Originally Posted by
genejockey
I'm glad there are those who love it, and it's cool to watch really skilled riders ripping down a trail, but it's not something I want to do myself. I like speed+ control.
I think it's best for most people to learn the skills when they are younger but for casual trail riding anyone (almost) can play. Most of what I do now is pretty tame.
I've had some really great times on the dirt. There are no cars and riders are usually not trying to drop each other. It's a great change of pace from road riding and has helped me with burnout in the past.
The other thing is the weather. With some exceptions, I hate road riding in the rain but mountain biking in the rain is a blast. I rode in the snow a lot in the 90s, so much fun! And wind doesn't bother me on the dirt unless it's just howling.