Why Nobody Wants Mountain Bikes Anymore 

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Classic example of an industry whose producers are FAR more focused on each other, and the competition, than on the consumer.

Too expensive the entire bike industry is insane. My son rides motocross and mountain bikes are more expensive to buy and maintain. Its insanity

I think problem is the price and the technology keeps changing. I have gravel, mountain, and a road bike. Bikes are too expensive to replace the ones I currently own.

During the pandemic, "everybody" was a mountain biker. Then slowly over time, people went back to their "normal" lives and routines. Those that are left are the riders that been in the game way before the pandemic and will probably continue until they can't.... thus the illusion that nobody rides or buys bikes anymore. But the reality is, it's just going back to the way it was before. I've been riding for over 30+ years, regardless of pricing, headache of packing/unpacking things, drive distance or whatever. The love of MTB'ing for me outweigh all that.

It seems like mountain biking became synonymous with steep, technical downhill and jump lines, but for me, mountain biking is exploring off road, on all sorts of trails. I've owned a lot of bikes, and the bike that is MY Jack-of-all-trades is a cross-country hardtail mountain bike. I have fun with it in the city, on paved roads, dirt roads, single-track trails, bike paths, etc. It's fast enough to keep up with my road-biking friends, and climbs hills easily. The front shocks give my sore shoulders a break. I've had bikes with drop bars in the distant past; too narrow, too low, don't like 'em. But I also don't like super-wide mountain bike bars either. Too hard to squeeze through narrow places. The flat bar on my XC bike is in-between, which for my purposes is just right.

It's because some brands wanna charge 11k+ for their bikes. They raised the prices during the covid-hype, thought they could keep it that way and now sit on their products

A lot of us have jobs that require fully functional limbs and health insurance is also getting really expensive. One fall that isn’t even too bad could completely derail your life.

Maybe you're not old enough to remember, but gravel bikes are reminiscent of 90s mountain bikes. Even the lightest XC bike is too aggressive for the average cyclist; they will never use such steep downhill sections, and at the same time, these bikes have diminished the pedaling and uphill experience. Gravel bikes have brought back the pure off-road experience of discovering new areas. That's what mountain biking was originally about-not just focusing on downhill.

40 years old here. Started Mountain Biking 2 years ago. Going out about once a week. I make time for it and my health, mood, relationships are better for it. Just have one hardtail, that's all I need, and I keep my wheels on the ground most of the time.

The simple fact is most people aren’t looking for super technical mtb trails, they just like to ride off the road. That’s why gravel bikes are so popular now, because you can just hop on and hit some single track and have a bit of safe fun. Technical trails are just a way to hurt yourself.

I love my do-it-all hardtail Kona Honzo and wouldn't trade it for anything. Playful, fun, multi-purpose bike. I dont even need to be on a trail all the time, just riding around neighborhood and being a kid again is AWESOME. I am 44. 😊

Love how you’re comfortable with where you’re at and not just chasing the upgrades

As much as the industry wants you to be on a 1-3 year bike purchase cycle, the reality is that these investments will last. If you bought a bike within the last 5 years, geometry hasn't changed much and that bike can be ridden for another 10 years or more with proper maintenance. I own multiple bikes, but I'm at a place now where my needs are met. There just isn't a sufficiently compelling alternative to my current bikes to make me want to purchase something new anytime soon.

Im 52 years old.I had one of the early mountain bikes, a 1984 Raleigh Tamarack, mounain biked through the 90s and up to now. Here is my humble take on things and why mtbing is dying: 1) rhe sport has become so subdivided: trail, downhill,, xc, enduro....and I probably even missed a few of the various categories 2) the sport has gotten SO extreme. The mindset of if you arent taking 20 foot jumps or jumping caynons you arent really mountain biking- Red Bull type stuff. As stated in the video, most people dont want to participate in a sport that will get them a likely ticket to the ER or worse. 3) the bikes have gotten so good that what I categorize as tradional or old school mountain biking such as traversing regular trails is no longer challenging- riding a concrete stair case used to be extreme on 90s mtbs. 4) the sport now rivals road biking as being a snooty sport. Its no longer ride what you got and have fun in the outdoors for many. Instead its all about $$$ bikes, gear, etc. Some people treat it as a badge of honor to be able to swipe a credit card better than others and feeling impervious to debt....i guarantee most arent paying cash for some of those bikes shown. Ive always have had lower mid to mid ranged mtbs. I feel the sport should be about fitness and enjoying the outdoors and not about how much you can indebt yourself. The price of what is considered a "decent" bike has become astronomical and intimidating to those wanting to enter the sport.

