MTB is not for poor people.
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- Опубліковано 1 жов 2024
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“Ride reasonably priced bikes.” Please bring back this sticker.
If I see someone on the trail in cutoff jorts, vans, riding a hard tail, I assume they go harder than I do.
They probably crushed a beer or six before the ride and have a flask in their pocket. I wanna follow that person because they know the secret lines. So if you show up like that. People think you are hardcore.
I was on a vintage rigid in my local tech zone the other day and it was nothing but respect from the other trail users, albeit with a few confusing looks. That bike was free...
you see then i feel like a poser when I show up in my tshirt and chinos and the thought of just tweaking the bars mid air gives me sweaty palms lol
@@loginbreaux5855 Just hit them with the "Its a recovery day" works every time 🤣
Your absolutely right. Hard tails are how babies are made.
passing a $10k MtB on a climb on your full rigid bargin basement single speed is just about the most fun you can have with your clothes on.
A 10k bike is still light years ahead of your hard tail. It just is. Sorry bruh
I regret selling my Surly 1x1 many years ago😝
@@andyboy198577777 tell it to keep up then
@@andyboy198577777 But you still got passed on the climb.
@@andyboy198577777 it better be its 10k!
Great message. People forget how easy and cheap it is to have fun.
I'd take it a step further: RIDING your mountain bike to the trails because your car is also a pile.
Means you doing well if you live somewhere you can ride to trails.
Man you're doing well and not poor if you can afford a broken car 😂
That's where an inexpensive 20 year old bike with a triple up front has an advantage 😁
😂
@@Metal-Possum my dad’s 20 year old schwinn got a 220 mm crank and i’ve never had issues with ground clearance on it too. to touch on triple chainrings, they are so underrated I see it on modern schwinn cimarrons to this day
I appreciate this video. I learned to MTB in the early 90's, when the sport was still young. MTB culture then was like, "Grab whatever you can and get out on the trails! Got an old beach cruiser? Heck yeah, ride that!"
Most mountain bikers made fun of "roadies" because they had to have the most perfect bikes, the most perfect outfits, the most perfect sunglasses, the lightest components (we called them "weight weenies"). Roadies were bike snobs and real mountain bikers wanted nothing of that snob lifestyle. Everyone was welcome, and there was a bit of a rebellious feel to it. NOW... The mountain bike industry has become exactly what we hated about the road bike industry. It's annoying when people say a $1500 is "entry level". I look around at all the MTB snobs that feel out of place if their bike is more than two years old, but honestly can't tell you what makes that new bike ride any differently than one from ten years ago.
So yeah, Spindatt, you are spot on with your rail against the industry and culture. It's killing the sport in my opinion.
Spot On. Every MTB rider wearing the exact same style of shades and their POC helmets LOL. Now hopping on the "Gravel Bandwagon" when a 90's MTB IS the original "Gravel Bike"... I love getting the up and down look over of my tiny 14" Kona with her wee wheels and virtually no squish. The women say ' well we'll be riding some technical trails and most require a dropper post..." I'm like - whelp. I raced the Rockies in the 90's. Think I can handle it." Will admit, on most newer features, the big ring does suck.
A big wallet does not equal big skill level. A reasonably priced bike can do almost anything for most riders. Just get out and have fun. Just like everything else in life, rich snobs will look down their noses at anyone, so fuck em'.
@@20LookInside12 "most require a dropper post".
This sport needs to die already. I'm glad manufacturers are dropping like flies.
I grew up in a mountain town in Southern California. A couple years ago I was looking at one of the trails near where I grew up, and I remember reading a review that said something to the effect of "don't even try this trail unless you have at least 140mm of travel."
I had a pretty good giggle, remembering the time, when I was probably 9, that my brother and I rattled our way down that trail, me on a rigid 10-speed from target, my younger brother on my old Huffy BMX.
I'm sure a modern big travel bike could do that trail much faster and with less drama. But I still remember it being a lot of fun...
@@driftertank Reviews are paid by bike mfgs. Everything written on MTB sites IS marketing and IS paid by someone.
Hard rule.
I think there is also a HUGE amount of cope from people that buy super expensive bikes and bike parts in online comments. This week Jakub Vencl dropped a video called 'One Nine One' and most of the comments on Pinkbike are about how he "only" has an RST fork. Jakub is throwing down huge backflip superman seat grabs and these dudes are like "how is that even possible on a fork that costs under $1,000 USD?". Cope harder boys, cope harder.
I need to tell these people that the rst omni 191 cl came standard on my dads 20 year old schwinn hardtail just to rub it even more in their face lmao. Think I’ll send it on some singletrack tomorrow
Where the heck are you wiper blades????
