Why are mountain bikes so popular?
#51
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Posts: 7,085
Bikes: Cervelo Prodigy
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 478 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 87 Times
in
67 Posts
#52
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Posts: 7,085
Bikes: Cervelo Prodigy
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 478 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 87 Times
in
67 Posts
The beginner rider is much different than the others. It takes time to allow a consumer to determine which way he or she will use the bike. Some will go towards that "need for speed" and others will view a bike just to go from point A to point B. Very much like cars.
The gravel bike just might catch more attention, especially with the owners of road bikes who really don't want a hybrid and who might not want to master the skills to do mountain type riding, nor feel that they need to.
An adult consumer may not ever had a road bike in the past as a youth. Its natural that their viewpoint is already recognized by the marketing gurus. It would take a lot of motivation points for an adult to simply go directly to road type bikes.
But once captivated by road riding, that adult just might want to stay close to the road type geometry and spend money on a gravel type, even a high end gravel.
It would be more interesting to see what Peter Sagan rides when at home, than say, another retired pro rider who never had mountain bike background.
The gravel bike just might catch more attention, especially with the owners of road bikes who really don't want a hybrid and who might not want to master the skills to do mountain type riding, nor feel that they need to.
An adult consumer may not ever had a road bike in the past as a youth. Its natural that their viewpoint is already recognized by the marketing gurus. It would take a lot of motivation points for an adult to simply go directly to road type bikes.
But once captivated by road riding, that adult just might want to stay close to the road type geometry and spend money on a gravel type, even a high end gravel.
It would be more interesting to see what Peter Sagan rides when at home, than say, another retired pro rider who never had mountain bike background.
#53
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 3,893
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1062 Post(s)
Liked 665 Times
in
421 Posts
I think this is why you see people riding flat bar bikes with their palms cupped over the ends of their bars, or with attachments such as bar ends.
#54
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times
in
1,286 Posts
I am not a new rider, I have been a commuter and recreational rider for 8 years and I hate drop bars...I tried drop bars for a while on few different bikes and it never felt right to me, just don't like them...Flat bars with bar ends or riser bars is what feels most comfortable to me.
#55
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 5,973
Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Nishiki Blazer, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1364 Post(s)
Liked 1,677 Times
in
827 Posts
I think the mountain bike definitely has its purpose and shines in technical terrain. There are some very skilled mountain bikers that really can do amazing things on the bikes.
But for the average Joe who just noodles around on smooth gravel roads, a mountain bike is a waste. Its kind of like how people buy these lifted 4x4 trucks to commute in and they never take it on the beaten path...
My neighbor commutes a considerable distance on pavement using a cheapo Walmart mountain bike. I told him about road bikes and he just looked at me funny, like he didnt even know they existed! He assumed road bikes and mountain bikes were basically the same thing.
I just think mountain bikes are a little over rated in the eyes of the general public and way too popular for no good reason. Whenever I tell my non--cyclist friends and family I ride road, their eyes become unfocused and they simply dont process the information.
The only thing the MTB is good for is the particularly rough stuff. They suck at everything else!
But for the average Joe who just noodles around on smooth gravel roads, a mountain bike is a waste. Its kind of like how people buy these lifted 4x4 trucks to commute in and they never take it on the beaten path...
My neighbor commutes a considerable distance on pavement using a cheapo Walmart mountain bike. I told him about road bikes and he just looked at me funny, like he didnt even know they existed! He assumed road bikes and mountain bikes were basically the same thing.
I just think mountain bikes are a little over rated in the eyes of the general public and way too popular for no good reason. Whenever I tell my non--cyclist friends and family I ride road, their eyes become unfocused and they simply dont process the information.
The only thing the MTB is good for is the particularly rough stuff. They suck at everything else!
#56
Senior Member
Indeed, flat bars are quite uncomfortable for me -- my wrists hurt after a few hundred yards. Same bike with a swept bar, I can ride all day in one hand position. That's assuming normal stops. I don't think I've ever ridden further than about 20 miles at a stretch without stopping for some reason: Clothing, a snack, etc. That's enough to give my hands and arms a rest. Drop bars also rotate your wrists.
I think this is why you see people riding flat bar bikes with their palms cupped over the ends of their bars, or with attachments such as bar ends.
I think this is why you see people riding flat bar bikes with their palms cupped over the ends of their bars, or with attachments such as bar ends.
#57
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Southwestern Ontario
Posts: 5,126
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1581 Post(s)
Liked 1,189 Times
in
605 Posts
I am not a new rider, I have been a commuter and recreational rider for 8 years and I hate drop bars...I tried drop bars for a while on few different bikes and it never felt right to me, just don't like them...Flat bars with bar ends or riser bars is what feels most comfortable to me.
