Is mountain biking dead?
Discussion
Most bike shops I go into these days are road focussed, the majority of discussions on this forum are road based and I can't remember the last time I saw a collection of 'good' mountain bikes out and about.
For myself I was massively into trail riding, countless epic road trips from Oxfordshire to the Welsh trail centres, 7 Stanes, Les Arcs, Southern Spain, at one stage my garage held almost 20k worth of mountain bikes belonging to various friends!
Nowadays tho all that seems to have gone, this year obviously the road scene has been massive but I've noticed this over the last several years.
Is it just me having my road tinted glasses on or has the scene really died down?
For myself I was massively into trail riding, countless epic road trips from Oxfordshire to the Welsh trail centres, 7 Stanes, Les Arcs, Southern Spain, at one stage my garage held almost 20k worth of mountain bikes belonging to various friends!
Nowadays tho all that seems to have gone, this year obviously the road scene has been massive but I've noticed this over the last several years.
Is it just me having my road tinted glasses on or has the scene really died down?
I think it is that mountain biking tends to be trail centre biking so there may be better sources of info. I bet that bike shops have specialised down either by brand or type of cycling if I want clothes I want a good choice of mountain bike gear while a roadie wants a good range of lycra, a shop probably can't hold a worthwhile range of stock.
Kermit power said:
Not at all. It's just that all the top level success this year has been on the road/track.
Also, take a look in a couple of months, and all the road bikes will be locked away for winter, whilst all the mountain bikes are out having fun in the mud.
I made the mistake of looking at a Yeti ARC in Bikelab whilst I was visiting London, that has certainly sparked something again inside me!Also, take a look in a couple of months, and all the road bikes will be locked away for winter, whilst all the mountain bikes are out having fun in the mud.
I was thinking about this a while ago. I know from feedback my brother's had from a couple of shop owners that the boom in road cycling, particularly with all the MAMILs around now, has led to shops moving more that way as it's simply what people want.
There's a lot more people out on the roads but I'd say that the number of MTBers I see has been constant for as long as I can remember, and as said above there's a big emphasis on centres now.
I reckon that a big part of the reason why people are more likely to get into the road side is because it's so much easier - the bikes are fairly straight forward to understand, most people can ride into the sticks from where they live, and it's easy to work out a route whereas a lot of people wouldn't have a clue where to ride a MTB.
I reckon it's not a bad thing in a way as a lot of decent riding areas probably couldn't sustain a big growth in popularity.
There's a lot more people out on the roads but I'd say that the number of MTBers I see has been constant for as long as I can remember, and as said above there's a big emphasis on centres now.
I reckon that a big part of the reason why people are more likely to get into the road side is because it's so much easier - the bikes are fairly straight forward to understand, most people can ride into the sticks from where they live, and it's easy to work out a route whereas a lot of people wouldn't have a clue where to ride a MTB.
I reckon it's not a bad thing in a way as a lot of decent riding areas probably couldn't sustain a big growth in popularity.
I guess it depends where you ride. my local trail is Llandegla and every week the place is heaving and with some seriously tasty kit.
I see / hear lots of different faces / accents so clearly people come from far and away.
I agree that the Wiggins factor has a lot to do with it but then again I know a couple of road bikers who have got into mountain biking and love it!
I see / hear lots of different faces / accents so clearly people come from far and away.
I agree that the Wiggins factor has a lot to do with it but then again I know a couple of road bikers who have got into mountain biking and love it!
I ride Cannock chase most weekends and it gets busy, I was over at Llandegla last weekend and it was busy, stopped at the services on the M54 to meet up with my mates and there was another group off to Snowdon for a ride. I also think a lot of mountain bikers want either a quick blast round their local course or making a day/ weekend of it.
Bike shops round here seem to be the mobile phone / coffee shop replacement.
Bike shops round here seem to be the mobile phone / coffee shop replacement.
I think MTB-ing is alive and well, but not as visible as road riding - plus road riding is a lot more accessible to most people.
