Mountain biking isn’t destroyed. Those of us who started riding before covid are still riding, and that’s who they are selling to. The industry has problems for several other reasons related to covid times.
@@cloudsmith7803 nah man, there is better technology, and far more disciplines now, but it's still just people having fun on bikes, exploring the world, bettering themselves or finding peace on 2 wheels.
@@SkunkApeOnTrail Dude, they're selling "bicycles" made of plastic for $12,000 , lol like wtf? And another thing, there is no such thing as "mountain" biking. It's all trail riding, some easier, some difficult. I've been mountain climbing, you aint riding no trail that hasn't been cleared.
@cloudsmith7803 no one said you had to buy one, most people don't, most people don't spend more than a few k on a bike and most casual riders don't ride carbon either, also hur dur plastic bike is such a caveman take. I've had composite bikes last longer than alloy bikes and vice versa, they're both good applications of tech with different strength, also you didn't address my main point, it's just people having fun, you don't need to be riding a piece of shit steel bike from the 50s to have fun, but maybe that's just you
But parts are so good now they almost never break. And if you can swing it, parts are half the fun. Bikes are so modular and interesting some of us enjoy the endless experimentation
I understand the reasoning behind gravel bikes but have zero interest in riding a bike with drop handlebars on a trail. I'd rather have a mountain bike for trails.
back when I rode a cyclocross spec'd for trail riding, you could install secondary brake levers (anyone remember 'frog levers'?) on the top flat part of the drop bar. That way you could have a riding position similar to a mtb riding position (a good bit narrower!) and still access the brakes, as mtb'ing in drops is not ideal. I can't help but wonder if a similar top bar brake in addition to the drop brake levers could make a return, but with hydraulic brakes, that may be a huge complication......sometimes old tech wins vs new tech, at least for this
@@jokermtb I have those brakes on my Gravel bike bars. I never use them. When I replace the cable housing, I will remove them, but it's not worth doing it, just to get rid of them.
I think your experience will be the experience of the majority of new riders: 1. Buy a bike 2. “Realize” you should’ve gotten a “better” bike 3. Buy a much more expensive bike (or two) 4. Realize how you really want to ride 5. Realize you over-biked for how you actually ride 6. Buy a reasonably priced bike that fits your riding style 7. Ride happy Of course there are some people who chase after “better and better” BUT those are the minority and those aren’t the people he’s talking to.
This is well said. Somewhere around step 2 or 3 as a new rider, it is nice to be over-biked a bit to make up for mistakes while you learn. Once my skills developed, I was happier riding those trails on simpler, cheaper bikes.
Such great points. Lots of mountain bikers have forgotten that mountain biking is about getting out on a trail and having fun, and not about the way that you ride it or the rig that you ride it on. Love your channel man, keep it up!
A long time ago "skiing" meant traveling, under your own power, through snow on long pieces of wood attached to leather boots. Now it means paying a lot of money to slide down a hill. The term "Mountain biking" is going through a similar evolution.
I Ride a 2022 Giant Stance 2 29er with some upgrades I bought brand new and the amount of hate/negative comments I've gotten from other bikers on their $5,000+ MTBs on the trail is absolutely Ludacris. For example I'll come across another biker on the trails and I'll say hey how's it going, it's just me on the trails etc ... just to hear them say that's such a piece of shit bike, once we pass each other. Like I don't f****** get it why all the hate toward MTBers with "cheaper" MTB exists. I literally hear negative comments about my Giant Stance from other bikers all the time. Is it because I was able to afford buying it with my debit card and I didn't have to go into debt with my credit card!?.
Where do you live where you get trash talk from other bikers? I’ve never heard any of that on the trails I ride. Riders will say “hey, nice bike” to others but I’ve never heard somebody trash talk a bike before.
@ogmr.c3714 I live in northern Cali as well up by folsom lake. My first full suspension mtb was a 2021 stance 1. I never heard any trash talk about it from anyone. Sucks that happened to you.
I was riding when suspensions forks did not exist. We used rigid bikes, canti brakes and toe clips. Since then things have changed - for certain. But as long as we have trails and bikes - we're good. There's ups and downs, and the MTB has always survived. The industry needs a chin check though, and it's getting it. We'll hopefully come out better on the other side!
Good point. Bike riding should be fun. E bikes are fun. Lots of folks look down on them but the average rider isn't even thinking about that, they're just going for a bike ride.
I'd say the industry isn't dying, it's recovering from the pandemic when their supply chains were all messed up. In the past few years folks have gotten into the activity and they have new equipment and most folks are like me and have one bike they keep for a long time so they're not buying more. You're right on regarding the "arms race" by the makers to sell the highest spec stuff to be relevant, but they just really need to focus on the $1500 and under market. Giant is the largest mass market brand and they do offer a pretty good selection of reasonably priced and equipped stuff.
"Don't believe the hype" i learned that from Public Enemy in 1989. I recently got back to riding and you know what I did? Bought a 20 yr old Specialized hardtail, upgraded new bars, grips, stem and brake pads (mech disc). The best simple hardtail is a 26er and I'm happy for $300 + upgrades.
@odaatchris1 Do it! I did the saddle, stem and put some 50mm riser bars better comfort/control. And new pedals. I kept the old 3x8 drivetrain because you can't get the same range in a 1x drivetrain. I use it as an all terrain bike, so having a big ring up front is great for streets.
@JHillNC I did it! Stem, bars, disc brakes(wheels & all), and a dropper post with a new saddle! I'm just waiting on my arm to heal up from my last crash. Mine a 3x7. Thinking about hanging on to that for a while.
I find your perspective very on point. It reminds me of why I got out of motocross/dirt biking, where the process of loading up, driving far, riding for a little bit, driving home, became a huge chore, when all I really wanted to do was go for 'a ride', and is why I really ditched all that and got my first mountain bike in 1987 (a used 1986 Specialized Rockhopper). It really changed my life, as I could literally walk out the door, and have a two-wheeled adventure. Been MTB'ing ever since - even did the whole 'gravel' thing back in the early 2000's with a cyclocross bike kitted up for trail riding (also got into singlespeed mtb'ing back then too when it was all the rage - that's yet to become popular again, so look out for that in the future). That said, I'm lucky enough to live in the Metro Detroit area where there's actually a ton of mtb options close to home, so driving to a trail is the exception rather than the rule, but for most folks, sitting in traffic for an hour just to ride your bike is a major turn off. Lastly, I've witnessed at least 5 expansion/contractions of the mtb biz, and the small core population remains the same - nothing to worry about there.
Same man, got my first truck and got the itch for MX again - till I saw people asking $5k for a 2010 crf, mountain bikes was a no brainer - my cheapest hobby currently - I can drive out an hour, spend an hour on the trails, head back home and only paid gas to get there, loving it
That is the stereotype of the mountain bike industry/fandom. I can take my hardtail on almost every trail that my full squish can go. These have this bike for this trail is all marketing and eqo driven.
Honestly. If someone thinks riding a hardtail on some of our blues and blacks is beginner, they're naive and likely new to the sport. That is a much more advanced rider than a beginner. Truly. When i see a HT guy on any CO trail, I know he know's how to ride. Its not really patronizing. IT shows lack of experience.
I don’t know, man. I live in Bentonville, and MTBing feels pretty alive to me. Sure, you can get caught up in all the latest trends and spend an arm and a leg trying to keep up with the Joneses but the law of diminishing returns is real and it doesn’t matter how big your budget is if it outweighs your skill. I ride everyday, and I can attest that it’s easy to embarrass hobbyists on $10k bikes because weekend warriors and fair weather riders simply can’t make up for all the downtime or being out of shape. If you’re trying to go pro and get sponsorship deals, that’s one thing, but if you’re like most people, your biggest competition is always yourself. If you love the sport, you’ll naturally want to get better, and you can do that whether you’re on an Ozark Trails or the latest S-Works. The most important thing is that you’re having fun and you’re better than you were yesterday. Yes, the industry went crazy the last few years, and not all companies will survive, but the MTB industry is just a microcosm of the much larger macroeconomic environment. The same thing happened with the auto industry, real estate, computers, and the list goes on. The companies who adapt by coming back to reality will stick around and we’ll all be better for it, just like pruning branches from a tree. In the meantime, just try to enjoy the ride.
