I have been riding mtn bikes for over 33 yrs now, started on a fully rigid, then hardtail, several full suspensions, and now back to a simple 27.5+ hardtail. With my 58th birthday coming up next month, I have realized that since turning 50, I prefer to just enjoy myself. I still ride black diamond singletrack, but I don't do bike park style trails with big jumps and drops. I am not too proud to walk it if need be, I don't bounce like I used to when I screw up. I think alot of riders forget to just enjoy the scenery around them because they're too busy flying a mach speeds just sending it. The bike started off for myself as a kid as a means of "escape" and adventure. It's now that way for me again.
Almost my exact same story/timeline... I am an old school 'cross country' lover, where 'a ride' including riding up, around, and down. No parks whatsoever. No jumps, no double black... just sweet simple (mostly) natural singletrack.
Well put. Similar story. My intro into mtb in 1993 was on a full rigid Cannondale M500, then quite a few ht, one full suss, and now back to a steel ht & emtb ht, and a full rigid steel 'flat bar gravel' At 55yo/220lbs, I have no interest in taking risks for the thrill like I used to (read: no more reckless abandon)--it's enough to be out enjoying the trails and nature, and preserving my body.
i get 60 next year - and i confirm a hundred percent about your sayings 👍 this process startet much earlier in my live - around 20 years ago - but i am still a very active rider - jumping up the curbs and doing wheelies and sometimes i am cruzing around - just exploring nature 🌳🌾🌻
Could not agree more. For me, cx mountain biking was a way to explore more terrain than I possibly could in 3 or 4 hill walks. Spectacular views definitely come into that equation
I'm 30 and I just have too much shit to do in life to allow myself being "out of service" for a couple of weeks/months after a big crash. One or two days in a month when I take my hardtail on a ride over some mountain, alone, quiet, close to the beauty of nature work wonders for me.
Just imagine if you could buy a proper bike for the price of a mini van!!!! Bike people are nuts! It's a bike not a gp moto race bike with an engine that can go 300kmh
Toss one of those 6 bike racks on the back, and take you and 5 friends wherever for some biking fun. Putting 6 adults and gear in a minivan is very doable.
I love your videos man, I love seeing a fellow Black man out there riding mountain bikes and having fun. It means a lot to me seeing someone who looks like me riding bikes. I’m committed to being an athlete for now, so riding bikes regularly isn’t for me right now. But when I “retire”, I’ll be riding more and more. Glad I found your channel man, thank you!
I'm 68 and still ride after 35 years of racing MTN and road bikes. I've been blessed with good health and like a lot of older riders , remember when front shocks were introduced. Wow! .last bike was a 1x , dropper , 29er Intense..what a difference.. between a physical job and training my body is still holding steady. Never stop..I'm top 10 percent when I ride indoors on Peloton. I'm afraid to stop as riding makes me feel young!
I'm with you. I got into MTBing only 4 years ago. I was 63 years old. Even though I'm "old," I'm not in terms of being in shape. I actually LOVE climbing (others think that's nuts). I love being able to ride a bike up trails that previously I could only hike. I love being in nature...way out there. I have ridden with others but have found that to be OK. The issue I have is others I've ridden with just want to smash it. They don't relish climbs but want to just bomb downhill. That's fun...BUT...it's not why I love MTBing. I really enjoy "all the effort." It's great exercise and so good for the soul. AND there you have it. I'm a lone wolf rider now. I almost never go with others as I'm then "on their head-trip." I've found MOST MTBers don't really think about or appreciate NATURE as I do. It seems to be a "thrasher sport" for them. They are all about the latest tech (do I really need a $1500 new electric transmission?). They spend so much time fine-tuning their bikes and then going uber gnarly on the ride. I'm done with that. I am a lone wolf and couldn't be happier.
Mini vans and mountainbikes are match made in heaven. With the dropped and flush 3d row and a removed 2nd row captain's chair, I can fit 3 adults and all our bikes inside. Excellent for piece of mind when parked in town.
Man I bought a minivan removed all rear seats made a simple bed on 2 by 6s. Have a rack on the back my wife and I have been all over the country camping super comfortably everywhere and biking awesome trails. Also have driven it to Mex 7 times on surf trips with the same set ups. Last week took myself and two friends and our 3 bikes out for a weekend MTB trip. Just slide the bed out put one rear seat in and we're off. Minivans are the best I like my Sienna 40X more than the tacoma I used to have!
I feel ya! At 64 with 4 joint replacements, I've come to appreciate easier trails. I still like to push it a little, but i have to feel it on each ride. Choose your battles and your bikes for each!😂
I love that you start with your OG love for biking then your ascent up the tech ladder and then your fall back into your OG love for biking. People bitch about “gravel” being marketing term but it’s “working” because it’s tapping back into that vein of biking being a raw basic enjoyment. I feel like a kid again everytime I take my gravel bike from road to off terrain.
As a 50 year old hardtail loving ex XC racer i wish i had used full suspension bikes more in my 30 years of riding. Im almost certain that my body would be in a better condition now. If you can afford it get a full suspension and hardtail and try to mix them up as much as possible. You dont realise how much they are wearing your disks down over time and the added cost of a full sus will most certainly extend your MTB riding later into life.
@ Sure ive read that too, many studies saying that running is good for cyclists too but there are other studies that say the opposite, im only speaking from personal experience though, others may have a different experience.
i have been rinding xc hardtails now about 10 years so far no real damage on my body i have don't have a dropper post on both my xc hardtails i have done one ride up 78 km this year
I don’t think I will ever give up my full suspension bike, but you are spot on about maintenance and fiddling with settings! So many things that distract and draw your focus away from the moment… from the flow. You have inspired me to continue my own personal journey of letting go of the distractions and worries of a modern bike and instead always focusing on the moment. AND… no more collecting bikes for me. 😂 that is exponential mental clutter
I love the challenge of picking my way through obstacles for the smoothest line. I ride a gravel bike on single track and just love it! Being underbiked makes a ride challenging in a way that speaks to me! To each his own!
Rigid MTB is a real blast, it's what I grew up with and eventually did the whole thing you went through with suspension and advanced bikes only to go full circle and go back to rigid and rigid is real
You video made me smile. I started mountain biking in 1989. We had no suspension. I have moved to gravel bikes and often ride easy single track. And my dual suspension sits at home. 🚴🏻🚴🏻🚴🏻
I agree-- running blue and flow trails on a hard tail is getting back to the roots of mt biking and WAY safer/less stressful. That makes it more fun for me.
