Pinkbike Poll: Will Mountain Biking Ever Be a Mainstream Sport?
What if mountain biking were a “mainstream” sport? One that had same number of rabid fans as those sports where overpaid men chase a ball around a field. Is that even a feasible option? As it is right now, whenever mountain biking appears on TV it's either a clip of a horrendous crash or a monster jump, footage shown simply for the pure shock value, which likely won't do much for the sport except get a few brands a couple precious seconds of exposure.
The mountain bike industry's quest to get in the mainstream media spotlight is understandable. Television's reach is immense, providing brands instant access to a captive audience of millions, and even just a brief amount of air time can translate into sales. However, it's how the sport is portrayed that becomes the issue, with the tendency being to showcase the most extreme and dangerous portions of the sport, the aspects that make it seem more like a carnival sideshow instead of an activity for the whole family. Footage of Kelly McGarry's backflip at the Red Bull Rampage has wracked up over 15 million views, impressive numbers, but how many of those viewers are actually going to be inspired to take up mountain biking after watching that? Or look at Kyle Strait's appearance on The Weather Channel; Kyle handled himself like a true professional, but the hosts fill the interview full of words like 'extreme,' 'crazy,' 'insane,' words that once again push the sport into the realm of something reserved for stuntmen and circus freaks.
![Brendog had his canyon gap dialled.]()
While it makes for exciting spectating, is this how we want the sport of mountain biking seen by the general public?
Rather than chasing television time with the most outlandish portions of the sport, why not try to grow it from within? And by growth, I mean attract actual participants, not just fans. Soccer may have billions of fans, but how many of those fans actually possess any passable soccer skills? Or in America, where the top most viewed sport is football, but the number of actual people who actually play the sport is less than that of mountain biking. The chances that a randomly selected American football fan could even run a lap around the field are pretty slim, especially since more than 1/3 of the US population is obese.
With statistics like that, it's not surprising that mountain biking's growth isn't skyrocketing. It's a physically demanding sport, one that takes a higher level of fitness to participate in than say bowling or table tennis, sports that can be performed with one hand while the other grips a double bacon cheeseburger. It requires access to trails, which can be difficult, especially in urban environments. Plus, the initial investment can be daunting, although there are plenty of people who don't blink at shelling out $1,000 for a TV, but whine about mountain biking being too expensive.
![Don t say epic. Oh please don t say epic.]()
It might not be 'extreme,' but imagery like this makes mountain biking look more feasible to someone who's never been off-road before.
Attracting more riders starts at the local level, by building a community of involved, passionate mountain bikers. Local bike shops should be the hub, the nexus where group rides originate, where grassroots race teams form, and where riders of all levels feel comfortable gathering. Trail advocacy groups are crucial as well, since without trails, there's no point in trying to attract participants. Mountain biking already has a strong core group of addicted riders, the challenge is encouraging more people to give it a try. Portraying mountain biking as something solely for kids jacked up on Mountain Dew does little to help this, and instead feeds into a skewed public perception about the sport.
Will mountain biking ever reach the popularity levels of soccer, baseball, and football? I doubt it, but I'd love to be proven wrong. But at the same time, I'd be perfectly content with seeing mountain biking grow naturally, gaining participants of all ages, rather than seeing it shilled on TV as a sport for lunatics.
What do you think? Where do you see the sport of mountain biking heading? Vote and voice your opinions below
The mountain bike industry's quest to get in the mainstream media spotlight is understandable. Television's reach is immense, providing brands instant access to a captive audience of millions, and even just a brief amount of air time can translate into sales. However, it's how the sport is portrayed that becomes the issue, with the tendency being to showcase the most extreme and dangerous portions of the sport, the aspects that make it seem more like a carnival sideshow instead of an activity for the whole family. Footage of Kelly McGarry's backflip at the Red Bull Rampage has wracked up over 15 million views, impressive numbers, but how many of those viewers are actually going to be inspired to take up mountain biking after watching that? Or look at Kyle Strait's appearance on The Weather Channel; Kyle handled himself like a true professional, but the hosts fill the interview full of words like 'extreme,' 'crazy,' 'insane,' words that once again push the sport into the realm of something reserved for stuntmen and circus freaks.
