Pinkbike Poll: How Many Days Did You Ride in 2023?

Jan 2, 2024 at 16:15
by Mike Kazimer  
photo
The shortest, wettest days of the year are when I start thinking about those summertime adventures.


Figuring out how many times you went mountain biking in a year used to involve educated guessing, at least for all but the most dedicated / obsessed cyclists. That was before computers in our pockets started tracking every move, and delivering the neatly packaged proof of that tracking at the end of each year. Now even your elderly relatives (at least the tech savvy ones) can see how many hours of Frank Sinatra they listened to and how many times they walked Fido around the block with just a few taps on the screen.

Putting aside some of the dystopian elements of all that data gathering, it is interesting to dig into the numbers to see what percentage of the year was spent actually riding versus daydreaming about mountain biking.

For me, even a 45 minute hot-lap can be enough to satiate my riding appetite, at least temporarily – my brain feels a whole lot less scrambled if I get out a quick spin. Of course, my favorite (and most memorable) rides are the ones that last a whole lot longer than that – it doesn't get much better than heading out the door with plenty of water and snacks and nothing but time to explore.

Break out the abacus, figure out those ride totals, and let us know how many times you rode last year, and how many times you're planning on riding this year.


How many days did you mountain bike in 2023?



Did you ride enough in 2023?



How many vertical feet did you climb in 2023?



How many days do you hope to mountain bike in 2024?



Author Info:
mikekazimer avatar

Member since Feb 1, 2009
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369 Comments
  • 187 3
 The answer is never enough
  • 7 0
 Correct
  • 64 5
 Meh, I can’t go hard everyday. I’d rather ride fewer days each week and get after it instead of half-assing it on more ride days because I’m tired.
  • 58 1
 Disagree. More is not better...better is better.
  • 4 0
 Always feels that way anyway.
  • 28 1
 @dthomp325: I get that. Especially at 48 years old as I am now. Can still pour it on but not back to back for days on end. 'I'm not as good as once was, but I'm as good once as I ever was'.
  • 35 2
 @dthomp325: be very cautious over the next few weeks! Ebike marketers will randomly jump out at you shouting "BuT wHaT iF yOu COULD gEt AfTer iT EVERY dAy?!"
  • 4 0
 That, and there needs to be an option in the did you ride enough poll for "yes, but it's still not enough"
  • 21 51
flag PHX77 (Jan 5, 2024 at 13:24) (Below Threshold)
 Six days a week, on average, thanks to my electric mountain bikes!
  • 9 12
 @juicebanger: or electric mountain bike riders that a stating a demonstrable fact that you can ride every single day.
  • 3 0
 @wolftwenty1: The older I get the more this rings true
  • 9 0
 @dthomp325: Not every day needs to be hard. I average 5 days of riding per week. Some days it is an easy 1 hour ride on the gravel bike. Some days it is a 3 hour death march on the mtb. Getting outside on the bike gets me ready for the rest of the day. My opinion is 5 rides for 10ish hours per week is better than 3 rides for the same amount of time. YMMV.
  • 17 1
 @Offrhodes: wait we're counting gravel/road rides as MTB rides now?
  • 26 1
 @wolftwenty1: funny, because for me this is what separates MTB from so many other outdoor sports. Crappy conditions skiing, surfing, sailing, climbing etc kinda gives a crappy day out. Sometimes crappy conditions on MTB equals epic day out. Even a bad day on the bike is a good day .
  • 32 1
 @PHX77: the problem is you are not answering the question being asked. It’s nuisance.

Imagine if they asked how many days you had sex and then you answered all of them thanks to pornhub. It’s not the same like you think it is.
  • 4 1
 @PHX77: Very nice and lucky for us that we both have bikes that allow us to do what we love and the only difference is yours has a motor and mine doesn't. Enjoy your 6 rides a week!
  • 6 0
 @uponcripplecreek: even if the ride totally sucks, it still usually leads to great stories years later.
  • 4 2
 @dthomp325: tHaT’s wHeRe tHe eBiKe cOmEs iN
  • 4 13
flag Kmccann137 (Jan 5, 2024 at 16:43) (Below Threshold)
 @dthomp325: why i went for ebike
  • 5 0
 @uponcripplecreek: I agree. I’ve got some great memories of epic days on a bike in crap weather.

Last year rain helped the team I was racing with win a 24 hour relay style race in British Columbia. Sixteen hours into the race our team of five was about 30 minutes behind the leaders when it started raining hard at 2AM. I was so proud of my team as they just kept going while the leaders dropped out. One of my favourite days of 2024.
  • 2 1
 @dthomp325: I do agree but road and gravel bikes fill in those gaps.
  • 4 2
 @speed10: How dare you! Pornhub is sex with someone you love. What’s more wholesome than that??
  • 1 0
 @PHX77: according to the internet step sibling love is a bit different these days.
  • 2 0
 @wolftwenty1: can I get a signed hard copy of that to show my girlfriend please?
  • 1 0
 @juicebanger: yes that sounds horrible lol
  • 1 0
 @uponcripplecreek: yea I’m with that nor am I disagreeing. I guess just depends on your goals and what you’re optimizing. I love riding in the rain and huge adventures. But after a day like that I’m not gonna go send some crazy feature the next day I’ve never done cause I’m cooked physically and mentally where a mistake could be very costly.

That’s kinda what I meant…
  • 3 0
 @Kilaeua: crap weather isn’t a reason not to ride. Mental and physical fatigue which increases the risk of injury is… Smile
  • 1 0
 @wolftwenty1: but would be better if i could ride more
  • 151 17
 For such a strong opinionated comment section on PB articles a lot of you don't even ride that much. Now go back to complaining about how e-bikes and internal routed headsets ruin your day while I go ride my bike.
  • 65 5
 "While I go ride my bike"

Had to get a comment in before I left, though.
  • 20 4
 MTB is my passion but I don't get to ride all that often, unfortunately. I do ride other bikes though, easily >300 times per year. Am I allowed to have and express strong opinions?
  • 33 6
 @mi-bike: Yes, I grant you permission. Thanks for asking.
  • 53 1
 As of 1489 responses 44.3% ride 80 days a year or less with 61.8% of those under 50 days a year. So most people are barely riding once a week. Here's a poll:

How many days a year do you comment on Pinkbike like you are the god of mountain biking?
Everybody: 365
  • 11 3
 When has there ever been a correlation between doing something and having an opinion about it? The only reason people who don't even own bikes aren't commenting here is because they don't know this forum exists.
  • 25 25
 It's not surprising. Most mountain bikers(especially the pinkbike crowd) care more about the image of being a mountain biker than actually mountain biking.
  • 7 0
 Welcome to the internet
  • 52 4
 @matyk: Or people have jobs and kids and other obligations that prevent them from riding as much as they'd like so they spend time reading and researching and commenting on the thing they wish they could do more of.
  • 27 0
 Maybe everyone is too busy trying to service their internally routed headsets to have time to ride?
  • 28 1
 Richard Dawkins had strong opinions on religion but he didn’t go to church.

Politicians have strong opinions on wars but don’t serve in the battlefield.

My wife has strong opinions on household projects/DIY but has never ever done any herself….

Opinions are never right or wrong.

Just saying….
  • 6 2
 Correction: Some politicians have served.