Right on bro! I’ve got a very similar story. After years of tinkering, I’ve been very content with only one bike for several years (2016 Fargo steel frame & carbon fork, with EN933 rims, 29x3 tires, 2x10 boost, bar end microshifters). My turning point was when my hard tail fork blew up, and it totaled my entire bike. I was inspired by Klunkerz, installing a 2 speed kick back hub & tiny chainring on my 26x3 beach cruiser. This turned a quick 2hr loop into an all day coaster brake adventure. I Love the original woodchipper bars with Tektro brake levers, because hoods for normal cruising, and wider stable drops for the gnarly descent parts. Rear tire air? Put your wheel in a tub of water to locate leak with bubbles? Spray with degreaser/soapy water? If you can’t go tubeless, I’ve had great success with adding latex (Stans) tire sealant to inner tubes. Sometimes those presta threads can get bent, making it impossible to fully lock out the valve. If you can’t wait for a rim strip, install some Gorilla tape to get you back on the trail. I have enjoyed simplifying my presta valve situation with adapters by RideAir ConvertAir, which also makes adding tire sealant easy.
A long time ago, broke AF, I built up a budget single speed HT 29er. It's heavy, steel, dead simple and was my only bike for a couple of years. I've upgrade bikes to bigger, badder, custom builds. Got hurt a couple times, had kids, took a break from riding. Now I've got big fancy expensive bikes sitting in the garage and I mostly just ride my single speed 29er. It doesn't do anything particularly well, but it's my favorite. It's so damned simple.
Love this vid. Over 30 years mountain biking and I recently added an old school XC hard tail to the fleet. This renewed enthusiasm might have me considering a rigid.
Underbiking is where it's at! My mountain biking has followed a similar path to yours. Now my most used bike is gravel bike converted to flat sweeps bar and hydro brakes. So much fun ripping smooth flowy single track on that thing. Great channel you've got!
You make such a great point about going back to basics. Just the simple act of riding a smooth trail is a nice change from everything having to be so intense
I ride bikes to have fun, stay healthy, and feel better mentally. That's it. Ride what you like and what will keep you happy. I used to ride chunkier stuff, but now I've gotten an XC bike and now I focus on XC trails. I like the climbs now as much as I used to like techy downhill. I like challenging my fitness and seeing improvements in my times. I might even start racing XC for fun. Just ride what you like, when you like.
The fewer things to worry about, the better 😉. I've converted my old 26" MTB to a drop bar one to ride it in bad autumn and winter conditions instead of my regular gravel bike.
I loved the first edition of the Breezer radar. The radar x fixed all the issues I had with the first edition but I could never find one locally to buy. Yours looks awesome and you ripped it on all those trails in this video; it was super fun to watch!
It's great to have a vehicle with enough room in back that you don't have to take the front wheel off your bike. I have a RAV-4 and it's just big enough to fit a 29" MTB in the back with the wheels on.
Love your attitude. You’re on the right path. I turned my Lynskey Live Wire to a fully rigid drop bar mtn bike. Conti Race King 2.2 tires work everywhere . 40 years of Mtn biking and I’m done riding rocky trails.
Drop bar rigid: Black Mountain Cycles, La Cabra. So smooth riding with a secret sauce geometry. Mike Varley designs the frame and builds each bike and set of wheels. Rode mine on the Telluride to Moab route bikepacking with racks and panniers front and rear. I have WTB i-30 Komlite rims and no leaking at all. I think tubeless is tricky, but if the mechanic has a lot of experience it's no problem. Black Mtn Cyles owner and designer has over 35 years in the bike industry. Happy trails☮
Feeling your vibe. Riding a Cotic Cascade (29" Drop-bar MTB with dropper) over in the UK. Putting soft MTB grips on the drops is a game changer (over bar tape)
Such a beautiful bike 😍 I just got a salsa gravel bike, and I’ve never had a gravel before. I’m super excited to have a bike that could handle most anything I throw at it!
That is a beautiful bike!😍 For leaking, consider just getting some TR tubes. I’m pretty biased though, so take that with a grain of salt. Not saying they’re without faults, but I’ve been running mine for over a year, and only patched twice. Thanks for the vid ✌️💜
The purple looks fantastic. For my WTB rims, I retapped with recommended width tape and then blasted it with a hair drier, which ensures no air bubbles. Two sets of tires and no issues so far.
Yeah dude, the Breezer looks sick! I almost bought a Salsa Fargo 9 years ago. I ended up getting a Crux and love riding the blue and green trails here in AZ with it.
Love this story! Mine went similar, from first like nice XC bike to a dirt jump, all mountain Enduro, BMX on the way. Then gravel bike, and that was it!
matt you got beautiful collection bike . love the video always. as fellow 30s old keep it rocking man!! don't push it to much we ain't that teenager no more hahaha
I found the exact same thing as soon as I owned a dual suspension trail bike. I like getting beaten up by the trail and having to micropick my lines. I now ride a fully rigid drop-bar 29er with a dropper post and it is the bike for me, for the moment.
52 years old- been riding since 1990 and have never ridden a full suspension. I enjoy the simplicity and classic look of a hardtail/rigid. Most full suspensions look more like motorcycles to me. My most fun bike is a 1996 aluminum rigid with v-brakes and thumb shifters. It can be rough sometimes but I usually just ride it on familiar blue and green trails where I can pick a smooth line and routinely run the fastest times compared to my other bikes. Although, anything with lots of unavoidable rocks, roots and big drops gets the new 29' steel hardtail cause I'm not a total masochist. Guess I've been lucky cause other than some occasional numbness in my hands I don't have any other pain issues yet.
I startet with a modern 29“ hardtail, switched to a 29“ full suspension, but now I ride old 90s 26“ bikes with a riser bar, 1x conversion and bigger tires and it’s so much fun. They offer a lot of fun in comparison for the ridiculous prices I pay for those old vintage bikes.
Nice to see some local trails on YT! I can relate to not wanting to ride chunky trails so much anymore. They've never been what I rode mountain bikes for and being in my 60s crashing isn't as fun either. I haven't ridden my FS MTB for over a year now. All gravel bike. Now with my new 45s instead of 35's things like Dirty Bismark and Springbrook should be less jarring!
I’m running a 2012 rigid MTB with drop bars. Dropper seatpost with the new redshift shock stop stem in the 55mm to take the edge off. It’s my dream ride for all terrain and bikepacking
For me the sweet spot for regular riding is my trusty 27.5 hardtail (nukeproof scout). It is just so fun, moves around quickly and the home trails dont get boring on it.
Cool thing about bikes is making them to your liking! I switch between a Titanium 29' hard tail and an Aluminum 27.5" full suspension. They both have plus and minus aspects so like having options. 😁I see lots of the drop bars out there these days, doesn't look appealing to me, but if works for them, that's cool.
