FUTURE OF MTB?

[Mt.A TODD]

What is the future of Mountain Biking? ???

[MMcG]

Wow......such an expansive question Todd!

I think one thing you'll keep seeing is more variety of rides available with new technology in suspension. I also think you'll see a return of the hardtail, but in a different format than what is traditionally thought of as hardtail territory (XC racing). Instead I think you'll see more and more hardtail freeride/Dual Slalom (or whatever the hell they call it these days), Dirt Jumping/Urban Assault Rigs.

Another thing that hopefully will be in the future of mountain biking is NEMBA ownership of that parcel of land in the Nam!!! Wouldn't that be amazing and newsworthy!

And hopefully we'll all be able to come together (freeriders, downhillers, huckers, racers, and plain old trail riders) behind a common love of riding our bikes! IMO there is room out there for everyone and I personally love to watch freeriders, hope to get to a NORBA race, would love to see a Trials rider in action, and plan to get out and ride the trails myself as much as possible!

Slainte!

MMcG!!

[wpecker]

It's as dark and cloudy as your avatar!

[MMcG]

Woody! Where have ya been man??


I take that back......why did you return is a better question.

[AA]

Ahhhhhh frig Woody is back

As for the future of mountain biking I think that there will be additional consolidation in the industry with more small companies being bought up by the big guys. I also see less and less people out there on the trails. There just arent as many people riding as there were 5 years ago. As for the people that are riding it seems to me there are more good riders around these days.

There are definately less races and less attendance at races, more people riding for fun.

Bottom line get out and ride and have fun doing what you like to do.

[Mt.A TODD]

Pecker head could you elaborate on the dark part? I'm serious, I'd like everybody's detailed and long winded opinion on what our sport will be like a couple years from now.

[boingboing]

Damn Woody yer makin friends all over the place..LOL. I'm hoping the future doesn't lead to paved trails in the woods. I've been seeing more and more of the blowdowns cut away around the trail. I can see cutting away stuff that is 3 feet above the trail and totally impassable.
If its flat on the ground leave it. Climbing over that stuff is what makes it fun....... If we want to ride on flat ground why don't we get out the skinny tire bike, dress up like wonder woman (like most of the cyclists around here) and plague the motorists of new england. Boing

[EVIL BOTA]

TODD=GEEK!


sorry just felt like doing that.. The future is never ending in my eyes.WE have one of the greatist sports around. It will never get old and never be boring. As long as their are people like us to keep it going . This sport will not fade..

my 2 cents

[Mr_Cheeze]

Mr. Cheeze envisions ultra light machines fashioned from elements discovered on one of Jupiter's newly discovered moons. This bike will weigh a mere 9 pounds and be stronger than diamond. It will be outfitted with smart suspension, retro propulsion, auto shifting (of course), security systems, satellite radios, and air bags. It will come standard with GPS memory and talk to you while you are riding, recommending courses depending upon ones proclivity. It' state of the art sealed bearings guarantees maintenance free riding for 15 years.

All of this in a couple of years. Mr. Cheeze sees the future.

I agree with AA on the consolidation of the industry. I think racing as we know it today will continue to become less popular but already we are seeing an increase in mtbing in adventure and 24 hour races. I also think we will see more folks on big bikes doing stunts, ramps, and park type stuff playing with the BMX crowd. I think "trail bikes" will continue to make sense for many people who ride technical XC and enjoy epics but don't race. On the free ride/DH front people are just going bigger and bigger. (Wade Simmons is crazy). I also see less of a faction between roadies and mtbers than in years past.

Like anything else advocacy will be important. Housing developments will continue and they need land. Also outdoor enthusiasts will need to continue to share our resources. We need continued activity that leads to progress. Many of us can do more (I include myself here) and beyond just $$$, efforts spent on visibility, education, and trail maintenence are equally important.

The advent of women specific bikes (Juliana Furtado line) and "real" kids mountain bikes (e.g. Kona) will hopefully aid in getting people into the sport. On the flipside, some of the technology is downright ridiculous and the marketing engines of some of these companies are making it difficult for the lay person to differentiate between a durable high end product and "the next greatest thing". Additionally, the lack of interoperability between aftermarket parts and what is considered stock could lead down a bad road.

Overall we need to get people excited about the sport as there is strength in numbers. We need to insure we have legal places to ride. We can't judge others on why or what they ride...we everyone we can get...as long as they play by the rules.

I still ride for the same reasons I did over 10 years ago. Now it just happens to be on a more advanced rig and I'm carrying a few more pounds and have less time to ride. But I make it happen and don't get caught up in everything else going on....I save that for the forum .

My two cents. Nobody has a crystal ball.

Todd - you ask and you shall receive.

****

"When I was your age, we didn't have surgically implanted telepathy microchips! When we wanted to talk to our friends, we had to use a CELL PHONE!"

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