Pinkbike Poll: Social Media

May 11, 2014 at 22:56
by Mike Levy  
Nearly every time I log onto Facebook I end up regretting it. It isn't because I'm jealous about what my friends are eating for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It's not down to the thirty identical photos of the same baby, all taken from the same angle. And I can't even blame the ridiculous amount of company call-outs and cheesy hashtags that people seem to feel they need to use anytime they do anything. Newsflash: your @fiveten shoes might be great, but they sure as hell didn't make it #thebestdamnrideever. Nope, what gets me is how so many of us seem to feel the need to tell the world that we've gone for a ride in the first place. I know that I sound like the fun police, and that there's really no harm in letting your friends know that you had an #epic #day #on #the #bike, but it's gotten to the point where I'm starting to wonder if it counts as a ride if you don't tell everyone about it. What makes me grumble even more, though, is that I'm just as guilty as anyone else, with a quick scroll through my own Facepage revealing a 50/50 mix of both "Look at me, I'm riding a bike!" photos and links to Vimeo videos that somewhere between one and three of my friends click on. Hey, at least there aren't pictures of every meal that I've eaten in the last four years.

Why is it that we feel the need to tell everyone that we've gone for a ride? Is it to let them know the trail conditions? Maybe we just want our friends to know that we returned home safely and had a great day? Or maybe, just maybe, we want everyone to know that the ride had 9,000ft of climbing. In the rain. And you were on your singlespeed. And you were being chased by wolves the entire time. And that you ate tacos at Miguel's afterwards. Colour me a hypocrite because I'd sure as hell share that story as well, but part of me wonders why. After all, isn't getting chased by wolves for 70km enough of a rush that you shouldn't feel the need to get a bunch of e-hugs from online acquaintances? All this got me thinking about how often we use social media outlets to tell our friends and sorta-friends that we've been out on our bike.




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Member since Oct 18, 2005
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220 Comments
  • 185 12
 I spend a lot of time on Facebook, but I'm no attention whore. Yes I will post photos from rides and races, and will tell my friends how I got on if I did well.

For me Facebook is all about sharing cool memories with my friends, I enjoy looking at theirs and I hope that they enjoy looking at mine.

At the end of the day this website is a social media and the exact same thing happens here, #VOD
  • 17 5
 I couldn't agree with you more! My city took it one step further though and has a group for mountain biking that you can post up when you're going for a ride, It's a great way to get new(less confident) people into riding groups and has been nothing but a good thing for the community. I don't get why there is so much hate on face book to be quite frank.
  • 11 9
 What quantifies doing well? Enough to tell everyone? A wheelie? Not falling off? I'm just curious, there's no issue with communicating. Just interested in the parameters for publicizing your activities. To be honest though, this question also encompasses the whole facebook status thing, where people tell you they're in a shop or eating a sandwich. Or some other mundane experience. But I'm not comparing a bike ride to a sandwich lol.
And whilst pinkbike may be social media now, like every public website out there, it was an online magazine originally wasn't it? But one thing facebook does do better is no neg prop thing, f*cking nonsense. Allowing people to be anonymously negative. Why? I watch people get attacked by the hoards sometimes and you know its only because people love to be in the group. If you're gonna be negative, have the balls to put it in words and be known.
  • 19 5
 A thin red line between sharing experience and vanity... asking critical questions and hitting a wall with writing on it saying "Stoked Rad Fun". Put magic glasses on and see "Like or FK off!!!". Things like that always fascinate me in human beings. The irony of misuse of good things dressed up in stoke. Mental obesity.
  • 13 0
 For a lot of my friends on FB, I'm the only access to MTB that they see. I'm having fun, and I like to share that with people who otherwise wouldn't see how fun it is. I've had so many people tell me they want to try it or get into it. I put down the bike for a few years and only picked it up again after seeing MTB friends posting on FB and now I ride nearly everyday. I have friends who sold their bikes years ago pick up the sport again after seeing my posts. I like sharing and promoting the fun of mountain biking in the hope that more people will pick up a bike.
  • 12 0
 Most of my group rides are organised through facebook, and I regularly meet new riders because of this, lots of people here slagging facebook, but it does have benefits when used properly.
  • 24 3
 @cmkneeland
I'm right there with you man. I wont give you the whole story, but im 21 now.
From the ages 15-19 I was a complete f*ck up. Drugs, bad company, arrests, dropped out of school.
Along the way I made a lot of friends that still aren't doing so well.
Now that I have pulled my head out of my ass and quit the shit, all I live for is going to college, riding my bike every chance I get, 4wheelin the shit out of my Jeep, and having a good time with girls.

I post up any good pictures of any of the activities where I'm having fun without being loaded on booze or pills and I have my old friends telling me how much they want to get involved and sometimes I can help.

If my little pictures can have an impact in a positive way on my down and out buddies, then I feel like I have accomplished something. It took me a long time to find something to replace MX racing which I cannot afford to do, and I thank the lord I was lucky enough to find my way into cycling, in any form.

And yes of course I love it when some hot bitch likes my picture, she obviously wants the dick then bro.
  • 10 2
 I have the new Demo Bluetooth edition so all my gay Facebook peeps can see what trail I'm on any time.
  • 11 3
 Guess I'm one of the rare sub-30's with no social media presence AT ALL saves sites like this (and for each of my hobbies).

My family has a self-imposed rule about SM, and even the young ones are limited in what they can do...

Frankly, if you're worried about what your bros or hoes on FB think about your ride, you're probably not riding hard enough.

When I finish a good one, all I can think about is the hose in the yard, a nice chilled dram of single malt or rye, and a BIG HONKIN' SANDWICH.
  • 2 0
 Forever alone by choice?

Haaa
  • 3 0
 I like seeing photos and hearing about my riding buddies adventures. I like sharing my own. That may be because I'm "old" .. I know it's "cool" to hate FB. I work full time.. I don't ride with all my friends let alone see them nearly as much as I'd like. It's a good way for us to stay connected. I agree that some over do it. But hey, if you don't like my photos of my bikes (and I take plenty) you don't have to look either. You are the one scrolling through the newsfeed.
  • 1 0
 Married with kids, and we have plenty of local friends, and I suppose you could call the online communities I partake in Social Media (but not really), but yeah, I'm not alone by any stretch!

