18milesperhour: NEW YEAR’S CONFESSION: I DON’T LIKE TECHNICAL SINGLETRACK. It’s hard for me to admit that. And, frankly, I wasn’t sure whether I could still call myself a “mountain biker” if I felt that way. It’s only a recent realization, by the way. I used to love it, or I think I did. But lately when I take on anything too technical, it’s just about surviving it. And that’s not fun for me. Now, on the other hand, long fire roads that take me away from man-made sounds and into the woods? Fantastic. Heaven. The occasional rolling singletrack trail? Bliss. When I think about it, I’m kind of a roadie on the dirt. When I can get into a rhythm, do a long and sustained climb and occasionally floor it for a while but still be away from cars and into nature, that’s my happy place. But add in super-steep, rutted, technical stuff with loose dirt and baby-head-sized rocks and I’m really unhappy. Most people I know love those narrow trails that hug the side of the mountain but when those come up on a group ride I have to do my best to just grin and bear it, seeing as every other mountain biker seems to love that kind of thing. Can I still call myself a mountain biker? When I asked Rhys he said, without hesitation, “absolutely, it makes no difference.” I was relieved to hear this. So I got that off my chest. Now I just hope it doesn’t mean I won’t get asked on as many group rides. - Brian Yeah. I hear stuff like this way too often. Look, if you pedal and steer and brake on a bicycle, and smile while doing it, you’re doing it right. And don’t let anyone tell you different. See the other side of the mountain. It’s probably a lot cooler than skidding down the same old trail again. If you don’t get invited on a ride again because you feel this way, you didn’t want to go on that ride anyway. Just get out there and do it. By yourself if necessary.  - big jonny

18milesperhour:

NEW YEAR’S CONFESSION: I DON’T LIKE TECHNICAL SINGLETRACK.

It’s hard for me to admit that. And, frankly, I wasn’t sure whether I could still call myself a “mountain biker” if I felt that way.

It’s only a recent realization, by the way. I used to love it, or I think I did. But lately when I take on anything too technical, it’s just about surviving it. And that’s not fun for me.

Now, on the other hand, long fire roads that take me away from man-made sounds and into the woods? Fantastic. Heaven. The occasional rolling singletrack trail? Bliss. When I think about it, I’m kind of a roadie on the dirt. When I can get into a rhythm, do a long and sustained climb and occasionally floor it for a while but still be away from cars and into nature, that’s my happy place.

But add in super-steep, rutted, technical stuff with loose dirt and baby-head-sized rocks and I’m really unhappy. Most people I know love those narrow trails that hug the side of the mountain but when those come up on a group ride I have to do my best to just grin and bear it, seeing as every other mountain biker seems to love that kind of thing.

Can I still call myself a mountain biker? When I asked Rhys he said, without hesitation, “absolutely, it makes no difference.” I was relieved to hear this.

So I got that off my chest. Now I just hope it doesn’t mean I won’t get asked on as many group rides.

- Brian

Yeah. I hear stuff like this way too often. Look, if you pedal and steer and brake on a bicycle, and smile while doing it, you’re doing it right. And don’t let anyone tell you different. See the other side of the mountain. It’s probably a lot cooler than skidding down the same old trail again. If you don’t get invited on a ride again because you feel this way, you didn’t want to go on that ride anyway. Just get out there and do it. By yourself if necessary. 

- big jonny

Notes

  1. drunkcyclist reblogged this from 18milesperhour and added:
    hear stuff like this way...often. Look, if you pedal...doing...
  2. 18milesperhour posted this