I'd rather buy a dirt bike for the prices MTBs are running these days. Shit is crazy.

What gets me is seeing bicycles priced at what a used motorcycle goes for !!! I don’t want to spend more than $1500 for any bike. Yet the store makes me feel like a poor person because I’m not looking at bikes that cost over $2000 🤨

I’ve been riding my budget gravel bike for the exact reasons you mentioned. The only upgrade that makes a difference in mountain biking is to move to an area that you can pedal to the trailhead. Electronic shifting, electronic droppers, flight attendant suspension have all made analog bikes as expensive as e-bikes.

Avid biker all my days, Stingrays(Huffy) to roadie(Bianchi,Poletti) then MTB(Intense,Santa Cruz) to moto cross YZ 250 to Harley Fat Boy, now pushing 70 years young riding a Bulls enduro mountain E bike with a 13-mile single track trail around a lake or the 13-mile loop on pavement both outside my front door, Sweet. I have been so blessed, Thank you Lord

The main reason why (I Think) is the fall back from the coof. A lot of people lost their jobs, fell back from their mortgage payments, debt in general , the rise in taxes and they have to work more hours or get a second job just to keep their head above water. They don't have time to go mountain biking let alone think of even buying a new bike. I know a lot of mountain bike shops are now suffering because of it. Another thing I notice and I don't know if any one else notices is that their are no more people on the trails. Bikers and hikers, There were a lot before and during the coof but not now.

I bought one $900 dollar Salsa Bike @REI last year, and thats good enough for me. Im not in competition with anyone. Same thing with my Vehicles, I currently drive a 1999 4x4 3rd gen 4runner and a 1991 4x4 Jeep Cherokee XJ, these 2 are rock solid , so no need for a newer vehicle full of electronics and sensors. Makes life alot easier with no car payment as well...

I tend to ride every weekend here in Maryland and usually see the same people on the trails. I recently went XC and utilize it for everything from gravel, trails, and road. I bought a Specialized Chisel ($1,300) and made some great upgrades (dropper, grips, and carbon bar) that makes me enjoy the heck out of the bike. I recently went to my local shop and the NEW Status 140 2s are $3,500. I have the last status 140 and paid around $2,100 for and there is no "big" difference between the two. The price of bikes these days is crazy. Enjoy what you have and ride.

I love my mountain bike. Two years ago I purchased a Diamondback Release 29 3. I don't have to ride MTB trails to enjoy it. Just last week I road 52 miles on the Virginia Creeper trail on my MTB. It can handle any situation, and I use mine all over the place, and on all kinds of terrains, and on gravel... it just doesn't matter to me, it just works. I'll have this bike for a LONG time!

30 Years ago, I bought a GT Outpost All Terra. I still have it. The only thing I did was fit narrower all terrain tires, which has less road resistance. It's a good commuter and adventure bicycle.

Having to drive to BIKE is definitely a chore! Bought a trail MTB in 2020 then next year got a gravel bike. Now I just ride out my door. But on recent trip to Utah, I realized nothing can replace the magic & flow state of single track. Just got new XC MTB’s on sale for me & the lady. Looking forward to traveling with the bikes to epic MTB destinations.

Everyone who wanted a bike, got one. Mountain Biking is a lot of fun, but the flip side is that it is very hard. When I buy a bike, I plan to ride it for 4-5 years because current bicycle technology is state of the art with over 100 years of refinement. And, you pay big for that state of the art. I'm hoping to pick up someone's lightly used super bike in a couple years.

I come from Italy, and the prices for mountain bikes are too high. We Italians are often fascinated by top-of-the-line models, but in general, they are too expensive for most people. I’ve realized that an expensive bike doesn’t make you a better rider. I’ve assembled an enduro hardtail starting only from the frame, using budget components. It cost me less than 2K, but it's my perfect bike. I’ve learned a lot from my HT. When I go on vacation to the Dolomites, I rent top full-suspension bikes and have fun for a day. I'm 48 yo and I have priorities and I don't want/like spend too much money on bikes in general. (2 wheels, easily stolen so far).

I am a lifelong MTB rider, and you are preaching 100% truth. The points in my life where I took a break were due to the factors you mention in terms of convenience, high barrier to entry (on a daily basis) that sometimes life doesn't allow. But that said I'll be riding till I die... and hopefully that isn't on the trail. Keep up the meaningful content.