Sadly not enough however.
  • 12 1
 Riding a few times during the week in the summer and fall when you can is plenty of riding. If i get 40 days on a bike and 40 days on skis a year I'm doin just fine.
  • 5 0
 @warmerdamj: yea but how many people live in the mountains where it snows 6 ish months out of the year?
  • 18 7
 That's the number one reason I bought a ebike. Now with all the time I save not actually mountain biking I can finally get my reps in on the comment section, like a boss.
  • 6 2
 i've never murdered anybody but i have a pretty strong opinion that it's a bad thing to do
  • 10 2
 @twonsarelli: People like you are the problem. You have a strong opinion on something you've never done. Maybe you should give murder a try, you might like it and change your mind?
  • 11 0
 It’s a poll regarding days of mountain biking. I did 83 days of that. But I went on 308 rides in 2023. Some was commutes, some was going to somewhere, a lot of them was on the gravel bike.
People do all kinds of riding outside of actual mountain biking.
Maybe there should have been another box for that.
  • 9 1
 Good for you if you can ride "that much", people have lots of different obligations, they live in places where they don't simply step out of the door and go ride proper mtb. So instead of pointing out how your opinion is better, be grateful you can ride so much.
I did only 100 days having remote work and living in the mountains. Riding Mtb every month for full year and living in place with 4 months of proper snowy winter and it was a total max what I could do without a divorce.
  • 6 0
 @warmerdamj: I only ride once a year but it's 50,000 vertical over 2000+ km Razz
  • 4 0
 @scottlakesmtb: I really think compulsory conscription for all the worlds warmonger politicians would save us a lot of mess and pollution
  • 1 0
 @twonsarelli: you're not living up to your potential.
  • 1 0
 @Ask2100: there might be another website for that.
  • 3 0
 I had knee surgery this summer. Pinkbike is all I had from the mountain biking world. Good day, sir!
  • 1 0
 @Kebabroll: i don’t think such measures are necessary. People just need to accept that others can be different and respect one another.

Like mtbr’s & roadies for eg….if they can do it anyone can.
  • 2 0
 @Ask2100: 100 percent agree, I thought it was just Mnt Biking. It would have been great if we could have been able to choose categories like Gravel and days on it, Road, Ebike, etc
  • 4 1
 Did you ever doubt that the most vocal people are the ones who ride the least?

I can’t even imagine being active on a social media site without being active in the sport it represents.

Then there are the folks who are so full of shite, claiming to ride more than they do ….

I ride three times this week and an to ride twice more before Monday,

Pinkbikers, more like Wannabikers Wink
  • 1 0
 @Ask2100: Nope, because this is a mtb forum.
  • 3 1
 @mi-bike: everybody can see that you don't ride that much considering the amount of comments you post here, wanker.
  • 3 0
 @analog7: this.

We used to ride 3-4 evenings per week, a day in the weekend, in summer often the entire weekend, plus roadtrips. Then we got a house to rebuild and jobs, so we converted to commuting to work by bike, keeping the mtb holidays.
With two young kids and a different job, I’m now at the point where I ride when me and one of my friends have time in our schedule, mostly weekend mornings. I try to take the kids for a ride once every week too.
So logically, my brain satisfies the need for mtb on pinkbike.
  • 1 1
 From what I understand, internal routed headsets bother people whilst wrenching, not whilst riding. I know that guy who works for the navy and I feel he treats his bike as if it were a helicopter: twenty hours wrenching for every single hour of riding. So yeah in such a case I can imagine getting only a few hours of riding in would give you a major headache.

That said, I recently learned that the MX people need to replace a piston after every twenty hours of riding. Still, they're running their pistons internally without exception so who are we to complain? Even if I'd route cranks and saddle internally us bicyclists still have it easier than those poor sods.
  • 1 0
 @analog7: Exactly. I only really got into PB after my first kid was born.
  • 1 0
 @tremeer023: I only got into PB when Dirt got out of print. I needed something to get my kicks. Luckily Cranked appeared but well, now that one is gone too :,(.
  • 2 0
 @analog7: exactly. Working 50 hours a week plus taking care of the home and yard. I'm glad I can get out to the trails once or twice a week.
  • 9 0
 @BeerGuzlinFool: I hope nobody is making you (and others in similar riding-restricted situations) feel bad about not riding 9 days a week. I have plenty of friends who don’t get to ride as much as me and constantly have to decline the offer to ride but every single one of them tells me never to stop inviting them. They want to feel connected to riding and they’re always so stoked when they can get on the trails. There is more to life than bikes, after all. So whether you get 25 days a year or 250, I support you getting out there.
  • 1 1
 @analog7: Sounds a lot like excuses
  • 5 0
 I think a lot of people are forgetting that many people have seasons and weather to contend with and don’t ride year round. For 4-5 months, I’ll ride 3-4 times a week consistently. After that, we can have beautiful weather, but we can also have cold and snow from October to May. So the riding becomes less consistent. And personally, I hang up the bike from mid-December to March until conditions become more consistent and to just take a break and do other things and live a balanced life.

So it’s not that a lot of people don’t ride their bikes enough or even a lot. It’s just that there’s an optimal season to get a lot of riding in, and a not-so-optimal season.
  • 2 1
 @Kevindhansen: Yup, which is why I have two fatbikes and I am a volunteer groomer. In the winter I actually get more rides in [but shorter in distance] than summer. To me as long as I am rolling on two wheels of any type I am good.
  • 5 0
 @warmerdamj: I averaged once a week last year for rides. My comment average is way above once a week.

Both bring me joy.
  • 2 0
 Remember when your taking advice from people on the internet; most people spend more time commenting about mountain biking then ridding there damn bike.
  • 3 0
 @torontomtb: well it is a lot easier to read articles and comment while pooping, than riding a mountain bike.
  • 2 1
 The same thought occurred to me once I saw the poll results…
  • 1 1
 @matyk: I don't think so. Mountain biking is high risk sport that's not easy to learn and takes a lot of skill to ride anything above a blue (at least in BC). Plus it's expensive as hell. No one is going to spend over 4k on a bike to look cool. Skiing and snowboarding on the other hand are pretty common for people to do it simply for the image.
  • 1 0
 How many days of riding per year would you consider enough to have an opinion? I only get out 10 to 15 days a year because I work 60+ hours a week. Doesn't mean I'm a noob. Some of us have to work so we can afford to bike
  • 2 0
 @ThunderChunk: you’re allowed an opinion, it just doesn’t count as much. Smile
  • 1 0
 @ThunderChunk: Are you serious? People always spend tons of money for the sake of looking cool. Look at the guys that will drop $70k on lifted trucks just to drive to the grocery store. Mountain bikers do the same when they buy $6000 enduro bikes to ride on trails you could easily ride on a $2000 hardtail.
  • 1 0
 @warmerdamj: Plenty of people who ride a lot more than I do suck! Time in the saddle DOES NOT equate to skill. A lot of us who don't ride much have our reasons (mine is that the gym took priority in 2023). I make sure I ride enough to maintain skills learned over 45+ years of riding. So yeah, I am part of that 61.8% AND a Mountain Bike God (with horrible cardio fitness right now)! Anyone who rides and shares the stoke is cool in my book!
  • 1 1
 @matyk: I've never see that but I also live in Vancouver BC where our trails are all gnarly. Even blues. Good luck finding flow trails. Even new riders benefit from an expensive bike. Personally, My trusty old 2018 specialized Enduro can still keep up on double blacks so I have no reason for a fancy new bike.
  • 55 0
 Give me the numbers in meters!
  • 28 4
 Yeah, no kiddin'! World is in metric, not American!
  • 16 0
 @CSharp: whoa! What about Myanmar and Liberia?!
  • 3 2
 @whitebirdfeathers: Evil imperial empire has far reaches!
  • 12 0
 100% or something we can relate to in true america style, like how many pickup trucks or macdonalds signs high.
  • 4 0
 @CSharp: if I asked how tall you were would you answer in feet and inches or decimal meters? What about your body weight; lbs or kgs? I'm in construction industry.... a sheet of plywood is 4'x8', lumber is 2x4, 2x6, etc.... Canada is a strange place.
  • 5 15
flag TheR FL (Jan 5, 2024 at 16:46) (Below Threshold)
 Stop pretending like you don’t know imperial.
  • 11 3
 Give me the time in metric. So sick of the dogmatic adherence to a base-12 time system.
  • 3 0
 @nateb: Height in cm or m or even in mm. Doesn't matter since everything is in power of 10's - easy peasy! I'm starting to get use to weight in kilograms and most bike parts expressed by weight weenies are in grams, which is so much easier to understand than ounces, which is then translated to pounds as 16oz. WTF? Then, there's temperature. For sure this is a no brainer - again, incrementation by 1's and 10's. Also, fluid measurements - mL and L - so easy! None of these imperial conversion BS! Heh, I still use some imperial measurements like inches, feet, miles, ounces, pounds. But I can never get hot frickin hot or cold it is with that stupid Farenheit temperature measurement - that's totally wrong! All I know is -40C = -40F!
  • 3 2
 @nateb: Height in cm, body weight in kg. Please convince your friends in the trades to use metric units. Doesn't mean we have nonsensical neighbors that we have to be nonsensical.
  • 5 2
 @Hayek: Jupiter would be a great place to have metric-based time. Civil servants would work 1/10 of a day rather than 1/12 of a day. Mike Levy
  • 1 2
 @CSharp: 3.28 feet per meter..
  • 2 4
 @BeerGuzlinFool: Now, convert to inches, yards, and miles without a calculator or any kind of computer - that's including ChatGPT or Google.
  • 4 10
flag TheR FL (Jan 6, 2024 at 8:50) (Below Threshold)
 @CSharp: Temperature in Fahrenheit is much more practical to the human condition. One hundred degrees feels flippin’ hot to a human being. Hotter than that is really flippin’ hot. Zero degrees is flippin’ cold. Negative degrees is really flippin’ cold. Then there’s everything in between, and it makes sense on a scale from 0 to 100. I can base my comfort as a human being on that scale.