Rather than chasing television time with the most outlandish portions of the sport, why not try to grow it from within? And by growth, I mean attract actual participants, not just fans. Soccer may have billions of fans, but how many of those fans actually possess any passable soccer skills? Or in America, where the top most viewed sport is football, but the number of actual people who actually play the sport is less than that of mountain biking. The chances that a randomly selected American football fan could even run a lap around the field are pretty slim, especially since more than 1/3 of the US population is obese.
With statistics like that, it's not surprising that mountain biking's growth isn't skyrocketing. It's a physically demanding sport, one that takes a higher level of fitness to participate in than say bowling or table tennis, sports that can be performed with one hand while the other grips a double bacon cheeseburger. It requires access to trails, which can be difficult, especially in urban environments. Plus, the initial investment can be daunting, although there are plenty of people who don't blink at shelling out $1,000 for a TV, but whine about mountain biking being too expensive.
Attracting more riders starts at the local level, by building a community of involved, passionate mountain bikers. Local bike shops should be the hub, the nexus where group rides originate, where grassroots race teams form, and where riders of all levels feel comfortable gathering. Trail advocacy groups are crucial as well, since without trails, there's no point in trying to attract participants. Mountain biking already has a strong core group of addicted riders, the challenge is encouraging more people to give it a try. Portraying mountain biking as something solely for kids jacked up on Mountain Dew does little to help this, and instead feeds into a skewed public perception about the sport.
Will mountain biking ever reach the popularity levels of soccer, baseball, and football? I doubt it, but I'd love to be proven wrong. But at the same time, I'd be perfectly content with seeing mountain biking grow naturally, gaining participants of all ages, rather than seeing it shilled on TV as a sport for lunatics.
What do you think? Where do you see the sport of mountain biking heading? Vote and voice your opinions below
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heres why
the name 'Mountain Biking' is a pretty wide bracket including XC, FR, 4X, AM, DJ, DH, trail riding and yes Enduro....
XC is probably the most popular even AM depending on your terrain
SO
lets say we make MTB more mainstream an popular, well thats more than likely gonna mean more XC off roadies an gentle trail riders
more riders holding back trail development, smashing down dirt jumps, moaning that FR trails are too demanding
where I live my local trail centre is 100% XC off roadies, the trail building they do is smoothing all the terrain thats too rutted,bumpy an gnarly for thier likes.. hell they even take puddles out of the trail! they cover dirt with perfectly machine flattened gravel trails
it sucks
I have approached them with the idea of a small section put aside for free riders to build maintain and manage thier own area
theyre not interested an down right rude about the concept
so NO
LESS MAIN STREAM PLEASE
I would also disagree that XC is the most popular form of riding. There is far, far less investment in XC than DH or road. Brian Cookson even said openly that British Cycling or the UCI wouldn't give it any more funding as there's no return on the pennies and very little interest.
Trail mincing must be the most popular form of riding, surely?
Stop being haters and jealous you look like big cry baby's!! Who cares if someone has a nice bike and can't ride the point is they want to learn and progress the sport and hopefully introduce there kids like i did a few years back.
Ohhhh sorry I should have said I can't try this sport cause I'm not as hardcore as beardless gnarly rider! Guess what with your attitude mtb will die out and become extinct! Just ride your bike and stop your whining
I said that there's nothing wrong with trail centres catering for the masses as that is exactly what they were designed to do and it is great that more people can enjoy the sport. If you feel you are too gnar for trail centres then get out in the mountains. This is quite a UK specific comment I realise as we don't have trail networks like on the North Shore or any real Bike Parks to speak of (BPW isn't in the mould of Whistler for example). You have to understand that a "trail centre" in the UK is somewhere for people of all ages and abilities to find something fun to ride without any real planning. Plenty outside this for the more experienced rider.
Not sure if the trail mincing part touched a nerve? Just a light hearted observation and no need to judge or take it to heart. I ride a 80mm XC bike anywhere and everywhere and ride with people with everything from rigid singlespeeds to 7 inch enduro bikes. We all ride the same stuff and all have fun so no need to judge
If mountain biking (freeride, racing, xc, dh, enduro, etc.) as a whole wanted to be labeled mainstream - it'd have to beat out road cycling, lacrosse, NASCAR, golf, college sports, hockey, soccer, baseball and basketball on any given day. That's not going to happen.