I live here too. We are in a bubble my dude. The mountain bike industry is not doing well. Look at the brands closing, race teams folding up shop, pro riders who can’t find sponsors, local events downsizing or going away. I’m hoping for the best too but it’s ok to acknowledge that things look bleak.
@@EvanShowsMTB Yes, I acknowledged that the market is a downtrend as it is not immune from its own actions or greater economic trends, but that doesn't mean it's dying, as in it's going to the way of inline skating. The industry is being forced to take austere measures and it will continue to downsize until it finds a lower, more sustainable equilibrium. Once this point is reached, it will start to grow again. In the meantime, there being fewer pro teams and events has absolutely zero impact on your ability to enjoy riding. Perhaps I'm misunderstanding you guys, but I get the sense that FUD is getting to you and you're taking the sensationalist title of this video too seriously. Nobody here is denying that the industry is shrinking at this exact moment, but there's a massive difference between an economic correction and the sport disappearing. On the contrary, if you're not a pro who relies on sponsorships and still have at least one reliable shop in your town, then you should feel relieved, because you're going to be able to save a decent amount of money maintaining or upgrading you're bike(s), and there's nothing stopping you from continuing to ride just as you've done for the past few years.
I think it’s bigger than mountain biking. I think we are seeing this across the board with hobbies. You had the boats, campers, SxS, etc that had this huge tailwind with during Covid. People are unloading some of these purchases or just letting them sit in their garages and driveways. There is definitely some cyclically and economic influence with how consumers are spending their money and time in 2024.
There is a lot of truth in this, but on top of alienating casual mtb riders, and/or shelling out thousands of dollars to very possibly be over-biked for whatever you'll ride, the way mtb tech is going is allowing people to take even larger risks while riding. Bigger jumps, bigger drops, faster speeds - that all comes at a price that the rider pays, not the bike manufacturers. Look it up... there is becoming a serious issue with the rising number of spinal cord injuries due to going bigger because you have the technology, as well as the social influence to do it. The tech is opening up terrain and features to the average rider that used to lie only in the domain of the pro riders. Bigger jumps and bigger drops also mean a smaller margin of error. There's not much risk in hitting a 3 foot drop. You can let the front dive pretty hard and still be fine. Not so much when that drop is now 10+ feet. Or casing a 20-30 foot jump. Again, a smaller jump can still hurt you, but at the heights and lengths we're now seeing on trails creates a smaller threshold for error. Remember, folks... just because you (technically) can do something, it doesn't always mean you should.
This makes a lot of sense and is frustrating. I love riding and my husband goes to keep me happy but it’s not his thing. I have a Priority Hot Sauce and it’s perfect for the basic trails I ride. But he still has a Walmart beach cruiser because we cannot find anything that isn’t massively expensive. I’d rather not buy a Walmart bike that I have to dump money into to maintain but at the same time he doesn’t want us to spend $1500 or more for him when he barely rides with me. And ebikes and e mountain bikes are flooding the market and are too expensive for us poor folk lol. It’s frustrating. Edit to add this. I noticed recently that all my local bike shops put out notices that they will only work on e-bikes if you bought it from them or a brand they sell. Because of safety issues. So that’s another barrier.
@@LaMerleNoir216 u can find great used/older MTB for less than $1,500. I have friend that just bought 2014 full suspension Trek for $850 off marketplace
If it's not his thing, then not spending money on a bike for him makes sense. My wife likes to ride, but she doesn't ride off road, or much gravel. When we ride together, we ride bike paths at a pace she wants to ride and I ride off road by myself, or with a group of friends.
I agree. I started MTBs two years ago. I started on a hardtail, and I just ordered my first short travel full suspension. Those are the only bikes I need, unless I decide to get a big wheel BMX.
i have a 250$ mountain bike without any suspension , with v-brakes and 3x6 gears. I had to replace some parts which failed, so spent another 30$, and now i go in the mountain with it. For not super extreme riding, it is good enough.
What a great take! I started on an e-bike, progressed to a gravel bike, and am looking at mountain bikes. This seems like a great time to get into it, but I can definitely see the feature/pricing ladder causing hesitancy.
I agree with you 100%, but the emtb industry is going nuts with pricing as well. Did the first ride on my new Canyon Torque On 7 AL ($4k black Friday sale) and wow what a game changer. I climbed a total of about 3000' and rode around 11 miles of DH today. Normally, I could only do about half of that, and I would be beat to hell and out of time.
Good point on the maintenance- these services are what keep bike shops afloat. I like to be mechanically savvy as I like to go bikepacking, but I don’t shy away from going to a shop to do things I don’t like installing a bottom bracket or bleeding brakes
Judging from the recreational mountain bike events that I went to, I didn't see any shrinkage in mountain biking. For example, I had to forgo one event, because it was filled to capacity.
Useful simplicity, relative low operational costs, the potential for life changing adventure, comradery and the resulting physical heath benefits are just some of the reasons that bicycles are one of mankinds greatest inventions. I think the point Matty is making is that simplistic genius is lost when we are steadily marketed and led to believe that $7-8000 dollar bicycles with electric shifting and suspension or WORSE $12000 enduro ebikes with the newest Bosch race motors are what we need to stay relevant and enjoy the sport. Most of us here know thats a lie from the pitt of marketing hell but its beginning to turn alot of off to the sport.
I wish I could afford two bikes. I ride a 2016 Giant Talon 4 and have been riding for years even before I got this one on OfferUp for $175. I always take joy out of dusting guys who spent 20 times what I did and are still kinda trash. MOST everyone is just a rider at the end of the day, not in line for the UCI, not even weekend racers. Just guys or girls out on the trails having fun. Anyone who judges you because of what you ride is simply a person looking for acceptance and is probably generally unhappy in life. Screw em at the end of the day and just have fun. Great video as usual bro✌🏽😎✌🏽
Been riding mtb since 89. still mtb and I rode my brothers gravel bike and me personally would rather ride my hardtail. Im 50 now so riding my Niner Rip9 is my go to bike for 75 percent of rides. The other 25 percent is my freeride bike and last time i rode Angel Fire, the lift ticket was almost 90 bucks. That's ridiculous imo. Where you live dictates what your going to stick with riding. I lived in Charlotte until recent and barely rode my mtb bikes. Now in NM i can mtb every day.
Imagine a marathon runner complaining about how cyclists are lazy. Thats the same thing as a cyclist complaining about someone a e-bike. And the funny thing is: Making you bike more aero and better rolling is the same as using a motor. You want more speed for less work. Saving 50 watts on wind resistance is the same as saving 50 watts with a motor.
love the colourway on the Radar. I picked up a Breezer Thunder this past May. Way too good of a deal to pass up. Added an OMM Divide Rack to it, and am trying out some Ritchey Kyote bars on it at the moment. Best way to get better on a bike, is with riding with a group of people with a diversity of skill levels. Don't need a fancy bike, just get out there and get over your fear or rock slabs, or roots, or wet or sketchy conditions. cheers from the North Shore of BC
It's about excitement and spectacle. If you start down that rabbit hole of going more and more extreme, you lose regular riders. So yeah, your observation is 100% correct.
