Aggressive riders?

[nerdgirl]

I've been a member of this forum for a bit, but I don't post very much. (Posted a bit today, but only because a thread response got me to sign on).

It seems to me that a lot of the mountain biking discussion leans towards XC riding. Don't see much posts from more aggressive riders like myself. Are there so few of us on Team Estrogen? Seems like a lot of y'all mountain bike for fitness (and pretty scenery :) ), but I'll be honest, I ride for the adrenaline rush of going downhill fast, hitting a sweet drop, catching some air off a jump, hucking a nice boulder, getting soaked with water from a creek crossing, and being splattered with mud from hitting puddles. :D Fitness and scenery are happy secondary results of it for me.

Where are all the trail riders, downhillers, and free riders? Are you here but not posting?

I belong to a local MTB forum which is male dominated. The few of us women that are "vocal" on there seem to be more aggressive riders. Maybe it's just because the only place we can find that kind of discussion is with the boys. I don't know.

So if you're an adrenaline girl (and you own a full face and/or a flak jacket ;) ), speak up! Say hello! What do you ride? What armor do you use?

I'll start:

As my signature states, I ride a 2009 Specialized Myka FSR. I have heavily modded it and pretty much turned it into a trail bike to suit my riding style. (Even going to swap out the coil spring on the fork and replace it with 120mm so I can get 5" instead of my sad little 4"). I hope to be able to afford an All Mountain bike in the next year, because it will be better suited to where my skills are going.

I wear exclusively RockGardn armor. I used to use Troy Lee and Fox, but I found RockGardn really works well for me, and I don't seem to have trouble pedaling with it. RockGardn has saved me from a cracked kneecap (and numerous scrapes and bruises), so I'm a devoted patron now.

Now your turn! Share! I know you're out there (at least I hope you are)!

[chickabonita]

Wow lady, I have to give you snaps for lovin that stuff. I personally do not care for any kind of steep or technical downhill or boulders for that matter. I see girls like you on the trail (or perhaps it is even you, since you are in Ontario and I am in OC). I would be the girl whose in your way, I pedal along to the beat of my ipod, enjoying every bush with flowers and bird that flys overhead. :) Hey, if you ever happen to pass a blonde on a blue Kona with skulls on her helmet, that's me! Stop and say hello!

[limewave]

I would love to give it a try, but there isn't much riding like that by us. Not a boulder in site.

I am getting into xcountry racing this year. I like riding fast and pushing myself to my limits. I'm also competitive--mostly with myself. I'm looking forward to giving it a try.

[nerdgirl]

Wow lady, I have to give you snaps for lovin that stuff. I personally do not care for any kind of steep or technical downhill or boulders for that matter. I see girls like you on the trail (or perhaps it is even you, since you are in Ontario and I am in OC). I would be the girl whose in your way, I pedal along to the beat of my ipod, enjoying every bush with flowers and bird that flys overhead. :) Hey, if you ever happen to pass a blonde on a blue Kona with skulls on her helmet, that's me! Stop and say hello!

Haha! Wouldn't that be funny if it was me! I don't claim to be badass, but I definitely am trying to get there! ;)

Do you ever make it out to the IE? My favorite places are Marshall Canyon and Sycamore Canyon (in Riverside). However, since it is summer, Marshall & Sycamore are being left to weekdays after work, and weekends are for lift riding at Big Bear (and a vacation to Mammoth Mtn Bike Park). I generally don't ride in OC. Did Fully Loop a couple times, but it just doesn't feel like "real" mountain biking to me, not even XC. I know lots of folks love it though. I did El Moro last summer, and there was so little payoff for the amount of climbing done. I don't mind climbing if I've got a good payoff (Marshall Canyon is a perfect example of the climb being worth the payoff).

What trails in OC are you riding? One of my friends is trying to convince me to do some crazy *** trails out there that are steep and loose.

Thanks for posting! Made my day!