Instagram:
#football - 8.5 million posts
#soccer - 7.7 million posts
#basketball - 4.2 million posts
#mountainbike - 319,000 posts
Also, mountain biking is dangerous. I mean look at what CG did with a low speed crash and a brake lever. Even if it's statistically safer than other sports, people have already gotten that idea from seeing Rampage on TV and too many viral crash vids (Fails for Your Friday don't help!).
I think mainstream means taking it to a level where it's both accessible and progressible (new word!). That means that little kids can ride, race, and have fun with the goal or dream of making it in "the big leagues" like national level racing or World Cups. Look at football (US), there are PeeWee leagues all the way up to Pro. Mountain bike has Pro...and everyone else, with not much in between. Becoming "mainstream" will probably skew more trails to the bottom end of the skill curve because that's where the majority of riders will be. I don't think you can stop this, you can only whine about it.
Last bit of this rant: more riders = more money = more trails. Cities, counties, states, etc. derive how much funding a project should get by how much use it will generate. Oh, you want a park that looks nice but is never used? Nope. Oh, you want to add some green/blue level trails to get people circulating through the park? Yeah, that's more interesting, let's try that.
www.pinkbike.com/photo/10094549
It's disappointing that the NSMBA has sold out to the DNV and now only caters to riders who are beginners or just aren't interested in pushing their limits and want to ride paved trails. While the rest of us who want challenging trails on the shore have no support and a steadily decreasing amount of challenging trails to ride.
a problem with mountain biking is that its not accessible. I've been mountain biking since 1986, and BMX since 1981.
As much as I love mountain biking, my current location in London requires a 1+ hour journey just to get to proper off-road terrain where its worth riding the mountain bike. Time is short as I have a busy job and family, its really hard making a whole day to go for a mountain bike ride.
I cannot see myself selling my mountain bike, but my other bikes get much more use.
in contrast, I can roll out of my front door on my road bike, and start riding straight away, and its some pretty good riding.
When I was riding BMX, I could also roll out of my front door and have 2 skateparks and miles of street terrain within minutes of my front door.
this is not to degenerate mountain biking, or promote road cycling, but just to admit one is not accessible (the mtb), the other is very accessible (the road)
unless you are lucky enough to live in a rural area with good access to trails, woods and mountains, its not going to be worth the investment
compared to investing in a road bike (or BMX) which can be easily used and enjoyed in urban environments
There's still plenty of gnar to be ridden on the Shore, and if you have concerns about the NSMBA "selling out" to other stakeholders on the mountain, I encourage you to show up to the AGM, or send Mark, Vince or myself an e-mail.
Cheers,
Matthew Lee
Director of Advocacy, NSMBA
All trails will require maintenance at some point regardless of initial construction. Loamers are unsustainable, but once worn down, become a sustainable punched-out river bed. Erosion is a natural process, nothing can be done to prevent it, so why not just embrace it and spend the time elsewhere... perhaps making and maintaining challenging dh and fr trails.
The main reason that challenging trails are not being built or maintained is not because they are "unsustainable" or that no one wants to ride them anymore. It is because the DNV does not want these types of trails to exist, for whatever reason (they are not liable for any injuries because they are protected by the Forest Practices Code of B.C. Act)
Continued below
This brings me to my point about the NSMBA selling out to the district. The NSMBA claims to be striving for/achieving a good relationship with the DNV so that they can live up to their motto: "Trails for all, trails forever." The second part of that motto may be true, but not the first part. Instead of aggressively pressuring the DNV or even just disregarding them as it used to be done. The NSMBA has sold out and now kisses the feet of the district by only building and maintaining beginner/xc/easy trails.
Since mountain biking has become such a popular sport on the North Shore, it would be impossible for the DNV to ban mountain biking on the slopes of Fromme and Seymour and/or decommission all of the trails. Therefore, by strength in numbers, the NSMBA has much more power than it is currently exercising.
Now, about attending trail days and AGMs to "put my shovel where my mouth is" or "don't bitch in, pitch in" (Mark Wood). I have attended agm's and trail days, both in the past and present. The general vibe of these events is to not say or do anything negative or that opposes the work that is being done by the NSMBA, as these people are labelled as the "vocal minority" and are no longer supported by the NSMBA.
I look forward to reading your reponse either on this board, or by PM'ing me.
