JSTootell

You know what turns a green trail into something harder? Speed! I hit one of the local bike park green trails, a trail built for beginners and kids, but after hours when the lift was closed. Wide open, had it all to myself. And I hit it maxed out. Corners that should be so easy suddenly requires precision. Dull corners suddenly became a challenge to avoid sliding out. Tiny rock rolls were now getting you airborne. What a fucking blast!

It is these trails that are being dumbed down.

The trails I am talking about people are literally removing black or above features. Example: a local trail an XC dude built about 10 years ago had a spot where you had to perfectly time your pedal strokes to not pedal strike a big rock. It was a feature in a technical area. Very easy for a seasoned rider, but it slowed you down and made you think. That trail helped teach my new rider GF managing your energy and pedal strike timing. Now that rock has been dug out so you can just fly through there. On the exact same trail, only feet away, another friend spotted a bonus feature that added a level of challenge, and actually made the trail slower. You had to ride up the face of a steep boulder, which required a lot of momentum, then make a sudden sharp turn at the top and roll down the other side on a sudden drop off. Only the best local riders would do it. Now? The roll off side is so stacked with rocks that any intermediate rider can do it with ease. Just two examples within 5' of each other on one trail, a trail built by a guy who rides an XC hardtail. Dumbed down so the eBros can fly through as fast as possible.

This is my first time logging on to PB in a while now. The algorithm suggested this for me... weird. This has absolutely been my experience, and huge swathes of people would downvote or argue with me saying I'm making shit up. I don't even tell people I'm a mountain biker anymore because I don't even feel like I'm a part of the community. All of my trails are straight lines. Every technical feature has been removed, or been filled in so anyone can do them. Trails that were specifically built FOR those features! I'm just not a part of that group of people, and they have ruined all of my trails. Literally all of them. Not a single one has been untouched., with the exception of the trails that have been abandoned or taken over by dirt bikes (who started showing up WITH the pedal ebikes). I have to travel to enjoy riding my MTB anymore, because everything local just sucks now. So I'm officially a roadie, except when I pack up the van and go ride somewhere like St. George or Mammoth. Sadly, even my girlfriend who is a Covid rider has witnessed it. The trails she cut her teeth on have turned into straight line garbage. And I quit listening to the pod because of all the ebike shilling. It's garbage now. I started listening to Levy talk about road bikes though on the Velo podcast, because at least they are talking about doing challenging adventures, not dumbing everything down.

I don't know if it is related, but I have been having less and less fun dodging bropeds on the trail, and more fun riding my road bike. Very, very, VERY few electric road bikes showing up. If I hit a hard group ride, everyone is there to work hard*. Way more fun being out there working hard with like minded people. Still enjoy racing XC, where surprise, no motors are involved. Broke my Enduro on a ride a few months ago (along with my toe) and I only recently pulled it out of the van to inspect the frame for damage (still need to inspect the fork). Just not motivated to ride the trails. *The only guy I see with an electic road bike is a rolling road block because he lacks the skills to ride safely. Also drives a deplorean.

It's not?

Vast majority of mult miles are road. How o get to work everyday*. I can just roll out my front door and ride anywhere I want. *Got a warning ticket by the local police for "storing my vehicle" on the street because I don't drive enough.

I always thought MX was dirt biking.

I was a trail runner before bikes, I will be a trail runner after bikes.

@superkeen: my poor 150 is already being forgotten:(