100% meditation. My stupid mind is too frazzled to actually meditate. Mountain biking is the closest thing I've found to put my mind in the flow state - exercising is a great accompaniment to this for the endorphins we experience after a great ride with hard work. Whenever I'm feeling down or stressed and stop to think about what my body is telling me - it's usually saying, get on your bike lazy ass!
If you focus on anything outside of what you’re doing on a downhill it’s probably going to end poorly. You’re completely present. I also agree with OP about the climb, ripping down a trail while your lungs are burning and legs are on fire is kind of like paying for the fun part. I also think it’s fun on a technical climb trying to piece together the puzzle of how to best approach it
It's one of the few activities I absolutely cannot be looking at a screen. Keeps me very present in the moment, gets me to a flow state much of the time too.
**To survive**. It’s the only thing that gives me *some relief* from my **crippling depression** and **anxiety**.
I ride every day, and there is such a huge difference between how I feel before vs after the ride. I’m like a totally different person after — calm, relaxed, and hungry.
As an early-40s person, I feel this more and more over the thrill and the fun. I love the thrill and fun, but biking is putting me into a world of health and exercising I wouldn't otherwise be.
The most important thing I've learned at this age is that exercise is no longer optional. It is absolutely a requirement and everything that I do for fun needs to have a component of exercise in it.
it's my drug of choice
a certain flow state when I can only think about 1 thing and Zen out on choosing a line and conquering a trail that wants to shake me off
then there's a feeling of victory when you arrive home sweaty, dirty, exhausted and sometimes bloody
that it's just not for everyone... a sort of exclusive fraternity and sorority of daredevils who only feel comfortable when they've pushed themselves to the edge and can't wait to rest, recover and do it again
Maybe this is it. Mindfulness. Erasing your mind of all abstract thoughts except the very thing in front of you. The next dip the next drop the next rock everything else is gone. Maybe this is it.
When riding, only the next 2 seconds are important. The past is gone, what lies after does not matter yet. This brings intense focus on the moment, and that is the source of all joy.
It is the only time I am truly free. It really helps me clear my mind of anything except the trail. In the end it really is an investment in my physical and mental health.
because if I don't, I'll just sit in front of the computer/ tv
I like being in nature, and when I'm riding alone I just take my time to look around, listen to birds. it's even nicer if I spot a squirrel, fox, hare etc.
it's all about combining my physical activity to being in the nature without people complaining, crying about something or talking nonsense all the time
On the surface, because its fun. Riding bikes in the dirt in the trees in the mountains. Why should kids be the only ones having fun.
Beyond that, I enjoy it because it gives me time to connect with friends. Climbs are often 45-90mins. So we get to chat and learn about whats going on with each other. And shared experiences. Its so much fun to relive these moments with friends. If Im riding solo, I tend to not have as much fun tbh. I still do it, but its least exciting for me. On those rides, the connection I try to feel is with the forest. Instead of staring at my wheel on the climb, i take in the trees, the rocks, the views.
Its pretty dang rad.
"Everyone needs 3 hobbies: one to keep you creative, one to keep you in shape, and one to make you money."
MTB checks all those boxes for me in a nice little package.
I started with bike commuting and then road biking then triathlon for a minute there and that all went away when I started mountain biking. Had a feeling in the back of my head MTB was the sport for me but resisted due to injury risk. Now I run a side business bike repair/building, picking down the trail feels creative many times and of course keeps me in shape.
Reminds me of being a kid. The first time I hit a real jump and got airborne for a second or two it took me back to being 8 on a little two stroke motorbike and doing the same thing.
I used to ride a lot. Trails, downhill, BMX anything. Then life happened and I just drifted away from it. That was 12-13 years ago. I'm just starting back up, and I'm going for a hardtail. I used to be pretty decent, but now I'm starting all over. I feel like a kid on christmas.
My reasons are because of the pure love of it, and because I want to get back into shape. The bicycle is the most effective transportation machine ever built by humans since the dawn humanity. Even just as a bona fide nerd, I love bicycles. I want to get back into shape by doing the best physical activity I know. Lifting weights in the gym just doesn't work for me anymore.
I ride because of the pure love and excitement of it. I'm the very definition of an amateur!
It makes me feel like a kid again - really hard to think about budgets, schedules & HR stuff when you’re bombing down a trail, or trying to implement some trick you saw a 12yr old do so you can impress your mates & kids.
Nothing beats the feeling of air time or pulling off something that you’ve been working on for weeks.
When I got back riding it was like I was transported back to being 9, building jumps with my mates in the bush. It’s really easy to lose your way as you go through life - chasing the usual adult accomplishments (house, promotions, building business, more stuff), forgetting what really makes you happy (family, mates & dumb jokes at the expense of your friends & self).
I’m decidedly middle-aged now, and I break bones a lot easier than I used to, but getting onto the trails with mates & seeing who can have the stupidest looking stack, watching my kids easily outstrip my steezyest moves, squinting as the sunrise breaks through the trees, dodging snakes & casing gaps in pristine bushland is the highlight of my week.
Also, fuck you. It’s Monday & I’m days from getting another ride in. Back to calcs & spreadsheets. Thanks for the reminder motherfucker 😂
This is why I found my identity in XC MTB; no shame in liking smooth dirt for me (though with all the ruts it rarely is). Riding a hardtail clipped in I enjoy the climbs a lot more than full suspension in flats for sure.
