Skill vs. Technology

I see a lot of new and improved bikes and components come out, all designed to make the riding experience better for us mountain bikers, which is great. But there is a downside to it, and this realization came from something one of my buddies said on a ride last year.

I was out with two friends, both fairly new to the sport, and both have a lot of learning to do. The problem is, they are both super competitive and into team sports, and always have to be the best at whatever they do, so it really peeved them that I was so much better than them on a bike, and have such a laid back attitude. I try to point out that it's that I've been into biking for a large part of my life, but this is not enough for them. They are constantly asking and looking for the holy grail. I have to remind them that a basketball is always round, floor always flat, the net and rim always at the same height, in the same spot, and the same size, but the trail is most definitely always changes; it's going to be different after a rain, drought, morning, night, and year to year, it will change.

"I have strong legs, if I had clipless pedals, I would be able to climb this no problem" said one of them. I explained to him that it's not really the pedals, it's that he doesn't know how to ride properly, and position himself on his bike. On the uphill, his front wheel is floating, lifting at every pedal stroke, and he's constantly in either too easy a gear, or too difficult. On the downhill, he's rarely off his seat, that is, until he's over the bars. He now walks down hills that I'm sure some little girls can ride down on their tricycles. Yes, a mountain biker that WALKS down hills! He locks his brakes at every downhill and corner, and has no idea how to lean. His arms are constantly sore because he locks his elbows for the entire ride. Basically, he does mostly everything wrong.

The other of the two is a bit better rider, but keeps telling me he wants full suspension rig. I told him, laughing, that since he walks down the hills with the other guy, that he really shouldn't waste his money. I also tried to insist that riding a hard tail will give you the foundation you need to be a good rider, and that full suspension is too forgiving. I have finally moved to a full sus bike, but only after 12 years of riding a hardtail. He, like the other guy, does not understand.

I guess what I'm saying is that a good rider on a Wal-Mart bike can easily overtake an unskilled rider on a $6000 super-bike. Mountain Biking is not "just like riding a bike", it's an art form, and a skill that has to be honed over the years, and no amount of money or clipless pedals will help you. 

Sorry for the rant. I guess I'm just tired of people thinking that mountain biking is just a stroll in the park.