It’s flat where I live, and the only trail is basically a cross country walking path. Used to ride on gravel bikes with my gf and we’d see dudes on $5k full sus bikes wearing spandex taking it way too seriously.
Hell you have to be rich just to eat, so do whatever makes you happy.
I quite agree.....low to mid range stuff is what most of us ride.....This is where the market is....
I'm over the pond in England and I still get an MTB magazine called MBUK and all they push is ridiculously expensive bikes, clothing and components....detatched from reality in my view.....I'd love a £6k bike but.......
MBUK is definitely that now. Sadly this has been the trend for pretty much all mtb magazines I believe. Don’t know if Singletrack magazine is following the same path as we don’t get it in Canada anymore for a while. Thankfully there is the internet which allows one to see people doing it with what they can afford. However that looks.
Ride what you've got. Ride what you can afford. A clapped out Felt hard tail got me back on a bike in 2020. 4 years later, and I've now got 2 Giant bikes, a mid level road bike and a higher end full suspension. I worked a lot of overtime, saved my spare money, sold old junk, and just did what I had to in order to afford them both. I ride with people who have both lower end and higher end bikes than mine, and none of us care. Just send it. Ride cheap bikes. Ride expensive bikes. Just ride bikes. Every day.
My wife's first mtb (at the time we first started dating) was a department store brand, weighed a ton, rattled like crazy, etc.... Her first impressions of trail riding on that bike were "Why does anyone do this, it's not much fun." Same with a skateboard my father in law bought for our first son, department store quality, super hard wheels, poor quality trucks, etc... If my wife had not gotten to ride a bike store quality (entry level) bike and my son a skate shop quality board neither would have continued those activities. Good, basic quality equipment at a price that doesn't scare people away goes a long way into the growth of that activity (surfing, cycling, pickleball, skateboarding, filming, running, etc...). It would seem the market exists, especially for the bike industry to pursue what you've brought up many times, entry level rides that can handle basic trails which are the ones beginners will be using. Most beginners that I speak with are too nervous to spend money on a used bike because they don't know what to look for and for some have been treated poorly at a lbs.
Great episode. My question is why can’t you be the guy to do this? Call rockshox, see if they’ll send you the new mid range fork. Worst they can do is say no.
This is my thought exactly. Spindatt could be a place for a hear-and-there midrange parts release/review platform. Not to be a sell out but create a very artsy release video for a brand to support the "real" market share the mid-rangers.
@@jordanbrayfield531 Right! And maybe make a couple of dollars for himself in the process. Win, win!
My guess is that the manufacturers don’t have marketing budget for their midrange stuff and therefore don’t have review units, press packs etc that they would send to the content creators as per their higher end models. If that’s the case, channels will need to purchase their own review units to make the videos.
I guess we should all start commenting and liking more videos so when Eric calls rockshox he has the even better stats to back up his reviewer abilities.
I subscribed to the channel in the hopes that he will actually do this. Be the change, man!
I was genuinely excited for Shimano Cues 1x11 when it came out, and NO ONE covered it.
Mostly true but Path Less Pedaled has multiple videos on Shimano cues.
LoveMTB also has heaps of great in depth info on Cues too
Still riding and ROCKIN' my 90's Kona bikes. Beloved Explosif - (grass roots sponsored bike in 1994) raced it and used it as a messenger bike in the 90's. And though Strava (barf) is NOT a real measure of FUN - I still get KOMs on true XC singletrack trails: Big Ring, 26ers and 2" travel up front. (This against chicks 20 years younger, riding Santa Cruz HighTowers and other high end Carbon XC race bikes.) Yeah, I'm broke AF, but have 7 SWEET vintage bikes that - though are on life support - are STILL so much fun. Never really fell for trendy plastic high maintenance bikes made for hop-on-the-bandwagon hipster riders. Had a Knolly Endorphin for a week (yawn) traded it for an Ellsworth Epiphany. Now I'm back to ALL 90's steel Kona bikes - rigid and hardtail only. Keep On Keepin On. Stay Real.
I emphatically agree with everything E has to say here. It's so unfortunate that the marketing, social media and, in some cases, gear weenies make people ashamed of their gear or, worse, too intimidated to even attempt to get into the sport to begin with. On the other side of the coin, yes, it's also very unfortunate that the market has swung to both extremes (e.g. GTs at K-Mart and $10K+ bikes sold direct by manufacturers). I suspect this is a large part of the reason so many local bike shops have gone out of business. This last point is also probably compounded by mountain bikes, in large part, moving away from being general purpose and something that you could also use to commute or take to the grocery store (i.e. like 90s dad bikes were) and into something that more closely resembles a motorless motocross bike.