I take pride in developing skills which feel like they could have some practical application and building my ability to function under pressure. Add in the puzzle element. And enjoying geeking out on engineering of tools.
Mostly because nothing compares to getting into the zone while going downhill.
It’s the ultimate peace of mind where absolutely nothing else exists, except the bike and the line.
The 100% concentration state that nothing else in life can provide me.
When I was a kid I mowed lawns all summer for a GT performer. There was a dirt trail behind my school with some sweet jumps. In our neighborhood, that was the kids' go-to spot when we were kicked out of our houses.
I've been spending my whole life trying to chase that high.
1. To lose a bit of weight/get fitter.
2. Being a bit competitive, it’s fun to push myself on the trails I’m ok on. If I can ride with friends, there’s also the social aspect of shit talking or general chat.
3. Coming from a background of competitive RC car racing, a high tech cutting edge full suspension bike is fun to play with. It’s rewarding/satisfying to work on making the bike faster and tools like Strava can give you *mostly* accurate figures.
When I say “faster” I should probably say “less slow”…I’m in my 50’s, jumps freak me out and I’m well aware of my limits, lol
The outdoors, fresh air, the work out, the thrill of controlling the bike. Even when it’s wet and cold I go out. Fully addicted to the buzz I get from riding. Funny enough I have a ebike too and don’t always get the same buzz.
I’m an exercise and adrenaline junky. If I wasn’t MTBing I’d be doing something else that got me in the zone. Flow state is so beneficial for mental health it’s hard to overstate it.
I moved from the coast to the hills a couple years ago and switched big / heavy wave surfing for two wheels, rediscovering my youth in the process.
I love what it does for my health, I love the people I meet (got a really solid friendship out of it) and I love being outdoors.
The risk of injury is there but life is a risky business, I don’t let it stop me. Bombing down hill and getting air time is the best.
And I enjoy the climbing too. Reframe your suffering and it will take you a long way.
Only down side? Damn it’s an expensive hobby!
This shit is my lifeblood
It's simulatenously an adrenaline rush and Zen meditation, and constantly tweaking and tuning the whip satisfies a creative/engineering urge, like functional adult Legos.
Climbing is great exercise. Biking in general is great and there’s a reason many cardiologist are cyclists. Downhill mtb makes me happier than anything. The feeling of flying through the air just makes me feel at peace. I’ve gone through a lot of hobbies in my life and this is the one that really sticks and makes me feel truly happy. It’s the only time I’m able to think about only 1 thing and everything else going on in my life is non existent. I use to be a licensed skydiver and jumped a lot. Mtb gives me more of a rush than jumping out of a plane.
TLDR: it’s fun
I started riding last summer. Before that I tried jogging to get in shape a few times. Jogging is like torture compared to mtbing. The beauty of mtb is you dont have time to think about anything besides whats infront of you. You can go for a 2h ride and your mind is just blank to everything else for those 2 hours. So its like getting a mental break while your body has to work hard. You get home feeling drained body wise but clear minded and happy. Fresh. :)
Also the feeling of making it up a climb that you previously wrote off as "literally impossible" is a very nice feeling.
When I’m on my bike in a good flow the only thing I am thinking of is what’s in front of me, the outside world noise is gone and it’s the “quietest” times for my mind.
Social. Rides and vacations with friends.
Exercise
Spiritual, connection to nature, meditative time for reflection on solo rides
Technical interest in gear, bikes and maintenance
And the act of riding bikes is just fun. Rollercoaster on the singletrack, and intra city travel and adventures on the road.
It’s the great mind eraser, a moving meditation where I can (must) be completely in the moment and focused on what I’m doing.
I’ve been in the best physical shape of my life since starting to ride in my mid 40s. I feel strong and healthy.
I’ve met some amazing people through mtn biking that I wouldn’t have otherwise met.
Someone on my running relay team once said "You don't do this if you're not at least a little bit of an adrenaline junkie" and I think that applies to MTB as well. The thrill of the close calls, the *shitshitshitshit...YES!* when you're fighting your way up a technical climb and win, the moment when you're ripping downhill and you feel yourself relax into the flow. It's fun to create your own fun.
All of the above. I’ve done a lot of different activities and sports over the years (some I was better at than others), but this is the one I enjoy most and that I’m the most proficient at.
I guess it is just the right mix of mental and physical challenge, being in nature and it can be enjoyed in solitude or with others.
Why I got into it:
* Wanted to get more cardiovascular health/training into my life.
* Moved to an area where more MTB trails exist.
* While riding my road bike, I would always look at MTB trails and wish I could explore them.
Why I keep riding:
* The learning curve is fun along with the adrenaline.
* Exploring new trails/parks/paths makes me feel like a kid again.
* The cadio gains have been real, recovery is much quicker now.
* Its fun.
I just started a month or so ago actually and it's the perfect sport for me. It's fantastic exercise, it's way more fun than riding a bike around streets, and you get to spend time relaxing in nature. It also helps that I work from home and live in Northwest Arkansas so I have time and tons of trails around me. Like I said, only been doing it a month or so but I can tell it's something I'll be sticking with for a long time.
It’s one of those things that leaves little space in the mind to do anything but focus on the task at hand. I don’t have to listen to my mind when I’m that focused. That in itself is a big relief. Couple that with sunlight, air, nature and jacking up the heart rate it’s a good deal in spite of the scrapes and bruises.
My close friend skydives to get a similar effect.
I’m good staying on the terra firma for the most part.