I love when new MTB tech comes out. Fox/zocchi releases new forks, I got to replace my clapped rockshox with a brand new 2021 Z1 coil for $300. Santa Cruz releases a new Bronson 5, my buddy picked up the 4.1 for %60 off. Progress rocks🪨
This summer, my wife started commuting on an e-bike 25km a day to work. Now she wants an analog gravel bike. I’m getting her one this spring, and got a professional fitting for her for Christmas. 🤘🏾
That's why I love my $100 1990s rigid Gary Fisher Marlin. Low cost, easy to handle technology, all terrain, and a real classic. Thanks for the good thinking!
Started in '92 and really haven't had that many bikes since then. Ride them until they are beaten: -Started with Giant Iguana full rigid in '92. -Bought a Specialized Stumpjumper hardtail in 2001 -In 2007 got a Haro full suspension Sonix -In 2014 got a Singlespeed, Rigid Specialized Crave. Rode it until this year, 2024, and still use it. -In 2024 my first splurge after 33 years of mountain biking. Specialized Epic World Cup expert. The point of all of this, over 33 years I haven't really spent a lot of money on an "expensive" sport.
I get what you're saying on the upgrade syndrome. I started with my fatbike hardtail. A year or so later I added my full squish Norco Sight 160/150. I ride the Norco most because I ride the mountains the most in Idaho. Anything else it's on the fatbike for workout rides, gravel type rides and winter riding in the snow. The Norco allows me to ride trails I wouldn't feel comfortable or safe on with the fatbike. Yes, I can go faster and take more challenging trails but the skill progression is part of the fun and that's coming from an almost 59 year old who just got started seriously in the spring of 2020. If I was limited to one bike it would be a full suspension fatbike. Do it all for sure!
Well crap that hit me hard...started 6 months ago on a HT that I upgraded and have been having a ton of fun on blue trails and a few blacks...bought my friend's old full sus and feel I had to ride a bit harder to get more out of it...yeah nursing a broken hand now lol, but I do enjoy riding both. Do think these prices are bit out of control...this used one he sold for 2k, but it is a rocky mountain c50 that usually retails for 6K...kinda got lucky tbh.
I'm riding fully rigid. I used to feel like I've been in a washing machine after a ride. Now, with improved physique, better body position and whatnot, it's fun. And that's really all that matters.
Absolutely agree 👍🏼 they should focus on the average Joe and make it accessible to everyone… we don’t need electric shifters and droppers and all that fancy stuff.
Oh it a problem 😂 I now have an XC bike, DC bike, TR bike, BMX bike, DJ bike, fat bike, TR hard tail bike, road bike for the trainer, road bike for the road. 10 bikes for one person 😮it’s insanity. But I love them all
I put together a Eminent Onset this spring and still had to take to my LBS to get things fine tuned. I don't have all the tools and experience to get it 100%, not to mention the patience.
Matty that's not how you're supposed to work on the top cap/stem assembly. The top cap bolt acts as a bearing preload, and the stem bolts must be loose to set the top cap preload properly. You tighten the top cap just enough to remove play from the headset, you absolutely do not crank it down tight...
I'm in agreement that the pretentious attitude in biking is destroying itself from the inside. I will equate a quote from another hobby I have that was used to combat pretentiousness and that is "The best bike, is the bike you like, setup however you like it". I will say I have converted to Priority bikes during Covid times and just purchased my first Ebike from them as well.
The problem is that companies will charge as much as the market lets them. They gorged on the pandemic situation and now the market is starting to come back to reality, but it's still not close to pre-pandemic levels price wise, and it may never get back there. Hopefully people will wake up and realize that we control the market. Cycling in general is prohibitively expensive, and it's sad. It's a great sport that can be life changing, but unfortunately lots of people will never experience the sport because companies are too busy making money.
I think 90 percent of riders would be best served by a trial bike with 120mm of rear travel. An entry level trail bike is not really that much more expensive than a hardtail with decent components.
I got back into riding bmx after 2020 after not riding for like 15 years. My new race buddies were riding mtn bikes so I went and got a giant talon 2. Now I have a trek Roscoe 7. Which is considered “budget” a 1600 dollar hardtail as a cheaper bike is insane. I love the hardtail life cause I haven’t rode a full squish yet. I can’t miss what I never had to begin with. I keep telling myself that at least. But a lot of my friends said bikes shot up in price cause even the lower end of new riders shot everything up. Which must suck for tall the people that have been here all along.
My forever bike is my self built surly wednesday- all year around. It is awesome for touring, trails, mud, snow...it helped me to get out in any weather. I live in a country with muddy conditions almost all year around. The mud is too much for my gravel, even with wider tires. I ride my gravel during summertime, only. And for mixed terrain touring. I think a simple XC MTB with decent tire clearance may be a sweet spot in my region.
I can't speak much about the future of the industry as a 74 year old new mountain biker, however the dilemma I'm in is wanting more and better, like I bought a ramblis E mnt bike, I think you have one too? I like the bike but in my head I think a full suspension would make me a better rider, I notice everyone is riding full suspension and wish I held out and went full suspension, I've never tried a full suspension so I'm wondering if I'm just straight up tripping or are they really all that much of a game changer? I know I could be asking the wrong person as I know you love the hard tails? I ride the front range too, maybe I'll see you out on the trails!
First off, congrats on getting into mtb! Second, let me ask you this: What do you want to get out of mtb? If it's to ride and enjoy the trails, a good ht or emtb/ht are plenty enough bike & really fun. With decent travel on the front fork, you can avoid getting beat up, especially if taking it easy and just trying to enjoy the ride. If it's to bomb downhill on super techy trails with a lot of jumps and features, then sure, an FS will be more appropriate. But FS are by no means a necessity for normal trail riding and don't make riders better, though they can hide mistakes better. They're also not necessarily more fun. Just my opinion after 30+ years of riding and a conscious resistance to marketing hype.
i walked into a bike shop for the first time in a long time. 90% were e-bikes, 9% were priced for the upper 10% of the incomes in my region. clearly, someone sees the goldmine mentality. maybe that's why so many people order direct.
I have a Giant Roam 4 that has been modified It is now a 20 speed With SE tires the bars are 3” rise Spank Spoon 760 width a 45degrees stem and a very wide seat for comfort and some large RockBro’s pedals I go all over with my bike I’m ready for the NYC 5 Boro tour coming up in May
No one is “Growing the Sport”, is the correct answer. We need more local events and rides. We had a weekly ride every Sunday. Our group was a social ride group.
I just took up MTB last August; love it. Bought an entry level bike TREK Marlin7 - love it. I think the issue hindering growth and longevity is: not enough beginner trails, cost of lessons ($100/hr) really?? And entry cost - bike, helmet, shoes, gloves, real pedals to hold onto those new grippy shoes, etc. I’m in the Dallas/FtWorth area snd we have over 200 miles of MTB - but again lack enough beginner trails and basic access for people.
I have been into action sports from a young age and really into serious mtb riding since 2016. I prefer my slackish 140mm travel hardtail. Anything it’s not capable of, neither am I and that’s cool with me.
With a regular MTB you need to footplant around the obstacles on the trail here and high risk of something getting broken. Here full suspension is like a tank, I have a Giant Trance 2019 that does it's all round job. Such as the one you picked. I am also for simplicity & capability, bike should be ready to ride anything you feel like riding. Thanks for great videos
Truth is this. You can buy a used 10 year old Giant, Trek or Specialized for $1000 and it would be 95% as capable as a $8-10K bike today. I bought a 12 year old alloy Giant anthem 29 for $750, it has fox suspension front and rear, full shimano XT and weighs less than the Anthem pro carbon 2 which would cost over $6k.
