Its not for me...

[velomaniac]

Mechanically challenged I am and thus like simple bikes. Suspension needs serviced, hydraulics need bleed kits, indexing requires exactitude and patience, pivots need lubed, ever changing kit needs specific tools and the knowledge to use them. It all makes my head hurt.

I can fix a rigid mtb often at the trail side with a few simple tools. I can challenge myself at walking pace on gnarly terrain. I can smile as modern riders say 'Your not taking that down there !!! :shock: '.

KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid), I've even been into single speed since 1996

 

[twain]

the world of bikes is just as varied as the world of cars, motorbikes and probably boats i'd imagine something to suit everyone really.

the one thing that makes bikes stand out for me is the simplicity of it all.
from building a bike to getting out and riding it.

i don't go for all the long travel, full sus thing, but i dabble, which this kind of hobby/lifestyle allows

i remember having a rigid, but kept bending the forks, so was delighted to receive a front susser.
full sus has always appealed to me - i'm a little obsessed with how suspension works, but love the minimalist approach you can take with a rigid.

i know what LGF is saying though, some of the kids start talking about rides and i literally have no idea what they are saying - a bit like this young fella:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5PzGcYotQc

like any other market though, a lot of new tech is being developed and pumped out to keep the money coming in, so youngsters are constantly barraged with 'new this', 'best that', 'Red-Bull-fast-downhill-gets-you-dem-girls' type hype (don't get me wrong, i enjoy watching x-fighters as much as the next guy) but i think i am of the age where i have the ability to switch off from most of the marketing garble and concentrate on what i feel is more important to me.

give it 10-20 years from now and the kids of today will be adding to this thread in the same vain (i hope)

 

[Skinwhistle]

I've been riding since 1990, and never been to a trail centre! I just like doin' the cross country thing, finding a track, and going with it, sometimes finding it leads to a dead end!!!!! but isn't that one of the joys of this??
Yes when we started mountain biking we sometimes wished for some sort of "ready made" trail, but this soon passed as we enjoyed being in the middle of the sticks, and still do!
Looks like Trail Centres are "for the most", a place where people go to show off and have "all the gear and No idea!" (must be a Boy Racer thing?)
Let me tell them, at the age of 44 I can still bring a Hard Tail down the side of a mountain quicker than they can with a full suzzer! Nuff said!!

 

[velomaniac]

That last statements a dangerous boast.
Tumbling head over heels down a cliff would allow me to beat a modern DHer to the bottom but I'll not bother if you dont mind

 

[The Ken]

Let me tell them, at the age of 44 I can still bring a Hard Tail down the side of a mountain quicker than they can with a full suzzer! Nuff said!!

Really??? I know I couldn't.

http://www.redbullusa.com/cs/Satellite/ ... 3267308520

 

[highlandsflyer]

I can still bring a Hard Tail down the side of a mountain quicker than they can with a full suzzer! Nuff said!!

Perhaps you meant up?

 

[brocklanders023]

Mechanically challenged I am and thus like simple bikes. Suspension needs serviced, hydraulics need bleed kits, indexing requires exactitude and patience, pivots need lubed, ever changing kit needs specific tools and the knowledge to use them. It all makes my head hurt.

I can fix a rigid mtb often at the trail side with a few simple tools.

I am also not the best with a set of spanners but you worry too much about modern kit. Suss servicing I'll give you but many don't need a service very often, just keep away from Fox. Never had a bleed kit, never needed one. I have as much trouble with retro index setting up as I do with my 10sp stuff. Never touched the pivots and they've never needed it. Nearly all the tools I have work on all my bikes, things have not changed as much as you think. Finally, I've never had to limp home on modern, I have on retro.

 

[velomaniac]

Never said they'd changed, just said I'm mechanically challenged

 

[MikeD]

MBUK has changed focus towards the 'gnarly' end of the market

Not really, it's pretty safe and middle of the road these days

 

[brocklanders023]

I've been riding since 1990, and never been to a trail centre! I just like doin' the cross country thing, finding a track, and going with it, sometimes finding it leads to a dead end!!!!! but isn't that one of the joys of this??
Yes when we started mountain biking we sometimes wished for some sort of "ready made" trail, but this soon passed as we enjoyed being in the middle of the sticks, and still do!
Looks like Trail Centres are "for the most", a place where people go to show off and have "all the gear and No idea!" (must be a Boy Racer thing?)
Let me tell them, at the age of 44 I can still bring a Hard Tail down the side of a mountain quicker than they can with a full suzzer! Nuff said!!

All the trail centres I've been to have people of all ability and with every kind of mtb you can imagine at them. The majority of people there seem to be Mr and Mrs average, on average bikes having a good time. You should try one, you might be suprised. You don't need a 5k, 40lb downhill monster to ride the routes.

You also see a lot of people that I suspect would not even be on a bike if it wasn't for the easy access and that's got to be a good thing.

As I said earlier, I still like epic moor top rides but also enjoy trail centres. Different tracks for different days. If you never try them you're missing out imo. Was up at Lee Quarry at the weekend and it was great fun.


Oh, and I can tell you for a fact I'm much faster down the side of a mountain on my full suss then I am on my HT or fully rigid.