I resumed cycling in 2002 at age 50. Since then I've averaged 6 to 7000kms each year -- most of that a mix of commuting and longer weekend rides (typically around 60kms).
All of that has been on either riser bars (9 degree sweep) or flat bars (5 degree sweep) w/bar ends. I've ridden three 'imperial centuries' -- simply to see if I could do it. Two of those were with flat bars, one with risers (on my hardtail mtb). No problems -- at all. I have tried to like but just don't like drop bars.
#58
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: US
Posts: 811
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 408 Post(s)
Liked 184 Times
in
120 Posts
I think many, like me, thought there were two types of bikes, mountain and road. I spent a month or so shopping and learning about what is available. I discovered touring type bikes, gravel bikes, Cyclocross bikes. Since I want to be able to ride road, trails, fire roads, and my 2000 foot gravel driveway, the touring bike made so much sense for what I want to do.
#59
Junior Member
I can understand why the mountain bike is popular among the general public. It is versatile, easy to use, available in big box stores and generally cheaper to buy than a road bike. Most of us on this forum have multiple bikes. I have a road bike, a mountain bike, a touring bike and a folder I keep in my car. But if I only had one bike it would probably be a mountain bike because it can do what the others do, albeit not as well, and even though I do not ride off road very often I like to occasionally. I only have one car but it is a 4 wheel drive Jeep. I only need the 4x4 maybe 10 times a year, but I'm glad to have the capability when I need it.
#61
Senior Member
I looked at those myself and almost bought some. What stopped me was the 620 width and the fact that I was unsure if my revelate harness would attach to those bars. I wanted no less than 660 so I went with jones.
#62
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 3,893
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1062 Post(s)
Liked 665 Times
in
421 Posts
That's a pretty cool accessory. It looks like it'll carry practically anything if needed, but stay out of the way if not. I did something similar, but not nearly as classy, on my older converted road bike: Just a tiny little rack on the stem, so I'd have a place for my lunch. On the new bike, a rear rack has proven sufficient so far.
#63
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 4,811
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1591 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,018 Times
in
571 Posts
And riding a road bike is much easier on my back. A more upright position starts to hurt my lower back after a few miles. I have the same problem standing still for any length of time.
Everyone is different of course, but I when I started riding it was mystifying to me why folks founds MBs and hybrids more comfortable.
#64
Senior Member
That's a pretty cool accessory. It looks like it'll carry practically anything if needed, but stay out of the way if not. I did something similar, but not nearly as classy, on my older converted road bike: Just a tiny little rack on the stem, so I'd have a place for my lunch. On the new bike, a rear rack has proven sufficient so far.
Last edited by trail_monkey; 01-15-17 at 11:19 AM.
#65
Senior Member
At the gym, the bench press is an overrated excerise risky in all sorts of injuries. It's due to holding the bar with palms down (relative to your body) the same as holding a flat bar on a bicycle. This makes your arms naturally flair out when the bar is down at your chest. You should keep the arms no more than 60degrees from your torso. Dumbbell presses lets you hold the weights with hands in a palm-in position avoiding shoulder injuries.
But riding a bike, most of your time your arms are straight and not fully bent.
#66
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: On the Cardinal Greenway
Posts: 8
Bikes: 2016 AnyRoad 1, 2012 Super Six , 1997 Lemond Zurich
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
A mountain bike is the Jeep of bikes... if you have to ask, you wouldn't understand!!!
#67
cowboy, steel horse, etc
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 44,838
Bikes: everywhere
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12769 Post(s)
Liked 7,684 Times
in
4,078 Posts
I wound up with Surly Open bars, since even the cheapest Jones is too rich for my blood.
#68
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Metro Detroit/AA
Posts: 8,207
Bikes: 2016 Novara Mazama
Mentioned: 63 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3640 Post(s)
Liked 81 Times
in
51 Posts
While I am not sticking with a flat bar on my current tour build, I'm not looking at drops either. I'm going something like a trekking or Jones H-bar or albatross style. On my road tour build, I put cross levers on, so I could ride in the urban areas in a more upright flat-bar style. I just don't have the love of drops that some do, and I've been past the end of the block.
#69
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 6,319
Bikes: 2012 Salsa Casseroll, 2009 Kona Blast
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1031 Post(s)
Liked 208 Times
in
146 Posts
I've got bikes with drop bars, and flat bars. So does the fiancee. I've ridden many longer rides with the flat bars, and she almost exclusively rides her flat bar on all our rides, the longest of which are upwards of 45 miles or so, without any issue. I don't personally see THAT much of a difference. Even my bikes that have the drop bars, the amount of times I am past the hoods is almost nil.
While I am not sticking with a flat bar on my current tour build, I'm not looking at drops either. I'm going something like a trekking or Jones H-bar or albatross style. On my road tour build, I put cross levers on, so I could ride in the urban areas in a more upright flat-bar style. I just don't have the love of drops that some do, and I've been past the end of the block.