Personally I have spent a lot more time on my road bike than either of my MTB's this year, mainly due to two things;
Firstly, I can jump on the road bike at my back door, get 20 miles in and be back indoors in an hour. An outing on the MTB takes at least twice as long as you have to get to/from the venue.
Secondly, the weather this year has been shocking, and as much as I don't mind getting dirty trudging through boggy conditions, I hate spending hours cleaning the bike after an outing.
I over the past 15 years I have spent many a happy hour thrashing around Swinley Forest - mainly on my own. In the past year I have noticed a significant increase in the number of other riders using my forest
Personally I have spent a lot more time on my road bike than either of my MTB's this year, mainly due to two things;
Firstly, I can jump on the road bike at my back door, get 20 miles in and be back indoors in an hour. An outing on the MTB takes at least twice as long as you have to get to/from the venue.
Secondly, the weather this year has been shocking, and as much as I don't mind getting dirty trudging through boggy conditions, I hate spending hours cleaning the bike after an outing.
I over the past 15 years I have spent many a happy hour thrashing around Swinley Forest - mainly on my own. In the past year I have noticed a significant increase in the number of other riders using my forest
The Spruce goose said:
a lot of new road bikers who have just spunked 2k on a bike, will find it gathering dust in 6 months. road biking is not as much fun as mtbing .
Oh!Edited by The Spruce goose on Thursday 25th October 20:30
I'd disagree personally, even when I was my most into mountain biking I still appreciated and enjoyed my road biking. I'd agree that a blast down the Glentress red is arguably more enjoyable than even the hairiest road descent.
MadDad said:
I think MTB-ing is alive and well, but not as visible as road riding - plus road riding is a lot more accessible to most people.
Personally I have spent a lot more time on my road bike than either of my MTB's this year, mainly due to two things;
Firstly, I can jump on the road bike at my back door, get 20 miles in and be back indoors in an hour. An outing on the MTB takes at least twice as long as you have to get to/from the venue.
Secondly, the weather this year has been shocking, and as much as I don't mind getting dirty trudging through boggy conditions, I hate spending hours cleaning the bike after an outing.
I over the past 15 years I have spent many a happy hour thrashing around Swinley Forest - mainly on my own. In the past year I have noticed a significant increase in the number of other riders using my forest
I'd second this. I'm in the fortunate position of being able to jump on the MTB and ride off-road from the back door for anything upto 4 hours. Whilst I've been tempted to go road riding I just don't need to and I'm not bothered about the bike cleaning!Personally I have spent a lot more time on my road bike than either of my MTB's this year, mainly due to two things;
Firstly, I can jump on the road bike at my back door, get 20 miles in and be back indoors in an hour. An outing on the MTB takes at least twice as long as you have to get to/from the venue.
Secondly, the weather this year has been shocking, and as much as I don't mind getting dirty trudging through boggy conditions, I hate spending hours cleaning the bike after an outing.
I over the past 15 years I have spent many a happy hour thrashing around Swinley Forest - mainly on my own. In the past year I have noticed a significant increase in the number of other riders using my forest
The Spruce goose said:
a lot of new road bikers who have just spunked 2k on a bike, will find it gathering dust in 6 months. road biking is not as much fun as mtbing .
Edited by The Spruce goose on Thursday 25th October 20:30
caiss4 said:
I'd second this. I'm in the fortunate position of being able to jump on the MTB and ride off-road from the back door for anything upto 4 hours. Whilst I've been tempted to go road riding I just don't need to and I'm not bothered about the bike cleaning!
me too, can jump on my orange 10 mins later in the local woods and off into the NY Moors! cleaning wont bother me as im already wet and muddy myself!
Edited by gp1699 on Thursday 25th October 22:33
No way. Apart from the Wiggo factor and hugely enjoyable olympic events, mtb is the main stay of my cycle mates and judging by the trails we use getting busier and more ranging i'd say more popular. For my own reasons I can't even ride a road bike. Although some guys (we call them girls) I know have been lured to the dark side, the Force is still strong, and mtb prevails.
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