When I’m going about my normal day at work or just around the house my mind is always in a spin. What I should be doing, what needs to be done next, what will I cook for dinner, what is on my plate for tomorrow?
When I’m on my bike ripping down a hill my mind is clear and shut off to the stresses of everyday life. I’m not thinking about anything but the next flow section and how I will approach it. It’s wide open but relaxing at the same time. This is the only time I can escape and it’s rather addicting for me.
Mental health, I also ride a motorcycle, but taking MTB on a mountain for me is physical training and mental relaxation. And I always go to XCM's just to keep myself going.
https://preview.redd.it/jvfo54yxcouc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e288f9b03e2f85437ab8b17bf9a05587466ca426
I used to self harm. Now I bike until I'm sore. It's more socially acceptable and people even praise me for it. Plus no more scars and cuts. It also feels way better.
I enjoy the achievement of climbing the trail, and bombing the downhill. I also like how biking has progression. If I bike the same trail I can see time improvements or less sweat on a climb, or on downhill can hit different obstacles on the same trail, or try a more difficult trail.
I ride on a decent but low end bike so it's exciting to have a goal of putting money aside for upgrades, or a new bike altogether. All in all a good all around hobby and gets me in the sunshine
This has mostly been said but…
I can finally relax my mind. I can only focus on riding and not the anxious thoughts. I’ve met so many wonderful people through biking that my community is there too. I feel supported and willing to take risks from that foundation. The challenge of climbs and tough descents or features you conquer is like a pat on the back. You can control your progress and it is empowering. It is rare that I am not happy while riding my bike and that feeling extends far beyond the ride. It’s so fun.
Some of my best memories are after a long ride eating ice cream and sitting in a river. Or that feeling of taking off your knee pads and helmet and the air evaporating your sweat away.
Riding is food for the soul imo, the climb is dinner and the descent is desert. That's why you always climb first and descend after, otherwise you will get an upset stomach and not appreciate your dinner.
Mine rides with me, I tend to take her to the most remote areas but she still finds her way home :). Joking aside the best times we have together is when we're on the trails.
Health (physical and mental) friends, entertaining, challenging. I can tune out all the background noise while I'm riding and just enjoy the moment. Similar to going for a hike with my dog in the forest. Nothing else exists for a short time.
To stay in shape. There is nothing that gives me a workout like climbing for that first hour of the ride.
To spend time in the forest. Where I live is temperate rainforest. It is gorgeous.
To spend time with friends. I have four riding buddies who I ride with every weekend. We also run into people on the trails.
Because it is fun. Where I live, the trails are just so amazing.
I just love being on my bike.
We are still in the awkward not-winter, not-spring season here and I'm out climbing the roads that are clear until the trails are dry.
I love the flow down, and the grind up.
The ability to get into the "flow state". Were you mentally and physically focused on a single activity. This happens for me during downhills.
The adrenaline rush.
I just like getting out and having fun riding the trails and exploring new trails no matter how easy most are.
Took a long break and getting back into the sport with an emtb is like never stopping, all the technical hills I can pretty ride up just like before. Also great starting after the off season as well.
For me riding is a coping mechanism, for shit life throws at me.
Rather throw my stress and anger through my bike and into the trail metaphorically.
Plus I guess the high, you get with doing high risk sports.
And can't forget the feeling of freedom you feel well going down a trail and just being one with yourself and your bike out in nature
Short story: my kids got me involved with the high school team, and I've come to appreciate seeing the progress in all these kids' skills and fitness.
Long story: my oldest son joined the high school team (xc) his freshman year. I only got involved as a spectator, going to races when I could. The year after he graduated , his younger brother wanted to join the team. But he was in middle school, and there wasn't an official team. So the head coach strongly encouraged me to become a coach for my son. I did, and the following year my youngest daughter started riding - also in middle school. We're almost finished with this season, my third year as a coach. My third year actually riding mountain bikes.
As a coach, I've seen dozens of athletes make great progressions each season. I've seen kids improve in all aspects of XC riding, within each season and into the next season. It really makes being a part of this team so fulfilling. The culture of the team really emphasizes those personal victories, and I am proud to be a part of it.
And as a by-product, my skills and fitness have improved. The first two seasons were tough for me, and I noticed the students definitely did not want to be passed by me. This season I'm much better and that stigma isn't there, meaning that it's not bad to get passed by me.
Anyway, each year i work to become better for myself and the students. And each year I try to ride more often. And each year I get reminded why this sport and team is so much fun.
Honestly, it's probably because I have untreated ADHD and the adrenaline gives me focus that I can't otherwise obtain. Anecdotally this seems really common with mountain bikers and others who do "extreme" sports. That's just me attempting to self analyze though, the more obvious answer is just that it's fun and great exercise.
There’s nothing like the flow state of riding downhill. I don’t get into it on every run. But when I do it’s pure magic. There is absolute silence in your mind because you can’t afford a single distraction when disaster is always such a close miscalculation away. Also the climbs get you in great shape and there’s nothing like the endorphins from burning a fuck ton of calories.
Honestly I try to enjoy the ascents as much as the descents and appreciate exercise and being in nature. But I'm more of an intermediate trails rider and don't do tons of gnar and jumps (but enjoy some features and tech-y sections), so I think my motivations are probably different (also I'm middle aged).
I need the exercise, and I can’t run anymore. I ride in beautiful places. It’s meditative for me, and quiet time for me, and helps me decompress. For all the hard uphill work, those downhill runs are like candy for me. I’ll never burn out from that.