While I am not sticking with a flat bar on my current tour build, I'm not looking at drops either. I'm going something like a trekking or Jones H-bar or albatross style. On my road tour build, I put cross levers on, so I could ride in the urban areas in a more upright flat-bar style. I just don't have the love of drops that some do, and I've been past the end of the block.
#70
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 3,893
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1062 Post(s)
Liked 665 Times
in
421 Posts
I'm the same way. Flat bars killed my wrists in short order. No problem at all on drop bars.
And riding a road bike is much easier on my back. A more upright position starts to hurt my lower back after a few miles. I have the same problem standing still for any length of time.
Everyone is different of course, but I when I started riding it was mystifying to me why folks founds MBs and hybrids more comfortable.
And riding a road bike is much easier on my back. A more upright position starts to hurt my lower back after a few miles. I have the same problem standing still for any length of time.
Everyone is different of course, but I when I started riding it was mystifying to me why folks founds MBs and hybrids more comfortable.
I'm beginning to think the same way. Lately, I've been having wrist problems that I notice when I play guitar. Don't know how much of that is due to getting older and how much is due to my converting all my handlebars to flat.
... But riding a bike, most of your time your arms are straight and not fully bent.
... But riding a bike, most of your time your arms are straight and not fully bent.
Another thing: How's your posture at the computer? Neck strain can lead to nerve problems that can manifest in your wrists.
The nice thing about going from flat to swept is that you don't need to buy new controls, and may even be able to use the same cables, so it can be a relatively inexpensive experiment. Also, in my case, the reach is short enough that I can always ride with my elbows slightly bent. I rarely see that on anybody riding drop bars.
#71
Newbie
In the places I've lived, I've noticed that most people who commute ride mountain bikes. When I lived in Panama City, FL, that's about all I saw. Most of them were extremely cheap bikes with off-road tires. Most of them were also riding extremely slow in a very low gear.
What concerns me isn't so much the number of mountain bikes, but the quality thereof. I think most people are just too lazy to do an iota of research when they're in the market for something. I really think these people just make up their minds (consciously or otherwise) that they're going to walk into Wal-Mart and buy whatever they're selling.
Most of the commuters riding cheap bikes that I talked to in Florida would complain about repairs, then balk at the idea of spending a mere $500 on a better bike. Too many practitioners of false economy.
What concerns me isn't so much the number of mountain bikes, but the quality thereof. I think most people are just too lazy to do an iota of research when they're in the market for something. I really think these people just make up their minds (consciously or otherwise) that they're going to walk into Wal-Mart and buy whatever they're selling.
Most of the commuters riding cheap bikes that I talked to in Florida would complain about repairs, then balk at the idea of spending a mere $500 on a better bike. Too many practitioners of false economy.
#72
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: D'uh... I am a Cutter
Posts: 6,139
Bikes: '17 Access Old Turnpike Gravel bike, '14 Trek 1.1, '13 Cannondale CAAD 10, '98 CAD 2, R300
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1571 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
9 Posts
I blame BMX for the way adults look at bicycles. Mountain bikes look like an adult version of what many considered their childhood bicycle.
Back in the 50's when I was a child... we didn't have BMX or mountain bikes. We had cruisers, English racers (3-speeds), and race bikes.
Back in the 50's when I was a child... we didn't have BMX or mountain bikes. We had cruisers, English racers (3-speeds), and race bikes.
#73
Senior Member
I blame BMX for the way adults look at bicycles. Mountain bikes look like an adult version of what many considered their childhood bicycle.
Back in the 50's when I was a child... we didn't have BMX or mountain bikes. We had cruisers, English racers (3-speeds), and race bikes.
Back in the 50's when I was a child... we didn't have BMX or mountain bikes. We had cruisers, English racers (3-speeds), and race bikes.
#74
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Madison, IN
Posts: 1,351
Bikes: 2015 Jamis Quest Comp
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 270 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
This is a biggie...when I was in elementary school I had a red bmx type bike with somewhat bumpy tires...when I got into Jr hi, and high school, I still wanted a bike to ride around town...I got a mtb.. it seemed like the obvious choice...ride to the store, cut through some yards, jump off a few curbs...it just worked.
#75
Full Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: NW Indiana
Posts: 347
Bikes: 2015 Surly Ogre
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 71 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
At the gym, the bench press is an overrated excerise risky in all sorts of injuries. It's due to holding the bar with palms down (relative to your body) the same as holding a flat bar on a bicycle. This makes your arms naturally flair out when the bar is down at your chest. You should keep the arms no more than 60degrees from your torso. Dumbbell presses lets you hold the weights with hands in a palm-in position avoiding shoulder injuries.