Loved your video! As a very original Mntn bike owner. (Third one in Breckenridge,co). I totally agree, the modern stuff is overly complex, breaks easily and stupid expensive. I still have the original bull bar, 3x5 speed, triple crankset no suspension at all bike from 1980 and though I have had many others, my go to is the 2018 specialized m2 with XT. Light, durable and original rock shocks that still work! I ride it more than a 29er fs or several others. I agree, just ride and have fun.
Dude, the purple color scheme on your gravel bike is awesome, especially the handlebar tape! I kinda feel you on hardtail over full suspension. My Giant Trance X 29 is definitely a nice ride, and the most expensive bike I’ve ever owned. But I tend to chose my Giant Talon hardtail over the Trance because I don’t have to worry about suspension settings. Just pump the tires and go. Great videos, buddy!
100% agree. It's why when I bought my mid drive hard tail eMTB early 2024 it rejuvenated my riding as well. I started on a hard tail and stayed with one lol. In fact I've never even ridden a full suspension bike tbh. But what I can tell you is my skills are enhancing ever day due to the hard tail, and also I like to look at it like this: I'm 40 and the hard tail keeps me in check. It doesn't allow me to get too overconfident, because the rear wheel is always there to keep me in check. That's my take on it anyways. Cheers.
Speaking to my exact mountain bike journey right here. Currently using my Trek Dual Sport 3 as my fully rigid mountain bike, sold my full suspension Slash because it was just sitting around. Now I ride my Dual Sport TO the trails, and connect a few other gravel trails as well, and I'm just loving being out there way more. I'll probably pick up a Roscoe next season just to make descending a little more fun, missing that dropper post!
Started riding mountain bikes back in the late 80s and even raced fully rigid bikes. The most fun you will ever have is riding a steel hardtail with triple or quad butted tubing. The ride is unreal. If you know you know. I’m still riding steel head rails to this day and always will.
Bought me a fully rigid dropbar ATB over the summer. Gets miles and smiles every day, rain, snow or shine. My full suspension saw.... 2 rides since then?
Looks sick! RTV sealant (automotive gasket maker) around the base of the valve might help. Some rims have a weird profile that's hard to get a good seal on.
Nice Breezer, I like those colors. I've gone through a similar journey, at 56 I'm not interested in air time, and rarely ride either my race road bike or my full suspension MTB. I now use my chunky gravel (Lauf Siegla) for most tough trails and my all-road/endurance (ENVE Fray) for light gravel and long road. My 12yo son is not a big air MTBr and I have enjoyed keeping up with him on his full suspension while I ride the Siegla. I can do darn near anything a person can do on a XC MTB on that gravel bike with 2.25" tires on it.
I ride a fat bike hard tail and want a full suspension. Then again I love my bike and it handles anything I ride, even the most rooted and rocky downhill singletrack. You give me something to consider: perhaps I should just stick to what I am loving now and keep it simple.
Started MTBing in the 90’s with a hardtail with Rockshocks 1inch of travel to San Andreas full suspension competing in DH races in Europe. Now I ride a gravel bike on single track with 45 mm tyres and you know what I’ve more or less gone full circle and I love it.
I'm with you on the simplicity. I find myself on my hardtail more and more over my FS. I'm only more on XC trails than anything park or downhill these days. I don't think I will ever go back to a rigid like I had in the 90's and a thumbs down on the minivan. Honda Pilot's rule!!
I rode rigid bikes way back when I was a teenager in the 90s, we also didn't ride the level of trails that we have now. That is fun seeing the Kryptotals on a gravel bike, I use those same tires on my enduro bike just in DH casing and softer compound, they're amazingly good tires for the front range. Also have a trail suggestion that would be perfect for the Breezer, the North Sky trail on the north side of Boulder, it's got nice views, enough flow to be fun and it's mellow enough that gravel bikes are a common sight on it. You can also add in the Joder ranch trail at the north end (it's a fire road climb that turns into some nice downhill singletrack towards the end) and/or the Boulder valley ranch trails at the south end.
Cool video MA. I hear you- I have lots of bikes to ride, and I still love grabbing the salsa fargo drop bar rigid for all sorts of fun. Underbiking is good for you!
i like this attitude, matty. i learned this over covid when i got my new bike. not worth the risk. or the money haha. the maintenance or the hospital bills lol. love these videos.
A while ago, I got an old, hand built steel frame bike, it was made in the 80s, and technically is a road bike, but it blasts over gravel and rougher forest trails. It should suck, but it is amazing fun. The frame has no suspension, yes, but the fat thick tubes absorb quite a lot of the bumps, while still letting you feel everything. It only has a 2x6, thumb shifters, and using them feels like commanding starship Enterprise into Warp 7. Everything takes longer, and that makes you engage so much more with the bike. And aside from the gears, there is nothing to worry about on the bike. I think your bike only matters to a degree, how you ride it makes the difference, as anyone growing up poor and with old handmedown bikes will tell ya.
My all-surface (pavement, gravel, single track) bike is full-sus XC bike with Gravel tires. 110/120mm travel Epic Evo with 700x47 Pathfinder Pro tires and the handlebar cut 25 inches wide. Thinking of switching to 29x2.2 Conti Race King tires which some pro Gravel racers are using. I don't think I could ever go back to riding a full-rigid or hardtail again, not even for a Road bike.. I like the squish and flat bars. Wouldn't ride without it.
I have a steel Rawland Ravn with 26” wheels, 58mm tires (with room for fenders), and no suspension. It has drop bars, road bike components, a dynamo hub, and a bazillion places to mount things. Other than the drop bars, it’s an awful lot like the Univega Alpina Sport mountain bike I had back in 1983, back when no one had suspension, and I love it. Granted, I’m not the mountain bike type, but it’s all the mountain bike I need.
Yep, I sold several bikes in my stable because I bought a Salsa Journeyman gravel bike which replaced my road bike, my commuter, and hardtail. It's been a blast to ride, bought s separate wheel set and threw the same cassette on them with skinny road tires if I want to swap em for a road race, or keep em on my fast rolling 2.1" gravel tires for the rest of my rides. I still have my full sus Enduro though, I don't think I'll ever get rid of that, it's too much fun to rip through the woods like a dirt bike eating up the trail!