I agree. Just getting into MTB. Found a 2008 giant trance x2 frame for $100. Building it is teaching me everything I need to know to work on and fix it myself. I don’t think I’ll ever need to upgrade bikes. Just parts. Haven’t rode any trails yet, but I don’t see how spending $3k could be better. Rather spend that $3k on parts and trips to different trails and parks.
I agree with you man. I have a 2022 giant stance 29er. I bought brand new and I'm literally riding trails that people with the most expensive mountain bikes are they doing.
It is a marketing hype just like in Derailleur Deore, SLX and XT share the same design and varies only on materials and some weight but the performance on shifting they are all the same. Same with Shocks like between the mid to high end and they ask you to pay 60% more on additional adjustment for HSC and LSC. When in fact the real deal actually is bring back Coil fork system and a better dampening system would be good and less maintenance but of course they will never do that
Even in 2024, in my area, the new rider goes with a sub-$1200 hard tail and hybrids for gravel and everyday riding. Most recreational public and private money goes to a mountain bike park that is 18 miles from the center? I am a touring rider for recreation and commuter for utility. The long distance riding made me a bike mechanic by necessity and doing resto-mod on 90s mountain bikes was my school. You can still have a relationship with your LBS if you wrench when like me, I don't build wheels and won't buy a special tool for one-time a year use. I am fortunate that my LBS is owned and operated by ex hard core MTBs turned gravel riders and the focus of their shop is for everyday riders and kids.
To me a gravel bike gives me the freedom to paddle the 10km through city to the forest and then ride my bike in nature. Also it gives me the possibility to commute to work and back and also get some groceries on the way back. So I ride 70 percent more bike in my everyday life. An e bike does the same to me. A mtb is nice and certainly better when you re on the trail. But I wouldn't ride there with it. So it's just free time. A gravel let's me enjoy my everyday life a lot more.
@MattyActive at the DH hubs you will see a lot of ebikers but anywhere else ebike are out numbered big time. The incoming tourist scene is strong with the ebike game which makes perfect sense cause you can see and ride 10x more trails on an ebike. But there are massive groups in NWA that still are on amish-MTB
"bike boom" - aka covid 2020. I definitely agree that when you start getting into the "superbikes" you are def gonna risk injury too. i love this video.
I'm trying to get EMTB be under $2.00/km for operational costs. Upgrading to better wearing parts as I go along. It costs more but hopefully next season is $1.00/km.
I ride a 2016 Giant Talon 4 and have been riding for years even before I got this one on OfferUp for $175. I always take joy out of dusting guys who spent 20 times what I did and are still kinda trash. MOST everyone is just a rider at the end of the day, not in line for the UCI, not even weekend racers. Just guys or girls out on the trails having fun. Anyone who judges you because of what you ride is simply a person looking for acceptance and is probably generally unhappy in life. Screw em at the end of the day and just have fun.
The proliferation of gravel is, in part, due to the hyper specialization of mtbs leaving open niche space. I love my Stormchaser. Fits smaller XC tires, can run a suspension, can go single speed or gears, perfect (imo) geometry for racing or bikepacking. Though if I could only keep one, it'd be the surly ogre. I bikepack, buy groceries, commute, hell moved house, on that bike. I do plan to get a XC bike. I don't need anything more rowdy at my age. But I do like going fast and climbing.
I get your point. I always keep the used bike market on watch, and I see a lot of YT enduros for a good price in top condition. i probably will eventually buy one if it's cheap enough, but I don't think I will buy a new one for a long time.
The automotive industry did the same thing, went to higher end more expensive offerings that are overkill for most people and situations, even though the majority can’t afford them.
The boom and bust have been good for me. I just started a few months ago and have been able to get good deals! When the market is bad is when i do the best, Houses and bikes.
i agree, i know gravelbiking is booming, but now hear me out: full suspension entry level mtb but not put on gravel tires. it can do the same things, sure, it might not be as aerodynamic, but its not hard to pedal anymore and for the average joe riding around 20-25 km/h its well rounded, plus if youre going to go out of breath eventually you have more gearing range to pedal lighter
Matty, I sure fell for all of the hype about needing to upgrade, too. I don't regret it persay, but it wasn't necessary at all. I'm 56, and I'm not going out here shredding anything. Like you said, I'm just trying to have some fun and stay in some kind of shape. I've had 21 surgeries since I was Medevaced from Afghanistan in 06, with 8 of them being on my back alone, so I'm just trying to have fun. Great Video Brother, as always. I appreciate you.......🤝🏾🇺🇸💪🏾🫡
It all depends on where you live. In Colorado and the Midwest, there are many unpaved public roads. Not so much on the East Coast. It's often easier to find mountain bike trails.
I have a super fancy mtn bike that cost more than my truck. I'm going to buy a used carbon cyclocross bike with rim breaks for $650 for my second bike. 90% of the time I think it's a more fun bike to ride. I can't drive to a trail every day.
Mountain biking isn’t destroyed. Those of us who started riding before covid are still riding, and that’s who they are selling to.
The industry has problems for several other reasons related to covid times.
Looking at the history of "mountain" biking it definitely have left it's roots of casual fun.
ruclips.net/video/VGMbXIkye88/видео.html
@@cloudsmith7803 nah man, there is better technology, and far more disciplines now, but it's still just people having fun on bikes, exploring the world, bettering themselves or finding peace on 2 wheels.
@@SkunkApeOnTrail Dude, they're selling "bicycles" made of plastic for $12,000 , lol like wtf?
And another thing, there is no such thing as "mountain" biking. It's all trail riding, some easier, some difficult.
I've been mountain climbing, you aint riding no trail that hasn't been cleared.
@cloudsmith7803 no one said you had to buy one, most people don't, most people don't spend more than a few k on a bike and most casual riders don't ride carbon either, also hur dur plastic bike is such a caveman take. I've had composite bikes last longer than alloy bikes and vice versa, they're both good applications of tech with different strength, also you didn't address my main point, it's just people having fun, you don't need to be riding a piece of shit steel bike from the 50s to have fun, but maybe that's just you
@cloudsmith7803 you could spend 2M on a car if you wanted right?
People are so gullible to the "upgrade" myth. Ride your bike until stuff breaks, then replace those parts with better ones. It's not difficult.
THIS!!! Buy what you can afford have fun. If something breaks and you want to upgrade at that point.
But parts are so good now they almost never break. And if you can swing it, parts are half the fun. Bikes are so modular and interesting some of us enjoy the endless experimentation
@brandonburks4172 if you like overpaying for the latest trend. 😂
EXACTLY
I understand the reasoning behind gravel bikes but have zero interest in riding a bike with drop handlebars on a trail. I'd rather have a mountain bike for trails.
back when I rode a cyclocross spec'd for trail riding, you could install secondary brake levers (anyone remember 'frog levers'?) on the top flat part of the drop bar. That way you could have a riding position similar to a mtb riding position (a good bit narrower!) and still access the brakes, as mtb'ing in drops is not ideal. I can't help but wonder if a similar top bar brake in addition to the drop brake levers could make a return, but with hydraulic brakes, that may be a huge complication......sometimes old tech wins vs new tech, at least for this
Sometimes I prefer a flat ass to a great personality
@@jokermtb I have those brakes on my Gravel bike bars. I never use them. When I replace the cable housing, I will remove them, but it's not worth doing it, just to get rid of them.
I actually really enjoy trail rides on drop bars. It makes me ride the local trails in a different way, making those trails feel new again.
Are gravel bikes drop bar bikes by definition? I see as many flat bar gravel bikes advertised as I see drop bar gravel bikes?
I think your experience will be the experience of the majority of new riders:
1. Buy a bike
2. “Realize” you should’ve gotten a “better” bike
3. Buy a much more expensive bike (or two)
4. Realize how you really want to ride
5. Realize you over-biked for how you actually ride
6. Buy a reasonably priced bike that fits your riding style
7. Ride happy
Of course there are some people who chase after “better and better” BUT those are the minority and those aren’t the people he’s talking to.
