Does a person become a mountain biker when they buy their first mountain bike, or is it more of an attitude and a lifestyle? Does it even matter?
It’s safe to say, once you ride a bicycle on singletrack you’re one of us. It’s that easy.
We want to know when (and how) you first joined the tribe. Let us know in the poll and comment section below.
15 Comments
Aug 19, 2019
Aug 19, 2019
Dec 26, 2019
Aug 19, 2019
Still riding today on a 29er.
Sep 27, 2019
Aug 18, 2019
Aug 21, 2019
Aug 20, 2019
Aug 19, 2019
Aug 19, 2019
Aug 18, 2019
Oct 4, 2019
My friend, your view is shared by some, but please let me state my case which is not unusual amongst e-mtbikers.
I am 73 years of age now, and suffer from Coronary Artery Disease. A stent was fitted to a heart artery after a small heart attack in 2003. I also loved mountain biking as well as road cycling in a bunch ride.
This year my condition worsened and I underwent an angiogram which showed my coronary arteries had deteriorated significantly since 2005, and that apart from 'aggressive medication' nothing more could be done for me. To further complicate matters, the walls of my heart have hardened which is age related, and my heart cannot pump the amount of blood my body needs. The Cardiologist was aware I regularly rode the hills on my mtb, and indicated that was placing too much pressure on my weakened heart and said if I wished to keep riding the hills, I needed to switch to an e-bike.
No option really was there?
I purchased a 2019 Giant Trance +1 Pro E-MTB in March this year, and to my delight, it has opened up new fields ( read hills!!) for me.
My excitement is back. I can now climb hills with the threat of another heart attack greatly reduced.
Just today, I had a fall when I was admiring the views from the top of the Wither Hills Farm Park, rather than watching where I was riding. I put a wheel off the side of the track and down I went. Another lesson learnt - no harm done apart from a bruised leg (and ego) and a bleeding nose.
Let me say Schmidt911, an e-bike still has to be pedalled, but I can still get a good workout by restricting the amount of power available to the pedals.
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday in my town, a group of 20-25 oldies aged anywhere between 55-80 years of age, meet for a group ride of approx. 25 kilometres followed by coffee. Many have e-bikes, many have mtb bikes, and a few have ordinary bikes. Some ride the local MTB tracks on the ratepayer-owned farm park on the side of a hill, and which is also a working sheep/cattle farm
Many of the ones riding e-bikes have medical conditions and would not be able to ride without power assistance.
Are you denying them the right to say they have been out mountain biking?
Can I suggest you should admire them for having the determination to exercise for their enjoyment and health, and you should also be encouraging like riders in your country.
The e-bike is here to stay. Let's hope the number of detractors change their view and encourage ones like myself to share the joys of our beloved sport together.
Aug 19, 2019
Aug 19, 2019
Aug 18, 2019