I'm someone who started out on fixed gears, then found my way into gravel/cx and now I'm venturing into MTB. A full suspension sounds like a blast, but I'm set on starting with a rigid. Karate Monkey or similar.
based on your progression from/to hardtails & the trails in your video I'd suggest trying singlespeed. I've ridden all sorts of bikes and nothing compares to having just one gear... preparing for all the ups and downs with all your soul. My current ride is a modern geo hardtail singlespeed with lightweight wheels and 2.6 tires. I'm getting older so I ride a 130mm fork nowadays but THE BEST days on my bike hands down was spent riding a steel rigid singlespeed 29er.
Good observation and post. I ride a Trek 520 with 40’s on a lot of hilly, rocky single track here in So. Cal. A hard tail would be great where I ride but I’m resisting. I’m kind of a minimalist. Definitely NOT racing, trying to keep it simple. I’ll try bigger tires first. I don’t want a garage full of bikes and parts.
I've been doing tubeless for over 10 years now. When I have ongoing issues, it's almost always at the valve. I've had bad valve cores. I've had a cracked valve stem, and I've had a worn out rubber base where it seals to the inside of the rim. Every once in a while, it's the bead. That is a cool bike! I ride all hard tails. I have a Salsa El Mariachi Ti, a Salsa Beargrease fatbike, and Vassago VerHauen single speed. Down in Colorado Springs.
Been riding a gravel bike for four years. Recently had a custom steel rigid 29+ dropbar done. A little like your purple bike, but shorter rear end and fairly light tubing (60kg rider). Enjoy doing mixed rides on it. Across rougher stuff ill often just slow down to 'hiking speed'.
Tubeless WTB tires/tyres can have pretty thin sidewalls that literally leak sealant, so, if the rims are taped well enough and the leak isn't there, then you can try adding more sealant and ensure you hold the wheels horizontally doing the shake thing on both sides to make sure the sidewalls get sealed.
My favorite part about taking my drop bar mountain bike to the trails is the ride to the ride. Just start spinning right out of the garage to the trailhead, take several laps and then pedal right back home.
Rigid and hardtail is the way to go! I've only had two duallies, and I don't really miss them. Working at my fourth bike shop as a wrench, I could have any bike I want, and still on a rigid and a hardtail. Even here in Whitehorse! Bikes should be simple and fun.
i sold my scott scale and bought a salsa jouynerer. best decision I made for my love for biking. flow trails on drops is so nice and then to do some road. i love my adventure bike.
Blimey, I hear you about the fancier the bike the less inclined I seemed to ride. Simplicity is everything you need. I went back to a hardtail this hear and love the speed. I would even go back to rim brakes if they did them.
To the author, I really dig your persp. Regarding the Radar X, I had one also I hated the wtb rims. I ran tubes, and ruptured 1 tube with my tire lever because the factory tire was so tight. Then when I got it one without popping the tube, it was terribly wobbly on the rim. So I called the dealer about the wobble and what he said works for me: use soapy water to lube the tire and get it to sit properly in the rim!
Less is more, way more! Especially if you live around mild trails it's important to find the sweet spot between challenging and fun by picking the right bike. I think it is one of the biggest challenges as a mountainbiker actually
If I had room for more than 2 bikes I’d probably consider a rigid MTB just for kicks. And I’m totally with you on the minivan. I rented one years ago on a cycling trip. It was kinda ugly but SOOO practical. Every time I put a bike on a rack or inside a car I remember how easy it was to just roll it into that minivan hehe
The Radar is awesome! I built a similar one at the beginning of 2024 based on a Kona Sutra LTD. Love that thing 😎 but using 2.4 on it 🤩 I can only fit 2.0 😅
Been biking for 30 years. I think in any off-road riding the thrill comes from pushing your riding to the limits of control in any given situation. When you ride a simpler bike those limits are lower, so you get the adrenaline with less risk - plus you add in the sense of "fitness achievement" from efficiently riding back up. With fully-tricked out long travel bikes you have to push the riding to extreme levels to reach those limits of control, where the thrill lies - increasing the risk to yourself in the process and requiring a bike-lift or motor to get you back up. The bikes which get the most use in my garage now are the '90s and '00s hardtails and softtails - pick one up for $300 and go have a blast!!
Same story as mine. From full sus mtb to hardtail hardcore mtb and now to adventure drop bar mtb the Radar X. And occasionally would ride my road bike. Nothing beats a drop bar mtb as an all rounder.
I rode a Radar X Pro for a day, and it's such a good bike. Still kinda quick, super capable, super comfortable. It inspired me to pull the trigger on putting drop bars on my Karate Monkey, which is also fun but doesn't feel as fast. And yeah, minivans. You can pretty easily put a XL FS MTB in standing up, and my size 58 gravel bike fits *sideways* between the sliding doors. Incredibly useful for bikes.
Ahhh sweet progression...did the same and got to the same bike! Radar xpro for the chunkiest gravel soutwestern tip of Europe rides. Just get a redshift seatpost and stem going; the ultimate one bike does it all ;)
I have been riding mtn bikes for over 33 yrs now, started on a fully rigid, then hardtail, several full suspensions, and now back to a simple 27.5+ hardtail. With my 58th birthday coming up next month, I have realized that since turning 50, I prefer to just enjoy myself. I still ride black diamond singletrack, but I don't do bike park style trails with big jumps and drops. I am not too proud to walk it if need be, I don't bounce like I used to when I screw up. I think alot of riders forget to just enjoy the scenery around them because they're too busy flying a mach speeds just sending it. The bike started off for myself as a kid as a means of "escape" and adventure. It's now that way for me again.
Almost my exact same story/timeline... I am an old school 'cross country' lover, where 'a ride' including riding up, around, and down. No parks whatsoever. No jumps, no double black... just sweet simple (mostly) natural singletrack.
Well put. Similar story. My intro into mtb in 1993 was on a full rigid Cannondale M500, then quite a few ht, one full suss, and now back to a steel ht & emtb ht, and a full rigid steel 'flat bar gravel' At 55yo/220lbs, I have no interest in taking risks for the thrill like I used to (read: no more reckless abandon)--it's enough to be out enjoying the trails and nature, and preserving my body.
i get 60 next year - and i confirm a hundred percent about your sayings 👍
this process startet much earlier in my live - around 20 years ago - but i am still a very active rider - jumping up the curbs and doing wheelies and sometimes i am cruzing around - just exploring nature 🌳🌾🌻
Could not agree more. For me, cx mountain biking was a way to explore more terrain than I possibly could in 3 or 4 hill walks. Spectacular views definitely come into that equation
I'm 30 and I just have too much shit to do in life to allow myself being "out of service" for a couple of weeks/months after a big crash. One or two days in a month when I take my hardtail on a ride over some mountain, alone, quiet, close to the beauty of nature work wonders for me.
Simplicity. The key to life.