This is well said.
Somewhere around step 2 or 3 as a new rider, it is nice to be over-biked a bit to make up for mistakes while you learn. Once my skills developed, I was happier riding those trails on simpler, cheaper bikes.
I am at step 5 rn and trying to find 6 and sell some of my bikes that do not serve me the way I imagined.
Such great points. Lots of mountain bikers have forgotten that mountain biking is about getting out on a trail and having fun, and not about the way that you ride it or the rig that you ride it on. Love your channel man, keep it up!
A long time ago "skiing" meant traveling, under your own power, through snow on long pieces of wood attached to leather boots. Now it means paying a lot of money to slide down a hill.
The term "Mountain biking" is going through a similar evolution.
I Ride a 2022 Giant Stance 2 29er with some upgrades I bought brand new and the amount of hate/negative comments I've gotten from other bikers on their $5,000+ MTBs on the trail is absolutely Ludacris. For example I'll come across another biker on the trails and I'll say hey how's it going, it's just me on the trails etc ... just to hear them say that's such a piece of shit bike, once we pass each other. Like I don't f****** get it why all the hate toward MTBers with "cheaper" MTB exists. I literally hear negative comments about my Giant Stance from other bikers all the time. Is it because I was able to afford buying it with my debit card and I didn't have to go into debt with my credit card!?.
Where do you live where you get trash talk from other bikers? I’ve never heard any of that on the trails I ride. Riders will say “hey, nice bike” to others but I’ve never heard somebody trash talk a bike before.
@GregAspenson I live in Northern California. Napa to be exact
@GregAspenson as someone who grew up playing in D1 soccer teams I was very shocked the first time I heard some trash talk my bike.
I’ve never heard anyone judge anyone else’s bikes on the trails, how sad does someone have to be to do that 😂
@ogmr.c3714 I live in northern Cali as well up by folsom lake. My first full suspension mtb was a 2021 stance 1. I never heard any trash talk about it from anyone. Sucks that happened to you.
I was riding when suspensions forks did not exist. We used rigid bikes, canti brakes and toe clips.
Since then things have changed - for certain. But as long as we have trails and bikes - we're good. There's ups and downs, and the MTB has always survived.
The industry needs a chin check though, and it's getting it. We'll hopefully come out better on the other side!
🙌🏼
Good point. Bike riding should be fun. E bikes are fun. Lots of folks look down on them but the average rider isn't even thinking about that, they're just going for a bike ride.
am 49 and been riding budget for life. I am now going for a expensive bike, just because my older self wants one.
I'd say the industry isn't dying, it's recovering from the pandemic when their supply chains were all messed up. In the past few years folks have gotten into the activity and they have new equipment and most folks are like me and have one bike they keep for a long time so they're not buying more. You're right on regarding the "arms race" by the makers to sell the highest spec stuff to be relevant, but they just really need to focus on the $1500 and under market. Giant is the largest mass market brand and they do offer a pretty good selection of reasonably priced and equipped stuff.
"Don't believe the hype" i learned that from Public Enemy in 1989. I recently got back to riding and you know what I did? Bought a 20 yr old Specialized hardtail, upgraded new bars, grips, stem and brake pads (mech disc). The best simple hardtail is a 26er and I'm happy for $300 + upgrades.
Cool! I've got a HardRock I've been thinking about upgrading to disc brakes.
@odaatchris1 Do it! I did the saddle, stem and put some 50mm riser bars better comfort/control. And new pedals. I kept the old 3x8 drivetrain because you can't get the same range in a 1x drivetrain. I use it as an all terrain bike, so having a big ring up front is great for streets.
@JHillNC I did it! Stem, bars, disc brakes(wheels & all), and a dropper post with a new saddle! I'm just waiting on my arm to heal up from my last crash. Mine a 3x7. Thinking about hanging on to that for a while.
@@odaatchris1 Awesome! Love to hear it! Sounds like it will serve you well for many years! Hope you enjoy it and heal up soon, too. Happy New Year!
I find your perspective very on point. It reminds me of why I got out of motocross/dirt biking, where the process of loading up, driving far, riding for a little bit, driving home, became a huge chore, when all I really wanted to do was go for 'a ride', and is why I really ditched all that and got my first mountain bike in 1987 (a used 1986 Specialized Rockhopper). It really changed my life, as I could literally walk out the door, and have a two-wheeled adventure. Been MTB'ing ever since - even did the whole 'gravel' thing back in the early 2000's with a cyclocross bike kitted up for trail riding (also got into singlespeed mtb'ing back then too when it was all the rage - that's yet to become popular again, so look out for that in the future). That said, I'm lucky enough to live in the Metro Detroit area where there's actually a ton of mtb options close to home, so driving to a trail is the exception rather than the rule, but for most folks, sitting in traffic for an hour just to ride your bike is a major turn off. Lastly, I've witnessed at least 5 expansion/contractions of the mtb biz, and the small core population remains the same - nothing to worry about there.
Same man, got my first truck and got the itch for MX again - till I saw people asking $5k for a 2010 crf, mountain bikes was a no brainer - my cheapest hobby currently - I can drive out an hour, spend an hour on the trails, head back home and only paid gas to get there, loving it
@@jns08d way cheaper to maintain too.....
Framing hardtails as entry-level only is pretty patronizing and it’s truly odd how defensive some full-squish bros are.
That is the stereotype of the mountain bike industry/fandom. I can take my hardtail on almost every trail that my full squish can go. These have this bike for this trail is all marketing and eqo driven.
@@CJGrand1I used to ride my hard trail on all trails and never had any issues. Now I ride a full sus bike and get beat up a whole lot less.
There are plenty of non entry level hard tails on the market.
Honestly. If someone thinks riding a hardtail on some of our blues and blacks is beginner, they're naive and likely new to the sport. That is a much more advanced rider than a beginner. Truly. When i see a HT guy on any CO trail, I know he know's how to ride. Its not really patronizing. IT shows lack of experience.
They are the most sensitive.
I don’t know, man. I live in Bentonville, and MTBing feels pretty alive to me.
Sure, you can get caught up in all the latest trends and spend an arm and a leg trying to keep up with the Joneses but the law of diminishing returns is real and it doesn’t matter how big your budget is if it outweighs your skill. I ride everyday, and I can attest that it’s easy to embarrass hobbyists on $10k bikes because weekend warriors and fair weather riders simply can’t make up for all the downtime or being out of shape.
If you’re trying to go pro and get sponsorship deals, that’s one thing, but if you’re like most people, your biggest competition is always yourself. If you love the sport, you’ll naturally want to get better, and you can do that whether you’re on an Ozark Trails or the latest S-Works. The most important thing is that you’re having fun and you’re better than you were yesterday.
Yes, the industry went crazy the last few years, and not all companies will survive, but the MTB industry is just a microcosm of the much larger macroeconomic environment. The same thing happened with the auto industry, real estate, computers, and the list goes on. The companies who adapt by coming back to reality will stick around and we’ll all be better for it, just like pruning branches from a tree. In the meantime, just try to enjoy the ride.
But you’re in… BENTONVILLE…
I live here too. We are in a bubble my dude. The mountain bike industry is not doing well. Look at the brands closing, race teams folding up shop, pro riders who can’t find sponsors, local events downsizing or going away. I’m hoping for the best too but it’s ok to acknowledge that things look bleak.
@@EvanShowsMTB Yes, I acknowledged that the market is a downtrend as it is not immune from its own actions or greater economic trends, but that doesn't mean it's dying, as in it's going to the way of inline skating.
