July 13th, 2006
Learning From History
Reading Guitar Ted he pointed out a 1993 article by Chris Kostman “Mountain Bikes: Who Needs Them?”.
I routinely dust every mountain biker I encounter on the trail. And I ride a road bike.
Furthermore, I think, no, I know, the mountain bike is the most over-rated, most improperly used, most over-built, and most greedily promoted piece of hardware to hit the sport and fitness industry in modern history. Ninety-nine percent of the miles ridden by 99% of the mountain bikes could, and should, be ridden on the first and only real all terrain bike, the ‘road bike.’ More bluntly, a road bike is equal to or better than a mountain bike if ridden with skill like I have.
I had to double check the year when I read it.
There’s a preachy tone that crosses the arrogance boundary with phrases such as “if ridden with skill like I have”. But rather scarily I agree with the idea of making something that’s relatively easy to ride more difficult by artifically restricting yourself though. Singlespeed anyone?
Maybe that’s because I’ve got a road background, love singlespeeding, and this year have done most of my non-racing off-road miles on a singlespeed CX bike. For me riding on 1.25 slicks is no reason not to explore a trail.
I’m not even as ‘core as folk such as Samuri who’s gone fixed-gear skinny tyred cross bikes off-road.
That doesn’t stop me enjoying 5″ of travel though. It’s just a different thrill.
Kirsty had the choice of learning to ride off-road rigid singlespeed or full travel geared. She chose the singlespeed. It is only now, five years later, that she thinks she has served her time and acquired the skills to properly appreciate and get the most out of suspension.
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July 13th, 2006 at 6:42 pm
There is much to be said for the learn to ride trails rigid sans help. Ya learn to pick lines better, ya learn about traction, about grip, balance, and body english (as we say over here)….
adding travel can make someone those skills that much better, but it will also allow someone without those skills to getin way above their head.
I’m all for giving someone a fully rigid hard tail and a few gears (givem as many as they want for cripsake)… let em learn the trail and how to ride without worrying about power and gearing (single speed)…
Its about mastering one skill at a time. Certainly there are a few similarities between that and say.. riding a horse… ya don’t take a newbie and expect them to win a jump event (can ya tell i don’t have the horsey lingo?)
build the skills…
what better place to build skills than a BMX track… master that… move to trails… etc…
MTC