Nothing says simple like owning 10 bicycles that constantly need attention
Mini vans are sick! Insecure dads been missing out for years. They are the ultimate practical vehicle!
Just imagine if you could buy a proper bike for the price of a mini van!!!! Bike people are nuts! It's a bike not a gp moto race bike with an engine that can go 300kmh
You get a lot for your money too because they're not popular!
Cool rigs bro
Toss one of those 6 bike racks on the back, and take you and 5 friends wherever for some biking fun. Putting 6 adults and gear in a minivan is very doable.
Dunno I just have a 4 door truck with a hitch bike rack. Does everything.
I love your videos man, I love seeing a fellow Black man out there riding mountain bikes and having fun. It means a lot to me seeing someone who looks like me riding bikes. I’m committed to being an athlete for now, so riding bikes regularly isn’t for me right now. But when I “retire”, I’ll be riding more and more. Glad I found your channel man, thank you!
I'm 68 and still ride after 35 years of racing MTN and road bikes. I've been blessed with good health and like a lot of older riders , remember when front shocks were introduced. Wow! .last bike was a 1x , dropper , 29er Intense..what a difference.. between a physical job and training my body is still holding steady. Never stop..I'm top 10 percent when I ride indoors on Peloton. I'm afraid to stop as riding makes me feel young!
I'm with you. I got into MTBing only 4 years ago. I was 63 years old. Even though I'm "old," I'm not in terms of being in shape. I actually LOVE climbing (others think that's nuts). I love being able to ride a bike up trails that previously I could only hike. I love being in nature...way out there. I have ridden with others but have found that to be OK. The issue I have is others I've ridden with just want to smash it. They don't relish climbs but want to just bomb downhill. That's fun...BUT...it's not why I love MTBing. I really enjoy "all the effort." It's great exercise and so good for the soul. AND there you have it. I'm a lone wolf rider now. I almost never go with others as I'm then "on their head-trip." I've found MOST MTBers don't really think about or appreciate NATURE as I do. It seems to be a "thrasher sport" for them. They are all about the latest tech (do I really need a $1500 new electric transmission?). They spend so much time fine-tuning their bikes and then going uber gnarly on the ride. I'm done with that. I am a lone wolf and couldn't be happier.
I typically ride alone. I’d like to ride with someone like you.
@@george8214 I live in Chico, CA. Where are you?
Mini vans and mountainbikes are match made in heaven. With the dropped and flush 3d row and a removed 2nd row captain's chair, I can fit 3 adults and all our bikes inside. Excellent for piece of mind when parked in town.
When I purchsed mine a requirement was that it had to fit bike in the back standing up on its wheels, not on its side.
Man I bought a minivan removed all rear seats made a simple bed on 2 by 6s. Have a rack on the back my wife and I have been all over the country camping super comfortably everywhere and biking awesome trails. Also have driven it to Mex 7 times on surf trips with the same set ups. Last week took myself and two friends and our 3 bikes out for a weekend MTB trip. Just slide the bed out put one rear seat in and we're off. Minivans are the best I like my Sienna 40X more than the tacoma I used to have!
I feel ya! At 64 with 4 joint replacements, I've come to appreciate easier trails. I still like to push it a little, but i have to feel it on each ride. Choose your battles and your bikes for each!😂
I love that you start with your OG love for biking then your ascent up the tech ladder and then your fall back into your OG love for biking.
People bitch about “gravel” being marketing term but it’s “working” because it’s tapping back into that vein of biking being a raw basic enjoyment.
I feel like a kid again everytime I take my gravel bike from road to off terrain.
My twin loves his hardtail. He even prefers external cables with cable actuated brakes, believes steel is real and has a drop bar MTB.
He would love my Production Privee. Its the OKA 27.5 and its bloody awesome. Ive had some big crashes on it. You have to focus.
@@robvanduren761 Right now he is riding a Kona Honzo but I will tell him about it. His best friend is also a steel is real type of rider.
As a 50 year old hardtail loving ex XC racer i wish i had used full suspension bikes more in my 30 years of riding. Im almost certain that my body would be in a better condition now. If you can afford it get a full suspension and hardtail and try to mix them up as much as possible. You dont realise how much they are wearing your disks down over time and the added cost of a full sus will most certainly extend your MTB riding later into life.
Not to be contradictory - There's evidence that impact is better for us as we age (bone density). Probably a fine line between gains and damage.
@ Sure ive read that too, many studies saying that running is good for cyclists too but there are other studies that say the opposite, im only speaking from personal experience though, others may have a different experience.
Spot on sir, I'm 54 and I think my back and hip pain are bike related, too much punishment over decades on unforgiving bikes.
Well said. I’m 54. Brutal. Still on a hard tail , 45,000 miles. Insane
i have been rinding xc hardtails now about 10 years so far no real damage on my body i have don't have a dropper post on both my xc hardtails i have done one ride up 78 km this year
I don’t think I will ever give up my full suspension bike, but you are spot on about maintenance and fiddling with settings! So many things that distract and draw your focus away from the moment… from the flow. You have inspired me to continue my own personal journey of letting go of the distractions and worries of a modern bike and instead always focusing on the moment. AND… no more collecting bikes for me. 😂 that is exponential mental clutter
I love the challenge of picking my way through obstacles for the smoothest line. I ride a gravel bike on single track and just love it! Being underbiked makes a ride challenging in a way that speaks to me! To each his own!
Rigid MTB is a real blast, it's what I grew up with and eventually did the whole thing you went through with suspension and advanced bikes only to go full circle and go back to rigid and rigid is real
i really enjoyed watching this and hearing your perspective on biccycling and your personal journey with bikes aswell
You video made me smile. I started mountain biking in 1989. We had no suspension. I have moved to gravel bikes and often ride easy single track. And my dual suspension sits at home. 🚴🏻🚴🏻🚴🏻
I agree-- running blue and flow trails on a hard tail is getting back to the roots of mt biking and WAY safer/less stressful. That makes it more fun for me.
I'm jealous of your home bike collection! My wife's still nagging after I bought my 7th bike 😂 and it's only a folding bike!