And is it cool to hate on FB?
I did not know that.
I know kids (like my oldest) are going to things like Instagram, etc, but I don't see any hatred for FB at all... so no, not really...

What irks me about the social media thing is that companies do giveaways and prize promotions through these things, and those of us without them can't join in. That's not right, folks.
  • 3 0
 i like having pictures and videos to watch for myself, i used to go everyday searching and building drops, it gives the nicest video when your sending it down 20 ft it even ooks nicer then a 20 ft jump. it just mean with drops you can go big, i like to go big. and videos give me that extra motivation sure i like it when people liking my stuff. but that not why i do it i do it for the fun ad the video to watch it myself. also i like pinkbike, every rider has a story pictures etc tell that story. so much more to tell.... but facebook. i ll never like. lol and if you are riding only for the fact that people should know your the best, then your not riding with passion and you better do somethig else
  • 3 0
 Agreed, and very well said -- sharing is part of human nature. Smile

However, the baby pictures are getting really old. THEY ALL LOOK ALIKE! Unless dressing your kid up like a tomato or Godzilla is a daily occurrence, seeing photos every time they eat or sleep or take a shit is annoying... However, those parents probably hate me, too. "All of those trails look the same!" or "Christ, ANOTHER gratuitous race/jump/technical shot? Ugh."

I guess that's what friendship is about -- tolerating the annoying shit and loving your people anyway. Wink

If you're not on social media, I'll probably just hashtag #yournameheredontgram. Just because I love you anyway.
  • 1 0
 Maybe this has been said, but it ONLY counts if you don't tell anybody about it. However, as far as FB is concerned. If it don make dollas it don make sense.
  • 6 1
 @tobius I negg propped you.
  • 4 1
 Whats with over thinking everything? lol
People need to learn to stay off your f*cking gadgets and INTERACT SOCIALLY in person.
That being said, the whole world has fb and those who dont, kudos. But just because to you it may not count as a ride to post something for others to see doesnt mean it counts it out. At the end of the day it comes down to your own beliefs and to be honest, if you rode a sick track, whether you slap that bitch on Social Media sites for others to see or not thats your call. And furthermore, youre just giving yourself a headache with this article cause clearly you know how you feel about this lol... and the answer is soooo simple
Just go out and ride people... enjoy the moment.
  • 3 0
 This article is pretty contradictory....its a post on a somewhat social media site to brag about how much they dont brag on social media sites. Something doesnt seem right here
  • 2 0
 But we see the same Pro names every week up on here.. Facebook, Twitter and yes, Pinkbike, are all about getting the word out.. Something that humans just like to do, and now with these efficient ways of doing so, sharing the day has never been easier. The negativity your expressing Mike is somewhat due to your own issues with it. Please don't write an article assuming we all feel the same way.
  • 2 0
 Togood, MickB; A-f*ckin'-men!! dbaser, how is not being on social media a choice to be alone forever? Never been on FB, yet astonishingly I have an active social life, get out a lot & have never had a shortage of riding partners if I wanted. Hmmm, go figure, must be because I learned to interact with my fellow humans face to face.
  • 1 0
 I enjoy telling stories about my rides on FB, even if people don't like them. It's simply entertainment.
  • 1 0
 @Jordan96Kelly No, it doesn't. Unlike Facebook, Pinkbike doesn't collect f***tons of your personal information in order to sell it and make money.
  • 2 1
 this is the only social media thing i have i don't even have a cell phone
  • 1 0
 I have an answer for all of you... WELCOME TO THE INTERNET! xD
  • 1 0
 @SwayyD43 I positive propped you, cuz you deserved it
  • 4 1
 Haha very good. I pos propped you. For having balls. The neg prop thing is gay though. It's even an oxymoron, a prop holds you up. Props is a purely good thing. Neg prop.. they should rename it the 'whiney little tart' button. I understand many people like it, but I also understand many people like all manner of stupid shit. If you like it fine, but heavy users of it are cowards. Tell-tales.
  • 1 4
 yeq your right tobius. i dont like it when i get neg propped just by the fact that i werent on topic or that my tought werent completly right. neg propped should only be used for people that are completly trolling or being completly negative insulting others, some people that werent negative at all and getting neg proped some of them coud feel insulted, but many people don t even care about that while others really care. anyway hope to get many neg props i dont care because i can have that and dont care what most people think of me. and heres my message be yourself and dont let them take you down. if they are low. just be strong and believe in the ones that deserve it
  • 59 6
 Not on Facebook & have no plans to join.

The world of 'Likes' and Hashtags is alien to me.
  • 2 0
 I just need it for competitions XD
  • 12 1
 Amen, it's a world of sh*t not needed in my life...
  • 11 15
flag jervis FL (May 16, 2014 at 3:12) (Below Threshold)
 "The world of 'Likes' and Hashtags is alien to me." - jimferno

Then how is it you are able to make a comment about them if said world is so alien to you...
  • 27 1
 UFO's and little green men are alien to me, but I still know what they are.
  • 13 1
 *slow clap*
  • 12 2
 Lol, loving the insecure, overcompensation in first three comments of this little thread. Lets start a little club for everyone who's not on social media, because that's a badge which should be worn with pride. FB is great for staying in touch with people who aren't in your immediate life any more. I have loads of friends from my time in Europe and without FB it would be much more difficult.
  • 8 1
 I'm not sure why some people are anti-Facebook the way these guys are. The Facebook experience is what you make of it. I don't see Facebook and a 'world of shit' or 'likes and hashtags' because I have full control over what I see on my newsfeed. I'm not friends with any morons or douchebags. I'm friends with people/pages I want to hear from/follow, and people I know have an interest in what I'm doing. That's it. If used correctly it's a fantastic and easy way to keep in touch with people where it might otherwise be difficult.
  • 11 3
 Not sure how facebook "friends" can be considered actual friends if you can't keep them via direct contact. It actually takes some effort to make and have real life friends. With facebook, I think it's more like having a collection of pokemons.
  • 2 0
 And the "gotta catch 'em all" rule seems to apply.