I used to organize the Brooklyn Mountain Biking Meetup group and have first-hand experience with the effects of all of the above. My first mountain bike was a Mongoose Sommet that I bought at Dick's on clearance and I absolutely had people on trails and in bike shops laugh at me for riding a "department store bike". I never took it too personally and, in addition to being very capable, that bike was an excellent entrypoint into the sport. In all reality, its full-suspension was overkill for my riding level. I also remember folks showing up at our meetup events on hand-me-down "department store bikes" and absolutely outriding the rest of the group. One kid specifically, would ride his cheap, used, department store bought hardtail Diamond Back all the way across Queens just to get to the park, embarrass the rest of us and then ride all the way back home.
So, that's all to say that no one should be feeling bad about their gear (to say nothing of ability) and screw anyone who feels the need to make fun of people for not having the latest and greatest. (Sadly, these people do exist.) You can get out "there" (roads, bike paths, parking lots, trails -- sanctioned and not) and start learning and having fun on *anything* that rolls and, of course, is safe to ride.
Mountain biking is expensive even for 1st world folk imagine how rest of the world feels like. Sadly its a hobby that relies soley on equpment.
Riding cheap stuff and junkers is fun i can't lie, but i want to progress my skills and abilities and i just cant do that on a 20-something year old bike. Even "mid range" parts and bikes are sometimes unattainable. Going for used stuff is ok but you still have to maintain it and finding repair kits for shocks & other spares is a nightmare right now where i live.
Fears of breaking something that would take months to come and would render bike unridable meanwhile is just killing me. Recently found out i cracked bottom of my DJ fork stantion where damper retaining ring sits, decided to look what forks are for sale right now, but theres literally nothing on the market that would fit my front hub size and would'nt cost my monthly salary.
MTB is THE thing keeping me sane, and i can't even (afford to) do that now. Thanks PUTIN
I used to ride my Craigslist, zero suspension, $40, 90s mongoose at 18rd in fruita. Was a blast but definitely got some looks.
Great video man, I agree how insane the MTB market has become. There will always be that niche market and hell if people want to pay $15k for a bike go for it. Do I think it’s better than my 2018 Tallboy? Nope and if it is it’s probably so marginal that it’s not worth upgrading to. I’ve been looking at getting a gravel bike just for fun, but the prices are insane a bike with zero suspension isn’t worth what they’re asking. Tempted to convert my old Vertex to a gravel ripper and call it a day. Love your down to earth views, it’s about having fun ripping trails, not the “Rolex” bike you’re sporting the world needs to stop being so materialistic.
Gravel bikes especially don't need to be that expensive. There's a youtube creator thats been having a blast on a walmart Ozark Trail gravel bike (250$) and I just don't see the case for a 9000$ gravel bike.
I wanted to get back into riding mtb. Happened to find a 2015 Kona honzo for 300€ that needed some work. Trp 4 pots for 75€ from a discount site and a fork service later, she's a ripper. More than enough bike fpr loval trails and still rideable as a winter commuter.
What I've learned in the cycling world is that ,anything you're going to need is going to be available used or cheap at some point soon. Don't be in a rush!
I had finally climbed the ladder to middle class, then I decided that mountain biking sounded like a great idea...
My cardboard box doesn't leak too much when it rains but, I'm having the time of my life.
ha ha ha good one😆
The MTB industry needs to shun all the "bike snobs" and just make regular reliable bikes for regular people...Were not buying into a lifestyle, okay? No one needs "top end" gear to go out and have fun. MTB'rs don't need an all terrain off roading "rig" to get out and have fun. I can't stand talking to todays bike snobs. Blue tooth shifters? Are you kidding me..? They could bring back rim brakes for all I could care...MTB was more fun when the industry was in touch with their base...😎
Couldn't agree more. You could do what I do and ride my 90s MNT bikes. I have just as much fun as the guys on their permo high end, high dollar bikes. Don't get me wrong a new bike would be OK but for now I'll ride what I have.
Bless you Spindat, a beacon of light in the misty world of marketing, you speak for a lot of folks who love riding for the joy Well said Kev,I salute you!!
Skills trump gear. Case in point with you riding the hardtail everywhere....skills and shred factor! Good to ride with you yesterday.
There's me, poor. Put my 1800 dollar Polygon T8 on a credit card. I've been using affirm for upgrades. Much easier to pay in smaller chunks even if I pay more in the end.
Add in some used good condition parts, and you can have a super competitive bike.
