#MakeMountainBikingChillAgain
#MakeMountainBikingChillAgain has started to appear on my social media recently, and I must say, it is awesome to see.
For years now all my algorithms have been filled with perfectly curated man-made trails on hard packed earth and huge wooden obstacles, jumps, drops and tight boardwalks; Giant, busy bike parks full of £10,000 bikes and full face helmets. YouTube is full of crazy downhills and massive back flips in the air.
Don’t get me wrong, I am in awe at the skills and dedication of training and fitness required for this still of riding. I often watch Sam Pilgrim videos for fun, but it is simply not my thing.
Even XC racing is no longer really a discipline I recognise. Becoming short blasts through obstacle filled courses. At least XC Marathon is still around, where races extend over 100km of mostly natural courses – If I was 20 again, that would be my racing of choice!
But what happened to just going for a ride, or the adventure of exploring and finding new natural trails?
I thought gravel riding may be the answer, and I am still tempted to take it up, but bikes are getting more and more expensive and even more specialised. Now coming with forks and even some examples of rear shocks. Some are now also mountain bikes with dropped bars. Gravel riding on social media is also often shown at its extremes – Measuring watts per kilo like a religion.
But in my world there is very much still a place for chilled out mountain bike rides in nature, with the thrill of exploring new trails – Even maybe trails that have never been ridden before – That is very much how I fell in love with mountain bikes as a kid in France. Just going out for rides, down tracks, woods, fields I had never been to before.
Thanks to a recent GMBN video I have recently discovered the world of mountain bike orienteering, which looked epic, and their channel has been quite good recently at posting more and more videos about just riding out. Along with discovering this new trend of #MakeMountainBikingChillAgain it gives me some hope that mountain biking can return to its roots.
Here at AdventureInFrance, we can cater for everyone, and if you are onboard with making mountain biking chill again, and going for an explore of some beautiful countryside sounds right up your street, we can definitely offer that.
If your bike is well serviced, it doesn’t matter what you ride, whatever your skill level or age, I guarantee you will love mountain biking. Do not be intimidated by what you see in the magazines, social media and YouTube videos.
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