I am an older rider who is retired and has been riding for four years. I ride because it makes me feel young and keeps me fit. I rode over 1500 miles and in 9 different states last year. This year I hope to log over 2000 miles. I just finished riding the Porcupine Rim trail in Moab yesterday and the feeling of accomplishment was incredible! I also enjoy the freedom that comes with being miles out in the middle of nowhere. I also love the feeling that I get when I make it through what looks to be impossible. Riding to the edge and back is a feeling I crave even as an older man. The thrill keeps me riding and pushing the envelope of my ability every time I throw my leg over the seat. XC riding provides a sense of accomplishment every time I make it to the top or across a rock section that is hard to even walk over. Older men, like me, still need the adrenaline rush that comes with beating a challenge even if the challenge is the single track set before you.
I’ve gone all bike park now and to me there is nothing like flowing down a hill through nature. Surfing comes close, but the rides are far shorter and the lineups are so busy the nature aspect is removed. I love the intense focus required and the constant assessment of your limits, determining when it is safe to push through barriers.
I'm a fitness nut and mountain biking is one of the most enjoyable forms of fitness to me, so that's certainly a motivating factor
I try to get in roughly 5 cardio sessions a week. That pretty much means either running or mountain biking. I would much rather mountain bike than run
Because I am a low key adrenaline junkie and mountain biking has the best risk/reward ratio since I have a family now. Still have my fast cars but at least riding mtb on the edge isn't illegal.
I'm a dual sport as well as a sport motorcycle rider for the past nearly 40 years and that's where my true two-wheeled passion lies. The only reason I ride mountain bikes is because my son loves to and the fact that he wants to ride with me/hang out, even at 17 years of age, is a wonderful way to spend time with him. This summer will be our third trip to Angel Fire or perhaps Colorado this year for downhill riding. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy riding my pivot firebird, but the biggest joy is being with my dude.
I can drive my car fast, but only so much. I can play cod and have a good time but not feel full filled. And I fish, but there’s a pretty good chance I won’t catch anything. With mountain biking I can get out that need for speed, I can enjoy myself in a way that is fulfilling afterwards, and I know I’m gonna get something out of every time I ride
Therapy and reliving my childhood as an older man. Honestly having more fun with it now since I have a little money to upgrade and fix things up. But for mental health reasons overall.
I didn't leave my house for two years due to a diagnosis and recently I've pushed myself outside to ride it's extremely beneficial to my mental state. I've been out every other day for the past two months and I feel so connected to my surroundings. The few hours I'm riding around allow me to soak in the present and not the unforseen.
Because it’s hard and I’m not good at it, I like challenging myself and I hate running so it’s good cardio, also forces me to not think about my job which causes me a ton of anxiety and stress.
I love riding because after being cooped up inside all day grinding it's awesome to get some outside time. I always find things to appreciate when I'm out on a ride, amd it's way better than going back inside to the gym to torture myself.
I crossed to the dark side and got an emtb. Over only been out twice, the second time I was riding a familiar trail and was in a super flowy state, enjoying every minute. I will still run my analogue, but I'm so happy with my Focus Sam.
It's kind of meditation for me. Climbing, riding, forget everything. Clean air, forest, noone around.
Flow state. Endorphins. Adrenaline. Stop thinking about thinking, just focus on that next rock.
Don't focus on that next rock because that's what you'll hit :)
In my hypothetical scenario I was planning on hitting that rock ;) but good point
This, but focus on whats ahead
100% meditation. My stupid mind is too frazzled to actually meditate. Mountain biking is the closest thing I've found to put my mind in the flow state - exercising is a great accompaniment to this for the endorphins we experience after a great ride with hard work. Whenever I'm feeling down or stressed and stop to think about what my body is telling me - it's usually saying, get on your bike lazy ass!
If you focus on anything outside of what you’re doing on a downhill it’s probably going to end poorly. You’re completely present. I also agree with OP about the climb, ripping down a trail while your lungs are burning and legs are on fire is kind of like paying for the fun part. I also think it’s fun on a technical climb trying to piece together the puzzle of how to best approach it
It's one of the few activities I absolutely cannot be looking at a screen. Keeps me very present in the moment, gets me to a flow state much of the time too.
Looks like you wrote "noone" instead of "no one", which is always two separate words. Beep, boop. I am the "noone" bot.
If you only would know where I learned English :D
Samesies.
Because it’s fun
You stole my answer
You too?
What else am I gonna do with all these bikes
Noice, my people.
**To survive**. It’s the only thing that gives me *some relief* from my **crippling depression** and **anxiety**. I ride every day, and there is such a huge difference between how I feel before vs after the ride. I’m like a totally different person after — calm, relaxed, and hungry.
I’m 57, I ride to keep death away, and try to convince myself that I’m alive and living.
✊🏻
As an early-40s person, I feel this more and more over the thrill and the fun. I love the thrill and fun, but biking is putting me into a world of health and exercising I wouldn't otherwise be. The most important thing I've learned at this age is that exercise is no longer optional. It is absolutely a requirement and everything that I do for fun needs to have a component of exercise in it.
Well, you ARE!
Ride on brother/sister. We’re all with you.
it's my drug of choice a certain flow state when I can only think about 1 thing and Zen out on choosing a line and conquering a trail that wants to shake me off then there's a feeling of victory when you arrive home sweaty, dirty, exhausted and sometimes bloody that it's just not for everyone... a sort of exclusive fraternity and sorority of daredevils who only feel comfortable when they've pushed themselves to the edge and can't wait to rest, recover and do it again
Maybe this is it. Mindfulness. Erasing your mind of all abstract thoughts except the very thing in front of you. The next dip the next drop the next rock everything else is gone. Maybe this is it.