The industry is being forced to take austere measures and it will continue to downsize until it finds a lower, more sustainable equilibrium. Once this point is reached, it will start to grow again. In the meantime, there being fewer pro teams and events has absolutely zero impact on your ability to enjoy riding.
Perhaps I'm misunderstanding you guys, but I get the sense that FUD is getting to you and you're taking the sensationalist title of this video too seriously. Nobody here is denying that the industry is shrinking at this exact moment, but there's a massive difference between an economic correction and the sport disappearing.
On the contrary, if you're not a pro who relies on sponsorships and still have at least one reliable shop in your town, then you should feel relieved, because you're going to be able to save a decent amount of money maintaining or upgrading you're bike(s), and there's nothing stopping you from continuing to ride just as you've done for the past few years.
@@Sirshort123 The economic forces at play are true regardless of where I live.
Fun fact...most people don't live in Bentonville❤
I think it’s bigger than mountain biking. I think we are seeing this across the board with hobbies. You had the boats, campers, SxS, etc that had this huge tailwind with during Covid. People are unloading some of these purchases or just letting them sit in their garages and driveways. There is definitely some cyclically and economic influence with how consumers are spending their money and time in 2024.
There is a lot of truth in this, but on top of alienating casual mtb riders, and/or shelling out thousands of dollars to very possibly be over-biked for whatever you'll ride, the way mtb tech is going is allowing people to take even larger risks while riding. Bigger jumps, bigger drops, faster speeds - that all comes at a price that the rider pays, not the bike manufacturers.
Look it up... there is becoming a serious issue with the rising number of spinal cord injuries due to going bigger because you have the technology, as well as the social influence to do it.
The tech is opening up terrain and features to the average rider that used to lie only in the domain of the pro riders.
Bigger jumps and bigger drops also mean a smaller margin of error.
There's not much risk in hitting a 3 foot drop. You can let the front dive pretty hard and still be fine. Not so much when that drop is now 10+ feet.
Or casing a 20-30 foot jump. Again, a smaller jump can still hurt you, but at the heights and lengths we're now seeing on trails creates a smaller threshold for error.
Remember, folks... just because you (technically) can do something, it doesn't always mean you should.
I was there for the 1990's boom, it wasn't as intense but growth was unstoppable until 2k.
The same exact situation happened.
26 for life.
Damn straight.. Happy New Year Matty! 🎉🎈🤠
Agree m8. I got in the same situation. Now i ride only a hardtail and grawel bike, and i love it
Once the growth of gear exceeds the growth of the sport, greed shows its face.
This makes a lot of sense and is frustrating. I love riding and my husband goes to keep me happy but it’s not his thing. I have a Priority Hot Sauce and it’s perfect for the basic trails I ride. But he still has a Walmart beach cruiser because we cannot find anything that isn’t massively expensive. I’d rather not buy a Walmart bike that I have to dump money into to maintain but at the same time he doesn’t want us to spend $1500 or more for him when he barely rides with me. And ebikes and e mountain bikes are flooding the market and are too expensive for us poor folk lol. It’s frustrating.
Edit to add this. I noticed recently that all my local bike shops put out notices that they will only work on e-bikes if you bought it from them or a brand they sell. Because of safety issues. So that’s another barrier.
Get him a solid used full suspension
There's plenty of good mountain bikes that are within your budget.
@@LaMerleNoir216 u can find great used/older MTB for less than $1,500. I have friend that just bought 2014 full suspension Trek for $850 off marketplace
Maybe put him on a onewheel! He still might not be able to keep up but he will have a blast and probably want to go out more.
If it's not his thing, then not spending money on a bike for him makes sense. My wife likes to ride, but she doesn't ride off road, or much gravel. When we ride together, we ride bike paths at a pace she wants to ride and I ride off road by myself, or with a group of friends.
I agree. I started MTBs two years ago. I started on a hardtail, and I just ordered my first short travel full suspension. Those are the only bikes I need, unless I decide to get a big wheel BMX.
i have a 250$ mountain bike without any suspension , with v-brakes and 3x6 gears. I had to replace some parts which failed, so spent another 30$, and now i go in the mountain with it. For not super extreme riding, it is good enough.
I remember the bike boom, all right. The time when you can't even buy a Trek. Now, they are overstocked and for sale below original price.
What a great take! I started on an e-bike, progressed to a gravel bike, and am looking at mountain bikes. This seems like a great time to get into it, but I can definitely see the feature/pricing ladder causing hesitancy.
I agree with you 100%, but the emtb industry is going nuts with pricing as well. Did the first ride on my new Canyon Torque On 7 AL ($4k black Friday sale) and wow what a game changer. I climbed a total of about 3000' and rode around 11 miles of DH today. Normally, I could only do about half of that, and I would be beat to hell and out of time.
If I could have only one bike it would be a hardtail. Can't imagine drop bars on a mtb trail, don't have a problem with flat bars on the road.
Good point on the maintenance- these services are what keep bike shops afloat. I like to be mechanically savvy as I like to go bikepacking, but I don’t shy away from going to a shop to do things I don’t like installing a bottom bracket or bleeding brakes
Judging from the recreational mountain bike events that I went to, I didn't see any shrinkage in mountain biking. For example, I had to forgo one event, because it was filled to capacity.
Useful simplicity, relative low operational costs, the potential for life changing adventure, comradery and the resulting physical heath benefits are just some of the reasons that bicycles are one of mankinds greatest inventions.
I think the point Matty is making is that simplistic genius is lost when we are steadily marketed and led to believe that $7-8000 dollar bicycles with electric shifting and suspension or WORSE $12000 enduro ebikes with the newest Bosch race motors are what we need to stay relevant and enjoy the sport. Most of us here know thats a lie from the pitt of marketing hell but its beginning to turn alot of off to the sport.
Right - He was talking mountain bikes and never mentioned the high cost of a new road bike. Same problem applies.
I just like to do basic repairs and parts replacements on my bike. For more complicated stuff, I always have the experts take care of it.
I wish I could afford two bikes. I ride a 2016 Giant Talon 4 and have been riding for years even before I got this one on OfferUp for $175. I always take joy out of dusting guys who spent 20 times what I did and are still kinda trash. MOST everyone is just a rider at the end of the day, not in line for the UCI, not even weekend racers. Just guys or girls out on the trails having fun. Anyone who judges you because of what you ride is simply a person looking for acceptance and is probably generally unhappy in life. Screw em at the end of the day and just have fun. Great video as usual bro✌🏽😎✌🏽
Been riding mtb since 89. still mtb and I rode my brothers gravel bike and me personally would rather ride my hardtail. Im 50 now so riding my Niner Rip9 is my go to bike for 75 percent of rides. The other 25 percent is my freeride bike and last time i rode Angel Fire, the lift ticket was almost 90 bucks. That's ridiculous imo. Where you live dictates what your going to stick with riding. I lived in Charlotte until recent and barely rode my mtb bikes. Now in NM i can mtb every day.
Imagine a marathon runner complaining about how cyclists are lazy. Thats the same thing as a cyclist complaining about someone a e-bike.
And the funny thing is: Making you bike more aero and better rolling is the same as using a motor. You want more speed for less work.
Saving 50 watts on wind resistance is the same as saving 50 watts with a motor.
The bike is only as capable as the rider
love the colourway on the Radar. I picked up a Breezer Thunder this past May. Way too good of a deal to pass up. Added an OMM Divide Rack to it, and am trying out some Ritchey Kyote bars on it at the moment. Best way to get better on a bike, is with riding with a group of people with a diversity of skill levels. Don't need a fancy bike, just get out there and get over your fear or rock slabs, or roots, or wet or sketchy conditions. cheers from the North Shore of BC
It's about excitement and spectacle. If you start down that rabbit hole of going more and more extreme, you lose regular riders.
So yeah, your observation is 100% correct.