Dude, your just going through the regular evolution of a cyclist. Our preferences change over time and you grow with it!

I agree. I have a 26” full suspension from 1999, rim brakes, good enough for what I am doing. Bearings cost $10, chains $20 brake pads $10 so I can always run on a new bike.

14.2 million mountain bikes sold in US in 2019. Sales spike in 20 and 21 at 21 mil and 19 mil. In 2024 they are on track to sell 18 million. Companies were stupid and presumed the Covid years were forever but sales are super strong.

Riding a bike used to be simple, cheap, and straightforward. Then it went insane. Average people are intimidated by bike shops and culture.

I ride more than ever, but a lot of that is that I picked my house based on how close it was to a good trail, I don’t have to drive.

For new mountain bikes sales, I feel like tech has leveled off. If you own a bike that's less than 4 years old, there's really no reason to upgrade unless you're moving to a different style of bike. Around me mtb still going strong it's the road scene that died. Lot's of people moved from road to gravel, mtb or stopped riding years ago.

Here's a couple of thoughts. 1. You get into a sport. You buy a cheap bike. You get better. You buy a better bike. You get better. Eventually your skills get much harder to improve, especially if you have raw or some incorrect fundamentals. 2. Rising cost of living and less time.

the logic path you break down on different advancements in MTB (dropper posts, suspension, etc) is exactly why my main trail bike is over 10 years old - nothing has changed that drastically to make it seem like it's worth upgrading (and I can upgrade individual components if I want) - and most importantly the terrain isn't changing rapidly either. eMTB is the only new advancement that is appealing to me, and that's largely just to make it more convenient - it would make it less of a chore, and make it feel like I'm able to do more with the limited time I can spend mountain biking.

1. Overcharge at least three times 2. Difficult to maintain which also makes it more expensive 3. Most of them are made for bike park riding, which makes them difficult to ride all day in the mountain

Your exact reasoning in this video is the reason I got a Roscoe 8. I wanted a do everything bike, a gravel would be a more ideal choice, BUT I also have buddies who are super into mountain biking. A good hardtail is exactly the answer. Good enough for every day but also capable of single track. It’s great. I want a gravel bike though too, I agree with everything you’re saying.

After three decades of people thinking MTBs were the only bikes worth riding, most just realized they're the wrong bikes for them. Most did ride them on paved roads where MTBs are slow due to heavy, knobby tires and small gears. The latter got worse with 1x setups. Kids love MTBs because they are so much cooler looking than an all-road worthy city bike. Some are better off with hybrids or commuter bikes and those who like to ride faster go for gravel bikes as these are so much more versatile.

Bought my "proper" bike in 2011 from a pregnant woman who could no longer ride here in Oslo/Norway. The knobs on the tires were still on so it was virtually unused. A full carbon Scott Scale 920 fully loaded with SRAM equipment for 900USD. I have now used that bike where it can be used, literally. Long story short, I would like to upgrade this year in something similar and my jaw dropped to the floor at the prices and even worse how "cluttered" the bike world has become. Maybe it makes sense for a bike geek, but for us "mortals" it is completely absurd that there should be so many different types of bikes - components - geometry and a "decent" bike now costs as much as my first car. My purchase is still on hold for so long😅

I think Matty's 1st point is spot on, at least from what I have witnessed. When people were essentially paid to stay home, had more time on their hands, people ventured outside and took on new challenges like mountain biking. Post C-19, life ramps back up, fitness levels starts to taper off, the thought of making that 5% to 10% grade climb again begins to look more and more unappealing. Human nature is to seek the easy path forward, combined that with the streses of work, life, money, family, etc....yeah, activities like riding a bike, let alone climbing up a hill again, doesn't seem like a good time anymore. Another factor is, when the industry thinks a $900 dropper post is a good idea, that is part of the problem.

I rode for most of my 20s, didnt ride for most of my 30s and 40s and am now getting back into it. Life and lifestyle is the biggest reason.

I work at a shop and I honestly tell them - “if you are having fun, you are doing it right. I’ll help you find a bike for your budget that will help you find your desired experience”. Then I find them that correct bike. And I can simply explain why a couple certain features are important. I do pretty well sell bikes using that approach.

I never ever thought of Mountain Biking as a "chore." The fun part is the downhill, the technical portions of the trail, the jumps. But I always loved the personal challenge of the nasty, steep and sketchy climbs of mtb'ing. I always wanted to ride faster, quicker, more efficient and climbing was a challenge for me to be better as a rider. I was never the fastest, but I never gave up, or thought about it as a chore.