[crazycanuck]

Nerdgirl...I prefer XC enduro events and shorter distance XC club races. I don't have the b*lls to do downhill :o

I don't do fireroad & notice quite a few of the newbies here ride on that. Ugh..that's not real mountain biking.

Real mtn biking is finding sweet singletrack with all sorts of twists n turns (that you'd expect in Western Australia).

There are some awesome trails around & love it when i "get it" :D I wanna go back to Pemberton (south west western Australia) and do the BIG berms and smash em!

Am impatiently awaiting my elusive Titus Racer X frame/fork :mad: Grrrrr....4 months of waiting...Better be worth the wait!!! Next time i'll order a Yeti, would have been here by now :rolleyes: and they have a better distributor that doesn't forget to order bikes.

[Tuckervill]

Why is fireroad not "real" mountain biking? That's a rather uncharitable opinion there, CC. :)

Karen

[nerdgirl]

uh oh! Controversy! LOL

I get what you're saying about the fire roads and trust me, in So Cal we have *a lot* of them because wild fires are a natural part of the environment here (though sadly some of the most destructive have been arson). I know a lot of people don't think of them as "real" mountain biking. Considering I'm more of a "gravity oriented" rider, I know that some people say the same about XCers and call them "roadies on dirt." (I think it's the Lycra wearing and obsession with racing and bike weight that elicits that response). I have to admit, I've seen some women's XC races where even the pros were using their brakes in spots that made me laugh and say, "Omg, you're using your brakes there? Seriously?" ;)

I personally prefer trailriding/downhill. However, I acknowledge that fire roads really serve a practical purpose. They are good for helping less than brave people discover the sport. They are good for helping people develop cardio. Around here, some of them get you to the sweet singletrack. And, in my case, after I flew 4' from my bike going downhill last November, they were good for rehabbing my separated shoulder, torn shoulder tendon, massive hip contusion and, the most injured thing of all-- my confidence.

There are even some fire roads that are pretty great. One of my favorites is in Big Bear, California. I admit, though, I like it because it is barely big enough to be considered a fire road, doesn't really look like one, and rides more like a double-track. Heck, one of the most badass double black diamond trails in California is Kamikaze, in Mammoth. That is basically a "how fast are you willing to go" road where those guys reach speeds of up to 60 mph in 2,000 feet of vertical. Scary!

So that's my 2 dinars. Hope I haven't offended.

[MartianDestiny]

I ride mountain for the reasons you do, but I guess my adrenaline threshold is lower because a good technical XC/trail course does it for me right now, and is about all I feel safe doing in my current state of riding alone. I'd like to try downhill riding at some point I think, but I'll never be one to get big air.

There is some "in between" and not all us XCer's are cruising down nearly paved fire-roads for the scenery ;)

Well made flowy track with a few technical challenges thrown in taken at 15-20 mph....O so much fun!!!

[Zen]

I don't do fireroad & notice quite a few of the newbies here ride on that. Ugh..that's not real mountain biking.



You haven't seen our fire roads.

[chickabonita]

@nerdgirl - Hi! I have done a little MTB riding in the IE, when out there we were more into our Dirt Bikes. I have not gone riding up in Mammoth because I can't tear myself away from the fishing. We do not have a good fishing hole here in OC so I take full advantage when I am up there, but the hub and I vowed to MTB next time we are there. As far as trails here in OC, I frequent the Aliso/Wood Canyon (Top of the World) trials a lot mainly because they are in my backyard and there are so many of them. Crystal Cove is great for me because I love the ocean breeze, but $15 just to park my truck in the dirt is a joke. Our riding styles sound a little different, I am still a bit of a newbie (or as the hub says "guppy fish") and I have to admit *insert hand raising here* I am the "less brave person discovering the sport" :p My hub is the serious rider and he has gotten me into it. He has done rides that went way into the back country where he spent the night out there just on what he could carry on his back, which translates to eating a few power bars and sleeping in the dirt. I hope to get up to that level someday. I hope to see you on the trail someday, you sound like a cool chick! :)

[katherine]

Not to wade into the brewing controversy here, but I ride singletrack, because we have gorgous singletrack. I also avoid fire roads (as much as possible) though there are some that people have turned into trails (goddess bless them). And I live in AZ, also wildfire country for whatever that's worth.
I'm going to agree with everything Martian Destiny said and add...
I ride for the adrenaline and the rush. If I want scenery I'll hike, if I want fitness I run. If I want thrills I mountain bike, and there is a big thrill to be gained biking UP a seemingly impossible climb, and cleaning it. Then you get to go down, double the fun.