In centigrade, 100 is the boiling point of water and 0 is the freezing point. It’s fine for scientific applications, but it’s not as intuitive to a human’s state of comfort. Now I know you get used to knowing what a comfortable temperature is, and what is extremely hot and what is extremely cold. But it’s not really as intuitive as a scale for human comfort.
  • 5 1
 @TheR: zero for freezing water is damn useful weather information. Flippin' cold and flippin' hot aren't useful endpoints for a temperature scale, since they are highly subjective.
  • 3 7
flag TheR FL (Jan 6, 2024 at 15:22) (Below Threshold)
 @Fill-Freakin:Yes, I concede that having a consistent, objective constant for boiling and freezing water at sea level is more scientifically useful. I think I wrote something to that effect.

But the Fahrenheit scale between 0 and 100 is a lot more intuitive to human comfort. A lot more than saying, “Once the temperature gets 35 percent of the boiling temp of water, I start getting uncomfortable.” Hell, I’m going to say that I don’t need to know the boiling temp of water at all, unless I’m doing some scientific research. Put it on the stove, turn it on high, and shit boils when it boils. Me knowing the temperature is pretty much trivial.

Look, in the end, I really don’t give a shit, and I don’t know why Canadians (especially Canadians, for some reason) are triggered so much by the imperial system. We use what we use, and you use what you use. And it turns out, we all get along in our daily lives just fine.
  • 2 7
flag TheR FL (Jan 6, 2024 at 16:02) (Below Threshold)
 @Fill-Freakin: Or here’s a thought experiment to illustrate my point for you and everyone voting me down:

Say neither Fahrenheit nor Celcius exists. You’re out riding with your buddy on a really hot day. So hot that you can’t keep riding. And you ask him: on a scale of 0 to 100, how hot would you rate it? Would he rate that really hot day where he just can’t ride anymore something closer to 100, or would he rate it like a 35 or 40?

If you have half a brain in your head and are intellectually honest, you know what the answer is.
  • 2 1
 @TheR: Much easier if it was done from zero to 10. So, regardless if it's up to 100, you're still dealing with a factor of 10, METRIC!!! Mike Levy
  • 1 2
 @CSharp: quit being so lazy. Do it yourself
  • 2 1
 @CSharp: 10, 100 — the basic concept is still the same. Your buddy would not rate the theoretical sweltering day as a 3.5 or a 4. He’d rate it a 9 or 10. Keep it as it is, or scale it to 100, but the fact remains one system is more intuitive to temperature as it relates to the human body.

And it makes sense. This whole thing got me curious as to how Fahrenheit was established—turns out it’s based on the freezing point of some brine solution on one end (0 degrees) and the temperature of the human body at the other end.

But whatever. Whether Celsius or Fahrenheit or Kelvins, etc., it’s all just an arbitrary invention to help us understand the world around us. We could have used the boiling point of aluminum, or the combustion point of carbon. We all use what we use and it works out fine.

Can you tell me why Canadians care so much? Is it the fear of a loss of national identity from the more influential culture to the south, or does it remind you too much of the time when the Queen had her boot on your necks? Ha!
  • 1 0
 ^ most intelligent comment you've made thus far :-)
  • 2 1
 @nateb: I brought it down a little so the masses could undersrand.
  • 2 0
 @TheR: I flippin' LOL'd reading that. Upvoted for the comedy of it.
  • 1 2
 @mi-bike: Finally. Someone gets me!
  • 3 1
 @TheR: The reason we care is because your freedom units are a royal pain in the ass. It's like a disease that spreads across the border and causes mistakes, confusion, and avoidable mental effort.
  • 1 0
 @TheR: It's not that we care so much about having things in metric but more so that the measurements are accurate and simple and easy to understand. I have to say that the Fahrenheit example you brought out was actually pretty good. It's a subjective way to measure temperature. For us Canadians, I think we're trying to be join the international scene. I could care less for the Old Mustard (from Bill Mahr Big Grin ). The Brits had their own empirical measurements as well. Napoleon is the one who brought out the Metric system. Don't get me wrong, I think most people still use the US empirical system because we're so tied to the US in trades and we're brothers in crime. I think the Americans are very slowly getting into the Metric system as well. Maybe and finally, they'll learn some history and geography that's outside USA and start noticing there are other cultures around the world. Mike Levy
  • 1 2
 @cedric-eveleigh: Well, then your country needs to be more influential. If it were, we’d be using metric by now.
  • 1 2
 @CSharp: Yeah, you are right. For the most part, metric is better, and I’d much rather deal with decimals than figure out 11/32 of an inch. So much easier to work with. Fahrenheit is easy to get used to once you start thinking in terms of relative comfort on a scale of 1-100. I lived in Germany and just came to understand everything at face value. (Wait — 30? Is that hot?)

I do think weighing things in grams is a racket, though, foisted on us by an industry trying to take advantage. Hey—I’m saving 150 grams! Sounds great, right? Maybe, but worth the extra $200 you’ll spend? Yeah man! 150 grams! Your bike will be light as a feather. Checks conversion… maybe not.

Mostly, I’m just messing with you guys. Only half believe the stuff I spout… but I hold firm on my Fahrenheit premise.
  • 2 1
 @TheR: Right, the US is justified in using imperial units is because Canada isn't influential enough. Makes total sense.
  • 1 2
 @cedric-eveleigh: It’s justified using imperial units because that’s what we use. We don’t need any justification. It is what it is, and we certainly don’t owe Canada or the rest of the world an explanation. We’ll use metric when we need to — you know, like when we’re sending astronauts to the moon or whatever.

I brought up influence because you were the one who said imperial units are “like a disease that spreads across the border and causes mistakes, confusion, and avoidable mental effort.” Well sorry bud… but maybe if Canada were a little more influential, it might be the other way around, and we’d be battling the slow creep and scourge of kilometers and kilograms and liters. But somehow, we’re keeping it at bay.

Hell, I don’t get you people. I even said above metric is better and I‘d rather deal with decimals. What do you want from me? Learn to laugh a little.
  • 1 0
 @TheR: on a scale of 0-100 how bored / lonely are you?
  • 4 1
 @nateb: About 15 degrees Borenheit.
  • 2 1
 @nateb: That’s like 2.5 degrees Ennuienus.
  • 1 1
 @TheR: Be careful with the moon stuff or it might end up like your $125-million mars climate orbiter that was lost because of a unit conversion mistake. That kind of wastefulness is the result of you folks using imperial units, and your use of imperial units causes that kind of wastefulness all over the world. You do need a justification for making humanity worse off.
  • 1 0
 @cedric-eveleigh: You think we used imperial to do the mars climate orbiter? Enjoy your maple syrup.
  • 1 0
 @TheR: NASA uses metric (they are smart).