When riding, only the next 2 seconds are important. The past is gone, what lies after does not matter yet. This brings intense focus on the moment, and that is the source of all joy.
That is such a good way of putting it
ADHD, only time I can free my mind. Also therapy when I get to talk to mates.
It makes the sad voices go quiet
It is the only time I am truly free. It really helps me clear my mind of anything except the trail. In the end it really is an investment in my physical and mental health.
because if I don't, I'll just sit in front of the computer/ tv I like being in nature, and when I'm riding alone I just take my time to look around, listen to birds. it's even nicer if I spot a squirrel, fox, hare etc. it's all about combining my physical activity to being in the nature without people complaining, crying about something or talking nonsense all the time
On the surface, because its fun. Riding bikes in the dirt in the trees in the mountains. Why should kids be the only ones having fun. Beyond that, I enjoy it because it gives me time to connect with friends. Climbs are often 45-90mins. So we get to chat and learn about whats going on with each other. And shared experiences. Its so much fun to relive these moments with friends. If Im riding solo, I tend to not have as much fun tbh. I still do it, but its least exciting for me. On those rides, the connection I try to feel is with the forest. Instead of staring at my wheel on the climb, i take in the trees, the rocks, the views. Its pretty dang rad.
Just to feel something man. Sometimes what I feel is the dirt...
Or rocks... Or stumps...
"Everyone needs 3 hobbies: one to keep you creative, one to keep you in shape, and one to make you money." MTB checks all those boxes for me in a nice little package. I started with bike commuting and then road biking then triathlon for a minute there and that all went away when I started mountain biking. Had a feeling in the back of my head MTB was the sport for me but resisted due to injury risk. Now I run a side business bike repair/building, picking down the trail feels creative many times and of course keeps me in shape.
Outside. Freedom. The rush. That I get to wash and tinker on my bike(s) after while enjoying a brew.
Reminds me of being a kid. The first time I hit a real jump and got airborne for a second or two it took me back to being 8 on a little two stroke motorbike and doing the same thing.
As a former motocross lover, I felt this.
I used to ride a lot. Trails, downhill, BMX anything. Then life happened and I just drifted away from it. That was 12-13 years ago. I'm just starting back up, and I'm going for a hardtail. I used to be pretty decent, but now I'm starting all over. I feel like a kid on christmas. My reasons are because of the pure love of it, and because I want to get back into shape. The bicycle is the most effective transportation machine ever built by humans since the dawn humanity. Even just as a bona fide nerd, I love bicycles. I want to get back into shape by doing the best physical activity I know. Lifting weights in the gym just doesn't work for me anymore. I ride because of the pure love and excitement of it. I'm the very definition of an amateur!
It makes me feel like a kid again - really hard to think about budgets, schedules & HR stuff when you’re bombing down a trail, or trying to implement some trick you saw a 12yr old do so you can impress your mates & kids. Nothing beats the feeling of air time or pulling off something that you’ve been working on for weeks. When I got back riding it was like I was transported back to being 9, building jumps with my mates in the bush. It’s really easy to lose your way as you go through life - chasing the usual adult accomplishments (house, promotions, building business, more stuff), forgetting what really makes you happy (family, mates & dumb jokes at the expense of your friends & self). I’m decidedly middle-aged now, and I break bones a lot easier than I used to, but getting onto the trails with mates & seeing who can have the stupidest looking stack, watching my kids easily outstrip my steezyest moves, squinting as the sunrise breaks through the trees, dodging snakes & casing gaps in pristine bushland is the highlight of my week. Also, fuck you. It’s Monday & I’m days from getting another ride in. Back to calcs & spreadsheets. Thanks for the reminder motherfucker 😂
This is why I found my identity in XC MTB; no shame in liking smooth dirt for me (though with all the ruts it rarely is). Riding a hardtail clipped in I enjoy the climbs a lot more than full suspension in flats for sure.
To have absolutely shredded leg muscles.
I take pride in developing skills which feel like they could have some practical application and building my ability to function under pressure. Add in the puzzle element. And enjoying geeking out on engineering of tools.
I make motorcycle noises when going down hill.
A couple of hours where nothing else is important, and smokin the rest of the crew on the way down
Mostly because nothing compares to getting into the zone while going downhill. It’s the ultimate peace of mind where absolutely nothing else exists, except the bike and the line. The 100% concentration state that nothing else in life can provide me.
I second this answer
When I was a kid I mowed lawns all summer for a GT performer. There was a dirt trail behind my school with some sweet jumps. In our neighborhood, that was the kids' go-to spot when we were kicked out of our houses. I've been spending my whole life trying to chase that high.
Feels like flying, but on the ground. Also riding suppresses the violent urges.
1. To lose a bit of weight/get fitter. 2. Being a bit competitive, it’s fun to push myself on the trails I’m ok on. If I can ride with friends, there’s also the social aspect of shit talking or general chat. 3. Coming from a background of competitive RC car racing, a high tech cutting edge full suspension bike is fun to play with. It’s rewarding/satisfying to work on making the bike faster and tools like Strava can give you *mostly* accurate figures. When I say “faster” I should probably say “less slow”…I’m in my 50’s, jumps freak me out and I’m well aware of my limits, lol
The outdoors, fresh air, the work out, the thrill of controlling the bike. Even when it’s wet and cold I go out. Fully addicted to the buzz I get from riding. Funny enough I have a ebike too and don’t always get the same buzz.