I remember in 9th grade I got bullied because I only added my real friends on facebook, so I only had 60 friends whereas other people had like 400 "friends". That's when I decided to delete my account. And it really isn't a problem, there's tons of other ways to stay in touch with people.
  • 2 0
 my point is thus, people spend enough time at a screen with work. Facebook, tv, video games etc are more screen time, personally I'd rather be making something or out and about than in front of another screen. send long distance friends letters in the post, means more and it's nice to receive something in the post that isn't a bill sometimes. facebook may enable people to keep in touch better but diminishes the meaning behind the actions because of the ease. true also that because of it's impersonal and distancing nature people reveal a darker side in some circumstances which others can't escape from with quite horrendous results. anyway rant over just saying it may have its good points for some but also has consequences for others this cannot be denied. Anyway rant over, for once in the UK it's sunny so after work it's bike time...
  • 2 0
 Sooper-noob - Why do you assume that Facebook friends are people that one can't also keep in direct contact with? People are busy, sometimes you can't have regular phone calls and conversations. I have good friends I grew up with that now live 1000 miles away. We have different types of schedules, they have kids etc. Its not easy to have a regular phone calls or even see each other for sometimes years at a time. What Facebook always us to do is keep up with what we are doing, despite the busy schedules. Even if we are not having a conversation on there I like seeing that my best friends kid is playing little league, or that his daughter had her kindergarten graduation etc.
  • 1 0
 Same here, if I want to share some photos from my ride, I e-mail them to the few selected people who may give a damn about it, I don't see any reason for sharing it with 100+ people if half of them haven't ridden a bicycle in last 10 years.
  • 36 0
 I think about what to name my ride on Strava while still on the ride.... FML
  • 6 1
 I thought I was the only one. Tho I must admit that what sounds great during the ride, later is not so good.
  • 6 1
 Never thought about doing that, this is gonna optimise my strava ride logging process so much!
  • 7 4
 Recently I am observing a new trend among my bikers I have on FB: GoProing attempts to set KOM on Strava... Putting link to Strava segment under Gopro footage is something special... if you didn't gopro your Strava or if you didn't Strava your Gopro - it didn't happen!
  • 3 0
 They have too much time on their hands. Just ride longer.
  • 9 0
 Haha sometimes its helps keep your mind off the pain when you are hammering the climbs...

I'll occasionally share my Strava on Facebook but only when its something gnarly with over 4500ft of climbing...its fun to rub it in to your old high school classmates that are prob just waking up from a drunken slumber as you are just getting done slaying singletrack for the last six hours... Can always throw in #whileyouweresleeping for full effect..
  • 1 2
 Same here...
  • 1 0
 It takes a strong man to admit to that here on PB. Welcome. Wink #hashtagtwelvestepstravaprogram
  • 4 1
 Whenever I post a comment on PB or publish one of irritating articles I am hoping someone will write an email to me and say that they will sponsor me and write my name into Mountain Biking Hall of Fame, which means that they prepared a party in California, they will pay the flight and accomodation and they want me to hold a 2h speech... this is my humble wish, I believe that it will happen, This post is bringing me closer to that goal. I am sure that when someone is posting Strava segment to FB they are hoping for no less than that... Do not wait for a miracle! Post your ride! Windows of opportunity are open to those who are prepared to jump through them! pffffkhhyhyhymmm ekhem khem... excuse me khe khe
  • 2 0
 It's all about google hits, SEO and ab shots, my man... There's an art to being a social media whore. Wink

(And in all reality, that shit actually does happen -- I have a friend who has insane fitness sponsorships, speaking gigs and has made a full-time career out of posting her meals and workouts on IG and has 100k+ followers. Seriously. It's f*cking wild.)
  • 1 0
 Waki has it figured out. I'm going full bore FB and other axial media. Hopefully I'll have time to ride too.
  • 2 0
 *social media - wtf? Spell check on Apple.
  • 1 1
 Ambatt... my sister in law has a blog on dietetical food, which will soon be the most popular one in Poland and she's doing quite ok world wide on Gawker (I guess my translations are stopping her a bit). But she isn't doing as much quests for ratings as some people I know do posting riding stuff... she isn't too much of a media whore, because she is a very honest person and is affraid of loosing credibility. She probably does less than me yet she is freaking popular.

As the president of Specialized said: if you are into fame and money, then with MTB you are in the wrong business... health&fitness though...

Ok, end of this week where i had next to nothing to do at work, there will be less of me in coming weeks, sorry for crapping all over the place Wink Remember that arguments online are stupid and pointless. being a hipocrite does not mean that what you say is wrong.
  • 2 1
 I've found the only people who dislike/make fun of strava are the people that don't like to see how slow they are on their local trail..
  • 2 0
 I belong to subset of riders (I may be the only member of the subset) who suck and like strava.

I'm probably slower than slow.
  • 4 0
 Strava definitely helps you get faster..I raced dh for years but I stopped riding for about 8 years. When I got a bike again I started riding all mnt and using Strava. I couldn't believe how off the pace I was on my old trails..after using it for a year for training and to see my weaknesses I've dropped tons of time off every trail and am right up there in the top 5. There's allot of pros and fast guys using it at least around here so it's good motivation to go hard especially when riding solo when you otherwise might take it easy..I ride by myself allot so it makes me push it which makes you faster in the end..
  • 1 0
 Guilty!
  • 2 0
 Wydopen - whatever works for you to motivate you. Just make sure it motivates you to practice, not just pedal like an idiot Wink bad habits get born and grounded in a hurry. Hehehe just trolling, I can post tons of such motivational BS
  • 2 0
 Strava is the only social media I use. At least it restricts the people who find out I've been on a ride to those who give a f**k :-) I never bother with FB or any of that malarkey...