If the NSMBA were to oppose what the DNV wanted and started building more stunts and challenging trails and the DNV decommissioned every single trail on the mountains. The trails would be cleared and rebuilt within a matter of weeks due to popularity of the sport. It has gotten to the point where it cannot be stopped, mountain biking is too well developed and besides that, a fairly large portion of the district's tourism revenue comes from outdoor recreation. No trails = no money.
Even if someone wanted to adopt trails such as Jerry Rig and Flying Circus, they would not be allowed to do so, and any work done on these trails would be decommissioned by the NSMBA, DNV, or both. It's not just that the NSMBA doesn't have the time and or money to built more challenging trails, it's that it is not allowed. So if someone like Dangerous Dan came back to the Shore, his trails would be decommissioned just like they were in the past.
"Erosion is a natural process, nothing can be done to prevent it, so why not just embrace it and spend the time elsewhere... perhaps making and maintaining challenging dh and fr trails."
I see your points above and feel some are valid but would you like to elaborate on this more?
Furthermore, erosion and sustainability are complete polar opposites. Part of the reason the DNV and Metro went after mountain bikers for years was the fear of causing erosion and landslides on both mountains. Trail systems can be built to last for decades (the work that was done by Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression is a testament to that), but the methods that were used in North Vancouver weren't. Punched-out creek beds are a sign of failure and long-term environmental damage, not success. Other stakeholders on the mountain love to hammer us with this at every single opportunity they can. Compounding the problem is the high rate of both traffic and precipitation that the Shore sees in comparison with other trail networks. Areas like Whistler or Squamish will see time over the winter to recover, while NS trails will see heavy usage year-round regardless of the weather.
Being oppositional to the DNV also gets us nowhere when it comes to things like expanding the trail network, and receiving funding for repairing the existing network. Many of the builders, including Digger were able to be paid to repair trail on the Shore; something that even five years ago was unthinkable, and was only possible by CO-OPERATION. Further re-construction of existing advanced and expert level trails relies on ongoing good relations with land managers. Fighting with them, rogue building, and antagonizing other user groups will get us kicked off the mountain, and looking a lot like Marin County. Nobody wants that to happen.
Finally, if you attended this year's AGM, you would have heard that phase one of TAP is being wound down, and that phase two, which will include the reconstruction of advanced and expert level features built to Whistler standards, will be ramping up over the next few seasons. Getting there takes time. Please be patient.
Trail work involves taking the long view: it's not just what people want now, it's what people are going to need five, ten, even fifteen years from now. If I can go back and ride something in a decade with the same people that helped craft the trail network today, I'd call that a success.
@caletonman: Thanks for the reply. I understand the NSMBA and your position on the trail maintenance issue, unfortunately it is not the same as mine. My only request for if/when phase two of TAP happens is that the trails do not resemble A-line or Bobsled style trails. There is already Whistler for that and I'd like to have the trails on the shore remain unique, challenging, steep, and fun. I will be the first one there if there ever does become an opportunity to rebuild trails like Air Supply, Jerry Rig, etc. to their former glory.
a big issue could be adding dh/ds to the olympics tho.. its also not in the guinness book of world records which would be an endless category of drops gaps etc
where as mountain biking is the opposite, it does not require a team, and therefore does not require the masses required to make it happen. It can be solitary and a test of oneself, it can be sociable to a close group of friends, it can be a race to niche number of like minded people. Due to mountain biking not being a team sport, it does not foster the tribal following, (The feeling that makes spectators feel a part of the proceedings just because they where there teams colours) that attracts mass spectator following, and therefore considered mainstream.
I for one am happy for it to stay, the way it is, grass roots led, easy to get into, healthy, and for those that want it, an incredible selection of professionals pushing the envelope on what we thought was possible, with joe public benefiting from both the specticle, and the trickle down technology.
Top pro's made 100 grand a year . Missy had Reebok commercial. Shawn Palmer showed up with huge attitude and style .x games had mtb (shandro was there ).people we have been there and done that .it was a cool time for our sport it grew us in leaps and bounds we still had all the little companies making bikes and components in 1000 different colours out of there garages .We had the attitude for.the times then if was as much about image, style and personality .people like tinker,Palmer and missy had the edge,look and talent to get huge money and sponsors to come knocking . This is how we got into the Olympics in the first place. back then it was less conformist,in your face ,on the edge sport then we have now . Granted what's being achieved on the bikes now is crazy comparedto what was going on back then, The gear and bikes made now are just amazing feats of engineering that allow the limits to be pushed . It's always been a expensivesport A titanium hard tail with xtr could run.