I think you're right about how the very high price tags on many mountain bikes, especially the chi-chi brands and models, is prohibitive to many people. I stopped buying new mountain bikes in 2007 after I bought a Specialized Stumpjumper FSR. I don't need a dropper post, electronic shifting, more than 120mm of travel, "better" hydraulic disc brakes, a carbon fiber frame, larger wheels than 26", or a better group set than SRAM X9, etc. And, like you said, bikes are being built better these days and everything about them, even older models like my vintage Stumpjumper M2 Works hardtail are a joy to ride and provide a unique and very enjoyable riding experience compared to full-suspension models. I also think that if there really is a decline in the mountain bike market, it could also be the fault of manufacturers themselves. Look at all the options the consumer has at their disposal for different types of surfaces and rider/riding preferences: Gravel rigid, gravel hardtail, gravel full suspension, endurance, allroad, adventure, sportif, touring, bikepacking, touring/bikepacking hybrid, cyclocross, trials, road bike, road bike that accommodates wider tires, aero bike, climbing bike, mountain bike, downhill, enduro, trail, cross-country, fat tire, rigid, hardtail, full-suspension, frame flex as suspension, hybrid, folding, coupler assembled (i.e., Co-Motion), 26", 27.5", 29", 29"f/27.5"r, 29"f/26"r, 700c, 36", 1x, 2x, 3x, single-speed, Gates carbon belt drive, Rohloff internal drive system, Pinion internal drive system, Shimano Alfine & Nexus internal drive systems, mechanical vs. electronic shifting, mechanical disc brakes vs. hydraulic disc brakes, V-brakes/direct-pull brakes, cantilever brakes, hydraulic rim brakes (Magura), frames made of steel, titanium, aluminum, carbon fiber, carbon fiber with Countervail, graphene (Dassi), magnesium (VAAST), wood (Calfee), suspension stem, aero/integrated seat tube (D-shape), drop vs. flat vs. riser vs. curved handlebars vs. curved with an added bars (e.g., Surly's Moloko bars or a motocross-inspired bar with an added top bar), steel bearings vs. ceramic bearings, standard seat tube vs. dropper post vs. suspension seat post, leather vs. man-made saddle materials, saddles with/without cut-outs, etc.

haven't watched the whole video yet but let me put my theory out there first and see if it matches or not. I think there are several reasons but I want to highlight one, what I call the parkafication of mountain biking. When I started riding MTB over ten years ago I never went to a park to ride, I'd just ride the general trails on the mountains where I lived at the time. At least there folks would just make mountain bike trails that usually connected to fire roads, it was a ton of fun, it was casual, and it was adventurous. No lifts, no trail markers, very few features, just trails. Now it seems like when folks talk about mountain biking, the next question is "what parks do you like". And I've sort of fell into that too, not sure why, maybe it's where I live now. But at the end I think the adventure and to some extent the fun has been taken out with all the parkafication and sort of structure around mountain biking that now seems to exist.

Tons of great points! I think MTB is the most approachable of the extreme sports, and extreme sports are both endlessly expensive and really hard to get good at. Huge time and money sink. We always hear "How do we get more [X] into mountain biking?" and I always think it's like asking "How do we get more [X] into buying and racing Ferraris?" We'd all be racing Ferraris if we had enough money and time. So the question goes much deeper: How do we build a rich society?

I think for a lot of older cyclists, mountain biking is really hard on the joints and the body in general. Especially if you send it across jumps and gaps. It also requires short intense bursts of climbing effort. Gravel and road smooth out that effort and are less hard on body, which could explain the increasing popularity of gravel over MTB.

I just got back into mountain biking after almost 20 years and you are spot on, there are waaaayy too many options! I thought I knew bikes but was overwhelmed by the choices. Once I pulled the trigger though, I am very happy with my choice but definitely needed help from my local shop.

You can get good deals on used mtb from people that bought them during lockdown and get into the sport relatively cheap. I bought a used Marin and take it to trestle and snowmass. This has been one of the funnest summers ever. You don’t need a 5000k plus bike to have fun.

I beat myself up mountain biking. Dislocated fingers, separated shoulder, impaled my thigh with a tree branch and various scrapes and bruises. I confined myself to the road after that.