On a positive note I also see it as good motivation seeing (via Strava) my peers out on their bikes - I don't want to be left behind in the fitness stakes so that is my reason to hit the turbo (3 kids and being an hour away from any decent hills means I don't get to ride as often as I would like...), so its not just vanity for some...
  • 1 0
 Look, I am just farting jokes, I don't have any deeper emotional philosophy why Strava is good or bad. If someone wants to tell a joke about a tosser wanking his brain out by arguing on the internet, I will take it.
  • 1 0
 Pinkbike poll: Is your Strava use focus on the climbs or the descents?

I'm probably one of the biggest nerds here as I have go-proed my rides while timing them with a bar mounted timer while also Stravaing them. From this I discovered what local tracks Strava was accurate on and which it wasn't. +or- about 30 seconds was pretty normal. So now I just use my bar timer for practice.
  • 29 0
 If this poll were conducted on a CrossFit website, the results would be as follows:

What's Facebook? 0
Maybe once in a blue moon. 0
A few times a month. 0
A few times a week. 0
Every lift, snatch, squat. Want to see photos of every meal I've eaten recently? 100,000+
  • 1 0
 hahah @jordansmith
  • 5 1
 I just did a quick Google search... Is crossfit like gymnastics but for special people?
  • 1 0
 No, it's for losers who don't like fun. Just "results."
  • 19 0
 I welcome the "I went for a ride" updates. It's the mundane crap, food pics, whoooooa is me, or posting every damn mood your in updates that annoy and discourage me from Facebook. Not to mention uninformed, political or religious opinions and misspelled werds.
  • 3 1
 Misspelt
  • 18 0
 Oh dear, I've just seen what you did there. Sorry I'm a fool
  • 1 0
 Funny enough, the foodies probably think that the "I went for a ride" posts are mundane. That's the thing with social media - different styles are appealing to different people.
  • 16 0
 How much does a hipster weigh? One instagram Wink
  • 1 0
 And their propensity to tell the world that they hate/don't use BookFace.
  • 12 1
 Have to admit I am a complete attention whore !! I don't post every ride, but I do post roughly one a week . . . am I ashamed of this behaviour ?? No way !! I I love riding, particularly mountain biking, I wanna tell everyone of my mates how awesome it is !!!
If I can convert people to the biking lifestyle, I consider it a job well done.
  • 5 1
 +1, most of us want to brag about the glorious sport of mountain biking and that is perfectly OK.
  • 5 6
 Why do you think converting people to biking lifestyle is a good thing? Converting people to anything is mmm bad?
  • 2 0
 So if my friends read my statuses on mountain biking or watch one of my videos . . and then decide to give it a go them selves . . . this is bad ????? I can see why your name is WAKI.
  • 20 7
 Hashtag fags on Facebook...
  • 5 4
 #hashtagFag4lyf -_-
  • 10 6
 Hashfag?
  • 12 15
 Oh great, homo jokes will always find their fans here. Kinda regret reading the comment section again… Waki, I thought you were better.
  • 8 5
 What?! I think it is you who have issues going further in prejudging people to be xenophobic. Cross out people basing on one observation. But you are not alone, so well, be my guest.
  • 6 0
 #IHATEFACEBOOK
  • 6 0
 If you ride your bike and nobody is there to notice,..?
  • 7 0
 A hash cigarette?? Yes please!
  • 1 2
 Mmmmm, hash. Fag's not a loverly word, but it's one our society is pretty fluid with. This is not a kind place to those with thin skin, especially as nobody means offense to homosexuals specifically. Cheers man.
  • 2 0
 Yeah, sorry guys, really didn't think when posting, will try and remove Frown
  • 1 0
 No harm, no foul.
  • 1 0
 Downvote for poor choice of words.
  • 25 12
 INSTAGRAM!
  • 41 9
 yeah, crappy filters and all square photos of your handlebars! we are stoked too!
  • 13 1
 I think there are a lot of people telling fibs in the poll.
  • 13 1
 P.S If you don't like it just block it No need for a pissy rant about it
  • 10 2
 I just don't get why so many people have this 'proud not to be in social media' attitude. You are not cooler or less insecure than anyone else. You are actually selling yourselves short. Can something like Facebook turn into a shit show? Of course. But only if you let it. If you friend every idiot you've ever met, your not going to like logging on. If you friend only the people/pages/places you have an interest in, then you will find the experience to be much better. It's a fantastic way to keep in touch with people who may not be in you immediate circle of friends in who is an increasingly busy world. Yes you can say, 'I would call it text anyone I really care about anyway' but that total bullshit and people know it. It's impossible. And if Facebook provides and easier and faster way to keep those relationships, why bit use it?
  • 3 0
 "Can something like Facebook turn into a shit show? Of course. But only if you let it."

Well said.
  • 1 0
 It's only increasingly busy because you allow it to be.
  • 6 0
 Not on Facebook and never going to be, which BTW is why I was in a bit of a shock, when Pinkbike presented its new interface... kinda like Facebook.

And what kind of question is it anyway - "does it count as a ride, if I dont tell anyone.."? It counts to myself, so I dont care if it also counts to someone else.
  • 8 0
 Social networking is all just information harvesting. Everything they can find out about you can and will be used against you. Most likely for profit.
  • 1 0
 This is it precisely. I used to use facebook, and now that I'm off and don't miss it. When I see certain people that I don't get to see that often I try to catch up with them about their lives and I've had them hit me with the attitude of "I don't want to catch you up on my life it's all on facebook so you should just know what I'm up to." Yes so does the government, and a whole slew of companies that data mine from facebook "metadata". On top of that it's a huge time waster and name me one person who needs more of that. I understand people using it in scarcity just to keep up with people, but it's far too often become a replacement for real social interaction and just a big way to mine data from millions of willing people.
  • 1 2
 Yeah dude they're taking over maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan. Kinda like when High Times solved the mystery of who killed JFK right?
  • 13 3
 #MINIFLIPMONDAY
  • 6 1
 I ONLY use facebook for biking. I use a pseudonym so people I went to school with 20 years ago can't tell me what's on their mind. My entire friend list is people who bike and every group is a bike related. This is my only experience with social media.
  • 4 1
 "This is my only experience with social media."
apart from Pinkbike Wink
  • 3 0
 Haha! I guess you're right. Didn't really think of it that way. Well, if bike forums are social media, then that makes me social media whore!
  • 8 4
 Mike - There is an idea coming from one of best climbers of all time Voytek Kurtyka, who tried to write a book about climbing mountains for his whole life, but not until he got 66 he managed to do so. The reason he described was that he thought that writing a book is sharing experience and it makes sense ONLY if he can truly honestly express the feelings and experiences he had when being in the mountains, the beauty, transcendence, boredom, pain, excitement, fear, seeing best friends die, being close to death himself. You know, stuff of magnitude that mountain bikers barely even touch. After so many years trying he noticed that no matter what form of sharing tha experience he chooses, it is impossible to make someone see what he saw. Adding pictures to the book, CD with videos, interviews, he tried it all. Nope. So he ended up writing a false story "Chinese Maharaja" with many metaphores, hoping that someone will find what he meant.