"The primary cause of this discrepancy was that one piece of ground software supplied by Lockheed Martin produced results in a United States customary unit, contrary to its Software Interface Specification (SIS), while a second system, supplied by NASA, expected those results to be in SI units, in accordance with the SIS."
  • 2 0
 @cedric-eveleigh: Yeah. That’s pretty embarrassing. You’ll get no argument from me that all this type of thing needs to be metric. I think I’ve been pretty consistent on that point.
  • 1 0
 @TheR: All good. And sorry if I'm being harsh. It's hard to laugh about something that, like I said, is a big pain in the butt.
  • 1 1
 @cedric-eveleigh: And from my end, I’m just giving you crap. Don’t take me too seriously.
  • 1 0
 @TheR: Check this out: The US of A's Imperial Measurements
  • 29 5
 Stopped using Strava this year and it's beautiful
  • 4 0
 Yep, In 2023 I rode several bikes quite a bit but not enough both up and down hills on a variety of surfaces
  • 8 7
 The day I stop Strava-ing is the day I stop comparing myself to my previous times and peers. It’s the day I stop trying as hard and get fatter and slower.
  • 7 0
 @rickybobby19: username checks
  • 4 1
 @rickybobby19: no matter how hard you try, you will eventually get slower. Some of us just use it to chart our decline. My advice is to ease off a bit in your 20s and 30s so you don't get so much slower in your 40s.
  • 4 0
 @kevinturner12: lucky to be just as fast in my early 40’s as I was in my 20’s/30’s, and Strava has helped that by being a part of keeping me motivated to ride (with hard efforts) 6-10 hours a week still.
  • 1 0
 @rickybobby19: now I want to follow you on Strava just because of your user name.

Shake and bake bro.
  • 2 0
 @kevinturner12: why ease off? Go hard until you can't, then go not as hard. As long as you are going, you are winning.
  • 77 61
 hate it or not - e-bikes are allowing busy people get onto the trails more often... come home from a day and I only have 30 mins, before I could only get to the trailhead and back - now I'm doing 10 miles before its dark. lovely thing!
  • 41 24
 Get out of here with that truth and logic. You're making too much sense!
  • 67 12
 I think you mistake the fact the poll said "mountain bike". www.pinkbike.com/news/pinkbike-poll-whats-the-least-awful-word-that-means-not-an-e-bike.html
  • 35 6
 Very true. Our trails out in Southern Cali are feeling the effects of that. We have more people and miles being ridden, but with the same amount of trail work being done pre eebs (very little). There is always a cost associated with more access and it isn't always monetary.
  • 37 13
 I can drive pretty far in the car in 30 minutes, but it's not mountain biking.
  • 23 22
 Can you actually do an mtb ride in 30 minutes? I spend at least that amount of time preparing before hand, and the same amount afterwards putting everything away and cleaning it.

everyone I know with an eeb can't ride it for sometimes months at a time bc they're waiting for motor replacements.
  • 54 0
 the real problem is normalizing jobs that only leave us 30 minutes per day to participate in personal endeavors
  • 6 7
 @mattg95: what a load of crap.
  • 12 0
 @mattg95: This is true; slow-motion pushing my bike up a hill, back pedaling and adjusting my goggles takes at least 30 minutes.
  • 2 0
 @mattg95: with you, but never mind 30 mins, I'm still stuck on being able to ride after work in the light.

Go to work when it's dark. Leave work after it's gone dark.
  • 6 24
flag norona (Jan 5, 2024 at 12:58) (Below Threshold)
 @mattg95: 20-25 km in an our here in squamish in an hour 3-3800 vert, i ride every day 25-34km 4500 t0 5 k vert, never had a moto issue shimano or bosch but if i did I would buy another motor immediately while other one was being fixed due to it being so fun and addicting. Why would you wait to ride?
  • 5 21
flag norona (Jan 5, 2024 at 13:02) (Below Threshold)
 yup, they allow you to push hard every day and often guys who say they do as much vert they compare a day or a week but the e-mtb allows you to be way more consistent on the numbers not just highlighting your best day or week.
  • 3 1
 @mooseindahouse: pre E is also right around pre pandemi though. Pandemi blew up the number of people out on the trails and a good percentage of newbies and experienced riders have bought e-bikes in that time. I think its pretty hard to put the increased trail degradation to eebs only or even as a majority factor. I do 100+ hours of maintenance and building a year so I understand that portion and position.
  • 24 5
 Idk how to tell you this, but you could just mtb for 30mins too. You didn't need the ebike lmao
  • 3 0
 @CrookedCrank: get some lights! Good ones from Outbound Lighting have been a game changer / life saver during the winter for me
  • 5 1
 @mattyboyr6-2: That is definitely part of it, you are right. Even so, most eeb riders like to boast about the extra riding they can squeeze in and it's simple math, more tires/ time on the dirt equals more needed maintenance. Sadly, we're not getting much help.
  • 7 5
 Nope. It most certainly does not allow you to get more riding time. Enough with this fallacy. It's idiotic.
  • 20 9
 Moped riders are always trying to justify ways they can be fat and lazy.
  • 9 13
flag psullivan65 FL (Jan 5, 2024 at 17:38) (Below Threshold)
 @digitalsoul: did somebody pass you and hurt your feelings
  • 11 4
 I find it funny how people say that ebikes give them more time to ride. The time constraint never changes. Your family/friends/employer don’t cut you more slack suddenly because you got an ebike. You just get to cover ground faster/with less effort. We all solve for that in different ways — ebike, XC, gravel, road.
  • 17 6
 Making excuses to ride an assisted bike because you ain’t made time to stay fit, what an American way to couch laziness,

I ride in the morning before work with lights, it’s not hard, but it’s not for the lazy.
  • 5 0
 This thing doesn't make sense. Let's day you ride 20km/h on average unassisted on the road. So if you could only get to the trailhead and back in 30 minutes, apparently that was a 10km ride (so 5km to the trailhead and 5km back). An assisted bike allows you to ride 25km/h so in 30 minutes you could ride 12.5km. 10km was spent to and from the trailhead, you're left with 2.5km of trailriding that evening. Doesn't seem worth spending those thousands of euros extra (of the assisted bike vs the unassisted model). Especially as, unless you live on the equator, it will only be part of the year where you have so little time left before dark. To each their own of course.
  • 3 1
 @jasbushey: your jealousy is showing
  • 6 2
 @sanchofula: I road 50 miles last weekend, two rides, in now way was it not an excellent workout.

I ebike and I have a mountain bike. I love riding both. I get a workout on both. I could also easily not get a workout on either. It’s up to the rider to push themselves to get a workout in.

I’m ok with people not liking emtbs. I get where you are coming from. But it’s ignorance if you think you can’t get a workout on one.
  • 1 0
 @PtDiddy: I definitely think you can get a good workout on an eeb, but you would need to be sure to ride the same amount of time and keep a similar heart rate. I think a lot of eeb riders where I'm from do the same rides they did before but in less time and therefore burn fewer calories.

I'd say most "enthusiasts" seem to still gravitate towards non assisted bikes and eeb riders have other things they need/ want to do and just want a quick fix.

I'm still looking for a good study proving that those who switched to emtb full time are maintaining the same fitness as before. If anyone has a link to a study/ video on that I'd be keen to review it. Cheers
  • 3 2
 @mooseindahouse: I track all my rides with a Garmin so I review my heart rate stats all the time. I have hereditary heart disease in my family so I try and keep the peak heart rate down to reduce the wear on it. The ebike is perfect for reducing the peak heart rates.

Here are the stats for two similar rides:

Emtb: 125 ave, 157 peak
Bike: 138 ave, 169 peak

Those were not the exact same trail but were very similar. Normally, my ebike ride would be higher because it would a tougher trail with more climbs, but I want to share similar rides for a good comparison.

I can’t really say anything in regards to the difference in fitness level. There has been too many variables that have also effected my fitness, like diet, amount of times I get out riding, other exercise, stress, and so on. I can say for certainty though that I get in better shape if I get out and ride either bike more often.