A big reason is because it’s hard. Lots of people got bikes after watching a few RU-vid videos and quickly realized they don’t have the fitness or skill for it. Also price

Man! This video spoke to my soul. I started during the end of the pandemic 2022… - Distance = 20-30 mins away + traffic and fuel - Hassle to do it? Yep! (Loading/unloading, clothes, shoes, packing, etc) - Worried about seriously hurting myself? Yep! I’m 40 with a 9-5 leadership position. - I used to ride 3-5 days a week before the world woke back up then I got sucked back into family stuff, friend stuff, out & about, etc. - MTB - I’d love to have a FS, but HT works just fine. I can go on..but I won’t. But your video is spot on!

The trails being overcrowded and expense of mountain bikes coinciding with me becoming more interested in touring did it for me.

Its just too expensive especially nowadays when the cost of living is skyrocketing to the sun.😢

My worry is the impact on mountain bikes of emtbs. I live and ride mtb in France. Suddenly the trails are choked with young people on emtbs. So those people aren’t starting off on hardtails. Their skills aren’t well developed. Lots of older people are buying emtbs. I get that. I’m 63. I’ve ridden since the 1990s.

I've been riding mtb for almost 25 years, mainly XC trails in the Southeast. Your iPhone reference (14:40) hit on something that I can relate to - buying the latest model just for the updated tech. Instead of dropping $$$ on a new bike every few years - I've upgraded the components on my 10-year old Trek FS (brakes, wheelset, drivetrain). Much more cost effective in the long run, imo.

I have to drive 45 minutes to get to a decent trail system. you're right, if i go to ride a hour and a half away, it can easily be a half day or more till I get home. I have been riding BMX cruisers alot lately, just riding for fun is what it's all about.

There's a reason that running and road cycling have always been so appealing--for most of us, you can just step out of your front door and go. Mountain biking isn't that way for most of us. Fuel is also double what it used to be where I'm at, which adds to the expense of the hobby.

I started riding mountain bikes in the early 90s, when most of us were riding steel rigid bikes on fire roads and relatively smooth singletrack. These were shared use trails without big jumps or drops. Basically, what we were riding back then was similar to what gravel riding is now - maybe a bit rougher than typical gravel riding, but not by a whole lot. As you were saying, going to "proper" mountain bike trails takes time whereas I can jump on my "adventure" bike (a rigid 29er with alt bars that started as a hardtail from 2010) and go for a rad ride from my house, hitting dirt along the way. I think that style of bike is great for just going for a ride nearly anywhere.

I biked as a kid in a way known as "downhill" these days. In my backyard to front yard. Life got busy and stopped cycling. Fast forward 30 years, I lucked upon a free department store full suspension bike that was built like a tank. Restored it and was estatic because I could never justify a suspension bike. Only to find out people's opinion of department store bike. I just wanted something to ride around the neighborhood and local park trails. It was plenty for that. But I did get sucked into the marketing. The "new geometry", "better brakes", "larger tires". I ended up getting an 07 "antique" MTB. Although it's great, the amount of maintenance is unreasonable. So much so that now having experienced a "true" MTB, I'm contemplating if I shouldn't sell my MTB for something with rigid forks or a simple front suspension bike with V brakes.

My life use to revolve around mountain biking. I chose the places I lived based on the trails in the area. I've lived and worked at a few resorts as well. And then about 6 years ago I slowly lost interest. I have no idea why, it was almost like I burnt myself out obsessing over it. I sold my DH bike a few years ago and now my trail bike pulls my toddlers trailer. I'm hoping one day to get back into it when I have more free time.

I'm in my early 50's. I remember when a new cable, wrench, break pads would do most of what you needed to keep a decent bike running safely. Bike shops don't even carry parts for old school bicycles. They have to service new innovations that change radicaly every three years or less. Seriously it's like having an old car you can't get parts for, or no one wants to work on it. But the new stuff is changing so quickly it's like all new tools are needed, for new generations. Imagin your gas vehicle brands changing the lug pattern on your wheels every three years. Causing all the dealerships to buy new tools and parts. My bike collection just got added to. I was delighted to find a 1990-2000 made in America GT mtb, at a garage sale for $60. Said he was selling it for his buddy. Struck me as two guys that had good bikes rode little and now have kids. Probably hung in the garage for the last 15 years Mint condition. and working at the plant in the early 2000's this bike that I always wanted would have cost me 1.5 months income I'm good with old school.😊

Too expensive. Even used market is really high. People asking $50 off the new price for 10 year old bikes.