Bottom line is: it is our feelings, our experiences, our mind is our temple, no one can get what we mean, therefore no one can truly appreciate our effort. How many artist are out there frustrated with unjust interpretations of their work. Keeping it to yourself is not bad, and no one will judge you, in fact no matter how much you post, no one really cares, but people closest to you. You know ones you meet often in real.

Cheers!
  • 4 0
 Kinda unrelated but you should read 'Mountains of the mind' by Robert McFarlane. It describes mankind's fixation with mountains, adventure and exploring the unknown. Essential reading for armchair adventurers if you ask me..
  • 1 0
 great book
  • 2 0
 Highly recommended indeed. Any tips for other adventure/wilderness/mountaineering books?
  • 1 0
 Just classics: Gaston Rebuffat - "Stairlight and storm", "Touching the void". I also highly recommend this documentary on Polish climbers in Himalaya, with english narrator and subtitles. Notice their absolute zero pimp level, provisoric equipment VS logos larger than face on majority of amateurs in the mountains... www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZ_wBf2t-_0
  • 1 0
 other than classics, I liked a lot "Kiss or Kill" by Mark Twight, a very peculiar climber.
  • 2 0
 Kurtyka, Wanda Rutkiewicz and Jerzy Kukuczka were some of my idols starting mountaineering. Simple fast tactics and tough as nails. "The Polish Syndrome" by Greg Childs is a good read about them.
  • 2 0
 Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
  • 2 0
 SithBike - ekhem - we are talking "the mountains" here, after writing the book you mention, Jon Krakauer is persona non grata... maybe if he is so much into wilderness and exposure he should have taken another way to climb Everest than being another commercial climber with Sherpas carrying his oxygen Wink It's a big mountain, many new ways to go up. Maybe... he could at least hire sherpas to get him up by West ridge? How did he know so much about the on-going tragedy while he was sitting in relative comfort of his tent perpared for him by Sherpas? I like Simone Moro's interpretation of the whole case.
  • 1 0
 In the end, it's a powerful and moving story. One that inspires people to search for alternate points of view. They should have a Sherpa tell it (giving bottle carrying climbers a reality check). Not only are they not getting fair pay and threatening strikes. Their lively hoods are at risk because helicopters are replacing them (of course you know all this). And yea, if you have used tanked oxygen to get to the top of Everest. I don't believe it counts. And it's about time someone rides a bike down that mountain (any volunteers). Haha. I'll warm up for riding down that mountain by first starting on the "smaller" K2 (safety first).
  • 1 0
 I'm not going into this oxygen or guiding bit, let them do whatever they want, it is a hell of an effort for anyone to even get to the base camp. If they want to start a company taking people to 8000m peaks in a chopper - be my guest. It's behind the corner anyways, with Ecurail choppers being adapted by AirZermatt for high altitude rescue. Also someone wants to adapt PUMA chopper which has more power. Messner himself said, that if they had the technology in 1970s they'd take chopper to the top and claim that they besieged the mountain.
  • 3 0
 I wonder what people did before social medias after they had been out for a ride...They must have felt extremely lonely what with not being able to tell their "friends" about the awesome ride they'd just had even before they cleaned their bike
  • 3 1
 There's this thing invented in the 1800s around the corner from my house. The guy's name was Alexander Graham Bell. I think he called it the telephone. He made a call from Brantford Ontario to one his buds a few miles away (they used miles back then). They chatted for while and we're amazed at how much easier it was to hook- up for a mountain bike ride. I think they rode in the Dundas Valley. Afterwards they called each other, (since there were no other people to call, this was after all the first telephone landline) and regaled the glory of that ride. The rest is history.
  • 4 2
 If the ride stoke was high enough, they lit a bonfire, got drunk and danced maniacally around until someone A, passed out with their leather foot wraps on and everyone drew on that person in charcoal or B, until someone started jumping the fire in an attempt to prove their manliness...

Shit. You know what those guys did? They wrote about their fun on the walls of caves with blood, charcoal or carvings. Hundreds of years later, crazy modernists would call the drawings 'archeological gold' instead of 'social media'.