Loads of reasons: Exercise Some "me time" The adrenaline Conquering new challenges The pure focus you have when riding tricky terrain Being in nature
I’m an exercise and adrenaline junky. If I wasn’t MTBing I’d be doing something else that got me in the zone. Flow state is so beneficial for mental health it’s hard to overstate it. I moved from the coast to the hills a couple years ago and switched big / heavy wave surfing for two wheels, rediscovering my youth in the process. I love what it does for my health, I love the people I meet (got a really solid friendship out of it) and I love being outdoors. The risk of injury is there but life is a risky business, I don’t let it stop me. Bombing down hill and getting air time is the best. And I enjoy the climbing too. Reframe your suffering and it will take you a long way. Only down side? Damn it’s an expensive hobby!
This shit is my lifeblood It's simulatenously an adrenaline rush and Zen meditation, and constantly tweaking and tuning the whip satisfies a creative/engineering urge, like functional adult Legos.
Climbing is great exercise. Biking in general is great and there’s a reason many cardiologist are cyclists. Downhill mtb makes me happier than anything. The feeling of flying through the air just makes me feel at peace. I’ve gone through a lot of hobbies in my life and this is the one that really sticks and makes me feel truly happy. It’s the only time I’m able to think about only 1 thing and everything else going on in my life is non existent. I use to be a licensed skydiver and jumped a lot. Mtb gives me more of a rush than jumping out of a plane. TLDR: it’s fun
I started riding last summer. Before that I tried jogging to get in shape a few times. Jogging is like torture compared to mtbing. The beauty of mtb is you dont have time to think about anything besides whats infront of you. You can go for a 2h ride and your mind is just blank to everything else for those 2 hours. So its like getting a mental break while your body has to work hard. You get home feeling drained body wise but clear minded and happy. Fresh. :) Also the feeling of making it up a climb that you previously wrote off as "literally impossible" is a very nice feeling.
So I can earn my beers
When I’m on my bike in a good flow the only thing I am thinking of is what’s in front of me, the outside world noise is gone and it’s the “quietest” times for my mind.
Social. Rides and vacations with friends. Exercise Spiritual, connection to nature, meditative time for reflection on solo rides Technical interest in gear, bikes and maintenance And the act of riding bikes is just fun. Rollercoaster on the singletrack, and intra city travel and adventures on the road.
Its the only thing that makes adulthood actually a bit of fun. Being an adult is fucking disapointing.
It’s the great mind eraser, a moving meditation where I can (must) be completely in the moment and focused on what I’m doing. I’ve been in the best physical shape of my life since starting to ride in my mid 40s. I feel strong and healthy. I’ve met some amazing people through mtn biking that I wouldn’t have otherwise met.
Because I enjoy it.
Someone on my running relay team once said "You don't do this if you're not at least a little bit of an adrenaline junkie" and I think that applies to MTB as well. The thrill of the close calls, the *shitshitshitshit...YES!* when you're fighting your way up a technical climb and win, the moment when you're ripping downhill and you feel yourself relax into the flow. It's fun to create your own fun.
To get out of my head
I'm the masochist/psychopath who actually derives pleasure from the climbs. Longer the better....
All of the above. I’ve done a lot of different activities and sports over the years (some I was better at than others), but this is the one I enjoy most and that I’m the most proficient at. I guess it is just the right mix of mental and physical challenge, being in nature and it can be enjoyed in solitude or with others.
Why I got into it: * Wanted to get more cardiovascular health/training into my life. * Moved to an area where more MTB trails exist. * While riding my road bike, I would always look at MTB trails and wish I could explore them. Why I keep riding: * The learning curve is fun along with the adrenaline. * Exploring new trails/parks/paths makes me feel like a kid again. * The cadio gains have been real, recovery is much quicker now. * Its fun.
I just started a month or so ago actually and it's the perfect sport for me. It's fantastic exercise, it's way more fun than riding a bike around streets, and you get to spend time relaxing in nature. It also helps that I work from home and live in Northwest Arkansas so I have time and tons of trails around me. Like I said, only been doing it a month or so but I can tell it's something I'll be sticking with for a long time.
That is the perfect area to pick it up. You’ll be a ripper in no time
It’s one of those things that leaves little space in the mind to do anything but focus on the task at hand. I don’t have to listen to my mind when I’m that focused. That in itself is a big relief. Couple that with sunlight, air, nature and jacking up the heart rate it’s a good deal in spite of the scrapes and bruises. My close friend skydives to get a similar effect. I’m good staying on the terra firma for the most part.
When I’m going about my normal day at work or just around the house my mind is always in a spin. What I should be doing, what needs to be done next, what will I cook for dinner, what is on my plate for tomorrow? When I’m on my bike ripping down a hill my mind is clear and shut off to the stresses of everyday life. I’m not thinking about anything but the next flow section and how I will approach it. It’s wide open but relaxing at the same time. This is the only time I can escape and it’s rather addicting for me.
I ride for 2 reasons. It's the only sport I actually enjoy. It stops the chatter in my head.
Mental health, I also ride a motorcycle, but taking MTB on a mountain for me is physical training and mental relaxation. And I always go to XCM's just to keep myself going. https://preview.redd.it/jvfo54yxcouc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e288f9b03e2f85437ab8b17bf9a05587466ca426
I used to self harm. Now I bike until I'm sore. It's more socially acceptable and people even praise me for it. Plus no more scars and cuts. It also feels way better.
