Feb. 23, 2016, 6:35 a.m. -  Raymond Epstein

#!markdown Selling the youth on mountain biking, eh? I have long characterized mountain biking as an individual aggressive sport falling into same family as skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding. You search for lines and new ways to ride them. Skateboarding is the least expensive of these and also the most accessible with mountain biking being second. Not all kids want to do aggressive sports. Some need to have a team environment or they lack the confidence to go it alone. For them there are plenty of options in ballsports or non-aggressive possibilities like running, golf, etc. Back to selling though…I take my sons riding and watch them progress going faster and taking more chances. They dig the rush and it is this rush that is difficult to replicate with other sports. My analogy I still use is that mountain biking is a human-powered roller coaster through the woods. Investment-wise there is no shame in a used and tons of great deals to be had. On the contrary, you can buy many basic hardtails new for below $1K and many below $800 that will get you riding. Either way, the rush is what is going to bring anyone in and hook them. Bike costs will be secondary and anyone that really wants something will find a way to get it.