We are kind of like that frog in the boiling water thing. We don’t see what’s happening. We ride because it’s thrilling. More travel, better brakes, droppers all make it easier so we build and search for harder trails to bring back the thrill. We get bigger bikes and bigger trails to seek that thrill. Same thrill but the exposure is greater which I suppose is part of the thrill. On an individual basis I ask what am I looking for? I am not comfortable with too much exposure. A little is OK but I really don’t need to risk and injury at my age. But I was never the big risk rider or skier. I always crept up on things. I developed more skills so I could ride tougher things that were within my envelope of comfort. Sometimes riders need a more capable bike to stay within their envelope of comfort while riding with more skilled friends.
Some riders need the more capable bike as a replacement for a lack of skills they may never have. It’s not right or wrong, it just is.
Oct. 21, 2022, 1:46 p.m. - Andy Eunson
We are kind of like that frog in the boiling water thing. We don’t see what’s happening. We ride because it’s thrilling. More travel, better brakes, droppers all make it easier so we build and search for harder trails to bring back the thrill. We get bigger bikes and bigger trails to seek that thrill. Same thrill but the exposure is greater which I suppose is part of the thrill. On an individual basis I ask what am I looking for? I am not comfortable with too much exposure. A little is OK but I really don’t need to risk and injury at my age. But I was never the big risk rider or skier. I always crept up on things. I developed more skills so I could ride tougher things that were within my envelope of comfort. Sometimes riders need a more capable bike to stay within their envelope of comfort while riding with more skilled friends. Some riders need the more capable bike as a replacement for a lack of skills they may never have. It’s not right or wrong, it just is.