He's right about running. I got back into trail running the last few years after a couple decades away focusing on bikes. There's a lot less gear involved, it's much cheaper, so little clean up/maintenance and there is a lot less to think about while actually doing it than mountain biking. Consider flying with running gear vs. a mountain bike or packing your vehicle for a running road trip vs. a MTB trip.
Earlier this week I got out for a nice trail run and the next day a friend wanted to ride a lot of those same trails on our MTBs. Obviously it's a different experience, but at the same time it was a lot the same. I'm a lifelong cyclist so I'm not giving up the bike unless I have to, but I am making more room for trail running or as I call it foot shredding. If push came to shove and I had to run/shuffle in the forest instead of riding a mountain bike I'd be fine about it.
I also have to say that back when I started riding mountain bikes it was an adventure sport and people relished the challenges and adversity you had to overcome to participate. Now it feels more like golf with very expensive gear and the focus on motors and flow trails to make it as easy as possible and avoid as much discomfort. Faced with challenges/discomfort the propensity is to fold and go home...not get excited and tackle them. Participating in the trail running community the mindset feels a lot like it did back in the early days of shredding, but as you note, with less gear.
Part of what draws me to the simpler side of mountain bikes \[hardtails/rigid, motor/battery-free & obsolete gearing/SS\] is that it reminds me of where this crazy ride all started.
Feb. 24, 2023, 6:07 a.m. - Vik Banerjee
He's right about running. I got back into trail running the last few years after a couple decades away focusing on bikes. There's a lot less gear involved, it's much cheaper, so little clean up/maintenance and there is a lot less to think about while actually doing it than mountain biking. Consider flying with running gear vs. a mountain bike or packing your vehicle for a running road trip vs. a MTB trip. Earlier this week I got out for a nice trail run and the next day a friend wanted to ride a lot of those same trails on our MTBs. Obviously it's a different experience, but at the same time it was a lot the same. I'm a lifelong cyclist so I'm not giving up the bike unless I have to, but I am making more room for trail running or as I call it foot shredding. If push came to shove and I had to run/shuffle in the forest instead of riding a mountain bike I'd be fine about it. I also have to say that back when I started riding mountain bikes it was an adventure sport and people relished the challenges and adversity you had to overcome to participate. Now it feels more like golf with very expensive gear and the focus on motors and flow trails to make it as easy as possible and avoid as much discomfort. Faced with challenges/discomfort the propensity is to fold and go home...not get excited and tackle them. Participating in the trail running community the mindset feels a lot like it did back in the early days of shredding, but as you note, with less gear. Part of what draws me to the simpler side of mountain bikes \[hardtails/rigid, motor/battery-free & obsolete gearing/SS\] is that it reminds me of where this crazy ride all started.