My experience is my legs are not as suited for climbing like they used to be. They are not far off but the ebike takes the edge off climbing so that makes sense. Cardio seems the same. My upper body seems to get more of a workout since my legs. don’t tire out as quickly (longer rides) and the ebike is 20lbs heavier.

I’ll finish with this. I feel like I’m doing the exact same activity with both bikes. It isn’t a vastly different experience.
  • 2 0
 @mooseindahouse: the one academic study that gets cited here frequently has findings that show both a meaningful and statistical difference between exertion on the ebike treatment group and the bike control group, with much higher exertion required from the bike control group (people wrongly say the HR rates were similar, and the differences were statistically significant). The study did not have a physiological conclusion, but rather assessed whether ebikes provide meaningful cardiovascular exercise — they do — but that exercise was significantly less (statistically less in Kj) than that of the bike. That’s of course a controlled environment. What would be really interesting would be to get Strava to share de-identified data with Seb Stott to do an empirical analysis of time at HR between the control and treatment groups to see how that plays out in the real world. Anecdotally, my group of backcountry ski friends split in half about two years ago. We’re all in our early-mid thirties, but those who got ebikes lost their pace on the skin track. Some of them have openly attributed it to the imperceptible decline in cardiovascular fitness lost on the ebike.
  • 3 4
 If your constraint to getting more than 30minutes of riding in is daylight hours, why don't you just get yourself some good lights? Way cheaper than e-bike,and then you could actually enjoy mountain biking instead of moto. If you prefer riding your moped and stopped riding a mountain bike, that's fine, but then why even bother with a poll about mountain biking?
I don't come on here telling everyone that I enjoy the trail on my x-country skis in the winter and they could be getting more trail time if they just took up nordic skiing when the trails are snow covered. They are different sports.
  • 2 3
 @Hayek: you needed research to determine when the bike adds hundreds of watts it's less exercise? Jesus
  • 7 1
 @PtDiddy: you can get a workout walking, but that’s not what we’re talking about … what we’re taking about is people suggesting that an ebike is better for getting exercise when you have a “busy” life.

Having an ebike means nothing if you don’t ride it, same goes for having skis, rollerblades, etc.

My wife has a Pivot Shuttle, she rides maybe ten times a years, so having an ebike for her means very little because she’d rather hike or get a manicureWink

The ebike excuses are rarely legit, folks get an ebike because it’s “easier”:
easier to ride uphill
easier to ride long distances
easier to ride fast
easier to ride with people who are fitter than you.

I don’t care what you ride, but don’t tell yourself you people you need an ebike to get exercise, that’s bullshite.

The funniest part is when folks talk about how busy they are, as if no one else is busy, total wanker talk … I guarantee I’m as busy as 99% of the people posting to Pinkbike, and I still ride three times a week.
  • 4 3
 Remember before e-mopeds blew up every argument was how terrible we were for keeping disabled people from having access to trails? As if it was for people in their 80s and people with disabilities. We were made to feel bad when that was always a Trojan horse for getting lazy white collar mopeds on single track because they are too lazy to pedal. Not only lazy but they exploited old and disabled people to muscle their way in. Classy.
  • 2 5
 @sanchofula: I agree with everything you said. I got an ebike because it keeps my peak heart rate down on the climbs and I get the same experience is a regular mountain bike. Obviously the ups are easier. Otherwise it’s is basically the same experience.

All the reasons you mentioned for people getting an ebike seem true to me as well. The biggest one is evening the playing field with a group of riders. It’s a nice benefit.

You do get exercise from riding an ebike, but you don’t need one. You don’t need a mountain bike either. I used to run before I got into mountain biking. All I needed were shoes. Let’s be honest, we all say we need something in our lives that we don’t need. We don’t NEED full suspension carbon bikes. We all make our own excuses and judge others for theirs.

I’m not trying to convert anyone that hates e-bikes. I don’t care if others don’t like it. I don’t care if someone thinks it’s a separate as mountain biking and skiing. I’m just trying to share an honest opinion as someone that’s been riding both types of bikes for the past 4 years. Maybe the info will be helpful to someone. Or at least help out in a conversation on the topic.
  • 2 8
flag likeittacky (Jan 6, 2024 at 19:55) (Below Threshold)
 Let's be honest....It's really most guys wives are the boss and don't allow them much time to live life and are actually jealous they have no outlets of their own and therefore imprison their spouse to do tasks continually or just be in their presence.The modern man has created his own prison; I remember when men were more in control of the relationship and they would get out way more. Times have defiently changed!
  • 2 0
 @Bro-LanDog: sorry, forgot where I was. I’m still not totally accustomed to debating an issue exclusively using anecdotes and ad hominem attacks.
  • 1 0
 @Hayek: r/iamverysmart
  • 2 0
 @likeittacky: it’s strange you don’t have a girlfriend.
  • 1 2
 @jasbushey: It's strange you have boyfriends
  • 3 3
 @likeittacky: wow, a derogatory gay joke in 2024. Those don’t hit the same as they did in the 80s dude.
  • 1 0
 @PtDiddy: don’t waste your time on this guy.
  • 2 0
 @sanchofula: it's better to get out on an ebike a couple times a week instead of doing nothing. I ride my Enduro on the weekends and the ebike after work or if my knee is bothering me. I have had multiple knee surgeries ( due to injuries while biking) at 55 the ebike has kept me going. I do agree though that they can make you lazy if you let them. I don't.
  • 1 6
flag BarryWalstead (Jan 8, 2024 at 20:49) (Below Threshold)
 @BeerGuzlinFool: and yet you do, because you're riding one with a MOTOR!

I'm personally really sick of the ebike lies. Just admit you like riding motorcycles more than bicycles. Because that the truth of the matter.
  • 5 3
 @BarryWalstead: you don't have a clue. Keep hating. I've spent the last 30 years riding mountain bikes. Ebikes are still bikes. And it's not all I ride. Quit being so ignorant
  • 1 4
 @BeerGuzlinFool: I know, how dare I point out the actual facts of the matter.

It's people like you that will ruin it for everyone because you're selfish.
  • 2 3
 @BeerGuzlinFool:
I bet you believe men can be women too
  • 3 1
 @BarryWalstead: People should be able to have fun on E-bikes where legal to do so. I personally used one (borrowed) extensively this year for trailwork. I could spin up a trail with a 30lb pack and go 40% faster than I would my best day biking. It gave me a lot more time to actually dig. But those days didn't go into my poll answer.

I think every e-biker should be aware they are increasing traffic, and hence increasing wear on trail. Donate to your local trail orgs. If you can afford a $10K bike, you shouldn't have any issues giving a sizable donation to them.
  • 3 0
 @BarryWalstead: I have a moped, gravel bike, dirtbike and a DH. I like them all. What's your point and why are you so upset? What lies are people saying that are making you sick? Sounds like you need some help.
  • 2 0
 @BarryWalstead: lol. What facts.. you mean your feelings.. and how would I ruin anything for anyone. I only ride on trails that allow pedal assisted bikes when I use my levo.
  • 2 1
 @Bro-LanDog: no. I don't believe "YOU" can become a woman no matter how you dress or act. So quit crying like a 9 year old girl and man up.
  • 3 2
 you guys are so weird. shut up
  • 4 0
 @sanchofula: what about people with other interests beyond riding? Or people who ride a ton and want to be able to do easy rides with friends? I work harder in the gym 5-6 days a week than I ever did when I raced mtn bikes, and am considering an eMtb late this year so I can still have fun in spite of the system fatigue from heavy gym days. The arrogance/narrow mindedness of some people is amazing. Who gives a damn what anyone rides, as long as they are respectful of the trails, nature, and other trail users?
  • 3 0
 @jasbushey: every biker is traffic! Anyone complaining about ebikes purely for that reason needs to look in the mirror. Regardless of the (assuming legal) mode of transportation, we all have the same rights to our trails.
  • 3 5
 @BeerGuzlinFool: funny says the guy who rides a motorbike and claims it isn't. Maybe guzzle less beer and man up on the climbs eh?
  • 3 3
 @SprSonik: when you can do more laps than otherwise due to doubling your wattage or more, you are adding more traffic than a bike. Quit coping and just admit your moped does more damage and move on
  • 2 3
 @SprSonik: ha, you're barking up the wrong tree. I did more trail work than pedaling last year. E-bikes increase traffic, period. If a mountain biker switched to e-bike he will do 3x the amount of miles, hence 3x the impact.