I love when new MTB tech comes out. Fox/zocchi releases new forks, I got to replace my clapped rockshox with a brand new 2021 Z1 coil for $300. Santa Cruz releases a new Bronson 5, my buddy picked up the 4.1 for %60 off. Progress rocks🪨
“You can’t ride in the winter…”
Might I introduce you to 🇨🇦
-25C and we still out there, yo. I’ll ride after my shocks freeze. Ice rigid! 😅
This summer, my wife started commuting on an e-bike 25km a day to work.
Now she wants an analog gravel bike. I’m getting her one this spring, and got a professional fitting for her for Christmas. 🤘🏾
wouldn't say it's destroyed. it's back to how it was.
That's why I love my $100 1990s rigid Gary Fisher Marlin. Low cost, easy to handle technology, all terrain, and a real classic. Thanks for the good thinking!
Electra Cruiser 7 with a huge saddle and a giant Wald basket that holds two gallons of sweet tea. Wheeling around my town and enjoying riding.
Started in '92 and really haven't had that many bikes since then. Ride them until they are beaten:
-Started with Giant Iguana full rigid in '92.
-Bought a Specialized Stumpjumper hardtail in 2001
-In 2007 got a Haro full suspension Sonix
-In 2014 got a Singlespeed, Rigid Specialized Crave. Rode it until this year, 2024, and still use it.
-In 2024 my first splurge after 33 years of mountain biking. Specialized Epic World Cup expert.
The point of all of this, over 33 years I haven't really spent a lot of money on an "expensive" sport.
I get what you're saying on the upgrade syndrome. I started with my fatbike hardtail. A year or so later I added my full squish Norco Sight 160/150. I ride the Norco most because I ride the mountains the most in Idaho. Anything else it's on the fatbike for workout rides, gravel type rides and winter riding in the snow. The Norco allows me to ride trails I wouldn't feel comfortable or safe on with the fatbike. Yes, I can go faster and take more challenging trails but the skill progression is part of the fun and that's coming from an almost 59 year old who just got started seriously in the spring of 2020. If I was limited to one bike it would be a full suspension fatbike. Do it all for sure!
Well crap that hit me hard...started 6 months ago on a HT that I upgraded and have been having a ton of fun on blue trails and a few blacks...bought my friend's old full sus and feel I had to ride a bit harder to get more out of it...yeah nursing a broken hand now lol, but I do enjoy riding both. Do think these prices are bit out of control...this used one he sold for 2k, but it is a rocky mountain c50 that usually retails for 6K...kinda got lucky tbh.
I'm riding fully rigid. I used to feel like I've been in a washing machine after a ride. Now, with improved physique, better body position and whatnot, it's fun. And that's really all that matters.
Absolutely agree 👍🏼 they should focus on the average Joe and make it accessible to everyone… we don’t need electric shifters and droppers and all that fancy stuff.
@@MarioNhampossa nothing is stopping you from not buying that stuff
Oh it a problem 😂
I now have an XC bike, DC bike, TR bike, BMX bike, DJ bike, fat bike, TR hard tail bike, road bike for the trainer, road bike for the road. 10 bikes for one person 😮it’s insanity.
But I love them all
I put together a Eminent Onset this spring and still had to take to my LBS to get things fine tuned. I don't have all the tools and experience to get it 100%, not to mention the patience.
Matty that's not how you're supposed to work on the top cap/stem assembly. The top cap bolt acts as a bearing preload, and the stem bolts must be loose to set the top cap preload properly. You tighten the top cap just enough to remove play from the headset, you absolutely do not crank it down tight...
I'm in agreement that the pretentious attitude in biking is destroying itself from the inside. I will equate a quote from another hobby I have that was used to combat pretentiousness and that is "The best bike, is the bike you like, setup however you like it". I will say I have converted to Priority bikes during Covid times and just purchased my first Ebike from them as well.
The problem is that companies will charge as much as the market lets them. They gorged on the pandemic situation and now the market is starting to come back to reality, but it's still not close to pre-pandemic levels price wise, and it may never get back there. Hopefully people will wake up and realize that we control the market. Cycling in general is prohibitively expensive, and it's sad. It's a great sport that can be life changing, but unfortunately lots of people will never experience the sport because companies are too busy making money.
I think 90 percent of riders would be best served by a trial bike with 120mm of rear travel. An entry level trail bike is not really that much more expensive than a hardtail with decent components.
I like your attitude towards riding. Just like cars, you can drive a Nissan or a BMW, as long as you can drive...
How greed destroyed mountain biking
You are finally getting it! Bikes should be simple.
I got back into riding bmx after 2020 after not riding for like 15 years. My new race buddies were riding mtn bikes so I went and got a giant talon 2. Now I have a trek Roscoe 7. Which is considered “budget” a 1600 dollar hardtail as a cheaper bike is insane. I love the hardtail life cause I haven’t rode a full squish yet. I can’t miss what I never had to begin with. I keep telling myself that at least. But a lot of my friends said bikes shot up in price cause even the lower end of new riders shot everything up. Which must suck for tall the people that have been here all along.
My forever bike is my self built surly wednesday- all year around. It is awesome for touring, trails, mud, snow...it helped me to get out in any weather. I live in a country with muddy conditions almost all year around. The mud is too much for my gravel, even with wider tires. I ride my gravel during summertime, only. And for mixed terrain touring. I think a simple XC MTB with decent tire clearance may be a sweet spot in my region.
I’ve never seen a gravel bike on my trails. 😂. They would get crushed on these trails. 😆
I can't speak much about the future of the industry as a 74 year old new mountain biker, however the dilemma I'm in is wanting more and better, like I bought a ramblis E mnt bike, I think you have one too? I like the bike but in my head I think a full suspension would make me a better rider, I notice everyone is riding full suspension and wish I held out and went full suspension, I've never tried a full suspension so I'm wondering if I'm just straight up tripping or are they really all that much of a game changer? I know I could be asking the wrong person as I know you love the hard tails? I ride the front range too, maybe I'll see you out on the trails!
You being 74 years old the Ramblis is a great bike for you
First off, congrats on getting into mtb! Second, let me ask you this:
What do you want to get out of mtb?
If it's to ride and enjoy the trails, a good ht or emtb/ht are plenty enough bike & really fun. With decent travel on the front fork, you can avoid getting beat up, especially if taking it easy and just trying to enjoy the ride.
If it's to bomb downhill on super techy trails with a lot of jumps and features, then sure, an FS will be more appropriate. But FS are by no means a necessity for normal trail riding and don't make riders better, though they can hide mistakes better. They're also not necessarily more fun.
Just my opinion after 30+ years of riding and a conscious resistance to marketing hype.
It is a game changer. Your taint and tailbone will thank you! go rent a full suspension bike and judge for yourself
i walked into a bike shop for the first time in a long time. 90% were e-bikes, 9% were priced for the upper 10% of the incomes in my region. clearly, someone sees the goldmine mentality. maybe that's why so many people order direct.
I have a Giant Roam 4 that has been modified It is now a 20 speed With SE tires the bars are 3” rise Spank Spoon 760 width a 45degrees stem and a very wide seat for comfort and some large RockBro’s pedals I go all over with my bike I’m ready for the NYC 5 Boro tour coming up in May
No one is “Growing the Sport”, is the correct answer.
We need more local events and rides.
We had a weekly ride every Sunday. Our group was a social ride group.
I just took up MTB last August; love it. Bought an entry level bike TREK Marlin7 - love it. I think the issue hindering growth and longevity is: not enough beginner trails, cost of lessons ($100/hr) really?? And entry cost - bike, helmet, shoes, gloves, real pedals to hold onto those new grippy shoes, etc. I’m in the Dallas/FtWorth area snd we have over 200 miles of MTB - but again lack enough beginner trails and basic access for people.