[Aggie_Ama]

Fire roads around here are not very challenging, mostly remnants of ranch roads and thus suitable for driving even with a trailer. They teach the basics of pedaling on gravel and rocks but are fairly pedestrian compared to the twisting and turning up and down of the single track. I personally avoid them because they are where you usually find the dogs, leisurely hikers and kiddos, I feel it is safer to use them as connections to more single track. But in NM they are steep and go straight uphill and would be excellent training ground.

I am not aggressive but I enjoy mountain biking on my overkill 5" travel trail bike. We have tons of rocky trails around here so maybe one day I will get more skilled, I consider myself a forever newbie. I generally like downhills but we don't have any true "downhill" courses. Creek crossings I hate because I am scared of water snakes!

And because I think it takes all types, anyone who rides off road is mountain biking to me. Some of our locals think if you ride X trail you aren't really a mountain biker but you have to start somewhere. If you are considering riding crushed granite mountain biking, I will encourage you to try a fire road, if you are only riding fire roads I will recommend my favorite beginner/intermediate course. I remember being freaked out at the feeling of a gravel fire road, so I try to encourage any newbie who is trying out my favorite type of bike riding.

[nerdgirl]

::sigh::

While I appreciate all your responses, I don't see any answers to my original question-- you know, the purpose of the thread, to find other women who are into more aggressive riding. We're kind of getting off topic here and the thread is getting hijacked. I know I'm not a mod or anything, but it would be nice to get responses relevant to the original post, rather than this becoming an argument about singletrack v. fireroad, etc.

Just saying...

[Grog]

::sigh::

While I appreciate all your responses, I don't see any answers to my original question-- you know, the purpose of the thread, to find other women who are into more aggressive riding. We're kind of getting off topic here and the thread is getting hijacked. I know I'm not a mod or anything, but it would be nice to get responses relevant to the original post, rather than this becoming an argument about singletrack v. fireroad, etc.


Don't they say that mountain bikers generally are more relaxed than roadies. Take it easy Nerdgirl... :cool:

Maybe the lack of direct answer to your question is sort of an answer to your question. Don't worry, if an aggressive rider comes around, she'll respond to the original post.

[nerdgirl]

Don't they say that mountain bikers generally are more relaxed than roadies. Take it easy Nerdgirl... :cool:

Maybe the lack of direct answer to your question is sort of an answer to your question. Don't worry, if an aggressive rider comes around, she'll respond to the original post.

Mountain bikers relaxed! Haha! Mountain bikers can be some of the most aggro people I've ever met. (At least the males, anyway. I don't ride with any women, so I wouldn't know).

And, true that. It was an answer, in a way. I just come from the school of thought that if you can't answer the question, then don't bother posting. It was never intended to be a challenge to those who don't do trailriding/downhill/freeride to prove how hardcore they are in XC or anything. I have nothing against XC riding. Hell, I do it from time to time. But a request looking for other riders who, as I put it, own a FF & flak jacket, shouldn't have turned into an argument about singletrack v. fire road and who is more "hardcore."

I'm just one for staying on topic, that's all.

[crazycanuck]

Nerdgirl..have you been to www.vorb.org.nz or www.rotoburn.com? There are women's forum there too(hidden) & you may find some more chicks that do downhill. I know I saw a few....

[katherine]

@ Nerdgirl. I think we largely were on topic, we just disagreed with the implied premise of your original post that dh is more aggressive than xc.

And thanks for the body armor recomendations, I keep thinking I should really think about some before I ride some of the gnarlier parts of Sedona next winter and spring.

