"When did it all start to go down hill for mountain biking?"

[doctor-bond]

So, searching for 1988 copies of Mountain Biking magazine (I believe it went on to be quite successful in the UK ...), I came across this 2014 Indy article by Andy Waterman (Privateer):

http://www.independent.co.uk/environmen ... 02637.html

The gist of it is that mountain biking isn't popular anymore as it has become too fractured, niche, and techy (all road, cross mountain, 29x26x27.5xfat, up shore, down jump, etc.).

Being old-fashioned, it hadn't occurred to me that there wasn't a horde of folk still buying new fat-tire bikes and ragging them round the countryside. But when you think about it, modern MTBing is a small-scale activity confined to a few pay-as-you-go theme parks. Roadies are everywhere, but when was the last time you saw an MTB in public?

All of which highlights that, as Mr. Waterman suspected, there is a gap in the market:

... for most of us, a mountain-bike ride looks much the same as a road-ride – riding along with friends, talking and enjoying the countryside, but in the woods or on the Dales, away from the constant, dull threat of motorists. And the bike you need to do that really isn't very complicated – a rigid frame with a suspension fork is the most economical entry point, and many will see little point progressing beyond that.

Roll on Real Riding; roll on 1988!

Ends.

 

[cherrybomb]

Re:

Not so sure about that.

There's still plenty of muddy bikers about in Shropshire and I can confirm that Cannock chase is crammed most weekend.

Sure; there are more roadies about these days (which is good) and 'gravel bikes' are getting more & more popular (which is also good) but mountain biking is still alive & kicking hard from what I see.

 

[My_Teenage_Self]

The New Forest is teeming with the buggers, despite the Forestry Commission's best (half arsed) efforts.

 

[legrandefromage]

I was reading an MBUK from July 1998 and already something was being mentioned in the back pages back then:

Steve Worland

''...The problems start when coming 75th demands the same sort of devotion (as coming 1st) ...even at local races the amount shaved legs sunken cheeks and serious warm ups on static bikes is getting worrying...''

''even in true amateur races violent arguments are breaking out in the midfield about fluffed gear changes and taking someone elses line...''

I miss just going for a ride

 

[M-Power]

Re:

Tend to agree with Cherrybomb. The sport has fragmented into lots of niche ‘rides’ but overall participation appears to still be high. What worries me is the inexorable demise of the lbs due to manufacturers now selling direct to the customer. I guess the future is growth in mobile bike repairs.

 

[chrisv40]

Re:

My local area in East Yorkshire has loads of xc mountain bikers out and about on weekends and its not unusual to bump into a few on our weekly night rides.

 

[jimo746]

Re:

Hmm.... an interesting one this.

From memory, local road cycling clubs = several , members = lots (too many to count).
Local mtb clubs.... Erm... nothing "official" as far as I know (although the roadie groups do have some mtb members), usually unofficial gatherings of mtb'ers organised via Facebook etc, usually single figure attendance.

Around town, I probably see more road,hybrid, or fixie type bikes than mtb.

 

[CassidyAce]

Re:

Hmmm. Without seeing sales figures I couldn't say anything definite but it doesn't really correspond with my impressions. Modern mountain biking might be fractured into different specialisms . . . But only at the more serious, expensive end of the spectrum. As for road cycling: it seems to me that it's mainly more mature adults that I see on road bikes. However, I see a lot of kids on their Carrera hard tails, pulling wheelies, making a nuisance of themselves and generally having fun on their bikes. Is it serious mountain biking? Probably not. It's good, old fashioned mucking about on a bike and isn't that how mountain biking started?

 

[kingbling]

Mountain bikes are a regular occurrence up here and you often see them in public we also have our fair share of roadies too. I'd suppose the main reason for not seeing them in public that often is they are not regarded as urban transport.

 

[gradeAfailure]

modern MTBing is a small-scale activity confined to a few pay-as-you-go theme parks.

Utter tosh. Ever been to Peaslake on a weekend? Public land, not a trail centre, and you can't move for hordes of the buggers! Everything from retro iron, Carrera hardtails, mid-range kit, all the way up to sponsored riders and £10k wünderbikes. Everyone out in the woods, arsing about and having fun.