It really wasn't any different, I don't think.
  • 7 0
 I hope this isn't serious.
  • 2 0
 lots of 'serious' articles around here lately. cutting edge stuff really.........
  • 3 0
 What? Isn't Pinkbike a social medium as well? So, I guess it's shameful to brag about a ride on Facebook (or other non-biking sites, Facebook =/= social media), but perfectly OK to do the same on Pinkbike? It has to be, because otherwise Pinkbike would not exist or would be forced to become just another biking news portal. I get the difference of course, the community here is actually interested, while on Facebook our biking pics might pass unnoticed or be considered waste of time by some, but the reasons we contribute anything to both are exactly the same.
I wholeheartedly agree with Mike's opinion about the counterproductive use of hashtags and call-outs (which in their own right are useful tools in a lot of software), but not so much with the main point of the article. I get the impression that it is just bashing Facebook in general that has become trendy as of late. Of course it does count as a ride if it is not shared, but if I do take some biking pics that I think are nice, what am I supposed to do with them? Watch them alone in the darkest corner of my flat or show them to some people to tell me whether they are utter crap or actually worth a look?
  • 1 0
 bingo. pb is social media.
  • 3 0
 I'm massively annoyed by my reliance on facebook to stop boredom. Its terrible that i cant sit for 5 mins without it. I'm also disturbed by the images and videos on there of dead people and accidents and such. I think peoples twisted voyeurism is a bigger problem than people talking about riding their bikes. Hash tags do piss me off hugely too.
  • 3 0
 It's all just opinion and I welcome that we all have different opinions. However, personally, I think this is b*llocks. I went out for a ride. I took a photo/video. I put it on Facebook saying "Been out on my bike. It was ACE!". My friends commented "Haven't been out on my bike in ages, I think we should go out next week?". We meet up and go out on bikes resulting in another ACE time...What's the frickin problem here?
If you have an inability to use the unfriend button or you simply failed to make the choice not to go on Facebook....do I care? No.
If you want to have a debate about things that p*ss us off, then surely we all get some input?Sorry Mike but, it grinds my gears when polls such as this show up on the front page of what is otherwise my favorite website in the history of the internet.
  • 3 0
 I don't even particularly like talking to people when I ride. Why would I ever want to tell them about it after the fact?

No thanks. I like keeping my solo rides solo, and letting my friends alert the world that we were out when I'm with a group. A big part of mountain biking, for me at least, is getting away from the world for a little bit, getting a rush, and whooping myself so I feel better about crushing beers later with my buddies.
  • 6 0
 Facebook? Lets not talk about mistakes of the past. Pinkbike is all I need.
  • 2 0
 You can just unfollow people who annoy you. It's also very different for the many people like myself who moved abroad/far for work but want to stay connected to the "scene".

On the other hand, Strava is great for being just social enough to know who is doing what and having the odd quick chat about it. It's not just for ?KOM sniping you know!
  • 2 0
 Everytime I got on a trail ride with friends they always insist to stop every dam 8 minutes to snap a picture for instagram or facebook. Needless to say, I bought a new Ipod shuffle and now ride alone 99% of the time. I can actually enjoy the ride now.
  • 2 0
 I love how Pinkbike says we need our sport more mainstream and then the editors post a message like this saying to not get everyone else hyped up and aware of our sport. Social Media is the easiest way and its how everyone says to me hey I want to try it out. Pinkbike Editors you need to stop contradicting each other. You are a business, have a common goal. Your goal I assume is to spread stoke for our sport and gain viewers for your bike ads you get paid for (cough 5.10 etc) You are failing each time you post some stupid mid size wheel debate or gripe about ebikes you were promoting a year ago but crying about yesterday. Pinkbike is on Facebook sharing all these hastags and cool photos..... #rantover #pinkbikesuckslately #pinkbikeneedsanewbusinessmodel #lovemy510s ha
  • 1 0
 I have a Facebook but don't really use it. unless there's a hilarious video of someone crashing that my mates who bike need to see. or if my brother has posted that he had to take the diversion to get to work because there was an accident on the A40, and he requires some brotherly abuse. horses for courses, if you want to splash your life all over the internet then go for it. I don't really want to but you can probably rely on me for an abusive comment if you've posted something criminally inane...
  • 6 1
 Never on FB. Don't want my boss to know I skipped out to go riding.
  • 4 2
 i just delete my whole FB accounts and whatsapp as well. The one and only important "social" media portal for me as a rider is PINKBIKE! F***** FB! Smile Feel FREE - in the Internet as well.
  • 1 0
 This is all goes down to personal opinion, I post photos of nearly every ride as I run a Facebook page as Loose Riders North England (and on my personal account) it gives you a chance to show different trails, bikes and share something you enjoy with friends and others in the riding community, Facebook is about your life and it gives you a chance to document what you have done and where you have been.. mountain biking is a part of my life so it makes sense, why post photos or statuses about some random crap that's not relevant to yourself?.. At the end of the day if people don't like it they know where the unfriend button is!
  • 1 0
 I race on Strava and then post it on facebook with a complimentary picture of the fancy brew I'm so cool to be drinking after the ride... + the "espresso art" picture of my morning coffee because I'm such an artist too !

Well to be honest I post when I ride on FB (sometimes...) just to give sh*t to my friends who stayed at home or had something else to do.. just a revenge for all the times I'm stuck at home or at work and my FB newsfeed is full of people talking about the glorious days of biking or skiing I just missed.
+ trail conditions update...
+ sharing the stoke to my close friends so hopefully next time they'll come with me !
  • 1 0
 I post very few pictures on Instagram or Facebook because I do a lot of riding solo and usually post a pic of something gnarly I climbed or descended and want to remember it or for someone local to give me more info on. However for my friends in other parts of the world who do not have a concept of MTB riding or only have riding option on bike paths, sidewalks and front yards they get to see trails (SoCal) they wouldn't ever see otherwise. I can be accused of posting every Endomondo ride log but it only takes one button click.
  • 1 0
 Pinkbike pans social media and our use of it, then encourages us to follow THEM on it? Newsflash Pinkbike: you're alienating your audience and you wouldn't be half as successful as you are if not for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
  • 1 0
 Strava has helped me meet a lot of people and really improve my riding. The purists hate it but for people just getting into the sport its actually super beneficial, statistically, and socially for bettering your riding. No need to snipe KM's/take a thousand pictures. Also, it's super motivational seeing everyone else out there riding, makes you want to step it up another level.
  • 5 0
 if you didn't take pictures did you actually ride?
  • 1 0
 Woooaaahh now I'm not usually one to lose my mind over these petty recursive debates, but hold on a second.... "Does a ride count as a ride if you don't tell everyone about it?"... Seriously... I'm not going to deny that I post pictures of an outing every now and again, but I can't see how who knows about it in any way affects its legitimacy, just how!?!? Pre-social media was it the case that if you didn't write a letter or phone to your friends telling them about your excursions they just didn't exist? Where's the logic? Okay... So perhaps they don't exist in the eyes of your friends but as the article says why would that matter... You go for a ride as a self indulgence right? It's not for anyone else's benefit, so why does it matter. That said, I'd like to be clear that I'm not saying people shouldn't share their rides, actually I don't see much wrong with sharing your passion, that seems pretty normal. However if it's just for the sake of "look at me" yadda yadda then well... perhaps you aren't getting the value I feel I get from just the ride, and need the brag fest afterwards.

