Mountain bikers - obsessed with the look

Jonny7

I can't say I haven't been sucked in myself at some stage, its like a disease.. I used to hack an ancient 35 lb Raleigh draken up the hills, the only added product were quite functional 2.1 tyres to take the hits and save the rims..

Then came the new parts, a few at first.. but each time getting shinier and more exotic.. then the first real mountain-bike.. then the second.. then a ridiculously shiny thing I barely even rode because it was so perfect..

Was watching an MTB video the other day, roam or seasons or whatever, and they were doing the whole spiritual 'riding makes me free, its life man' narrative, talking about the grass roots movement to build the tracks through whatever mountains and they zoomed in on some guy, in the wet forest, building a boarded track... he probably had a 1000 euros worth of branded apres-ride gear.. in fact everyone in the video was exactly the same..

Even the newest most novice riders come dressed up like pro downhill skiers

I did have one old cycling buddy who managed to hold off.. but even he eventually succumbed to the oakleys, braided cables, kevlar beaded tyres

Being a victim myself, I gotta admit it was more fun when it was less fashiony and more bikey

Morgan

While I always do my best to look stylish on the bike, until there's a mtb equivalent of Rapha.cc then you're talking jive.

ednwireland

Jonny7 wrote: »

Being a victim myself, I gotta admit it was more fun when it was less fashiony and more bikey

when was this ? racing clunkers down california fireroads in the 70's
i raced in th 90's and tbh it wasnt any different then, the only thing was the shops didnt have as much stuff in them, i still have a mint sauce T somewhere, i still ride my aluminium 'o' an expensive lightweight raceing mtb at the time (didnt have suspension) upgraded that to pace forks (considering the tracks i was throwing it down in those days i needed them) now it has sram x5 and rock shock tora's (and rarely gets ridden)
i dont think its changed its just that retail therapy in all walks of life is what our modern economy is built on consume and throw away.
if you enjoy throwing your raleigh down the side of a mountain just do it (as the logo says) and ignore everyone else.

Chips Lovell

Morgan wrote: »

While I always do my best to look stylish on the bike, until there's a mtb equivalent of Rapha.cc then you're talking jive.

Fur is the new white

Raam

el tonto wrote: »

Fur is the new white

Fur would make awesome overshoes.

Jonny7

ednwireland wrote: »

when was this ? racing clunkers down california fireroads in the 70's
i raced in th 90's and tbh it wasnt any different then, the only thing was the shops didnt have as much stuff in them, i still have a mint sauce T somewhere, i still ride my aluminium 'o' an expensive lightweight raceing mtb at the time (didnt have suspension) upgraded that to pace forks (considering the tracks i was throwing it down in those days i needed them) now it has sram x5 and rock shock tora's (and rarely gets ridden)
i dont think its changed its just that retail therapy in all walks of life is what our modern economy is built on consume and throw away.
if you enjoy throwing your raleigh down the side of a mountain just do it (as the logo says) and ignore everyone else.

True, but when people go jogging they don't neccessarily feel the need to dress up like Carl Johson and spend 400 euros on a pair of runners.

Out on the trails now its like a freaking fancy dress competition, in my day we made grud catchers out of saucepans and wore swimming goggles to keep the flies out grumble moan

ednwireland

Jonny7 wrote: »

True, but when people go jogging they don't neccessarily feel the need to dress up like Carl Johson and spend 400 euros on a pair of runners.

Out on the trails now its like a freaking fancy dress competition, in my day we made grud catchers out of saucepans and wore swimming goggles to keep the flies out grumble moan

you forgot bah humbug

boomdocker

the look is all important. from the bottom up

http://picasaweb.google.com/racing795/March2010#5448582735400683618

mockler007

i think i will stick to me bermuda shorts,
oakleys wont make me faster !!
althought the protective gear from danisse (however you spell it) is sex on a stick

jimm

Jonny7 wrote: »

True, but when people go jogging they don't neccessarily feel the need to dress up like Carl Johson and spend 400 euros on a pair of runners.

Don't you mean Ben Lewis???