E-bikes do not have rights to trails that mountain bikes do in the US. There is a reason the Forest Service and BLM currently have them classified as motorized vehicles.
  • 5 3
 @jasbushey: the amount of people who don't think it does more trail damage is insane. I've seen mellow obstacles get obliterated in weeks because people rip up them with a 300w assist. Just a few years ago they'd last all season. The ebike cope is hilarious
  • 3 3
 @Bro-LanDog: I guarantee I've logged in more vertical feet than you ever will and that's on a regular MTB. And please quit crying. It's getting embarrassing
  • 2 4
 @BeerGuzlinFool: I guarantee I couldn't care less, cope and seethe about your moped lol
  • 1 2
 I guarantee I can get a good look at T-bone steak by sticking your moped up a horse’s ass but I’d rather take Levy’s word for it.
  • 4 1
 @Bro-LanDog: I don't need to do anything. I don't own a moped and I'll still be smiling the next time I hit the trails. Doesn't matter if I'm on my Levo or Enduro.
  • 2 1
 @speed10: good try.. but fail.
  • 1 2
 @SprSonik: so motorcoss bikes would be alright with you?

What is interesting about this topic is the people who complain bitterly about others gatekeeping, but they will immediately gatekeep when their limit is reached.

These are obviously and factually different than a bicycle. You can argue that they share a lot of components, but you won't turn a motorcycle into a bicycle no matter how many parts they share. They are inherently different, and inherently different sports.
  • 1 3
 @BeerGuzlinFool: so you DO own a moped.

Do you find reality hard to exist in? Because it seems like it based on your answers.
  • 1 3
 @BeerGuzlinFool: keep coping about your anemic motorbike lol
  • 3 1
 @BeerGuzlinFool: had to make the effort. Good luck out there
  • 3 1
 @Bro-LanDog: keep coping with your inferiority complex
  • 3 2
 @BarryWalstead: lololol. You are funny. And clueless. You're the one living in a fantasy. You actually think anyone cares about your personal opinions. Like I said, I'll enjoy my next ride regardless of which bike I'm riding. I suggest you do the same.
  • 2 1
 @BeerGuzlinFool: Considering you've posted 13 times on this thread alone, I think "You actually think anyone cares about your personal opinions" may be a bit more introspective of a comment.
  • 3 1
 @jasbushey: no.. I just like trolling trolls. And you actually counted my posts.. sad
  • 2 4
 @BeerGuzlinFool: awww, ebikers projecting again. It's adorable
  • 3 2
 @Bro-LanDog: wow. You are pathetic.
  • 2 4
 @BeerGuzlinFool: quick, put it in turbo so you can keep up old man
  • 3 2
 @Bro-LanDog: lol. . like I said you are pathetic. let's see if you can even ride when you get to my age. And I don't mean the rails to trails you currently ride.
  • 1 3
 @BeerGuzlinFool: blah blah blah go ride your moped 12mph in PA lmao
  • 19 0
 2024 is a leap year. Last question forgot 366!
  • 5 0
 lol, I thought 366 was just a joke answer. Completely spaced on leap year
  • 17 0
 Bought a new bike in early spring…got one ride in…ruptured my Achilles.. here’s to a good 2024 on my “new bike” which is now discounted.
  • 7 0
 Brutal
  • 4 0
 Torn quad tendon here and surgery to repair. But I was lucky to buy a new bike after it was discounted this fall. Too good a deal to pass up, even though I won’t be able to ride it still for a couple months.
  • 7 0
 I feel that one.
I had my second abdominal surgery a year ago and it took me completely out of riding all spring. And I was not able to be back to it (because of the recovery) until maybe July.
Since then I've been having serious health issues that have kept me to barely riding.

Hopefully I can get that sorted and get back to many, many days of riding.

Here's hoping you heal up quickly!
  • 4 4
 @henryquinney: the legit reason for e- bikes.
  • 9 3
 @brentkratz: absolutely not.

Read what I wrote above, still gonna pedal a real bicycle, not a low powered motorcycle.
  • 12 0
 2023 was going great I was at the end of my 2nd month guiding tours and training until Feb. 25th when I was hit head on by a motorcycle in the bush, in Jamaica. Sounds like a bad joke but my year has been a complete shit show. Enter 2024 I am cleared by the doctors including a cardiologist so I can continue my life long journey on 2 wheels. I gave up driving over 30 years ago and have made my way through life riding mountain bikes unwavering in my love for the sport and what it has given me on a daily basis. I have shelved Strava for 8 months like an ex while taking baby steps back and hopefully I will be logging on over the next few weeks as I am returning to the "scene of the crime" soon to ride/train. I found it hard reading all my friends posts about epic rides and amazing photo bombs featuring some of my favourite spots and locations both near and far.
To anyone else here who has had a similar experience or some sort of major set back I say stay strong and believe in yourself you can make it back maybe not the same but being back is enough. Hoping to look sideways and see my fellow riders looking back asap while we pedal forward.
"2Wheels1Love"
  • 14 0
 I rode a lot....didn't keep score.
  • 3 0
 I did, too, compared to others I know. Still I will complain to everyone about hardly ever getting on a bike.
  • 11 0
 Year round riding season here.
Approaching 50yo,quality prevails over quantity . 3000km/61k meters elevation,spread over 110 riding days and 4 bikes.
  • 5 0
 VT had a historically wet summer. In July we got 8-9 inches of rain in a day... which completely destroyed trails, ripped out bridges, and flooded towns and villages. Then it kept raining relentlessly for the rest of the summer and fall. I think we had maybe one weekend where it didn't rain the entire time? I'm still working to put things back together on my local trails...

I dug more than I rode last summer... alas. Probably 2-3 days a week digging? 1 day riding...

Usually I ride 3-4 days a week from May-October...
  • 7 0
 I coummute by bike, five days a week, about 35km round trip. Most weekends I'm on my MTB and will do anywhere from a few Km to 50-100km rides.... I ride alot....
  • 4 0
 I marked the 0-10 box. Maybe I'm barely over 10, I dunno. By a great margin, this was the least I've ridden in several years. Mostly, my focus was just elsewhere. I climb too, and was working toward some specific goals on rock. And it was a really successful year of climbing, so the trade-off felt worth it. I didn't even se it as a trade-off so much as just following my stoke.

Anyway, I also checked the box that said I got enough riding in this year. I felt a little less "bike fit" than when I ride a ton, but the rides that I did were high quality across the board, whether in terms of conditions, location, the people I weas with, whatever. I had a blast every time I got on singletrack in 2023.

I don't know what 2024 has in store. Bikes have been the main thing for a real long time for me. I love them, always will. But it's also been real nice to shift focus a bit, chase another muse, and when it came to the bike to value quality over quantity.
  • 1 0
 Oh, as a former enthusiastic rock climber tel me more. What kind of routes were you working on?
  • 7 4
 Not gonna lie, i am kind of getting the Mike Levy burnout lately. I feel like if i take a break for a couple of weeks whenever i come back to my bike i enjoy it more than ridding 2 or 3 times a week.

Wonder if it is a good idea for Pinkbike to do some sort of article/study about Mountain bike Adrenaline and Modern life Dopamine (yeah social media and all that BS)
  • 17 2
 How do you burn out at only 2-3x/week?
  • 8 0
 @noapathy: I can go multiple times a week (5-7 days/week) and not burn out, but if I do that for too long I start doing other things more often (rock climbing, hiking, etc). but after a week or two of that I'm hyped to be on the bike again, so a small break can be good for some hah.
  • 2 0
 @noapathy: other things in life (kids, jobs, rock climbing, surfing, reading, current geopolitical events)
  • 4 1
 @pmhobson: No sense of priorities. Wink
  • 3 0
 inertia is a powerful thing! I don't burn out when I am in the thick of it, but if I take a rest week mid summer, getting back to my previous volume feels so...daunting. Once you get going again though it feels great.
  • 8 0
 Once December hits, I start snowboarding every weekend. By March I’m am insanely stoked to get on my bike again. Really fuels my progression. Once I get to late October always feels like I’ve hit a plateau. I take it easy for a few weeks when I get back into things but then ramps up from there.