Right on bro! I’ve got a very similar story. After years of tinkering, I’ve been very content with only one bike for several years (2016 Fargo steel frame & carbon fork, with EN933 rims, 29x3 tires, 2x10 boost, bar end microshifters). My turning point was when my hard tail fork blew up, and it totaled my entire bike. I was inspired by Klunkerz, installing a 2 speed kick back hub & tiny chainring on my 26x3 beach cruiser. This turned a quick 2hr loop into an all day coaster brake adventure. I Love the original woodchipper bars with Tektro brake levers, because hoods for normal cruising, and wider stable drops for the gnarly descent parts. Rear tire air? Put your wheel in a tub of water to locate leak with bubbles? Spray with degreaser/soapy water? If you can’t go tubeless, I’ve had great success with adding latex (Stans) tire sealant to inner tubes. Sometimes those presta threads can get bent, making it impossible to fully lock out the valve. If you can’t wait for a rim strip, install some Gorilla tape to get you back on the trail. I have enjoyed simplifying my presta valve situation with adapters by RideAir ConvertAir, which also makes adding tire sealant easy.
A long time ago, broke AF, I built up a budget single speed HT 29er. It's heavy, steel, dead simple and was my only bike for a couple of years. I've upgrade bikes to bigger, badder, custom builds. Got hurt a couple times, had kids, took a break from riding. Now I've got big fancy expensive bikes sitting in the garage and I mostly just ride my single speed 29er. It doesn't do anything particularly well, but it's my favorite. It's so damned simple.
Love this vid. Over 30 years mountain biking and I recently added an old school XC hard tail to the fleet. This renewed enthusiasm might have me considering a rigid.
Steel single speed is a beautiful ride that engages the rider and trail like nothing else.
Underbiking is where it's at! My mountain biking has followed a similar path to yours. Now my most used bike is gravel bike converted to flat sweeps bar and hydro brakes. So much fun ripping smooth flowy single track on that thing. Great channel you've got!
You make such a great point about going back to basics. Just the simple act of riding a smooth trail is a nice change from everything having to be so intense
Back to the roots, so you can literally… feel them 😅 Nice move, underbiking is so joyful! you might be ready for gravel too, watch out! 😃
I ride bikes to have fun, stay healthy, and feel better mentally. That's it. Ride what you like and what will keep you happy. I used to ride chunkier stuff, but now I've gotten an XC bike and now I focus on XC trails. I like the climbs now as much as I used to like techy downhill. I like challenging my fitness and seeing improvements in my times. I might even start racing XC for fun. Just ride what you like, when you like.
The fewer things to worry about, the better 😉. I've converted my old 26" MTB to a drop bar one to ride it in bad autumn and winter conditions instead of my regular gravel bike.
That's what I used to ride in the 80's. No shocks back then. You become the shock. I still have a couple of them.
I loved the first edition of the Breezer radar. The radar x fixed all the issues I had with the first edition but I could never find one locally to buy. Yours looks awesome and you ripped it on all those trails in this video; it was super fun to watch!
It's great to have a vehicle with enough room in back that you don't have to take the front wheel off your bike. I have a RAV-4 and it's just big enough to fit a 29" MTB in the back with the wheels on.
Love your attitude. You’re on the right path. I turned my Lynskey Live Wire to a fully rigid drop bar mtn bike. Conti Race King 2.2 tires work everywhere . 40 years of Mtn biking and I’m done riding rocky trails.
I couldn’t agree with you more on hard tails. I bought a Rocky Mountain growler last spring and it was a game changer for me.
Drop bar rigid: Black Mountain Cycles, La Cabra. So smooth riding with a secret sauce geometry. Mike Varley designs the frame and builds each bike and set of wheels. Rode mine on the Telluride to Moab route bikepacking with racks and panniers front and rear. I have WTB i-30 Komlite rims and no leaking at all. I think tubeless is tricky, but if the mechanic has a lot of experience it's no problem. Black Mtn Cyles owner and designer has over 35 years in the bike industry. Happy trails☮
Feeling your vibe. Riding a Cotic Cascade (29" Drop-bar MTB with dropper) over in the UK. Putting soft MTB grips on the drops is a game changer (over bar tape)
Such a beautiful bike 😍 I just got a salsa gravel bike, and I’ve never had a gravel before. I’m super excited to have a bike that could handle most anything I throw at it!
That is a beautiful bike!😍
For leaking, consider just getting some TR tubes. I’m pretty biased though, so take that with a grain of salt. Not saying they’re without faults, but I’ve been running mine for over a year, and only patched twice.
Thanks for the vid ✌️💜
The purple looks fantastic. For my WTB rims, I retapped with recommended width tape and then blasted it with a hair drier, which ensures no air bubbles. Two sets of tires and no issues so far.
Yeah dude, the Breezer looks sick! I almost bought a Salsa Fargo 9 years ago. I ended up getting a Crux and love riding the blue and green trails here in AZ with it.
Love this story! Mine went similar, from first like nice XC bike to a dirt jump, all mountain Enduro, BMX on the way. Then gravel bike, and that was it!
matt you got beautiful collection bike . love the video always. as fellow 30s old keep it rocking man!! don't push it to much we ain't that teenager no more hahaha
I found the exact same thing as soon as I owned a dual suspension trail bike. I like getting beaten up by the trail and having to micropick my lines. I now ride a fully rigid drop-bar 29er with a dropper post and it is the bike for me, for the moment.
52 years old- been riding since 1990 and have never ridden a full suspension. I enjoy the simplicity and classic look of a hardtail/rigid. Most full suspensions look more like motorcycles to me. My most fun bike is a 1996 aluminum rigid with v-brakes and thumb shifters. It can be rough sometimes but I usually just ride it on familiar blue and green trails where I can pick a smooth line and routinely run the fastest times compared to my other bikes. Although, anything with lots of unavoidable rocks, roots and big drops gets the new 29' steel hardtail cause I'm not a total masochist. Guess I've been lucky cause other than some occasional numbness in my hands I don't have any other pain issues yet.
I startet with a modern 29“ hardtail, switched to a 29“ full suspension, but now I ride old 90s 26“ bikes with a riser bar, 1x conversion and bigger tires and it’s so much fun. They offer a lot of fun in comparison for the ridiculous prices I pay for those old vintage bikes.
Nice to see some local trails on YT! I can relate to not wanting to ride chunky trails so much anymore. They've never been what I rode mountain bikes for and being in my 60s crashing isn't as fun either. I haven't ridden my FS MTB for over a year now. All gravel bike. Now with my new 45s instead of 35's things like Dirty Bismark and Springbrook should be less jarring!
Ya know, that's a good looking purple bike. And you know, for that rear wheel, purple inner tubes are a thing!!!! 😂😂😂
I’m running a 2012 rigid MTB with drop bars. Dropper seatpost with the new redshift shock stop stem in the 55mm to take the edge off. It’s my dream ride for all terrain and bikepacking
For me the sweet spot for regular riding is my trusty 27.5 hardtail (nukeproof scout). It is just so fun, moves around quickly and the home trails dont get boring on it.