[nerdgirl]

Eh, it's okay. The responses to this thread reminded me very well of why I prefer to play with the boys.

[MartianDestiny]

::sigh::

While I appreciate all your responses, I don't see any answers to my original question-- you know, the purpose of the thread, to find other women who are into more aggressive riding. We're kind of getting off topic here and the thread is getting hijacked. I know I'm not a mod or anything, but it would be nice to get responses relevant to the original post, rather than this becoming an argument about singletrack v. fireroad, etc.

Just saying...

Jeeze... Heaven forbid us chicks that just aren't cool enough (or, you know, maybe just haven't had a good opportunity yet) to own a 7" travel bike, full face, and full body armor respond to your thread with what we do have in common: the love of mountain biking and a good adrenaline rush (in whatever form that may come). Guess our "rushes" just don't qualify because you don't think they are as hardcore as yours.

Next time I'll make sure I do my part in keeping your threads at 0 responses for the sake of being absolutely 100% on topic :rolleyes: Maybe I am glad I don't "do" downhill. None of the XC people I ride with would be so elitist and "aggressive" towards people trying to share a passion with them. Heck, the "roadies" I ride with wouldn't act that way either and their the ones that are "supposed" to have their panties in a wad. :rolleyes:

[snowroo]

Nerdgirl,

I also ride with the boys. The irony of your response is that "you're acting like a girl".

Chill out man!

[Irulan]

Jeeze... Heaven forbid us chicks that just aren't cool enough (or, you know, maybe just haven't had a good opportunity yet) to own a 7" travel bike, full face, and full body armor respond to your thread with what we do have in common: the love of mountain biking and a good adrenaline rush (in whatever form that may come). Guess our "rushes" just don't qualify because you don't think they are as hardcore as yours.

Next time I'll make sure I do my part in keeping your threads at 0 responses for the sake of being absolutely 100% on topic Maybe I am glad I don't "do" downhill. None of the XC people I ride with would be so elitist and "aggressive" towards people trying to share a passion with them. Heck, the "roadies" I ride with wouldn't act that way either and their the ones that are "supposed" to have their panties in a wad.



Good lord, can't you gals just answer the question? That is a real stretch to get all that out of the inquiry. The fact is there AREN'T many DH/ super aggressive riders here, but there are on other boards.



::sigh::

While I appreciate all your responses, I don't see any answers to my original question-- you know, the purpose of the thread, to find other women who are into more aggressive riding. We're kind of getting off topic here and the thread is getting hijacked. I know I'm not a mod or anything, but it would be nice to get responses relevant to the original post, rather than this becoming an argument about singletrack v. fireroad, etc.

Just saying...

the women's lounge at mtbr. com has lots of hardcore riders of all flavors, including downhill racing; which brand of armor fits over boobs best, fear of commitment, etc.

I find MY mtb discussion needs are met much better over there. Nothing personal ladies, I'm just trying to actually answer the question.

back to lurking.

[Irulan]

@ Nerdgirl. I think we largely were on topic, we just disagreed with the implied premise of your original post that dh is more aggressive than xc.

And thanks for the body armor recomendations, I keep thinking I should really think about some before I ride some of the gnarlier parts of Sedona next winter and spring.


DH IS more aggressive than XC, why is everyone getting so worked up about that? Faster, bigger, steeper harder, what is there to argue with?

[katherine]

I find MY mtb discussion needs are met much better over there. Nothing personal ladies,
Well lovely for you, thanks for sharing.

Next time I'll make sure I do my part in keeping your threads at 0 responses for the sake of being absolutely 100% on topic
Yes, the scenery from the high road is so much nicer.

DH IS more aggressive than XC, why is everyone getting so worked up about that? Faster, bigger, steeper harder, what is there to argue with
Yes your car is faster than my bike going up the mountain, it is also of course harder to ride in the same direction which water flows.

[crazycanuck]

OI..

FIrst off, don't attack Irulan..she's been here longer than many of you have & is a wealth of info. I wondered where you'd ventured to..

