding, started racing aged 14, still doing it 12 years later.

My enthusiasm for competing (and riding generally) wanes periodically, I’ve tried triathlon, but didn’t like running, but save for illness, injury and holidays I’ve never had more than a week off riding in those 12 years.

Love bikes, but Triathlon became too popular and expensive, road cycling too scary (crap drivers and surfaces) and wanted to do some AR and then decided to focus on the MTB bit.

I googled uber niche whilst researching a project and singletrackworld.com appeared several times in the top ten sites so natch, I visited. Wow, was totally blown away by how kool I could be if I started Mountain Biking. Of course, after those first few frantic visits I believed that mountain biking involved the cobbling together of a singlespeed bike but cobbled together with the most bling parts assembled on to a frame made by a bearded man in a shed. Since then I’ve realised that suspension front and back, dropper post, and single-ring with 10speed cassette is where it’s at nowadays. Or is it..?

Didn’t “get” mountain bikes when they first came out – slow, heavy and expensive… and nowhere to ride them off road (well in Cornwall there wasnt)

Mainly into outdoor sports – hiking, shooting, boats

Enjoyed riding road bikes – but strongly dislike rules, clubs and organisation

Almost all road riding at that time was centred on clubs (may still be for all I know)

GF wanted to ride, so we decided to get a Gary Fisher Tassajarra. Fit was good for her on-road, and good for me off-road. Within a few years we’d both upgraded to Marin FRS sussers 😀

Why still mtb? – it’s down to the do your own thing ethos. As soon as someone starts telling me what I should be doing, or that it needs to be Wednesday nights, with Jo Bloogs and john Smith, I loose interest

Couple of friends said:”We’re getting one of those mountain bikes each.”

So I got one too.

I bit later they said “Come over at the weekend and we’ll go offroad” (Woburn).

I said (on my new Marin Pine Mountain) “I’m not going in there – it’s all muddy, it’ll make the bike dirty!”

That was in 1991.

I’m assuming that most, if not all contributors to this forum would consider themselves serious mountain bikers.

Nope not serious at all.

80’s bmx boy – then got into sexndrugsnrocknroll ,
whilst enjoying the occasional spin on borrowed bikes.
Then one night in brighton (well morning actually) more ,ahem , supplies
were required – the only way to get the supplies was to cycle up what felt like a mountain .
( up the hill ,a mile past the railway station 😳 )
I decided I had to get fit , so I bought a rigid v brake scott hardtail
and started to explore & learn.
Became pretty obsessed about bikes since then. 😀
That was 12 years ago – crikey!

I think you assume way to much.

I ride a ‘mountain bike’, which is pretty much no different really to the type of bike I’ve been riding since the 1970s. And I still ride the same type of terrain. It doesn’t take up a large proportion of my life because I have other hobbies I equally enjoy.

I don’t consider myself a ‘mountain biker’, let alone a serious one

Then this thread wasn’t aimed at you evidently. But thanks for contributing to this thread.