what kind of rider you THINK you are?

[lokomonkey]

As in psycolgy, one thing is the image you have of yourself, and another (somtimes very different) is the one the people around you, have of you!
Now that everything HAS to be labeled, and the bikes are so different from eachother, even though they ARE mountain bikes! what the #$%^! I am!!
so I would say.....I ride up hills if the downhill is worth it, but if there is a shuttle or chair lift I WILL TAKE IT!!I try to hit every jump in the trail, go as fast as possible, and if I miss a jump/drop i just turn back and hit it! my ride is around 35 lbs, has some dh parts, some f/r and almost no cx. I got two front discs and a bash+guide.......that make me a freerider?but all I want is to ride........

[Carbon_Angus]

i want to have fun
i don't want to get fat (again) [smiley=worry.gif]
i don't want to fall and break or tear anything (again) [smiley=doh.gif]

in that order

almost 47

[smiley=beer.gif]

[kiwi]

as above except i am a wimp too,i love low speed technical stuff not the unrideable trials type but  the stuff that demands attention a light xc fs bike which for some reason is what i have got....if my vo2 allows it i also like to clean UPHILL techy bits...i also like smooooth fast downhills where my 90 kg helps!!!!

[Simon]

First priority to enjoy myself, [smiley=nod.gif]

That means if there's a climb I wan't to climb it preferably without stopping,as quickly as I can,

Fast single track,can't beat it,

To ride a downhill, fast or technical or both gives me a buzz,reminds me of my MX days,

Enjoy my racing without taking it to seriously, [smiley=laughing.gif]

Oblivious to the thought of getting hurt, [smiley=doh.gif]

40 and should know better

[smiley=beer.gif] Simon

[debaucherous]

I think I am just a "rider."  I ride because it makes me feel good.  I can't jump, hop, burn, corner or any of that stuff as well as I used to, but I still keep up with the kids most of the time - I live in a college town.



I am a fat, old, bald guy who doesn't really like going up hills, but who understands that it is the price of admission to go down hills.



I'm past the age when being cool, hip, def, fly, or whatever the current lingo is matters.



Debaucherous -- just a rider

[StoereVent]

Well, ofcourse riding to enjoy myself, keep fit, think about nothing else but riding. Me and my mate ride the same track for about ten years now and it is still great. We like to think we're the fastest on the track, but we know better. We also think we look very sporty in our riding gear, but even our girlfriends can't help but lough at us when we're all dressed up in spandex. So the image we have of ourselves doesn't match reality, but so be it. Couldn't do without it anymore.

Jeroen.

[lokomonkey]

WELL ACCORDING TO WHAT I JUST READ, I CAN GROUP YOU GUYS INTO ONE LABEL; "FUNRIDERS" AND I WOULD SAY I'M HAPPY TO BE PART OF THAT........

[ToNYC]

I'm a self-proclaimed 'weekend warrior'. 'will take 'fineness' over 'power' at any time. 'never into that competitive stuff. 'just out there to have fun!

[Matno]

"Funriders" I like the sound of that...

I like to think of my motto as "Go big, ride faster than everybody else, the adrenalin rush is everything." Or maybe "I'm as good as Lance Armstrong, Johnny Tomac, and Ned Overend combined. They just have more time to train."

In reality, my motto is more like (pick any of the following):

Discretion is the better part of valor.

No pain, no pain.

He who fights and runs away, lives to run away another day.

The sad truth is that though I would love to ride on a daily basis, as long as I'm a med student/husband/father/scoutmaster (and you can continue that through the next 6 or 7 years as a surgical resident) I'm only ever going to be a guy who thinks about riding all the time and rides occasionally, if possible. At least now I've started commuting to work, which gives me an excuse to ride for a few minutes every day, even if it is while wearing a tie. Weekend warrior? What's a weekend?

[Matno]

Wow, I just realized how depressing that sounds. When I actually DO ride, I love to ride up and down. The challenge of a good climb on a technical trail is almost as much fun as the thrill of bombing down singletrack with occasional drops of less than 3 feet. I'm not a total speed demon, but I do enjoy getting air off of small jumps. I'm not a trials rider, but I do enjoy a good rock garden or nose wheelie (but not at the same time!) I'm not a downhiller, but I do love riding down hill fast(ish). I'm not a racer, but I do enjoy pushing myself on long rides. I guess I'm a little of everything and a lot of nothing.

[numbnuts]

An evolving one ! It is amazing to me how my riding style, ability etc have altered over the 6yrs that i've been riding on a regular basis. The group I ride with is pretty much on the same track, although I like to think that I was the instigator in our quest for freeride joy. Unfortunately some have been left by the wayside and we are having a hard time finding new recruits, with our cuts, bruises, broken bones etc. I have just started riding with my 13yo son which is great, he is either incredibly fearless or dumb but I guess he won't break as easily as me. I do kick his ass on the uphills though.

[Simon]

I do kick his ass on the uphills though.

Believe me that won't last very long,my 13 year old son is getting seriously close to me uphill ,and I consider climbing one off my strong points [smiley=laughing.gif]

Simon.

[Phillip]

Not a very fast one. Sometimes I  start to think I'm a speed demon and then... back to reality by a more powerful rider!

I do enjoy technical challenges and tight singletrack. 30 mile rides are not uncommon, especially while ridding in my flat home state of Florida. My EVO 4000 fits my needs perfectly, coil suspension front and rear provide a nice smooth ride, especially on "rooty" trails. For the higher speeds and climbs, like I encounter in North Carolina, I increase the preload and damping front and rear.  

I also enjoy taking on and conquering new terrain and obstacles. It gives me a feeling of accomplishment.  Sometimes I take my dog (Charlie)on the shorter (10 mile) rides with me. Even though he slows me down, I enjoy watching him have as much fun as me. He feels it is his duty to chase down and disipline every Armadillo he sees!

[Thunderchild]

I enjoy finding/exploring new trails.   [smiley=turtle.gif]  Having fun riding by not forgetting that we are people and not just exercise machines.  Single track technical climbs, moderate downhills, winding slalom trails through trees, log and boulder ramps, long rides whenever possible, riding in the snow and ice with studded tires, passing runners on snow and ice with studded tires, hanging with roadies on my Oz after they pass me without saying anything...  Riding with all levels of riders.  I thought i was progressing well this year in the climbing area until I hooked up with a couple of riders that put me to shame.  I needed a new bench mark I guess.  

I like to build new trails and maintain trails I ride.  Also, exploring bike mechanics and maintenance as we all do, Riding with older componets that new riders do not recognize and then believe me when I tell them they are the latest technology[smiley=laughing.gif] (Ritchey Force tires, top mount shifters, DX rear derailluers, Pulstar hubs, biopace chain rings[just kidding on that one though I do have some old rings] [smiley=yawn.gif]