All Things Bikes and Tacos! (...and every vehicle imaginable)

what kind of mtb racing were you doing?

i want to do a couple funduro races this year. maybe a cyclocross race if i can find a close one (this would be a jorts and whiskey ride for sure). maybe a gravel ride.

also, when i say race, i mean im gonna do my best, but theres 0 chance of winning

 

On the racing front, you're probably right from the standpoint of making it big if you haven't already been competing at the national level. However, I know two people who have become quite competitive in the local XC mountain bike racing scene in their mid-30s. First is my wife, who just started racing and has been highly competitive/winning the local mid-week racing series pretty regularly. The other person is a buddy of ours who has been one of the top 3 finishers in that same series over the last few years. Both of them now have support from a LBS which provides some jerseys, random gear, and services. This is a far cry from really making it as a biker, but it's a nice perk for something they enjoy doing anyway...

 

yea one of the guys at the bike shop i worked at (now closed) is crazy fast. we both got a free entry for a hill climb in the open category. he finished with the 3rd fastest time for the day, including the pros that started 30-40 min behind us. he placed 4th in a 60 mile graveler with a few pros in it that same year. super privateer but is doing mostly gravel and single speed stuff. he may be on flow from some companies around here, but like the other guy, and cash he gets is prize money and not as sponsorship.

 

"locally sponsored" is just as sweet for a <pro rider. Having a local shop throw you a bone every once in a while is a good deal if you aren't travelling for races.

 

Back in the day I raced expert in Cross Country and Pro in Down Hill and Dual Slalom. When I was like 24 thru 29.

 

Attempted a long exposure shot last week on our group ride... 8 - 30 second exposures into one...

somehow riding with my gigantic backpack and tripod I managed to PR a few of the downhills...


oh and picked up a set of 5 10 hellcats on pinkbike... In for the full commitment.. going to be sending the meat bag on a trail near you....

 

Saw this gem over on Vital MTB today...I wish I could articulate thoughts as well as this guy

https://www.vitalmtb.com/features/MTB-ADVICE-with-Team-Robot-ANSWERS-1,3010

Why do mountain bikers suck?

Thank you

-Garrett

P.S. make trails rough again

Garrett, there are so many layers to your seemingly simple question. I only have so much time and space, so please allow me to hone in on one particular dimension of why mountain bikers suck.

First, let’s be clear about who we’re referring to when we’re talking about “mountain bikers.” I’ve played basketball a few times, but I’m not a basketball player. Jeff Bezos has two feet and two hands, but he isn’t a human being. In the same sense, most people who mountain bike are not “mountain bikers,” especially when you consider the recent bubble in the outdoor adventure world and the crushing outdoor traffic created by Covid-19. When we say, “mountain bikers suck,” we’re not referring to new riders or casual riders. That would be unfair. How would they know our local surf-spot etiquette or not to wear ankle socks?

The people who suck are the ones who’ve been around long enough to know better, but don’t. The people who simply cannot be bothered to pick a downed tree branch up off the trail after a windstorm. The people who never turn off their Strava, even when they’re riding a secret spot. The people who blow up the shared parking lot with trash and loud music, or speed by the neighbor’s houses and get the spot shut down, or blast by walkers and equestrians and scare the shit out of everyone. The people who always tell the local trail builder they’d love to come dig sometime, but when the trail builder says, “I’ve got a shovel right here,” they suddenly have an important meeting to get to or a kid to pick up from soccer practice. The people who straight-line the turns in a public trail to shave a few seconds. The people who constantly talk about “shredding” and “loam” and “getting so sick,” but don’t shred, who don’t know what the word “loam” means, and who don’t show any interest, curiosity, or respect toward older, wiser, newer, or faster riders. And don’t forget the entitled pricks who got the most popular mountain bike trails in Vermont shut down by yelling at the property owners for riding horses on their own property.

So what makes these people suck? There’s more than one way to suck, but one notable theme between each of these awful people is arrogance. They think their shit doesn’t stink. Their bike, their riding, or their time is more important than everyone else. That attitude sucks, and what these people need is better riding friends to help sort out that shitty attitude and put them in their place.

For any of you still confused about this, allow me to be that better friend and help clarify something: You will never, ever be cool because you ride a mountain bike. Nothing you do on your mountain bike will ever be important, at least not important enough to warrant being a dick about it. Trust me, your riding is not that interesting. I guarantee your own mother doesn’t want to watch your GoPro footage. I’m sure there are other redeeming and valuable qualities you possess, and I’m sure your life has some important purpose, but I’m 99% sure ripping our local lunch spot and terrorizing dog walkers is not your life’s raison d'être.

So try to be more of a team player out there. You humans are all on the same team, after all.

P.S. Don’t tell me what to do. Go make trails rough again, yourself.

-Team Robot

 

Well said!

Also on the list: Those that buff trails because that pesky rock in the middle was too tricky for them to get around.

Was doing some trail maintenance with some other usual trail diggers and a grip of NICA kids doing service hours. The NICA XC kids wanted to take away every little thing because in the way and making them slow! Thankfully most of them were kids of the adult diggers and I think we all added a few extra rocks in just to spite them, and had a little "come to Jesus meeting" about trail obstacles.


Also, "Jeff Bezos has two feet and two hands, but he isn’t a human being."

 

That was awesome. So far I’m guilty of not being able to help work on my local trails yet, but that’s mainly because of covid. Had 2 work days I could make this month, but I didn’t so that I wouldn’t risk covid before my wedding/honeymoon. I also haven’t biked either...

 

I usually make the ones on the weekends as a point of habit, but sometimes diggers schedule dig days like 8-11 on a Tuesday, Sorry bro, I got a job.

 

Absolutely. I’ve had scheduling be the biggest issue, but obviously nobody believes you when that’s your reason lol.

 

those weekday digs are always the most productive, but the hardest to meet. my job gives us 4 hours of volunteer work a month without having to take time off. the majority of my time has been with the local trails group. working with the hiking groups sucks, feels like a knife in my side shutting down the illegal trails i like to ride. the mtb ones are way more fun since their trails days are on well known trails for improvements.

 

I did a cross race with @Gunshot-6A this past season. We both totally got smoked in our respective categories but we totally had a lot of fun. Totally going to be doing some more races (enduro probably) this coming season.

 

But we didn't get DFL!

Also found out CX racers get intimidated if you can tailwhip a bike

 

LOL. I forgot about that. I'll have to bring my full enduro bike next time. hahahaha.

 

Don't! I brought my bronson to one once, and that was the most miserable experience.

 

A couple of my buddies have been chatting about doing a few races... in the So Cal Enduro, might call ahead and reserve my DFL position haha.. just sounds like a good time. Idk though pretty old and blown out already. maybe I'll let them race and I can just hang out and BBQ and drink sport sodas.

 

next CX race i go to i want to take marshmallows and toss them to racers as they pass. bonus points if they can catch them in their mouth. CX is just a party right? (saw it at the bolder boulder one year. kid throwing mallows from his yard. tosses one across the street. some fast dude in short shorts and jesus hair hopped up like 4 feet and caught it in his mouth. ive never been more impressed)

 

Some are. Mainly in the PNW doing beer handups, etc.

But some take it VERY seriously...

 

hahah. Yeah, I'm not going to do that. That's just a miserable experience. I would totally be fast on the back sections where there's actual dirt. but on the grass, it would be misery for sure.