Second..Thanks for making someone NOT welcome here...

I too think i'll take my mtn biking discussions to other forums...It's mainly just "roadies" who think that fire road is exciting...

[MartianDestiny]

OI..

FIrst off, don't attack Irulan..she's been here longer than many of you have & is a wealth of info. I wondered where you'd ventured to..

Second..Thanks for making someone NOT welcome here...

I too think i'll take my mtn biking discussions to other forums...It's mainly just "roadies" who think that fire road is exciting...

Um...I don't see why the length of forum membership should mean a darn thing. If someone wants to play "holier than thou" "you aren't worthy to post in my threads" they can get it right back as far as I'm concerned.

Also, no one has even replied to Irulan, so pretty darn hard to be attacking her :rolleyes:

You want to take mountain biking (or any other) discussions elsewhere then more power to you. The second part of that comment is completely unnecessary. First, who cares if someone thinks fire-road is exciting. Maybe it is for them; they are on a bike, don't shoot it down. Second, the implication is there that if you are riding XC you are just some boring fool that's riding nothing but fire-road that they should be able to ride with their eyes closed. Couldn't be farther from the truth, and yea, I find it belittling and insulting.

[katherine]

I think that phrases like aggressive, harder, faster, etc can be difficult terms, they imply that one ride/style/woman is more or less of something than another. This is sometimes problematic because one would hope that we could appreciate each other as distinct human beings, who are we to say that a middle aged woman taking up mountain biking on fire roads after raising three kids and beating breast cancer is more or less a mountain biker than a teenager flying down the trial on a huffy, or a racer with a long history of wins and the latest tricked out fs ride? I think that it is the context of your ride which matters as much as the content.
And props to you ladies who do downhill, at least from the guys I know it can be a hell of a boys club, you must put up with some annoying crap. I'm sorry that you haven't found as much support here as you should have. Hopefully this is an exception, not the rule.
And back to the original topic, on the subject of gear for nasty trails, I've found that Terry shorts are my least favorite, they stain and rip, mountain biking gear should not hold onto mud stains, I really like Harlot the material seems bomb proof, and the lengths are longer, but I wish there were more pockets.

[Irulan]

Is there something wrong with saying that I don't get my discussion needs met here? TE is not the be-all and end-all of mountain biking discussion, at least for me. I figured out a long time ago that instead of trying to shape a board into what I thought it should be, or have expectations that weren't being met, it was lots easier and more pleasant to find a board that fit me. It's a lot less frustrating and aggravating, too.

I said, "I don't get MY discussion needs met here", and tried to offer a direct answer to the OP. I made personal statement about my experience. I didn't judge or attack any of you, or your version of mountain biking, and frankly don't need to be attacked for stating what my experience has been.


I.

[Tuckervill]

This is the most ridiculous thread I've ever seen here.

Reminds me of my 20-something sons seeing who can piss into the pool from the top deck.

Exactly why I don't participate in other forums.

I'm really glad nerdgirl took her bike and went home. Her energy was too "aggro" for me.

Karen

[crazycanuck]

I thought nerdgirl was normal..:o and represented what you'd see on the trails.

Yet again, the posters on TE frighten more people away. Good going!

[Crankin]

If you have to be that nasty to be a mountain biker, well then, maybe why that's I am not one. I totally own up to not being aggressive enough and scared to death of most of that stuff.
But really, I can't believe all women mountain bikers have that attitude.

[rocknrollgirl]

I have been trying not to respond to this because it has degenerated so much. When I first read the op, I felt my hackles go up. I am a mt biker, I race on a mt bike team. I am a very aggressive rider, but I do not down hill. I took offense at the insinuation that because I do not jump off cliffs, I am not an aggressive rider.

I think we got off track with the word aggressive. If the original post had been title "Downhill riders", I think much of this could have been avoided.

When I went back to reread after a few posts, it was not offensive at all in light of what was being asked, when I thought about what was being asked.