Theres a guy in rural mexico that won a mtb race with a simple bike. Its not the bike, its the rider and the experience you get from riding. Obviously a well maintained bike weather it cost $200 or $10k is wjat really counts.
reminds mere of watching bloggers w/ 5kplus bikes getting smoked by their south american guide riding an 05 low end jamis.
@@geneween64 yeah. I know exactly what your talking about. It's the couple that rides around the states and also went into Mexico to ride. They were getting absolutely destroyed by their guide that had tires with barely any tread. 🤣
The only place there is a real advantage mid, is that the bigger wheels DO climb faster and rip on the flats, and the clearance of newer bikes does allow more freedom to roll over stuff, but I still love my old 90's hardtails. They're much more nimble - they do keep you skilled and truly connected to the trails.
@@geneween64as a latino i relate a lil too much lmaoo
Got a 1990s 26" steel hardtail. Just had someone weld a rear disc brake to it.
It's just about riding!
Most of my “mountain bikes” were purchased sub $500 either full price or by catching a couple sales.
While they may not compare to many of “higher end” bikes, they are all capable of fun, enjoyable days on the trails, or commuting through town.
Someone that requires a bicycle for transportation because they cannot afford a car can still justify purchasing one of these to get to work and have recreational time on the trails.
Cycling is for everyone!! I did a group ride two weeks ago and someone was on one of those Walmart Ozark Trails having a blast....and hell, on marketplace you can get 26" Santa Cruz bikes for like 400-500$.... if they were good back in the day they're totally capable still today...but I agree with you, needs to be more content made with the midranged stuff...they're missing out on lots of sales.
True, by the way. How much did it cost to build that fancy bike garage of yours?
Just kidding, but yeah.Too much focus on stuff and technology in MTB. I miss the BMX days. A mix of BMX and MTB attitude would be great.
I started with GT Aggressor Pro 5 years ago. I just got a Specialized Rockhopper Comp 29. Im 42 and work 60 hrs a week. Im not doing anything extreme when I ride just fun blue trails to forget about life for a while 😎👍
At some of my local trails some were riding whatever they could get from walmart.
Honestly for $650 after tax the grey/silver FS Hyper Viking Trail 29er from Walmart isn’t a terrible frame once you put some upgrades into it like cranks and suspension. I got the red 27.5, have so far upgraded almost everything (tapered headset kit, air shock and fork, hydro brakes, etc) and it’s a beast.
@@soupofthedave the guys I saw were riding the 100 to 150 dollar bikes. But now that Walmart has the Ozark trail bikes they are fairly capable.
Seeing that MTB started as a "run what you brung" thumbing of the nose at elitist roadies... If it's not for "poor people" then it's lost its way.
Do you see the irony in extolling the virtues of mid range parts while continuing to denigrate your old Felt as a “clapped out p.o.s.”?
I couldn't agree more... your perspective on MTB today and the industry in general is absolutely spot on. there's way too much hype focused on the NEW or TOP-END vs bikes and parts made for the everyday working man. unfortunately this attitude goes beyond systemic, such as ANY budget fork that doesn't quite share the same chassis and can't be fitted with upgrades like improved dampers or springs. they make it so difficult to even know when or not that's even possible. man I could rant about this days, lol
I heard the same thing said about snowboarding before and the reality is that it's not that it isn't for poor people but rather it isn't for people who aren't motivated or determined to do whatever that thing is. A person who is determined will find a way to support and pay for the thing they are determined to do. Poor or rich you can still save a portion of your money to the side to finance the next thing, how long that takes along with discipline and determination will be the only real barriers for entry or enjoyment. Just because a new thing came out doesn't mean the old thing is suddenly trash. Too many people living on FOMO time and the "gotta have it now" mentality.
its spring and all my non-cyclist friends are asking me what to get as their first bike. I'm pointing them toward the two Walmart Ozark Trail bikes from. The Ridge moutain bike and the G.1 Explorer gravel bike. They updated their bikes to more modern standards so that when one of the parts breaks on it, you can upgrade the bike instead of throwing it away and getting a new bike.
Thank you to the youtubers who make videos on reasonable priced bikes like Wolftick Videos, Matty Active, and Berm Peak
Its the outrageous healthcare costs in the US for when you break yourself that makes it expensive :)
Just ride what you have and have fun.
Eric, amen to what you said.
Some people forget MTB (or whatever your bike preferences are) is about the fun you can have with the stuff you own. Period.
Compared to what can be seen on YT the part of the world I live in is broke AF. But guess what - we don't care. We shred. And so should you... or whoever reads this. Just don't forget to have proper fun while you're at it.