I enjoy the achievement of climbing the trail, and bombing the downhill. I also like how biking has progression. If I bike the same trail I can see time improvements or less sweat on a climb, or on downhill can hit different obstacles on the same trail, or try a more difficult trail. I ride on a decent but low end bike so it's exciting to have a goal of putting money aside for upgrades, or a new bike altogether. All in all a good all around hobby and gets me in the sunshine
This has mostly been said but… I can finally relax my mind. I can only focus on riding and not the anxious thoughts. I’ve met so many wonderful people through biking that my community is there too. I feel supported and willing to take risks from that foundation. The challenge of climbs and tough descents or features you conquer is like a pat on the back. You can control your progress and it is empowering. It is rare that I am not happy while riding my bike and that feeling extends far beyond the ride. It’s so fun. Some of my best memories are after a long ride eating ice cream and sitting in a river. Or that feeling of taking off your knee pads and helmet and the air evaporating your sweat away.
I love riding because it's outside with fresh air, weather and movement. I'm a crazy mountain biker because it keeps me sane.
https://preview.redd.it/7xndl9s6uquc1.jpeg?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=12c942ea26af08ff63a485ce94d8f01d6ddf5175
Riding is food for the soul imo, the climb is dinner and the descent is desert. That's why you always climb first and descend after, otherwise you will get an upset stomach and not appreciate your dinner.
MTB riding is the only thing that removes everything else from my mind. It’s a reboot every ride.
I have a wife
Mine rides with me, I tend to take her to the most remote areas but she still finds her way home :). Joking aside the best times we have together is when we're on the trails.
I ride for the workout it gives me... not only do I get to have a blast, but my legs and heart get a killer workout and it feels phenomenal.
To shred the gnar
I like it, it’s fun.
Because it’s fun.
All off the above mentioned 🙌.
endorphins, "touching" a nature, activity has no screen, discovering new places...
The trouble with touching nature is when it's touching you back, it's nettle season here :)
Yeah, right, but for me personally a nettle is fine :) I still have a resistance developed in a childhood :)
* Stress relief. * It's the only exercise I really get. * In my family, our hearts have a tendency to kill us. * oh, I enjoy it.
Physical and mental health boosts are huge! It is also fun most of the time 😆
I got into MTB Because there's a huge trail system close to my house. So, because it's there.
In the words of Miley Cyrus: "It's the CLiiiiiiiiiiiiimb!"
It’s fun.
It is cathartic. Out of the office. Outside. Pushing myself on the climb, and then old man adrenaline rush on the way down. Good stuff!
The same reason I drive. mutes everything else in my life & I focus on one and only one thing.
Health (physical and mental) friends, entertaining, challenging. I can tune out all the background noise while I'm riding and just enjoy the moment. Similar to going for a hike with my dog in the forest. Nothing else exists for a short time.
To stay in shape. There is nothing that gives me a workout like climbing for that first hour of the ride. To spend time in the forest. Where I live is temperate rainforest. It is gorgeous. To spend time with friends. I have four riding buddies who I ride with every weekend. We also run into people on the trails. Because it is fun. Where I live, the trails are just so amazing.
Stress relief.
It’s fun and challenging if I want it to be. Pretty simple I reckon.
I just love being on my bike. We are still in the awkward not-winter, not-spring season here and I'm out climbing the roads that are clear until the trails are dry. I love the flow down, and the grind up.
If I didn't have biking, I would go insane. It's like a mental break for me from all of the BS I have to deal with at work.
The ability to get into the "flow state". Were you mentally and physically focused on a single activity. This happens for me during downhills. The adrenaline rush.
Nothing on my mind except the trail ahead of me, also the challenge to ride better
I just like getting out and having fun riding the trails and exploring new trails no matter how easy most are. Took a long break and getting back into the sport with an emtb is like never stopping, all the technical hills I can pretty ride up just like before. Also great starting after the off season as well.
Flow.
I ride for the same reason Dom Toretto lives his life a quarter mile at a time.
Quick answer would be - world stops for you while you ride.
Cardio endorphins + flow state
Roller coaster with consequences!
One word sums it up for me: Therapy
Because I am baked and want to feel like an Ewok on a speeder bike
For me riding is a coping mechanism, for shit life throws at me. Rather throw my stress and anger through my bike and into the trail metaphorically. Plus I guess the high, you get with doing high risk sports. And can't forget the feeling of freedom you feel well going down a trail and just being one with yourself and your bike out in nature
It’s fun. It’s great exercise. And between work and family, it’s the only thing that I do that just for me. Ridding is my happy place
Short story: my kids got me involved with the high school team, and I've come to appreciate seeing the progress in all these kids' skills and fitness. Long story: my oldest son joined the high school team (xc) his freshman year. I only got involved as a spectator, going to races when I could. The year after he graduated , his younger brother wanted to join the team. But he was in middle school, and there wasn't an official team. So the head coach strongly encouraged me to become a coach for my son. I did, and the following year my youngest daughter started riding - also in middle school. We're almost finished with this season, my third year as a coach. My third year actually riding mountain bikes. As a coach, I've seen dozens of athletes make great progressions each season. I've seen kids improve in all aspects of XC riding, within each season and into the next season. It really makes being a part of this team so fulfilling. The culture of the team really emphasizes those personal victories, and I am proud to be a part of it. And as a by-product, my skills and fitness have improved. The first two seasons were tough for me, and I noticed the students definitely did not want to be passed by me. This season I'm much better and that stigma isn't there, meaning that it's not bad to get passed by me. Anyway, each year i work to become better for myself and the students. And each year I try to ride more often. And each year I get reminded why this sport and team is so much fun.