10k no problem, the places we can ride now are incredible .we are more a society and way of life now then we are a flash in the pan
Extreme sport, we had our glory days in the sun.just look at palmers mtb segment in his movie. This is a new chapter in mtb that's get to be written so just enjoy the ride
Seriously. I'm from off road desert racing in the Southwest. Our sport wanted to be huge too. But with it came the extra scrutiny from the Government and Sierra Club type organizations who worked feverishly to keep motorized vehicle out of state lands. And they won, to a certain degree. The same would happen to Mountain Biking because it aligns itself, to a certain degree, with motocross motorcycles and the off road following. Exploring and the freedom to go where the trails lead. And on machines with aggressive tires, running over plants and disturbing the natural terrain. Now, in AZ. we have fewer rights than horses or hikers. Horses can crap anywhere they like. But don't leave a tire mark on a rock!
There are those who believe that NOTHING should be on any trail. That the wilderness should be off limits to mankind in any form. Yup. and they take the time to vote. And they usually win. Because we're out riding, and enjoying our sport. Not working to further our political needs.
So let's keep riding, "Just Below The Radar." It's fine with me. Really!
Take BC for example. You're pretty likely to know people that mountain bike. Especially if you live near the mountains, or in a small town.
Out in the prairies? Not so much. They're there, there just aren't as many of them.
Mountain bike racing is a sport but is is a small niche. It may be quite popular but will never be like hockey, baseball, and football. Maybe more like competative swimming.
I love this part about riding though as it means when you are on your bike, you are a part of something, not just a random punter looking in on someone else doing the sport!
Watching baseball players that have pure athletic ability, but do know how to play the game, nor care about the game, while making $15 million a year guaranteed, whether they are bad or good for the length of the contract, makes watching/following/participating in Mountain Biking all the better, and a great escape.
I wish for a way to allow these Mountain Bike athletes to be paid like the elite athletes they are, but not have the sport ruined by what else comes with that.
Mountain Biking has no exposure now for people new to it, so most people know what mountain bikes are, just no clue what it actually is and all the different disciplines it contains. My old customers saw cross country racing and wanted to trail ride or race. Rampage was cool, but it won't get your average person wanting to go buy a bike. The new riders are the ones that spread the word of how fun it is to ride off road. Until that happens, it's never gonna grow again. So I don't think it will ever be mainstream or even partially mainstream again.
First of all, I experience a good mutual undertanding between the government, land owners and the MTB community where I live: MTB tracks are not smoothened out, but they are maintained (signs and the like) to prevent riders choosing their own routes and disturbing nature too much. Should MTB become a main stream sport it would be dfficult to retain this understanding woth bikers and tnedency to spread out throught the terrain and pollute/destroy nature will increase dramatically.
Furthermore, I experience riding not only as a sport but also as a chance to hang out with some really relaxed and layd back people. And I cannot loose the idea that people of the same sort are drawn in also because of the atmosphere.
As far as riding in general, XC/FR/DJ/Road is concerned: I myself am riding all sorts of bikes, and one of the nice things of bike riding in all of its forms is that EVERYONE can do it! Wether it's XC, DH, FR or any other type of riding, most people having a bit of skills and some guts can start on their own level, and allmost everyone can find a new challenge around the corner.
That being said, I agree with some people here that this should NOT mean that trails should be flattened like asphalt to accomodate Grandma on all of the trails!
most people don't do 20-30 feet jumps, huck on to the flat or run down a hill without brakes.
you can't compare it to football or rugby (or American football, hockey or baseball for the yanks etc)
this poll should have been titled differently - people don't equate jumping about on a BMX track or rampage as mountain biking because it isn't.
On the other hand Enduro is gaining traction too with more and more people moving from XC (the real mountain biking xc - not the aforementioned one) into the realm of trail and AM. Problem is we lack the proper trails - one has to go outside of Manila to find great trails.