I got a some over my budget bikes, it was always the same thing, couldn't ride them like they should. Too much invested to enjoy.
Coming from bmx and skateboarding to the more accepted forms of "cycling" was a big culture shock for me. Like it stops being about what you do with what you have and becomes having something knowing you'll never do what it can. Passing people with carbon bikes that cost more than my life on the road with my aluminum gravel bike i ride with bmx petals and straps and leaving them in the dust is the most rewarding thing. The bike means nothing if your abilities can't justify its price.
And that is precisely why skateboarding and bmx will always be cooler than mtb. I love riding mountain bikes but there's no denying it is a yuppie ass sport.
I agree, mid range MTB stuff is amazing these days but what a stupid comment. I'm going to attempt to shame high earners by commenting, "Porsche GT3 RS is not for poor people" "9,000 sq ft mansions aren't for poor people" "Flying helicopters is not for poor people" or "Having a cattle ranch in Jackson Wyoming is not for poor people" on those respective videos. Like, yeah. No shit. There's a lot of things in life that aren't for poor people, that's why some folks develop motivation, and financial literacy.
Status frames are 425$ rn
which site?
@@51249caFanatik
@@51249caFanatik Bikes has them stupid low priced, but IDK I heard they're horrible for pedaling but what a steal for the price
Not in Canada.
My comments completely disappeared
I am envious of the type of trails you have. I prefer good old fashioned technical singletrack over the new crop of trails that have become so popular as of late.
I prefer my sub $2k hardtail over anything I see at shops nowadays. 8:11
Same with my craigslist State 6061 allroad twin 🤟
There's not a single channel i would like to see get huge more than yours. You're 100% right, this middle of the road stuff doesn't get reviews and as a consumer it sucks. It's the same with everything too, do you know that the Canadian version of the Lenovo ideapad slim 3i (which is spec with an i7 and 32gb in canada) doesn't have a single review ANYWHERE except on site like bestbuy? Try it all you can find is the HYPER BUDGET us version which is all plastic has an i3 and 8gb of ram. It's the same with everything, we've reached a point where if you want info it better be on the top of the line shit or the absolute hyper budget garbage otherwise nobody bother to talk about it.
Back to cycling, elitism in cycling is really becoming a problem i agree. It's not even MTB that isn't for poor people, it's just bikes these days, i've been told that i should have gotten a big box store bike instead of my road bike if i was to cheap out.. bitch it's a felt vr 60 it already has more than i need i ain't racing in the tour de france.
This is why i LOVE your moto, ride reasonably priced bike. Paid 1500$ cad for my felt which is reasonable for a brand new bike, anything above 2k wouldn't have been for a hobby rider. It blows my mind seeing people super out of shape on those 10k cervelo carbon bikes.. like yeah cool but i get more miles in a ride than you do in a season so shut the fuck up about my bike being inadequate.
Coming from “walmart bikes” my whole life, i discovered “bike store grade” bikes and dreamt of getting a trek marlin for years.
Finally bought a new Trek Marlin 5, which was the best I could afford, super proud of it.
But most videos or forums are just filled with people calling them cheap and or beginner bikes. I paid 750 during the shortage, not really a beginner price for me. Now that 125 buck “mtb” from Wally World, that’s what I consider beginner 😂
First--I'm not a hater! I really like your channel. BUT, approaching topics from a place of assumption and let's face it "judginess" about what others are supposedly projecting or interpreting is problematic, no? Isn't it best to just explain what you think and not claim to know what others are thinking (especially given the highly problematic medium of "the internet")? Thanks for what you do. -Greg (P.S. It clearly does illicit comments though)
I AGREE WITH ALL OF THIS.
A 90s rigid steel Kona, GT or Bontrager is actual better than the latest dual sus cardboard, er sorry carbon engineeredbymarketing modern marvel. It's SCIENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
it's like with everything (everything where you need some sort of equipment):
The guys with expensive stuff say, that it is the ONLY way to go and feel glee, because they can afford it while others can't,
and
the guys with the budget stuff feel glee, when they get better results than the further and argue, that spending more is just a giant waste of money, there for stupid and - ofc - showing off.
the concept of letting people just be, or even empathy, is so unpopular and even after thousands of years of evolution, we appear to still be still boasting apes throwing feces at each other...
and our "awesome" monetary system amplyfies this sort of behavior.
there are more and more people taking the road of empathy, but in general it still is a "feces throwing" world.