Having another sport or hobby to make you miss riding is a great way to go. It’s a very normal thing to get some burnout/boredom if you only do one thing.
  • 2 0
 @noapathy: i dont know man, probably age...

and as @pmhobson said, Kids are always in the equation, during the pandemic i was taking my daughters to the pump track almost daily, and i kind of got tired of it, the problem is that now they rip, so if they see me doing nothing at home they will ask me to take them out. And it is cool that they know how to ride, but they are in no condition yet to take them to a full enduro trail up in the mountains.

But as my original comment said, there are a lot of distractions nowadays, even here being in Pinkbike wanting to reply back, it definitely does something to your brain.
  • 5 0
 People assume they ride more than they actually do. When you really keep track of days it's less than you think.
  • 1 0
 You mean to say that people are full of shite and will lie to themselves as readily as they lie to others.
  • 1 0
 I track every ride in my Garmin. I just had to look up my last year’s stats to get the accurate data.

526 miles for the year
10.1 weekly average
1 ride a week average
45,000 assent for the year

I would have guessed my average was once a week.

I would like to get my average up to 2 times per week.
  • 1 0
 I was opposite..I selected what I thought on the poll, then went to trailforks to check stats and was quite pleased when the actual number was about 30rides more than I selected
  • 2 0
 I had a period this last summer and fall where the desire to ride just was not there like it had been for so many years. I then decided to try some local races ranging from downhill, enduro, and xc. First races coming up are on the fat bike (here in a still mostly snowless MN). I am finding that training right now has given riding a purpose again and have been able to set goals instead of going stale again. I used to pride myself on the DH abilities but hope this helps me become a more well rounded rider!
  • 3 1
 Vertical in feet… really the imperial system is archaic. Fahrenheit is the worst, can kinda get by with psi, but miles and feet, inches! WTF is 4’5 a heavy 3/8? I used to try and convert thinking it was a mental agility exercise and good for you, like speaking different languages but now I wish it would just go away.
  • 1 0
 Didn’t ride anywhere close to as much as I wanted. Had neck surgery Oct of 22 and got a late start in 23. Got back on bike in March, and on my 25th ride I clipped my bars on a tree and went over the bars. Completely tore the front rotator cup, labrum, and bicep 75% on left shoulder. Also tore my right shoulder the same places but only 75% on all 3. Had surgery in Sept and going to get back riding this year and get right shoulder done end of 24. When I was laying on the ground I told myself I’m getting too old for this sh*t. At 52 I’ve learned that I do t need to hit all the big jumps!!!
  • 2 0
 I tried hard to suck less at whitewater this year and subsequently neglected the bicycle for the first time in a long time. So now I still suck at canoeing and am worse at biking, ha!
  • 2 0
 If I could accurately measure vertical gain I'd have an answer, but when on a single ride the discrepancy between Strava and Trailforks is around 1000 ft...usually it's closer than this, but yikes!
  • 2 3
 Strava is more accurate
  • 5 6
 @kookseverywhere: strava is for kooks.
  • 6 5
 Whipped my DH bike out a week before champs, turned up, everyone else crashed, went to national champs, everyone else crashed.. stoked. Went to an enduro with covid after an all night rave, wore lycra... Won lol. Bought and EEB later in the year. Was never off the thing.
  • 6 1
 Went to an all night rave with covid - classy move.
  • 1 1
 @Fill-Freakin: didn't know I had it until a few days later, knew something was wrong on the enduro climb, climbing in 1st with a HR of over 160+ when I normally climb that climb in 3rd or 4th with a HR of around 100!
The final 11 minute stage was grim
  • 2 0
 Wait...were you the lycra guy in Tarland? Legend!
  • 2 0
 @Bitelio: sure was.
Did Tarland for fun so stuck the tux lycra on, not one photo on rootsandrain haha. Those trails are so sweet for flow trails.
www.rootsandrain.com/rider944/john-young-vet1/results

I am one of the main builders up Dallas forever and started the place way back, Dallas will be back after harvesting is completed. Really enjoying Monaughty for now and love the Aboyne steeper stuff over Aberdeen way. We are spoilt up here just now.
  • 1 0
 I’ve been addicted to riding in the dirt since I was on 2 wheels. That’s why I love living in the high desert. Maybe we don’t always have perfect trails, but I can ride over 200 days per year without many issues, some years even more
  • 1 0
 I'm one of the few who doesn't track their riding at all, heart rate, elevation, distance, not overly fussed about that. If I'm in the mood I'll ride, that's usually 2 to 3 times a week and between 20 to 30 km per ride. It's great that we have the devices to collect this data but I lost interest around 2012.
  • 1 0
 I commute every day using a hardtail. Some days it's asphalt, so not MTB(?), but quite a few months it's snow and ice and a lot more difficult than trails. Sometimes I have to park the hardtail for my fatbike for commuting, or like now, deploy a fullsus trailbike with Ice Spiker Pros (402 spikes per tire) just to survive.

So....poll is, once again, void.
  • 1 0
 Its pretty obvious from the data above that we can simplify everyoners answers to the following:

- How many times did you ride in 2023?....... Once a Week
- How many times do you want to ride in 224?...... More than Once a Week.

That is my response summed up neatly, and I am pretty sure thats the response of the majority too.


Anybody showing any sort of worry or anxiety about riding too much, is either a lottery winner, a journo, or has no idea how lucky they are.
  • 1 0
 I didn't ride nearly enough but in my defense we've been renovating our home for the past 15 months so time was kinda tight. Also most of my rides were with lights this past year so I'm excited to get to ride in the daylight this season!
  • 4 0
 trainer doesn't count, right?
  • 7 0
 ask yur natsak... im sure it keeps count when its too much
  • 25 6
 Counts more than an e-bike ride
  • 6 0
 Riding the nowhere bike definitely counts
  • 5 0
 @kookseverywhere: unless it’s an e-trainer
  • 2 0
 @mitochris: use the trainer to create electricity to charge your ebike. Infinite free energy
  • 3 0
 Don't piss off the Strava people, especially the KOM's and QOM's!
  • 2 0
 @wburnes: I create static electricity just by sitting on my couch!
  • 1 0
 @CSharp: if only we could find a way to harness this energy.
  • 1 0
 So many competing priorities combined with a broken motor in my VW Westy (my only means to haul my bike)... Anyone have source for "new" VVT EJ253 (0'6 through 09') motors let me know!
  • 1 0
 Sub 10 MTB rides for 2023, pthe lowest by far in 37 years of riding. 2024 not looking any better and if get 10 on trails I’d be stoked. Going to be Zwift and E-Gravel for awhile.
  • 4 2
 I had no idea most people biked so little. No wonder they like e-bikes. No offense; just that you can't get fit riding 51-80 days a year
  • 2 1
 You're assuming people can only get fit riding bikes? There are other sports to enjoy.
  • 1 0
 Also this is about Mtb, not biking in general. I ride 20-30km/weekday to work/university, that's what keeps me fit. Visiting the trails 1-2 times a week is for fun, not for fitness.
  • 2 0
 in the question "How many days do you hope to mountain bike in 2024?"
77 ppl answered 0-10 WHAT ? Are this ppl lost ? What are they doing on Pinkbike ?
  • 1 0
 I did 200 days in 2023 on the mountain bike, 97 on the moto and I ride to work 5 days a week, been keeping tabs on my riding for the last 5 years, in 2021 I did 300 days on the mountain bike and 100 on the moto.
  • 2 0
 Subtract 10% from the first field to know how many days people actually rode this year
  • 1 0
 I've been thinking about riding already. But it's too damn cold up in the Great White North! It's actually a lot warmer than the last few years and none of that white shit. So, I should be getting my ass off the couch!
  • 3 0
 @CSharp: indoor trainer and gym time buddy! The Canadian off-season provides the ideal chance to prepare to crush next season. I could still ride dirt in November, but I already moved indoors and my fitness thanks me.
  • 1 0
 I did 300 days and just over 4000km of mountain biking in 2023. It was 800hrs moving time. I work a full time job and ride after work almost every day of the year.
  • 4 2
 @mikekazimer for fun, could we also include a poll for elevation gain in 2023?
  • 7 0
 How about a poll for bike park laps?
  • 7 0
 @turboshart, sure thing - I added that in. And @maestroman21 , we'll probably do some sort of bike-park related poll when it gets closer to opening day.
  • 1 0
 thank you sir.
  • 2 0
 @maestroman21: between smoke and the whistler chair replacement, not a great year for bike park volume in Western Canada Frown
  • 2 1
 @mikekazimer: How about amount of rides? I did 291 days in 2023, but totalled 492 rides altogether.
  • 1 0
 @plyawn: Sun peaks was running great!!
  • 3 2
 Mountain biking specifically? No idea.