If you consider mainstream to be widely known and participated, then I think MTB is already there. Freeriding and DH is a small discipline of a broader sport, XC/AM dominates in terms of numbers and accessibility and my gut tells me that participation levels are already approaching mainstream levels.
yes, we "mountain" bike. I find it hard to relate to mainstream mountain biking when my focus is just 1% of all "mountain biking" i.e. solely on the extreme side of the sport. a lot of PB content these days seems irrelevant to me
2c
Do I want to admit to myself that mountain biking may be mainstream? Not really, because much of the appeal of mountain biking is that I am seeing and doing things that MOST people don't do or see outside of my 'community'.
I am a minority, & happy to be so
Sure the numbers are not massive yet, however they are clearly increasing.
I hope it does not become too big as it will cause huge issues with access and red socks (ramblers) and similar. On the other hand if we get bigger as a sport then it would be difficult for anyone to stop us.
If you live in the desert there's a pretty good chance you ride motorcross... but you probably also play football, baseball and basketball.
If you live by the beach there's a good chance you surf and skate.
If you live in the mountains there's a good chance you ride MTB, Dirtbikes and ski or snowboard... but you also play the other major sports.
See where I'm going with that.
Every high school has normal sports. You can put a basketball hoop in your front yard. So everywhere has that available and for the most part everyone does one or more of them. I lettered in 4 sports in high school AND snowboarded, skated and mountain biked. So everyone has those activities available but much much smaller percentages have the other ones available.
So not everyone can snowboard, mountain bike or xyz... but everyone can play basketball or baseball or soccer. Etc.
That's why they're "mainstream." They're global and mass available.
Mountain bike IS mainstream it's just not football, nor should it be.
Also, does TV coverage make a sport mainstream? Football is huge in the US, but how many Americans actually really play? A lot of high school kids play, then less go on play college and even less are talented enough to play professionally. I'd be willing to bet that more people in the US play real football than American football. But I'm too lazy to look it up.
All our local spots near home, will be closed and patrolled even more so than they already are, because of people wanting to "give mountain biking a try".
We have issues with our trails being ridden when they are muddy - one popular trail that just opened is closed now until Spring because people got on them when they were wet and muddy and tore them up so they shut it down for a few months to repair all the damage done by users either being ignorant, not being able to read the signs at the trailhead, and/or just riding regardless not caring what they were doing to the trails.
So I would be cautious about attracting people en masse because of that.
But who cares? If i do like something what i am doing for hobby i am absolutely NOT interested if the activity is mainstream or not. I don't need to jack off my ego with "look! Not everyone does this like i do! So i must be cool, nuh?"
2) more mainstream means larger market with lower prices
3) more mainstream means more trails and bikeparks, more mtb-friendly people, more friends to ride with, more possibilities to ride somewhere without being persecuted for "riding where you shouldn't be riding"
Etc. etc.
Anyway it is very sad to see votes results and how many people here are really thickheaded and locked in their heads and egos. Go out and ride without carying if something what you do is or is not mainstream. Just have fun and forget about those stupidities.
I think films like where the trail ends etc would be good for tv though
Road biking will probably get bigger though, the bikes are getting ridiculously nice, it's easy, and everyone can go pretty fast for at leas a while. That could translate to some crossover?
It is moving towards something else - mainstream acceptance. By that I mean featured casually in film, TV, or commercials as a normal outdoor activity. Something that your parents, wife, coworkers don't think is nuts. Like skiing. Lots of people ski and it's considered a normal thing to do, even by people who don't have any interest. And ski areas have already worked through the personal injury / responsibly issues, so there's a model there for people worried about liability. Or even tennis. Loads of people play tennis. Many of them suck at it, but still enjoy it. Some big tennis events are televised, but nobody pays too much attention outside of Wimbledon or the big opens. Not too different from what WC DH races could be.
Moving towards that kind of mainstream acceptance is good for us enthusiasts as it means less resistance to sharing trails with bikers, or bike park development.
You want a decent motorbike and protective riding gear? It'll cost you. Same goes for mountain biking. So, if what people are saying is true and that cost is the main reason why mountain biking is so unpopular, then why is motocross (which is just as expensive as mountain biking) so popular? Just sayin...
I hope that Mountain biking will evolve the same way, but on a bigger scale. I use mountain biking as a connection with people. For Example, my dad and I never really get along, but the one thing we have in common is mountain biking. When we're up in the mountains that is really the only time we get along. Some of my best mountain biking memories are with my dad.