I might be on a new forbidden bike, but I’m also on a 5 year old lyrik and 10 year old enves wheels with Xt drivetrain
I returned to MTB after about 10 years, was horrified by prices. Picked up a Vitus Sentier VR 27.5 for £650 new. 1x11, dropper post, 2.6 hans damph rear and 2.6 magic mary front, bomber Z2 fork. Awesome deal, the fork and tyres would of cost about that at retail so I snapped it up!! Awesome bike, way more capable than I am!
Absolutely! Preach it!!
💯 % I build my own bikes because honestly I couldn't afford to buy them any other way . My bikes are nice but there a labour of love , part switching and patience to get them nice at a price I can afford. example ,carbon nukeproof reactor 290 with shock £750 pink bike buy sell , hunt wheels new as they offer pay in 3 on PayPal £300 fork fox 34 rhythm new but from market place £300 , gx drivetrain took from another bike . Breaks sram g2 ultimate £80 from bike inn Spain on sale dropper 170mm reverb from another bike . All these things paid for buy pay in 3 or deals or recycling from previous builds and selling on old frames to cover the next one at least in part .
Right now is the time to get high end bikes for super cheap. The market is f'd up. Im on a 2022 knolly chilcotin 151. Picked it up used for $1,300. The fun level absolutely goes up slightly with high end components, but not enough to take a $6-8k hit. The used market is where its at.
Dude, I'm with you all the way on this. I've been a bicycle mechanic since 2009 and as much as I love high end gear, I spend more time testing and spruiking what I call underdog products. Was an early adopter of microshift advent x group set, ran sr suntour suspension on my carbon RM instinct. Alex rims, Novatec hubs, Bear pawls hubs. Basically products that are exceptionally good value for money. And I give advice on these items to customers so they can get great gear and save some pennies doing it. In saying that, I still love things like Orange bikes, and Hope Tech products.
That's not thrown together, my gravelbike I use as a commuter ( and ride like an XC bike) and the bike i'm working on right now are/will be thrown together haha
Second hand and old parts with no regard (and no idea frankly) as to what kind of geometry the original bike the frame belonged to had
My gravel/ drop bar XC/commuter has a trekking frame, a trekking/city fork, cheap as mechanical disc brakes (compressionless housing though), dt swiss rims on basic Shimano Tourney hubs and a Deore derailleur from 95 with old Tiagra shifters/brake levers.
A total parts bin special that sees more off road than most MTBs here in the small city I live in 😅
The next one is a frame I can't find any information on other than that it's made in Germany and one bike on sale that was a custom order treking bike with some tricked out parts for the time.
28" frame, will get 27.5 wheels to get some wider tyres on and a 130 fork resulting in some decent geometry in theory (comparing it to the 2021 Canyon Stoic I have).
That frame cost me 4€ without shipping lmao
Look at these comments. Sour grapes chest thumpers, needing to put down those with expensive equipment to validate themselves, pathetic!
This whole video is an overreaction that assumes “MTB is not for poor people” is an inherently bad thing.
It is okay to enjoy doing things that others cannot or will not do. Just because some individuals lack the resources be it financial, schedule, athleticism, disposition, or otherwise. It’s a simple reality that not everyone can or wants to be involved in the HOBBY.
I can afford a mountain bike, and I’ve spent more on coaching, clinics, trips, and skill building than equipment. This is why I do not pout when I see the $50k Ducati rider or $200k Porsche driver. I can’t afford that stuff, I’m poor compared to them, and I think it’s absolutely incredible and inspiring that those who do have the resources have refined their hobbies to such a high level- and yes, that meant leaving us “poor” in the dust.
There will always be a more expensive bike to envy, there will always be that guy bragging about how he cobbled together his bike with $0.37 and a dumpster dive behind the Chinese takeout resturant. Who cares?! Ride your damn bike, leave the rich and poor alike behind. Those who have the desire and ability to follow, will.
My bike is just a tool I like to break. The idea of a pure bike channel is madness.
Cheers #erictennant
A few years ago i was at Mt Bachelor with a buddy, waiting for the lift up.
My Trek Fuel EX didnt warrant a second look among the expensive kit on display in the line. But my buddy's 1998 Giant XTC hardtail got doubletakes from quite a few folks...on the way up, and while passing a few on the way down.
I'm from a 3rd world country. My current bike only cost me the equivalent of 140 USD (It's a cheap Chinese bike that gets the job done). I know my bike can't "shred" like the big brand ones, but I only use it for my work commute and riding around casually. Will probably buy a mid range one a few months down the line, I've only started biking about 2 months ago.
Sometimes I just smile at the new crazy mtbs, while ridin my old rocky mountain from 1991 with a dent in the toptube....it still rides good. What is entry level?? It's the question of how much money you can spend on havin fun....but today, bike market offers leasing...pay a monthly rent. It's fuckin crazy, but people let themselves be made slaves to consume.