Cool thing about bikes is making them to your liking! I switch between a Titanium 29' hard tail and an Aluminum 27.5" full suspension. They both have plus and minus aspects so like having options. 😁I see lots of the drop bars out there these days, doesn't look appealing to me, but if works for them, that's cool.
A work friend told me to get a hard tail over a full sus, best advice I ever got
Loved your video! As a very original Mntn bike owner. (Third one in Breckenridge,co). I totally agree, the modern stuff is overly complex, breaks easily and stupid expensive. I still have the original bull bar, 3x5 speed, triple crankset no suspension at all bike from 1980 and though I have had many others, my go to is the 2018 specialized m2 with XT. Light, durable and original rock shocks that still work! I ride it more than a 29er fs or several others. I agree, just ride and have fun.
The 1991 diamond back apex , was full rigid. Had the brama bar handlebar. Loved that thing
I have a Diamondback Apex SE with the nice riding steel frame True Temper TT-LITE. It's has a nice riding quality
Dude, the purple color scheme on your gravel bike is awesome, especially the handlebar tape! I kinda feel you on hardtail over full suspension. My Giant Trance X 29 is definitely a nice ride, and the most expensive bike I’ve ever owned. But I tend to chose my Giant Talon hardtail over the Trance because I don’t have to worry about suspension settings. Just pump the tires and go. Great videos, buddy!
100% agree. It's why when I bought my mid drive hard tail eMTB early 2024 it rejuvenated my riding as well. I started on a hard tail and stayed with one lol. In fact I've never even ridden a full suspension bike tbh. But what I can tell you is my skills are enhancing ever day due to the hard tail, and also I like to look at it like this: I'm 40 and the hard tail keeps me in check. It doesn't allow me to get too overconfident, because the rear wheel is always there to keep me in check.
That's my take on it anyways. Cheers.
Speaking to my exact mountain bike journey right here. Currently using my Trek Dual Sport 3 as my fully rigid mountain bike, sold my full suspension Slash because it was just sitting around. Now I ride my Dual Sport TO the trails, and connect a few other gravel trails as well, and I'm just loving being out there way more. I'll probably pick up a Roscoe next season just to make descending a little more fun, missing that dropper post!
Started riding mountain bikes back in the late 80s and even raced fully rigid bikes. The most fun you will ever have is riding a steel hardtail with triple or quad butted tubing. The ride is unreal. If you know you know. I’m still riding steel head rails to this day and always will.
Bought me a fully rigid dropbar ATB over the summer. Gets miles and smiles every day, rain, snow or shine. My full suspension saw.... 2 rides since then?
Looks sick!
RTV sealant (automotive gasket maker) around the base of the valve might help. Some rims have a weird profile that's hard to get a good seal on.
Nice Breezer, I like those colors. I've gone through a similar journey, at 56 I'm not interested in air time, and rarely ride either my race road bike or my full suspension MTB. I now use my chunky gravel (Lauf Siegla) for most tough trails and my all-road/endurance (ENVE Fray) for light gravel and long road. My 12yo son is not a big air MTBr and I have enjoyed keeping up with him on his full suspension while I ride the Siegla. I can do darn near anything a person can do on a XC MTB on that gravel bike with 2.25" tires on it.
I ride a fat bike hard tail and want a full suspension. Then again I love my bike and it handles anything I ride, even the most rooted and rocky downhill singletrack. You give me something to consider: perhaps I should just stick to what I am loving now and keep it simple.
Sweet looking bike! That’s the sort of riding that will polish your skills🤘
Started MTBing in the 90’s with a hardtail with Rockshocks 1inch of travel to San Andreas full suspension competing in DH races in Europe. Now I ride a gravel bike on single track with 45 mm tyres and you know what I’ve more or less gone full circle and I love it.
I'm with you on the simplicity. I find myself on my hardtail more and more over my FS. I'm only more on XC trails than anything park or downhill these days. I don't think I will ever go back to a rigid like I had in the 90's and a thumbs down on the minivan. Honda Pilot's rule!!
I rode rigid bikes way back when I was a teenager in the 90s, we also didn't ride the level of trails that we have now. That is fun seeing the Kryptotals on a gravel bike, I use those same tires on my enduro bike just in DH casing and softer compound, they're amazingly good tires for the front range. Also have a trail suggestion that would be perfect for the Breezer, the North Sky trail on the north side of Boulder, it's got nice views, enough flow to be fun and it's mellow enough that gravel bikes are a common sight on it. You can also add in the Joder ranch trail at the north end (it's a fire road climb that turns into some nice downhill singletrack towards the end) and/or the Boulder valley ranch trails at the south end.
Cool video MA. I hear you- I have lots of bikes to ride, and I still love grabbing the salsa fargo drop bar rigid for all sorts of fun. Underbiking is good for you!
i like this attitude, matty. i learned this over covid when i got my new bike. not worth the risk. or the money haha. the maintenance or the hospital bills lol. love these videos.
Like I said last week, Matty, it's fun watching you do this... hope to see you out there one of these days...
🤨
A while ago, I got an old, hand built steel frame bike, it was made in the 80s, and technically is a road bike, but it blasts over gravel and rougher forest trails. It should suck, but it is amazing fun. The frame has no suspension, yes, but the fat thick tubes absorb quite a lot of the bumps, while still letting you feel everything. It only has a 2x6, thumb shifters, and using them feels like commanding starship Enterprise into Warp 7. Everything takes longer, and that makes you engage so much more with the bike. And aside from the gears, there is nothing to worry about on the bike. I think your bike only matters to a degree, how you ride it makes the difference, as anyone growing up poor and with old handmedown bikes will tell ya.
My all-surface (pavement, gravel, single track) bike is full-sus XC bike with Gravel tires. 110/120mm travel Epic Evo with 700x47 Pathfinder Pro tires and the handlebar cut 25 inches wide. Thinking of switching to 29x2.2 Conti Race King tires which some pro Gravel racers are using. I don't think I could ever go back to riding a full-rigid or hardtail again, not even for a Road bike.. I like the squish and flat bars. Wouldn't ride without it.
I have a steel Rawland Ravn with 26” wheels, 58mm tires (with room for fenders), and no suspension. It has drop bars, road bike components, a dynamo hub, and a bazillion places to mount things. Other than the drop bars, it’s an awful lot like the Univega Alpina Sport mountain bike I had back in 1983, back when no one had suspension, and I love it. Granted, I’m not the mountain bike type, but it’s all the mountain bike I need.
You have a lot of beautiful bikes and an awesome place to ride them!