On the other hand, the industry is far from small and doesn't lack variety. You can buy equipment from huge manufacturers or tiny boutique companies, you can spend a lot or a little. You can buy a basic mountain bike anywhere in the world and in most cases, have it delivered at your door. Most complete bikes are pretty decent now, a beginner can spend 500-600 euros and get basic front suspension, hydros and enough gears to climb anything. Another 150 for a helmet, gloves and padded shorts and he's good for his first season. Even if he rides only once or twice a week, after one year he's got a lot of fun for his money. My first bike cost 650euros and it was probably the best money I ever spent. Compare that to snow or watersports.
I come from a windsurfing background. It's even more fun than mtb, similarly expensive, has a looong learning curve and sadly, it's very weather dependent. Those who participate it are very stoked though, there's no other reason to do it.
Who needs mainstream?
I come from a Moto background which makes MTB riding appear to be tame beyond belief in regards to the barriers to entry and expense , etc.
Right now I see bike pricing go through the roof which must be driven by demand. But very few actual participants. Even where I live in the Norcal suburbs, a hotbed (socalled).
I am 20 minutes from Marin and I go almost daily to a large offroad riding area. There is zero trail development (due to enviro restrictions and largely a lack of enthusiasm) and even those I try to get involved do not stick with it as it is just too much work for not enough thrill/satisfaction. Most people seem to like their activities to be in a controlled/safe environment. Road riding for some reason has less of a problem in this regard, even though I consider it to be very dangerous.
If you have a look in the average ski-resort these days in the Alps and you run into the group of teenagers that are more concerned if their outfit is according to the latest standards, of 60+ year old tourists, etc... you will probably state - I would! - that it is a mainstream sport activity. On the other hand, if you would watch Xtreme Verbier (as an example) instead you would certainly have a different opinion.
The same applies to "mountainbiking"... There is a mainstream part of "off road cycling" with no intention to push the boundaries of bike control, as alternative to jogging, etc... (honestly this is here the image of "mountainbiking" and quite popular) and completely at the other end of the spectrum the WorldCup DH and the Rampage. The latter is certainly not mainstream and is not supposed to become mainstream in my opinion...
So whether mountainbiking is or will be "mainsteam" (or not) is very much depending on the definition of mountainbiking...
If you want to see the growth potential of mountain biking look at snowboarding or skateboarding. It's plenty popular and plenty main stream. Those 3 sports are pretty close to the same age and have similar crowds.
The big thing that mtb has going against it is the space necessary to do it. Skating... they've got parks for that and you can build something in every drive way in the world to at least keep yourself occupied. Hell... I had 2 rails, a hip and a quarter pipe at my house and I wasn't even a live or die skater. Snowboarding has resorts built for it and it's limited to that and back yard rail sessions.
Snowboarding needs a lot of space. It needs mountains. Those mountains are protected and are shared by others. Here in California the biggest enemy to the MTB industry is other cyclist and outdoor activity folks. It makes no sense but it's the truth. Most of the trails are illegal now. DJ spots get shut down because people don't want to get sued or someone wants to put a condo on the property. ETc.
It's limited. And that's fine.
but I don't see it as a mainstream vs. non mainstream issue. It's just limited. You can play basketball for $25. Buy a ball and you're good. Schools have football teams. City baseball leagues. It's group sports and they're organized.
Snowboarding.
Skateboarding.
Mountain biking.
Kite Boarding.
ANy of that stuff.... limited. Expensive. Regionally specific.
You can't mountain bike in San Francisco but you can ride urban, skate or be a fixie nerd.
Really, though, mainstream? Never. It's too difficult, too much hassle, and too expensive.
NO MORE RIDERS HERE PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Music, games, television and sports. Didn't matter. No, I think it's fine as it is.
Along the lines of football..soccer
.baseball...NASCAR & Fomula1even horse racing and the beloved TDF....no chance, its not even remotely close. I'm fine with the way it is. Sorta grassroot ish.
OHV's here in the Southwest were once able to go almost anywhere there was a trail or tracks. Now, they have to be licensed yearly ($$$), and are restricted to designated OHV parks or trails. Usually in a desolate area, or old gunnery range. And may be charged a fee for daily usage.
Leave it alone! Enjoy what you have and go riding.
Age:13
Life: All figured out
Just Ride your bike...