She was looking for fellow adrenaline junkies.....nothing wrong with that.

And it was a wicked thread drift.

Nerdgirl, don't be chased off by misunderstanding and a wicked thread drift.

[bboston88]

Eh, it's okay. The responses to this thread reminded me very well of why I prefer to play with the boys.

I think you found your answer then.

[Zen]

I can't stop grinning at "aggro".
If I could only figure out how to fit it into conversation (or convo)

I couldn't find my oven mitts this time.

[chickabonita]

I thought nerdgirl was normal..:o and represented what you'd see on the trails.

Yet again, the posters on TE frighten more people away. Good going!

I will miss nerdgirl :(

[Zen]

she's out there on mtb forums, playing with the boys, her stated preference.
If I go to a group ride and find I don't care for the dynamics of the group, I don't demand they do things according to me. I try to remain cordial and gracious (stop that snickering) and either don't return or return, relax a bit, and go with the flow.

[Skierchickie]

I just read this thread today, and I'm really disappointed. I'm only posting now to say how apalled I am at some of the snarky comments. The thing I like best about TE is the overall lack of snarkiness. I think everyone should treat everyone else with respect (which is normally what goes on here), and if you can't do that, then maybe it would be best to walk away and not post in that particular thread. I think Nerdgirl was young and enthusiastic, and maybe some of her remarks were taken personally - no reason for things to get ugly.

Personally, I ride (and love) singletrack, and am terrified by the very thought of DH - I'm not sure why anyone would question Irulan's comment that it is more aggressive than XC. Or any of her other comments, for that matter. Not everyone is or wants to be aggressive, so why be offended about it? And why attack Irulan for being honest?

I can't even comprehend some of the "holier than thou" and other remarks here, and the reference to the op being nasty. There was a lot of nastiness in this thread, and it was not necessarily her. It reminds me of some of the other forums that I avoid (for the same reason I avoid them).

[Zen]

Hey.
It happens.
Uphill, downhill, i don't care.
But some little nagging voice is saying troll.

[BikeDutchess]

Skierchickie: +1

I was trying to articulate my thoughts along those lines, but you said it better than I ever could. I've always thought of TE as a very inclusive, accepting community, but that didn't happen in this thread.

[Zen]

::sigh::

While I appreciate all your responses, I don't see any answers to my original question-- you know, the purpose of the thread, to find other women who are into more aggressive riding. We're kind of getting off topic here and the thread is getting hijacked. I know I'm not a mod or anything, but it would be nice to get responses relevant to the original post, rather than this becoming an argument about singletrack v. fireroad, etc.

Just saying...


I just come from the school of thought that if you can't answer the question, then don't bother posting.


I think the general response was very accepting and welcoming.
But NG didn't seem interested in that.

[crazycanuck]

Darn..I was going to suggest http://www.downhilldownunder.com/ to nerdgirl..

Poo..

I know a few downhill chicks & they're pretty cool.

[channlluv]

I'm still trying to figure out what "down hill" is and why it requires body armor.

Someone mentioned jumping off cliffs and boulders and such. I take it this is done with great velocity? And on purpose? Seriously?

whereistheirsenseofselfpreservation?


Roxy, feeling like a total girly-girl powder puff by comparison. Ha! Does Terry make any of those cute cycling skorts in pink tulle?

[Crankin]

Personally, I think the responses may have been not the usual TE "welcoming" because the OP made it clear that she "wanted to play with the boys" and that generally, we seem like a bunch of wussies. I fully own up to that label, but I wouldn't put Nerdgirl down for doing what she likes. But, it was the way she said it. Condescending, if you ask me, because I don't think there's that many men I know, who ride, that would want to do downhill. It's fine if you do, but at least for me, I care more about preserving my bones. I guess that's why I don't do much mountain biking anymore.
This is why, sometimes, I prefer to ride/lead rides for with people just starting out, or who ride slower than me. They are so appreciative. I mean, I know there's people out there a lot tougher than this 56 year old woman, but on the other hand, most of the women I know can't fathom doing what I do.
It's the way you say it...