As this is my opinion I understand people may not agree with me, which is fine!
  • 3 0
 I kind of agree -- after all, Louis and Clark sent letters and entire live f*cking animals back to the White House during their adventures. Gold rush miners would send telegrams. Indigenous people would have entire multi-day ceremonies about a boy's first kill -- humans are wired to share joy.

That's part of what makes us especially weird. We're social animals. It's a wolf's version of a pack howl. We want to share our joy (or stoke or sadness or rage) with the people around us. These days, it happens online.
  • 1 0
 I only post interesting stuff from my rides. Like awesome sunset, or a storm at the sea, or when I encounter wild life and able to take a pic. I don't understand flooders, no one is interested in your yet another boring ride.
  • 2 1
 Who cares what others did ate or stared stupidly at in the real world worry about when your getting out for your next ride ! And ill never have a f#^kbook account to busy riding working or out having fun ! Who has time for that stalking crap.
  • 1 0
 I have to say, I rarely let people know I'm on a ride unless I want them to join me, but several of my mates insist in doing a post ride upload of strava times and photos. I don't tend to read them and they get in my t*ts a bit, but I understand why they do it. We all ride bikes for fun, and it's a way of sharing that fun with others. Unfortunately they just haven't realised yet that it doesn't have the same intentions as they hoped for, and is just annoying.
  • 1 0
 Anyone who's opinion i care about has my number for a chat or we will meet up to ride, have a beer, socialise etc. Facebook is crap, breeding a generation of idiots unable to communicate, evidence of this is the current year of apprentices my work has taken on. I am confident enough in myself that i dont have to share what i do to random people in order to feel loved, i ride my bike, have fun with mates, put my bike away, plan the next ride.
  • 1 0
 Social media? It's all about pride and vanity. It's a huge vanity fair and a big business, just like any other businesses based on one of the seven deadly sins. Well, although it may not be as lucrative as anger (war industry), lust (sex industry) or greed (money industry).
  • 3 0
 Funny, railing against online social networks when you manage a website that relies on social networks for profitability. Well played sir.
  • 2 1
 I use Facebook. First I started using it as a way for my relatives in the Philippines to be able to see what I've been up to, how my little girl is growing up, life in the states, etc. I randomly post pictures of a ride, maybe twice a month. I know that a lot of my friends like seeing the mountains since they don't have them where they live. Other than the occasional bike pic, pic of my little girl, or pic of my VW bus, I don't really post much. I just know that a lot of my close friends that are spread out across the country like to feel like they're "up to date" on what old friends are up to instead of not knowing anything at all.
I do hate how some idiots constantly use it to complain about how depressed they are, or they just keep sharing motivational quotes over and over.
Most of my Facebook time is on the 'throne'. That's when I catch up on cool car postings from other pages, MMA news, and random world news. If it weren't for Facebook, I'd probably be completely out of touch with what's going on around me in the world of basically everything.
  • 1 0
 Toilet social media-ing is the best thing since not dropping your phone in the bowl.
  • 2 0
 I hate meals and sh.tty photos and post like that !! but bikes photos.. its different, its good to see how your friends progressing, racing, having good times in bikeparks, mountains etc. Wink
  • 1 0
 Strava! That is where my friends let everyone know which bike they rode and how they felt. The fat bike riders love to let everyone know they rode. Singlespeeders and interval junkies are just as bad. Women love to talk it up.
  • 2 0
 What with strava, Facebook,Twitter,Vimeo,YouTube, Instagram.
You can't seriously tell me that less than 10% percent of pinkbikers regularly use social media as a means to record/tell their exploits!
  • 1 0
 I don't really post photos of rides/STRAVA times/'epic shit' unless it really is epic and gleefully fun stuff that would inspire a friend on Facespace/Instagram to call me up so we can shred.

Usually I just post shit about how much I love bikes. Or how much I hate pollution. It's 50/50.
  • 1 0
 Facebook I use to talk to friends from out of town and post pictures so my family/friends can see but if you like or comment no one else can see it and finding me on Facebook is a pain in the ass but I like it that way...

but most Facebook users want, Drama, Attention and posting selfies...
  • 1 0
 Your thought process is flawed.
Why would you NOT post photos of an epic ride. A face full of mud. Your buddy crashing. Or that gorgeous view you stopped to take a break at??? You are not bragging, you are sharing your experiences with those around you.

These are positive things, things you enjoy and love doing. If you don't post these to Facebook, what will you post? What you ate for dinner?

I don't know about you, but I have well under 100 friends on Facebook. If I don't see someone on a monthly basis, or they are family... I don't need to know what you are doing. So those baby photos, food shots, and ride experiences that show up in my feed - are completely relevant!

If you are bitching about the things you see on Facebook, and wondering why you post photos.... Maybe it's time for you to clean up your friends list, or take a break from it. Or you could cheer the f*ck up - cause you kind of sound like a downer.
  • 1 0
 I'll occasionally post a video of a trail but that's about it. As for all the hating on facebook, what about Strava it's social media and I'm sure a large number of people here use it and therefore share their rides....
  • 3 2
 I think a lot of it is because of Facebooks marketing. They have drilled it into us that we need to share what we do, share it with out friends and family, keep us close together.
  • 2 0
 I like to see photos of friends riding and know what they've been doing. So I post one photo per ride myself too. It's summer Mike, cheer up.
  • 1 1
 Gotta remember a lot of the time Facebook an other sites share an post activity an info without the users knowledge, all done automatically without the user having to do anything. It's actually more hassle to switch this file sharing off than it is to do it in the first place!!
  • 2 0
 I had an account in fb for one day. I started receiving messages from chicks I met when single. Had to shut that temptation's box!!
  • 3 0
 POST ALL THE RIDES because I'm the organizer of my schools mountain bike club
  • 4 0
 Looking at posts about riding gets me stoked to go out riding even more..
  • 2 1
 Picture, fb status, gps file upload, twitter, hashtag, video, strava segment, instagram, snapchat, viber, whatsapp, linkedin, BBM, yellow pages and a local notice board. In this very order. ...or it never happened!
  • 1 0
 The people who care to post the photos of the ride want people to think idk what. Meanwhile the real riders are still shredding no time to stop for a picture that will just F up the flow!
  • 3 0
 My buddies who care will be with me on the ride, so no point in telling anybody.
  • 1 0
 To quote a great movie:

Jacob [discussing "the butterfly effect"]: "... like, you step on a bug, and the f***in' Internet's never invented."
Lou: "Oh, then you have to talk to girls with your mouth.
  • 2 0
 Sharing some riding pics is on Facebook or whatever is fine, but if I ever post a Strava ride on Facebook, one of you put a bullet in the back of my head.
  • 1 0
 I joined FB a few months ago. I post up pics from rides which I find more interesting than seeing pics of cats or babies, and dramatic memes.
  • 1 0
 I just post these kinds of things so that I can go back through my posts in a few years time and think, "Wow what great memories."
  • 1 0
 It's all well and good using a few hashtags every so often, so people can find your stuff easily, saying full sentences using the f*ckers? #f*ck #off
  • 4 0
 Hashtags are not implemented that way on Facebook; posts are archived on hashtag pages for less than a week. They serve purely as a one-man high five from the author to himself.
  • 1 0
 I always say what a great day I've had riding , tag my friends in it etc, but that's all I use Facebook for. No food, no babies, just bikes!
  • 2 0
 If you're getting rad and no one is there to see it, are you really getting rad?
  • 2 0
 go and like downhill memes on facebook, it makes your news feed a little more interesting......
  • 2 0
 Prompted me to get involved.... the 'memes' is awesome, there are some funny people out there.... :-)
  • 1 0
 Can't remember off the top of my head the last time I updated my status on FB. I mainly use it to stay in touch with my bro and my classmates
  • 1 0
 I use facebook just to check babes pics of the friends of my friends, so please add me to your account to see your friends pls !!!!

:P
  • 2 0
 My pinkbike profile is as socialmedia as I get. I used to do facebook a few years ago. I am much happier without.
  • 1 0
 IMO it actually counts more if you don't post about it anywhere...means you're generally into the ride for the sake of being into the ride only.
  • 1 0
 I gave up on fb about 6 months ago for these same reasons. I now just use the message service as an easy and free way to talk bs to my mates. Which is ironic...maybe.
  • 1 0
 Only about 25% of my friends on Facebook ride bikes. I don't want to be one of those guys begging for attention by bragging about my rides to those who don't care.
  • 1 0
 Who cares if you share rides or not. OH oh yeah..... people on facebook. If you ride and feel the need to tell people about it cool. Facebook is all about me anyways lol.
  • 1 0
 Facebook is a great (& most important, free) tool to promote your business, I use it this way with positive results. I don't have a personal account and I don't plan to.
  • 1 0
 No i only want to see baby photo's, 3pm nightclub duckfaces and food food food.. I'm sorry when i post a ride and my non biking friends aren't interested...
  • 4 3
 No, I'm not insecure and don't need my "friends" approving of my gnar... If they weren't there, they are not my friends.
  • 1 0
 I will post that I'm going for a ride in hopes that someone else wants to come. I'm hitting the trails, who's down?
  • 1 0
 pink bike was founded by posting pictures... same thing as social media.... stick to what the pros are up to
  • 1 0
 Being popular on Facebook is like sitting at the cool table in a cafeteria at a mental hospital....
  • 3 0
 Instabike
  • 2 0
 Where is the "It's a real ride so I don't post it on facebook" option ?
  • 3 1
 Is Strava not a form of social media?.......guilty as charged
  • 2 1
 Where's the "never" option?

I don't even upload my satellite tracks from my phone.
  • 5 3
 I don't even track my ride, I masturbated only few times to check if 29er is faster than 26er on my trail... oh dear...
  • 1 1
 That was funny!
  • 1 1
 When the system turns against us sky net will know where you are via sat nav STRAVA FB and others .we are all going to die lol
  • 2 0
 Love this short article. Classic.
  • 2 0
 My buddy always says, "If it didn't happen on Strava, it didn't happen."
  • 1 0
 ^this
  • 1 0
 The selfie generation. ..ah look at me(but sharing is caring)
The less I think of myself, the more selfless I become.
  • 1 0
 I'm not important enough to post every detail of my life on Facebook. All of my rides count.
  • 1 0
 Hate on the social media all you want, but being good at it can help almost any career.
  • 1 0
 Does sharing my Sportypal ride on FB count? If it does, then yes-- guilty as charged!
  • 1 0
 I use social media more just to show off my bikes
  • 1 0
 Careful, the Vancouver ripper is still at large..
  • 1 0
 I´ve killed my FB account :p
  • 1 0
 Why do people need a pat on the back all the time by posting crap?
  • 3 2
 #TBT to when this argument first came up.

Bro.
  • 1 0
 I wanna know how many shared this article?
  • 2 0
 Pics or It Didn't Happen
  • 1 0
 First thing we need is a "dislike" button on Facebook.
  • 1 2
 Never used the neg prop button, but you just tempted me.
  • 1 0
 fakest Answers ever. Come On
  • 1 0
 All about #turnbartuesday and #scrubbedoutsaturdays
  • 1 0
 The EVIL BOOK OF FACES, AAAARRRRGGGGHH!!!!
  • 2 1
 #gashtag
  • 1 0
 Facial world entrapment
  • 1 0
 Facebox has gone
  • 3 2
 Strava all day everyday.
  • 1 0
 No Facebook. YES STRAVA
  • 5 7
 Proudly not on any so-called "social" network here.
  • 17 0
 You're on Pinkbike, aren't you ? Wink
  • 7 1
 Yeah but if you've been on here long enough, you never joined a social network site, it just became one Wink







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