June 3, 2015, 8:38 a.m. -  db79467

#!markdown I think the article confuses two forces at work in our sport - the industry and the people that volunteer and build the trails. We have a huge advantage over the road bike crowd in that we control what types of trails people ride. Giant and Specialized make bikes to be ridden on our trails. I know they assist and support those efforts, but they do it through our volunteer organizations. And we all have a say in that. 6 inch bikes are the norm in my neighborhood because my local organization is building technical fast difficult trails. As for the price of bikes, companies charge what people will pay, not what bikes cost. A top end S-works road bike is about the same as a top end S-works mountain bike - do you think the mountain bike has the same amount of tech, development, manufacturing costs, and third party components? No way. You think a $10k Bronson is twice as good as a $5k Bronson? Not at all. We're at the mercy of manufacturers with the little things like axles, wheel size, and materials, but what really matters is a $3k bike in 2015 is loads more capable than a $3k bike in 2007 - hell, a 2015 $3k trail bike is more capable than a 2007 DH bike. That's what's important, and by continuing to invest in our sport through trail building, the majority of the participants - not the purchasers - will continue to be in control, and that's good for the sport.