One thing that was brought up a few times in the comments that I feel the need to reflect on is the effect of peer groups, statistical representation, and the purpose of the discussion at hand. For one, I agree, clearly peer groups and statistics have an effect. But the generalization that it's not "culturally" part of people's life. I just don't see it as a cut and dry cultural "choice" until we can look at ourselves and say "yes there's absolutely no systemic socioeconomic barriers." The pay gap is a huge one. Historically trail difficulty was as well (and since the NSMBA changed that it has been a lot better!). And representation, and all the other things doscussed.
I think the real reflection we all have is not necessarily to drill in to mountain biking, but into other aspects of our lives as well. We are all privileged and rich. We should be looking around our offices and our communities and reflecting on what barriers put up, support, and benefit from. I am a man, I am an immigrant, I'm well educated, I paid for my own education, I'm straight... We all have priveleges and losses. And there's not necessarily an equality between them. If we can lift up people through our places of work and our other communities, we'll see mountain biking grow naturally too. But mountain biking isn't the cause of systemic problems, it's a symptom. So... Let's look in all those places and do what we can there.
Feb. 22, 2021, 9:19 p.m. - Sanesh Iyer
One thing that was brought up a few times in the comments that I feel the need to reflect on is the effect of peer groups, statistical representation, and the purpose of the discussion at hand. For one, I agree, clearly peer groups and statistics have an effect. But the generalization that it's not "culturally" part of people's life. I just don't see it as a cut and dry cultural "choice" until we can look at ourselves and say "yes there's absolutely no systemic socioeconomic barriers." The pay gap is a huge one. Historically trail difficulty was as well (and since the NSMBA changed that it has been a lot better!). And representation, and all the other things doscussed. I think the real reflection we all have is not necessarily to drill in to mountain biking, but into other aspects of our lives as well. We are all privileged and rich. We should be looking around our offices and our communities and reflecting on what barriers put up, support, and benefit from. I am a man, I am an immigrant, I'm well educated, I paid for my own education, I'm straight... We all have priveleges and losses. And there's not necessarily an equality between them. If we can lift up people through our places of work and our other communities, we'll see mountain biking grow naturally too. But mountain biking isn't the cause of systemic problems, it's a symptom. So... Let's look in all those places and do what we can there.