Best fun on a bike is under-biking; making something simple/old/basic work well enough to do fun things which others need expensive kit to enjoy. As well as knowing your effort and skill was the main factor, the money saved means less work hours are needed to fund it so there’s more time to actually do it. Plus no drama if it gets scratched/damaged/stolen and no endless cleaning, perfecting, fretting. Got sick of fashion, daft prices, waiting for parts, unnecessarily complex part failures, waiting for service slots, endless trips to bike shop; generally spending more time maintaining than riding. Just servicing and chucking a few bits (larger sprocket, tyres, grips, saddle) on a free Marketplace bike can be hugely rewarding-just get out and explore 👍
First let me say that I AM poor people. I've lived below the poverty line my entire life and I also MTB hard af. I got my first REAL bike frame from the garbage. It was a Giant cypress DX. I had no idea about anything bike related so I set out to build what I thought a MTB was, not knowing that I was using a hybrid frame and turning it into an XC bike. I was just happy to have a good frame to start with. Over the next year I gathered parts wherever possible and did tons of research and I built a workhorse of a bike that I kept for over a year. I'm from the hood where neighborhood bikes live forever. Like deebo bike in "Friday" you can always hear the telltale squeak of some old cruiser going by, sometimes with grown men riding the handlebar. Bikes are everywhere and most are built to stand the test of time. You don't have to have $ to get into them. You just have to be determined and clever.
I’m not rich but I own 3 bikes , not top of the line but good enough for bike park days , hitting dirt jumps and have a good time . My most expensive bike is 3500$ . No carbon frames or wheels , kashima coating or wireless shifting . Trp brakes , micro shift drivetrain, formula hubs and fox performance I got at half price is good enough for me.
I came from a BMX background to MTB during the pandemic. It’s fun to see the look on someone’s face when I do a 180 to fakie on my beat up $2k full sus while they rest on their pristine $7k dentist’s special full carbon MTB.
The bike I'm enjoying the most is a mtb from the 80s I built back up. All 2nd hand or aliexpress bits. Trektro U-Brake on the back so I'm fearing for my life even on greentrails. Just gotta have the will!
Have two Specialized FSR XCs from the early '00s, don't see the need to buy new frames when I've already got two solid ones that ride great. I honestly think that you should review the "midrange" parts. I'd like to see if it's worth it to upgrade a fork on said old bike, for example.
Love this sentiment. One channel that focuses more on budget stuff is Wolf Tick Nation. I was scouring UA-cam to find a review on the RokShox Recon and they came up. Definitely worth a watch.
After taking a 2,3.....14 year break from the bike markets, I find the prices baffling. Thanks for clarifying!
Holy smokes, MTB is an EPIC poor person sport...I surf and do hydrofoil sports and with used MTB gear you get an EPIC amount of value compared to anything else, but its not about the gear at all. Its about the trails and locations. Surfing takes me to these beautiful locations where all the locals and rich people who live there want me out. Parking is hard, access is a nightmare, and scarcity is the name of the game. MTB takes me to pieces of land that nobody cares about in the least. Garbage land thats good for nothing so why not give it to some mountain bikers to build trails on. I can be driving up I 95 and find random trails everywhere. Its amazing.
Youve hit the nail on the head - and its people like you and Stridsland giving coverage to 90's ATBs, older bikes with updated midrange parts, and showing people riding and having a great time that keep us grounded. Many of your builds serve as proof that the mindset is at least as important as the bike.
Not MTB related - but Cade Media just did a bikepacking trip through Malaysia on a Decathlon brand(read Affordable Sports retailer) road bike and raved about how good it was. Good video content to if you're UK based.
Totally on board with this, until your comment about not having wiper blades... 😂 But seriously though - thanks for sharing this and spreading a good message. Signed - the guy riding a customized Walmart bike and having a blast with it.
agree, no need to blow your stack on latest and greatest. last week I was debating between Fox 34, RS Pike, and Suntour Auron/Aion... went with Suntour, ultimately decided I am not about to pay premium for marginal gain in this economy.
Back in the 80’s I was the poor kid that rode a huffy bmx. I had so much fun on that bike. I moved on to a Diamond Back that I still have. Then a P.K.Ripper , a Redline and so on but I am glad that I started on the huffy so I could appreciate the higher end bikes.
love the video man. Just got into mountain bike riding and I've had a terrible experience. went to the local bike shop with my 11 year old 600 dollar giant that I bought when I was in college thinking it was a very nice bike only to be told it's piece of junk. Just because you don't have a 5000 dollar budget for a bicycle doesn't mean you don't shred hard.