I subscribed because of your thoughts and character.
I have been into action sports from a young age and really into serious mtb riding since 2016. I prefer my slackish 140mm travel hardtail. Anything it’s not capable of, neither am I and that’s cool with me.
Do you play the sax? Would love to see some music content in the future!
Mountain biking for 35 years,I'm happy .Don't really care much for the politics.
With a regular MTB you need to footplant around the obstacles on the trail here and high risk of something getting broken. Here full suspension is like a tank, I have a Giant Trance 2019 that does it's all round job. Such as the one you picked. I am also for simplicity & capability, bike should be ready to ride anything you feel like riding.
Thanks for great videos
Matty, did you get to ride any trails while down in Dallas? If so, which ones?
I did but I can’t remember the trail lol. I think it was cedar something
14:55 Too bad the Niner MCR 9 you pointed out isnt available anymore?
I personally love my full sus bike. Climbs great, rides great. I don't do anything crazy, just ride, smooth on my body--more time outdoors for me.
Truth is this. You can buy a used 10 year old Giant, Trek or Specialized for $1000 and it would be 95% as capable as a $8-10K bike today. I bought a 12 year old alloy Giant anthem 29 for $750, it has fox suspension front and rear, full shimano XT and weighs less than the Anthem pro carbon 2 which would cost over $6k.
I agree. Just getting into MTB. Found a 2008 giant trance x2 frame for $100. Building it is teaching me everything I need to know to work on and fix it myself. I don’t think I’ll ever need to upgrade bikes. Just parts. Haven’t rode any trails yet, but I don’t see how spending $3k could be better. Rather spend that $3k on parts and trips to different trails and parks.
I agree with you man. I have a 2022 giant stance 29er. I bought brand new and I'm literally riding trails that people with the most expensive mountain bikes are they doing.
It is a marketing hype just like in Derailleur Deore, SLX and XT share the same design and varies only on materials and some weight but the performance on shifting they are all the same. Same with Shocks like between the mid to high end and they ask you to pay 60% more on additional adjustment for HSC and LSC. When in fact the real deal actually is bring back Coil fork system and a better dampening system would be good and less maintenance but of course they will never do that
Even in 2024, in my area, the new rider goes with a sub-$1200 hard tail and hybrids for gravel and everyday riding. Most recreational public and private money goes to a mountain bike park that is 18 miles from the center? I am a touring rider for recreation and commuter for utility. The long distance riding made me a bike mechanic by necessity and doing resto-mod on 90s mountain bikes was my school. You can still have a relationship with your LBS if you wrench when like me, I don't build wheels and won't buy a special tool for one-time a year use. I am fortunate that my LBS is owned and operated by ex hard core MTBs turned gravel riders and the focus of their shop is for everyday riders and kids.
Can’t ride a mountain bike in the winter? What the hell kind of bike do you think you ride in the winter?
To me a gravel bike gives me the freedom to paddle the 10km through city to the forest and then ride my bike in nature. Also it gives me the possibility to commute to work and back and also get some groceries on the way back. So I ride 70 percent more bike in my everyday life.
An e bike does the same to me. A mtb is nice and certainly better when you re on the trail. But I wouldn't ride there with it. So it's just free time. A gravel let's me enjoy my everyday life a lot more.
Entry level bikes have never been this affordable and capable...
I don't know about where u are living, but Bentonville, Ar is far from dying! It's still booming everyday!
I agree! That’s mostly because of the e bike scene there! They are all for e bikes and that’s all I see there mostly.
@MattyActive at the DH hubs you will see a lot of ebikers but anywhere else ebike are out numbered big time. The incoming tourist scene is strong with the ebike game which makes perfect sense cause you can see and ride 10x more trails on an ebike. But there are massive groups in NWA that still are on amish-MTB
that breezer is such a cool bike
"bike boom" - aka covid 2020. I definitely agree that when you start getting into the "superbikes" you are def gonna risk injury too. i love this video.
Try servicing an e-bike, expensive bells and whistles.
That is an issue I ran into, the best option is to go to an e-bike store for service which sucks if you don’t have one in your area.
I'm trying to get EMTB be under $2.00/km for operational costs. Upgrading to better wearing parts as I go along. It costs more but hopefully next season is $1.00/km.
@@MattyActive Yeah, definitely LBS servicing for all the major stuff.
@@hankkauffmann7648 My ebike commuter costs about $0.25 USD per mile but I am just commuting.
Bring back 26.
I still own one and ride it.
They're the best for shorter people. 29ers are only optimal for people around 6' or taller.
I ride a 2016 Giant Talon 4 and have been riding for years even before I got this one on OfferUp for $175. I always take joy out of dusting guys who spent 20 times what I did and are still kinda trash. MOST everyone is just a rider at the end of the day, not in line for the UCI, not even weekend racers. Just guys or girls out on the trails having fun. Anyone who judges you because of what you ride is simply a person looking for acceptance and is probably generally unhappy in life. Screw em at the end of the day and just have fun.
The proliferation of gravel is, in part, due to the hyper specialization of mtbs leaving open niche space. I love my Stormchaser. Fits smaller XC tires, can run a suspension, can go single speed or gears, perfect (imo) geometry for racing or bikepacking. Though if I could only keep one, it'd be the surly ogre. I bikepack, buy groceries, commute, hell moved house, on that bike. I do plan to get a XC bike. I don't need anything more rowdy at my age. But I do like going fast and climbing.
5:00 what about your roscoe 9 😢
Love my bikes. I definitely took advantage of sales and no interest financing. I ride year round and as much as time allows 😊
I get your point. I always keep the used bike market on watch, and I see a lot of YT enduros for a good price in top condition. i probably will eventually buy one if it's cheap enough, but I don't think I will buy a new one for a long time.
The automotive industry did the same thing, went to higher end more expensive offerings that are overkill for most people and situations, even though the majority can’t afford them.
The boom and bust have been good for me. I just started a few months ago and have been able to get good deals! When the market is bad is when i do the best, Houses and bikes.
I'm an amateur racer three bikes you need hardtail, gravel,road.
0:57 - looks like the Olympia lift line at Trestle 😮😅 Edit: on the weekend!!! 😂
i agree, i know gravelbiking is booming, but now hear me out: full suspension entry level mtb but not put on gravel tires. it can do the same things, sure, it might not be as aerodynamic, but its not hard to pedal anymore and for the average joe riding around 20-25 km/h its well rounded, plus if youre going to go out of breath eventually you have more gearing range to pedal lighter
So true about crazy hiked prices the sad thing people payed anyway😂😂
Matty, I sure fell for all of the hype about needing to upgrade, too. I don't regret it persay, but it wasn't necessary at all. I'm 56, and I'm not going out here shredding anything. Like you said, I'm just trying to have some fun and stay in some kind of shape. I've had 21 surgeries since I was Medevaced from Afghanistan in 06, with 8 of them being on my back alone, so I'm just trying to have fun. Great Video Brother, as always. I appreciate you.......🤝🏾🇺🇸💪🏾🫡
It all depends on where you live. In Colorado and the Midwest, there are many unpaved public roads. Not so much on the East Coast. It's often easier to find mountain bike trails.
Yep. I live in Whately Mass and I have trails everywhere. And ride all year.
Definitely need to torque that top cap down a bit more 😂
🤣🤣🤣 Came here for this! Keep tightening until you can't steer that rig. 😂😂😂
IMO there is no bike that can be used on and off road without being inadequate at some point.
I have a super fancy mtn bike that cost more than my truck. I'm going to buy a used carbon cyclocross bike with rim breaks for $650 for my second bike. 90% of the time I think it's a more fun bike to ride. I can't drive to a trail every day.
so true it all makes sense