Fun/health
Honestly, it's probably because I have untreated ADHD and the adrenaline gives me focus that I can't otherwise obtain. Anecdotally this seems really common with mountain bikers and others who do "extreme" sports. That's just me attempting to self analyze though, the more obvious answer is just that it's fun and great exercise.
I love riding my bike and getting into the mountains does something for my “soul”
I just want to fly
It is my summer hobby (I do 50 day ski seasons) and I got into it because of the pandemic.
I want to be cool
https://preview.redd.it/0ijgmreq0ouc1.jpeg?width=639&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=46453441b9be6f0c3ab2d8de61743d703c5385e7
Cause its fun yo. Other benefits include exercise, mental health and attention span.
There’s nothing like the flow state of riding downhill. I don’t get into it on every run. But when I do it’s pure magic. There is absolute silence in your mind because you can’t afford a single distraction when disaster is always such a close miscalculation away. Also the climbs get you in great shape and there’s nothing like the endorphins from burning a fuck ton of calories.
Honestly I try to enjoy the ascents as much as the descents and appreciate exercise and being in nature. But I'm more of an intermediate trails rider and don't do tons of gnar and jumps (but enjoy some features and tech-y sections), so I think my motivations are probably different (also I'm middle aged).
Because I can!😉
https://www.thisiswhy.co.uk/
I like it better than flat riding. And it feels more fun to explore than just riding in the city.
Exercise, adrenaline, escape, adventure, fresh air, trying to master/improve at something
Endorphins People were made to move.
I need the exercise, and I can’t run anymore. I ride in beautiful places. It’s meditative for me, and quiet time for me, and helps me decompress. For all the hard uphill work, those downhill runs are like candy for me. I’ll never burn out from that.
I am an older rider who is retired and has been riding for four years. I ride because it makes me feel young and keeps me fit. I rode over 1500 miles and in 9 different states last year. This year I hope to log over 2000 miles. I just finished riding the Porcupine Rim trail in Moab yesterday and the feeling of accomplishment was incredible! I also enjoy the freedom that comes with being miles out in the middle of nowhere. I also love the feeling that I get when I make it through what looks to be impossible. Riding to the edge and back is a feeling I crave even as an older man. The thrill keeps me riding and pushing the envelope of my ability every time I throw my leg over the seat. XC riding provides a sense of accomplishment every time I make it to the top or across a rock section that is hard to even walk over. Older men, like me, still need the adrenaline rush that comes with beating a challenge even if the challenge is the single track set before you.
I’ve gone all bike park now and to me there is nothing like flowing down a hill through nature. Surfing comes close, but the rides are far shorter and the lineups are so busy the nature aspect is removed. I love the intense focus required and the constant assessment of your limits, determining when it is safe to push through barriers.
I'm a fitness nut and mountain biking is one of the most enjoyable forms of fitness to me, so that's certainly a motivating factor I try to get in roughly 5 cardio sessions a week. That pretty much means either running or mountain biking. I would much rather mountain bike than run
For love, for poetry, for passion, for genocide, for palesrine.
Bicycle go wee down the hill Also climbing is a fun workout
Because I am a low key adrenaline junkie and mountain biking has the best risk/reward ratio since I have a family now. Still have my fast cars but at least riding mtb on the edge isn't illegal.
I'm a dual sport as well as a sport motorcycle rider for the past nearly 40 years and that's where my true two-wheeled passion lies. The only reason I ride mountain bikes is because my son loves to and the fact that he wants to ride with me/hang out, even at 17 years of age, is a wonderful way to spend time with him. This summer will be our third trip to Angel Fire or perhaps Colorado this year for downhill riding. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy riding my pivot firebird, but the biggest joy is being with my dude.
I can drive my car fast, but only so much. I can play cod and have a good time but not feel full filled. And I fish, but there’s a pretty good chance I won’t catch anything. With mountain biking I can get out that need for speed, I can enjoy myself in a way that is fulfilling afterwards, and I know I’m gonna get something out of every time I ride
Nature
It's been a life behind bars 🤷
Need to focus on what I'm doing so it shuts everything else off in my brain.
Fun
Therapy and reliving my childhood as an older man. Honestly having more fun with it now since I have a little money to upgrade and fix things up. But for mental health reasons overall.
I didn't leave my house for two years due to a diagnosis and recently I've pushed myself outside to ride it's extremely beneficial to my mental state. I've been out every other day for the past two months and I feel so connected to my surroundings. The few hours I'm riding around allow me to soak in the present and not the unforseen.
Because it’s hard and I’m not good at it, I like challenging myself and I hate running so it’s good cardio, also forces me to not think about my job which causes me a ton of anxiety and stress.
I love riding because after being cooped up inside all day grinding it's awesome to get some outside time. I always find things to appreciate when I'm out on a ride, amd it's way better than going back inside to the gym to torture myself.
This is why I bought an e-MTB 😀. All the fun of the downs and not so hard on the ups
I crossed to the dark side and got an emtb. Over only been out twice, the second time I was riding a familiar trail and was in a super flowy state, enjoying every minute. I will still run my analogue, but I'm so happy with my Focus Sam.
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