I have a quiver of nice bikes but don't need them. I would be happy on any entry level full suspension trail bike. The industry is tanking due to Covid overstock and inflated prices. It's a buyers market so look out for deals from the Covid bandwagoners dumping their almost un-ridden bikes on the used market.
I've quite enjoyed being able to afford the top end bikes and parts I coveted 15 years ago. Titanium 26" frames, Fox forks, hope parts, etc.
There was this kid at my local trails who was riding pretty well on a 300€ department store bike. Saw him pretty much every time I went riding and he was definitely a better rider then me. I‘d guess that he had at least as much fun as I did on my Yeti. It’s definitely easy to think the hobby is just for people with considerable amount of disposable income when you’re surrounded by people with 3000€+ bikes. But sometimes it’s just good to question that mindset.
In my opinion for what it's worth that's how Society Keeps Us divided and in control. And not focusing on things that make you happy. Keep doing what you're doing Eric you're doing a fine job.✌🏼
Aluminum XC full suspension bikes.... where did they go? Could be welded up in lots of sizes too...
Also, check out Marin.... used to sell them and they didn't hype the chichi that much...
Ya know the silver lining of the industry pandering to dentists and trust fund babies who must have the latest greatest trail head flex is that the used market is flooded with lightly used or brand new take off parts. Sub $200 Rockshox Pike's Lyric's and Yari's are out there. Brakes and acoustic drive trains abound for a fraction of the cost of new. Also, Walmart is stepping up its game with entry level hardtails spec'd with current mtb standards that get noobs into the sport and can be upgraded into a serious whip as skills progress. Its up to us to maintain perspective, let the rich eat the rich. 😊
Its all subjective and based around consumerism. Love shredding a Kona Rove ST on both singletrack as well as 100k+ road rides. Love what you got
Thank you for making this video, I am sick of the just buy a "good" bike mentality that is all around the MTB culture right now. Older or lower priced bikes are still fun.
I remember being on my fancy pants, super expensive exotic italian road bike when this old dude in jeans with a tucked in button up blew by me on what I swear was a steel Murray. Best and most clarifying moment on a bike. I haven't cared about gear since other then making sure my stuff is well maintained. Skill and capability is earned through hard work, not bought.
Totally agree. Buuut to me, "being poor" does not mean the same thing as "not financially affluent" and there was 100% a time in my life where the bikes I could afford would not be safe on a mountain. I know there's arguments about making the things you care about work out, but any extra money I had would go to food, not toys, when I was trying to get through college. Did have a friend with an extra bike though so I guess mountain biking can also be free in some cases. Now I always make sure to keep a loaner bike around
what about durability ? If you want to bicycle on mesa or near a river and streets like 20 miles a day for commuting in rural areas mixed with city ? Do you have to spend alot for something that is basically replacing a car in a area that's not just a big city like NYC ?
Can you recommend something for that that's reasonably priced ? Don't worry what I think is reasonable . I am interesting on what you think since you know more than me
When you ride, are you smiling? Are your thoughts a million miles away? Then you don't have a thing to worry about. Just ride. Happy trails to all !! Aloha. 😎🤙
I tell people this all the time!! I ride older, awesome, great working bikes with folks that have very expensive ones. I have just as much fun. I do see price tag shaming out there from time to time. It sucks. That said I love when the "old beater" passes the new fancy!
Racing isnt for poor people . Some of the coolest races local to me have entry fees equivalent to a month or my salary in some cases MORE then the other issue is about half the races being midweek races making it impossible for me to participate because i cannot afford to put in a day off because i need the money lmao
You can absolutely have a blast and rip with a cheap mtb. Dont need xtr or eagle. Something older like 3x9 should get you up most the same hills as 1x12 with 52tooth casette
Honestly, coming from a not so well of a person.. . This is very true. the Best bike`s we own are schwinn`s and a M2000 cannondale. Its taken years just to be able to afford those with maintenance cost
You, sir, have officially given me hope that I, a guy who only recently discovered that grown adults hang out in the woods with their bikes and drink craft beers, can and will do just fine starting my own channel and showing the world you can have a good time on a Mountain Bike, even in the flatlands of Kansas.
I thought this was the only real MTB content channel on here! It's this channel and of course, I forgot, pinkbike Friday fails :)
I thought MTB was the thing for poor people... I mean, I would rather do motorsports but hey, riding trails is way cheaper and more convenient.
That's the wonderful thing about the "TRUTH",it's universal 😅
Obviously that MTB quote is from some Chode on PinkBike. I can't stand the dude-bro-ery on that site.