[Irulan]

I'm still trying to figure out what "down hill" is and why it requires body armor.

Someone mentioned jumping off cliffs and boulders and such. I take it this is done with great velocity? And on purpose? Seriously?

whereistheirsenseofselfpreservation?


Roxy, feeling like a total girly-girl powder puff by comparison. Ha! Does Terry make any of those cute cycling skorts in pink tulle?


<<sigh>>
Why would anyone want to pedal on asphalt with cars and trucks? Fight with traffic? Fend off aggressive drivers? Seriously? Where is the sense of self preservation? People do this with velocity? On purpose?

C'mon people, it's all good, does anyone remember that? We don't all have to like the same things.

[crazycanuck]

+100000000 Irulan :cool:

Roxy-look at the link www.downhilldownunder.com/ and you'll get some idea

Downhilling looks like tons o fun but a bit too fast for me. The ages here in Western AUstralia that do downhill are very very varied. From young kids to fully grown men and even a few women! It's growing in popularity & possibly because of a local dude, Sam Hill.

[tulip]

Back in the mid-80s, I was racing in the New England Mountain Bike Championships. Mountain biking was pretty new on the East Coast, and I raced XC and downhill. During the downhill dual slalom, I ate it bad and cracked some ribs and got knocked unconscious. That was on grass.

Downhill stuff these days--mostly out west where there are huge boulders and impossible drops--seems to me to have grown from BMX and trials (we used to call it trialsin). In addition to speed, there's also alot of finesse and technique.

My brother was a very good downhiller, sponsored by SE back in the day. He still had a couple of really neat downhill bikes, and he still does it "for fun," but now that he has kids he's not so reckless. He was a nationally-ranked BMX racer in the 70s for his age group, and his skills really come from BMX. Having raced and completed La Ruta de los Conquistadores, I seriously doubt that he would consider XC anything but "real" mountain biking.

I have no interest in doing downhill anymore, but I do enjoy watching videos of really good downhillers who really know how to handle their bikes and the environment in which they do their stuff.

As for nerdgirl, this wasn't a good fit for her. It happens. No doubt she's having a great time wherever she is.

[MtnBikerChk]

I agree this thread got out of hand - whether she meant to insult some people by stating that if they are not "downhillers" they are not aggressive - we'll never know.

BUT people who throw online tantrums and "take their toys and go home" need to lighten up. It's the INTERNET.

I post here for the warm and fuzzies. I sincerely hope none of MY posts have pissed people off (sometimes my sarcasm doesn't translate on screen very well).

[Irulan]

still can't embed youtube here? WTF?

[Zen]

Give us a linky.

[crazycanuck]

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=38245

Irulan just created a new thread for it..

[bathedinshadow]

Wow.

If nerdgirl comes back, send her up to Vancouver, BC and I'll show her what downhill is about. Then we'll see how "aggressive" she is. And for the record, mountain bikers are generally laid back. I don't know who she has been hanging around, but everybody up here is very encouraging and respectful of all riders. Even the ones that opt out of doing the trails and sticking on the fire roads. Many people (like myself) engage in an array of riding styles and enjoy them for different reasons.

Btw, I know this is an old thread, I just had to comment on her attitude.

[stephanie1129]

This thread is funny.

I agree with a lot of other people that a lot of us took offense to this post because nerdgirl implied that xc is less aggressive than other forms of mountain biking. The post sounded condescending and presumptuous.

I ride at the big resorts (mostly Northstar, but I've been to Whistler also), I've ridden Downieville, technical singletrack in Tahoe (like the trt and hole in the ground), Galbraith mountain in wa, and all over the Santa Cruz mountains.. but since I do it all on my XC bike, so i consider myself an XC rider.

One thing I like about this forum is that it's not just full of girls like nerdgirl who just want to talk about how awsome they are, but are more into sharing personal achievements and experiences without that one-up type of attitude. I find that TE forum posts are generally more civil than other forums, this thread being the exception.