who insired you back in the day?
- Thread starter longun
- Start date
As I didn't start riding mountain bikes until I was 36 (in 198
I've never really been influenced or inspired by anyone in particular.
I've always been inspired by places more than by people - ever since I was starting out as a trials rider (at 16) I've looked at the landscape with half an eye on what it would be like to ride in a particular location.
I'm like that still - I can be out hill walking with my wife and spot a sheep track or some other feature across a valley that seems to be a new and perfect addition to, or variation of, an existing route. I can't "rest myself" (as my Dad would have said) until I've been and checked it out, which could be just a case of riding it and deciding whether it's worth bothering with or not, or it could involve making a ladder bridge or two, and so it goes on..... :roll:
The best trails should be visually inspiring - the whole valley opening out below you as you round a rock outcrop or the singletrack weaving its way down through old, moss-covered trees....my favourite places to ride are also my favourite places to walk. They're just good places to be that make me feel alive.
I'm almost as happy (maybe more so?) out for a day doing trail finding/work as actually riding, and it's something that Karen and I can, and do, share. In fact, once I've ridden somewhere more than a few times I want to just leave it to everyone else to ride and maintain and get on to find some new stuff. I suppose that actually I'm trying to inspire other people to ride some different places - as they're all younger than me, they should be able to make a better job of it anyway.
Shame on them if they can't...
I've never really been influenced or inspired by anyone in particular.I've always been inspired by places more than by people - ever since I was starting out as a trials rider (at 16) I've looked at the landscape with half an eye on what it would be like to ride in a particular location.
I'm like that still - I can be out hill walking with my wife and spot a sheep track or some other feature across a valley that seems to be a new and perfect addition to, or variation of, an existing route. I can't "rest myself" (as my Dad would have said) until I've been and checked it out, which could be just a case of riding it and deciding whether it's worth bothering with or not, or it could involve making a ladder bridge or two, and so it goes on..... :roll:
The best trails should be visually inspiring - the whole valley opening out below you as you round a rock outcrop or the singletrack weaving its way down through old, moss-covered trees....my favourite places to ride are also my favourite places to walk. They're just good places to be that make me feel alive.
I'm almost as happy (maybe more so?) out for a day doing trail finding/work as actually riding, and it's something that Karen and I can, and do, share. In fact, once I've ridden somewhere more than a few times I want to just leave it to everyone else to ride and maintain and get on to find some new stuff. I suppose that actually I'm trying to inspire other people to ride some different places - as they're all younger than me, they should be able to make a better job of it anyway.
Shame on them if they can't...
Simonside resident
MacRetro Rider
My brother, he had an M800. Talked about riding some stuff local to us which I knew of from riding three speed as a younger lad. I was allowed to take the M800 out unaccompanied and ragged it where he had admitted to having problems. I bought a Hardrock a month later and discovered how much more compliant steel was than 6061 aluminium.
This has since led to a life of poverty,broken relationships, hospital visits, going to fabulous places and meeting lots of great people.
Thank you Tim
This has since led to a life of poverty,broken relationships, hospital visits, going to fabulous places and meeting lots of great people.
Thank you Tim
Leon - the mechanic at Neil Waltons in Didsbury.
Henrik Djernis - how a guy from a flat country could win the worlds 3 times in a row, on a rigid bike.... And still a hero as an example in modesty and general unassuming gentlemanship. One of the nicest guys in the danish bike trade and certainly the nicest one ever to have been professional.
On the road - Roger Millar, Brian Holm.
Henrik Djernis - how a guy from a flat country could win the worlds 3 times in a row, on a rigid bike.... And still a hero as an example in modesty and general unassuming gentlemanship. One of the nicest guys in the danish bike trade and certainly the nicest one ever to have been professional.
On the road - Roger Millar, Brian Holm.
silverclaws
Senior Retro Guru
Bitd, for me as a kid, it was taking road orientated sports bikes anywhere we wanted to go, all the sort of places a mountain bike goes we took skinny wheeled bikes with drop handlebars and downtube friction shifters. Mountain biking came later in my twenties when a pal suddenly got into them with a Biopace'd Diamond Back Ascent and there badgered me to get one, which I did. When he gave up through wifey pressure, I continued until wifey pressure stopped me, although the bike became a commuter for ten years or so.
Of the skinny wheeled road bikes I used and invariable killed on a regular basis, were Dawes bikes, never Raleighs, Raleighs sort of sucked when it came to offroad. weak is what I remember especially in the head tube region. Probably why when I got into mountain biking Raleigh was never in my mind, sort of suspicious of them.
Oh I had a Series One Land Rover at the time and was interested in the technical trials stuff with V8's and fiddle brakes so perhaps that inluenced my choices, I then likened the US bikes to Jeeps and Saracens to Land- Rovers, heavy but it got there slowly.
Of the skinny wheeled road bikes I used and invariable killed on a regular basis, were Dawes bikes, never Raleighs, Raleighs sort of sucked when it came to offroad. weak is what I remember especially in the head tube region. Probably why when I got into mountain biking Raleigh was never in my mind, sort of suspicious of them.
Oh I had a Series One Land Rover at the time and was interested in the technical trials stuff with V8's and fiddle brakes so perhaps that inluenced my choices, I then likened the US bikes to Jeeps and Saracens to Land- Rovers, heavy but it got there slowly.
Dr S":1hbk4kzd said:
No one beats Kankkunen when it comes to riding style, made driving any Rally car look like doing groceries on a Saturday morning. Had the priviledge to see him riding in Finland twice.... the man is a legend!!
Finished 8th place in last years Rally of Finland!
check this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9mH7aFC6uA
For mtb's it has to be Johnny T, still think about his position on the bike when I see people riding downhill with their knees bend inwards trying to mate with their saddles :roll:
This is how to do it! Johnny -T Style
ginsterdrz
Dirt Disciple
Went to a National MTB race near the towers in Macclesfield in late 80's early 90's (???).
Watched Clarke and Caroline 'Fwoooaar' Alexander (who I think were an item at the time) repeatedly pound up and down the same piece of very steep, very muddy hill trying to find the right line whilst casually chatting to each other. Both were on factory Raleighs.
I was awestruck. I probably couldn't have scrambled up it once without a bike, never mind repeated sprints!
Blonde flowing locks.....trim calves and thighs.....the stuff of schoolboy fantasy
Watched Clarke and Caroline 'Fwoooaar' Alexander (who I think were an item at the time) repeatedly pound up and down the same piece of very steep, very muddy hill trying to find the right line whilst casually chatting to each other. Both were on factory Raleighs.
I was awestruck. I probably couldn't have scrambled up it once without a bike, never mind repeated sprints!
Blonde flowing locks.....trim calves and thighs.....the stuff of schoolboy fantasy
LeeDevelopment
Old School Grand Master
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