I have always loved bikes. From my first junior step through to my latest electrically charged steed, they’ve given me more joy than any other mechanical invention I can think of. In almost sixty years of pedalling, I’ve ridden (literally) the length and breadth of Britain, climbed countless passes in the Alps and once traversed the Pyrenees on a tandem. Together with the friends they’ve brought me, bikes are one of the greatest joys of my life.
So it was perhaps inevitable that I’d be an early adopter of the trend to 'all terrain' cycles.
In the mid-eighties, before many folk had 'proper' mountain bikes, I co-organised an ‘off road’ weekend in the Lake District. We had no idea how many riders would come or even what contraptions they’d bring. In the event, two dozen of us ground our way up High Street on a motley collection of bone-shakers, descending with squealing brakes, several blow outs and one broken collar bone. By the next morning I’d say about half were converts; the remainder saying it would never catch on!
I wonder what those doubters would think of popularity of mountain biking today? In the Alps, it’s become the summer equivalent of skiing, attracting hundreds of thousands to the mountains every year. A vital part of the tourism economy, resorts compete to host events, promote their trails and provide a network of lifts that mean some riders don’t even pedal uphill!
The alpine club, for which I edit a monthly newsletter, embraced mountain biking as late as 2017. I suspect that’s a reflection of the age and interest profile of members; but I wonder if there was also a certain reluctance to see fat tyred bikes as quite the right thing in the hills? I can understand if that was the case, for despite my love of cycling, I too am often frustrated by an irresponsible minority of riders.
But then I like to remind myself that all the mountain activities I love are relative newcomers to the landscape. My house in France was built long before the Matterhorn was climbed, before downhill skiing was invented or anyone thought of descending rapids in a kayak! It seems to me that adapting to change is as much a part of the outdoor experience as the putative permanence of the views.
And as for electric assistance – well that’s just brilliant!
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This post is a very lightly ammended version of my editorial, published by AAC (UK) e-newsletter in June 20024
Is the Rough Stuff Fellowship still going?
ReplyDeleteNot my kind of thing! I used to enjoy forest trails and canal paths..nothing gnarly
Yes it is - rather old fashioned now, though I guess it always was. They tend to use touring bikes not ATBs. I don't like anything too gnarly either!
DeleteFor those who enjoy it it must be fun. But I used to get cross at chains that came off and punctures, not forgetting the rain. I remember I used to cycle from Bath to Bristol along the old railway track - straight and narrow but bumpety.
ReplyDeleteI'm not the mountain biking type. Love to hike the mountains, but steady on my feet with trekking poles rather than 2 wheels. I do love my touring bike; it's the love of my life. I have a few years old now Day 6 bike, 8 gears. It's like riding a comfortable chair, as it has a back, and is considered slightly recumbent in that instead of pedaling down from your body, you pedal slightly forward. I can ride and ride and nothing gets sore. I've had a number of different bikes, all of which made me sore somewhere on my body and made riding miserable. Not this bike! I truly love it, and have put hundreds of happy miles on it. I foresee getting the electric add on, maybe in my later years!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a cyclist/biker, but we used to see enthusiastic cycling people when we holidayed way down near the Spanish border. Beautiful mountains, golden eagles swirling above, many happy memories.
ReplyDeleteHave tried the mountainous off-road stuff once and hate hate hate the downhill bits - I know that is meant to be the exhilaration of slogging the up bit, but mankind has yet to invent a system of bike brakes that are good enough for me to venture back down a mountain again on a bike.
ReplyDeleteMy son-in-law's family are all avid mountain bikers in North Carolina. Probably not quite the same as biking in the Alps.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan of mountain bikes because they seem to tear up the terrain more. I also find that bikes come up to quickly behind me which I really don't like.
ReplyDeleteAs a lifelong cycling enthusiast, but rather a cautious one, I don't really have the nerve for the downhill element of mountain biking, my limit being those relatively gentle tracks that make access for hiking in the remoter Scottish Highlands being about my limit.
ReplyDeleteOh and yes, I too remember the 'Rough Stuff Fellowship'. Which may have suffered from unfortunate connotations of its name!
Cheers, Gail.
I like to cycle along paths, but don't think I would enjoy mountain biking. My son is an avid cyclist who does all sorts of crazy things and has had a few injuries along the way. I prefer hiking in the mountains to cycling. But isn't it a wonderful thing that we can all enjoy doing different things?
ReplyDeleteI bought my first mountain bike in September 1994 complete with baby seat and used to do a regular 10 mile loop from my home in the Surrey Hills. Up to then I had a 10-speed Eddy Merckx ladies’ racer on which I commuted thev8 miles between Hammersmith and Teddington every day for four years and cycled over the Pyrenees in 1987 - my friend and I still say that was tougher than childbirth! Our son now cycles all over Europe including the Pyrenees and Corsica and is currently in France with a Brompton bike - a new way of travelling for him. Meanwhile my husband (who has Parkinson’s but thankfully has the most amazing muscle memory for cycling) and I are still non-electric but increasingly tempted. We live on the north facing slopes of the South Downs so quiet country lanes and bridleways are on our doorstep and I was wondering if you have a favourite electric bike that you might recommend to a pair of ageing but still keen cyclists? Sarah in Sussex
ReplyDeleteMy very petite daughter is married to a very tall man. The electric bike has enabled her to keep up with him. In fact, the first time she used it, she was amazed to find herself passing him on a hill. She gaily called out, "See you at the top of the hill, suckah!"
ReplyDeleteIn their case, the 'e' in 'e-bike' stands for 'equalizer'.
ha ha - that made me laugh. What has happened to your blog though; I can't find it?
DeleteWe started mountain biking late in life, after we were firmly convinced of our mortality. I envy the kids that are out early, being fearless and learning how to jump the roots, and make the corners. Now that we're septuagenarians we really do stick to the non-gnarly terrain. My goal is to depart this life without a serious maiming. We're still non-electric. You certainly do have some of the prettiest terrain on the planet.
ReplyDelete