That bike is sharp as hell
Yep, I sold several bikes in my stable because I bought a Salsa Journeyman gravel bike which replaced my road bike, my commuter, and hardtail. It's been a blast to ride, bought s separate wheel set and threw the same cassette on them with skinny road tires if I want to swap em for a road race, or keep em on my fast rolling 2.1" gravel tires for the rest of my rides. I still have my full sus Enduro though, I don't think I'll ever get rid of that, it's too much fun to rip through the woods like a dirt bike eating up the trail!
I'm someone who started out on fixed gears, then found my way into gravel/cx and now I'm venturing into MTB. A full suspension sounds like a blast, but I'm set on starting with a rigid. Karate Monkey or similar.
based on your progression from/to hardtails & the trails in your video I'd suggest trying singlespeed. I've ridden all sorts of bikes and nothing compares to having just one gear... preparing for all the ups and downs with all your soul. My current ride is a modern geo hardtail singlespeed with lightweight wheels and 2.6 tires. I'm getting older so I ride a 130mm fork nowadays but THE BEST days on my bike hands down was spent riding a steel rigid singlespeed 29er.
Good observation and post. I ride a Trek 520 with 40’s on a lot of hilly, rocky single track here in So. Cal. A hard tail would be great where I ride but I’m resisting. I’m kind of a minimalist. Definitely NOT racing, trying to keep it simple. I’ll try bigger tires first. I don’t want a garage full of bikes and parts.
I've been doing tubeless for over 10 years now. When I have ongoing issues, it's almost always at the valve. I've had bad valve cores. I've had a cracked valve stem, and I've had a worn out rubber base where it seals to the inside of the rim. Every once in a while, it's the bead. That is a cool bike! I ride all hard tails. I have a Salsa El Mariachi Ti, a Salsa Beargrease fatbike, and Vassago VerHauen single speed. Down in Colorado Springs.
Been riding a gravel bike for four years. Recently had a custom steel rigid 29+ dropbar done. A little like your purple bike, but shorter rear end and fairly light tubing (60kg rider).
Enjoy doing mixed rides on it. Across rougher stuff ill often just slow down to 'hiking speed'.
Awesome video Brother!!! 💪🏼
I am the same way, my full sus is gathering dust while I take the hardtail, Rigid and gravelbike get the most use.
I love riding my gravel bike on single track, even the chunky stuff. It's not as fast as my Specialized Epic Evo, but it's more thrilling!
Tubeless WTB tires/tyres can have pretty thin sidewalls that literally leak sealant, so, if the rims are taped well enough and the leak isn't there, then you can try adding more sealant and ensure you hold the wheels horizontally doing the shake thing on both sides to make sure the sidewalls get sealed.
yeah , the MTB "geometry cult" has been discarded
Interesting channel and different to the usual content. I have to agree about the Breezer, really nice looking bike.
My favorite part about taking my drop bar mountain bike to the trails is the ride to the ride. Just start spinning right out of the garage to the trailhead, take several laps and then pedal right back home.
Sold my full suspension Kona during covid for a profit and put some 700x45s on my CX bike and hit the trails. So fun and so fast.!
Glad you found rigid bikes are more rewarding
Maybe your +1 bike is a rigid single speed 29er
Drop bar mtb a lot of fun too
Another vote for Single speed!!
Rigid and hardtail is the way to go! I've only had two duallies, and I don't really miss them. Working at my fourth bike shop as a wrench, I could have any bike I want, and still on a rigid and a hardtail. Even here in Whitehorse! Bikes should be simple and fun.
i sold my scott scale and bought a salsa jouynerer. best decision I made for my love for biking. flow trails on drops is so nice and then to do some road. i love my adventure bike.
Blimey, I hear you about the fancier the bike the less inclined I seemed to ride. Simplicity is everything you need. I went back to a hardtail this hear and love the speed. I would even go back to rim brakes if they did them.
To the author, I really dig your persp. Regarding the Radar X, I had one also I hated the wtb rims. I ran tubes, and ruptured 1 tube with my tire lever because the factory tire was so tight. Then when I got it one without popping the tube, it was terribly wobbly on the rim. So I called the dealer about the wobble and what he said works for me: use soapy water to lube the tire and get it to sit properly in the rim!
Less is more, way more! Especially if you live around mild trails it's important to find the sweet spot between challenging and fun by picking the right bike. I think it is one of the biggest challenges as a mountainbiker actually
If I had room for more than 2 bikes I’d probably consider a rigid MTB just for kicks. And I’m totally with you on the minivan. I rented one years ago on a cycling trip. It was kinda ugly but SOOO practical. Every time I put a bike on a rack or inside a car I remember how easy it was to just roll it into that minivan hehe
The Radar is awesome! I built a similar one at the beginning of 2024 based on a Kona Sutra LTD. Love that thing 😎 but using 2.4 on it 🤩 I can only fit 2.0 😅
I was surprised I could get 2.4 on it!
I have one wheel with the Tannis lite insert but the Cushcore XC and CC Gravel in my other gravel wheels. They work great!
Been biking for 30 years. I think in any off-road riding the thrill comes from pushing your riding to the limits of control in any given situation. When you ride a simpler bike those limits are lower, so you get the adrenaline with less risk - plus you add in the sense of "fitness achievement" from efficiently riding back up. With fully-tricked out long travel bikes you have to push the riding to extreme levels to reach those limits of control, where the thrill lies - increasing the risk to yourself in the process and requiring a bike-lift or motor to get you back up. The bikes which get the most use in my garage now are the '90s and '00s hardtails and softtails - pick one up for $300 and go have a blast!!
Same story as mine. From full sus mtb to hardtail hardcore mtb and now to adventure drop bar mtb the Radar X. And occasionally would ride my road bike. Nothing beats a drop bar mtb as an all rounder.
Do a garage tour of all your bikes. Will be a great video.
Cheers bro
I rode a Radar X Pro for a day, and it's such a good bike. Still kinda quick, super capable, super comfortable. It inspired me to pull the trigger on putting drop bars on my Karate Monkey, which is also fun but doesn't feel as fast.
And yeah, minivans. You can pretty easily put a XL FS MTB in standing up, and my size 58 gravel bike fits *sideways* between the sliding doors. Incredibly useful for bikes.
Ahhh sweet progression...did the same and got to the same bike! Radar xpro for the chunkiest gravel soutwestern tip of Europe rides. Just get a redshift seatpost and stem going; the ultimate one bike does it all ;)
I bought my first Mountainbike 12 years ago, and it's still my primary one.
monster gravel I did 2017 on Trek 920 with 29X2.5 Maxxis. I deeply regret selling that bike 🍺🍺🍺 U got some purple monster going on !!!!