On my bike, nearly every day (don't actually know). Over 1000 hours riding time in 2023.
  • 2 0
 Less than 30 I would bet. Took a huge slam in July then got crushed by work. Life is stupid sometimes
  • 1 0
 Whoever climbed over a million vertical feet is at least 5 standard deviations above the bell curve. Speaking of which, can we get a scatter graph of all these responses?
  • 2 0
 Whoever said they mountain biked over a million vertical feet, probably didn't ride those on trails. Or they're just saying that to mess with the poll.
  • 2 0
 My numbers would be higher if I always remembered to turn on strava at the start of the ride. Its an old guy thing..
  • 2 1
 Do some work commutes, or grocery runs, and you will rack up more days. I have a brompton that accumulated a lot more "days" of riding than my MTB.
  • 2 0
 I think I'll throw some racks on one of my bikes for this exact reason this year
  • 4 0
 @ripridesbikes: For sure. Being able to start pedaling straight from your front door feels incredible. The average American spends $0.63 per mile to drive a car. Our hobby of cycling should not make us drive MORE miles annually.
  • 1 0
 Used to do 5-6 days of riding per week but a long term shoulder injury has got me down to 3 or 4. I’d ride every day if it wasn’t as much of a detriment on my body.
  • 1 0
 I'm right there with you in shit shoulder town. 3 or 4 physios in the last 7 years and it still gets worse every year regardless of how much rehab I'm doing. Ain't stopping me but it definitely slows a guy down.
  • 2 0
 My country is flat as a pancake, so I barely got 5000 ft of "climbing" in about 100 rides.
  • 1 0
 I sold my bike in June 2022. A back injury forced me to sell because of financial reasons. Hope I can get a bike by this June or sooner .
  • 1 0
 I wonder if it's possible to climb 1,000,000 metres in a year Smile
Roughly 3,000m per day every day.
Would be an epic challenge!
  • 1 0
 Please, don't give those crazy bastards from NZ ideas. ("Crazy bastards" meant with much love and respect)
  • 1 0
 Apparently, it's been done on the road but even world tour riders don't get close to it.
  • 2 0
 Would've made it out much more if it weren't for wildfires and smoke. Entire month of May was a health hazard.
  • 1 0
 I got in almost 800 hours this year, 240 of that was doing the tour divide which is kinda "up country" on a drop bar mountain bike? Still, not enough...
  • 1 0
 Crashed on my first MTB ride of 2023, Jan. 6th. Tore everything in my right shoulder, surgery, rehab. Selling my MTB. Yeti Bigtop, large.
  • 2 0
 It’s not much but it’s honest work
  • 2 0
 180+. Helps to be able to ride to trails within 3 minutes of home
  • 4 3
 Every other day ..and at least 6000 ' on the weekends on a big fat heavy Enduro bike with no motor..stop with the excuses.
  • 7 1
 Daddy hard ass has entered the chat
  • 2 1
 I was hoping for "f*ck all" and "nope, I couldn't escape my demotivation hole" options.
  • 1 0
 Wow, and I complain to anyone that's willing to listen that I "only" have time to ride three times a week.
  • 2 0
 TLDR : most pinkbikers don't ride as much as they would have you think
  • 2 0
 Honestly spent way more time in the gym this year.
  • 3 3
 Ya'll weekend warriors need to learn to like riding xc. Instantly double your riding days pretty much regardless of where you live.
  • 2 0
 Me going straight to Strava
  • 1 0
 I'm jealous of anyone who can hit 200 rides. Wish I could commute to work via bike.
  • 1 0
 I felt great about my effort this year, and then Dario climbed over 3/4 million feet.
  • 1 0
 Managed 287 in 2021, but only 155 in 2023. Currently on 6 for 2024, and 10 in a row.
  • 2 0
 I'm sorry. Was this a contest?
  • 1 0
 strava and elevate help me to get the state. very interesting. please keep it in meter metric system ;-)
  • 1 0
 Unless you live in SoCal you can achieve riding over 100 days just because the weather alone allows you to
  • 1 0
 Interesting that not one person rode 351 - 364.
  • 1 0
 Wait. They are hitting that button now.
  • 1 1
 I exercised in some form or fashion about 351 days according to Strava, but not even close to that many outside days on the bike.
  • 2 0
 I believe Mark Matthews rode every day
  • 1 1
 I'm sure there are, they're probably too embarrassed to post it.
  • 1 0
 Pretty much if I didn't pedal somewhere, I was running somewhere. Extremely rare I take a day off.
  • 2 1
 @JSTootell: Bipedalism is not the same thing as bicycling. Mike Levy
  • 1 0
 @CSharp: with 1000 hours on a bike last year, a few run miles won't hurt.
  • 1 0
 @JSTootell: 1000 hours is a huge amount. Do you have a bike commute or just lots of time to ride for riding’s sake? Also, do you live in a non-snowy place? Either way, kudos!
  • 2 0
 @twonsarelli: I live in SoCal, virtually the only days I can't ride are because I'm being a wuss. And I do commute roughly an hour each way M-F. But as my GF is also a rider, we occasionally do rides after work too. And then our weekends are basically planned around our long runs and/or rides.

So yeah, I take full advantage of my situation. Also no kids (for me, GF has 4).
  • 2 0
 @JSTootell: that’s awesome. I get after it when we’re snow free but about 5+ months of the year the trails are buried. The most I ever rode in a year was about half your total but I still got almost 5000 miles and over 600k of vert. Your stats must be off the charts! Keep shredding!
  • 1 0
 Ride through the woods every day to work.
  • 1 2
 You mean the urban jungle? Mike Levy
  • 1 0
 Count on it being better than time at work.
  • 1 0
 As much as I could but probably less than you.
  • 1 0
 Only on days that end in Y
  • 1 0
 Three a week is my sweet spot Smile
  • 1 0
 Last question: more than last year.
  • 1 0
 Less than 10 worst year ever
  • 1 0
 Now divide by how much your bike costs. Worth it? Heck yes!
  • 1 0
 Man pinkbikers don’t ride as much as idk think
  • 1 0
 Stopped paying for strava. Now they won't give me yearly totals anymore.
  • 1 0
 Had spine surgery in March. No riding for me...
  • 1 0
 Those are rookie numbers!
  • 1 0
 I gotta have it every day. Even if it's just a nip.
  • 2 2
 Nagging knee injury. Ride much less. Possible ebike in my sights.
  • 1 0
 Well, last year.
  • 1 0
 never enough berms.
  • 2 3
 If the sun is out and the ebike is charged I'm at the bikepark. Being retired helps, no longer limited to weekends.
  • 2 2
 Downvoted by bike riders because you ride a bike, interestingly odd.
  • 1 0
 Speed and Power.
  • 1 0
 10000000
  • 1 3
 Wish I had the time to ride 2x week. But more than that and I would definitely get burnt out.
  • 1 1
 400 days
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