The people who bought mountain bikes before covid are buying mountain bikes now. This sport is, was, and always will be core/ niche. It’s not for everyone. There are countless people who entered the sport in 2020/2021 both as riders and investors who had no business getting involved. Most covid riders are one x ray away from never riding again.

I think the biggest factor slowing bike sales is simply inflation. Most people have utility bills that are over 100% higher than they were a decade ago. Groceries and gas are way up as well. Wages haven't gone up in step with that, and people don't have nearly as much disposable income. People love to get into a hobby or whatever and geek out on the tech and all that because we're a very consumer-driven society. There's a lot of people looking at the cost of entry into mountain biking and walking away although they'd love to do it. I have a bunch of friends that would love to go riding with me, and I even tell them they don't need a bike as tricked out as mine, but they just don't have the money to invest in it. The interest is there. The COVID boom has all but washed away now, and I see the bike industry correcting itself (slowly) as far as prices. I don't think that will result in more new riders until our economy improves and regular people actually have some money to spend. I know even a die-hard like me won't be buying a new bike until I get a promotion or something else changes the math for me.

It IS a chore. The distance to trails was my main reason to eventually sell my MTB. The closest one was a 45 min drive away with no traffic. And it wasn’t the most fun trail to begin with. Now I live within 15 min of a very good trail network, but I don’t have the budget or space for yet another bike 🤷🏽‍♂️

The reason I feel Gravel bikes are taking off is it’s the migration of road riders getting off the streets which are becoming too dangerous, crowded, and wanting to get away from cities. Once you buy a bike it’s going to last many years with just basic care. Only a few percent of riders have or buy multiple bikes. Costs are high and technology leaps are not that important but to a few. How is the service business? Are people bringing their bikes into be repaired or upgraded? Back in the 1980s when the MTB craze was taking off (yes that was happening) people bought bikes off the shelf’s for one or two years then sales died. Same happened with the Covid sales burst. All of your points are valid.

My "take it out the front door" bike is a 2014 Salsa El Mariachi Ti. Set up with a rigid carbon fork, single speed (34X15), flat bars and some Schwalbe Thunder Burts. Absolutely perfect for 90% of the riding I do.

The one thing that got me back into biking more often is an E-MTB. Yep, I said it. Due to work and other obligations, I wasn't riding as often which meant my fitness dropped - so when I finally did go ride, it was painful and really not that fun. Now, I can grab my E-Bike and go ride without the dread of suffering, stopping to rest, and being completely worn out after the ride. I still get great exercise and can go so much further or do more laps. The downside, I have NO idea how to work on the E-bike. To me, that's the biggest downside to them.

A lot of great points here. I definitely wish I didn't have to drive 40 minutes to make it to my local trails. There's logistics involved for sure.

I've been buying random used bikes on fb marketplace. Sitting on an easy 3k worth of msrp that I've spent 300 bucks on 5 different bikes. These new ones are absolutely crazy

Love that I’m a no car ride to my trails and they’re pretty great. Don’t get bored either

I ride downhill only and for me to descend for 1 minute i have to spend 17 minutes preparing by: -push my bike uphill for 9 minute -dig and maintain trails i build from scratch for 5 minutes -do bike maintenance for 3 minutes -and ofc spend money for bike parts that wear very fast I calculated that stats from 1 year of riding. Also i dont include pedaling to and back from trail because i like to work on my cardio.

I have switched to road biking. I never in a million years would have thought I'd be a road biker, but I love being able to just leave my house and ride. If you've never tried road biking, don't knock it until you've tried it..

THE HOLY WALL OF TEXT! I use a MTB in both city and around it, the way I see it is that a MTB is more versatile on where you can use it then a gravel or a road bike, ill be talking about Bucharest - Romania since thats where in from A Gravel bike can be used both on road and on dusty paths but it becomes dangerous when you encounter tram tracks which you sometimes have to ride over, potholes, sewer mouths, drains etc... Weather is also a factor to be taken into consideration, tram tracks become very slippery then it rains making it more difficult to ride over on a street or gravel bike, Puddles are also a challenge because you don't know if under it its a pothole or not, i never mentioned this but also sidewalk Borders are a thing tl be considered, if you don't time your jump perfectly you might bent the rim... also it gives an unwanted massage on streets which have Cubic stone A mountainbike on the other hand can be taken pretty much everywhere regardless if its a FS or Hardtail, tram tracks aren't that much of an issue because of the wider tires eventho they're still slippery so be carefull when crossing them, rain can be annoying but the wider tires offers more grip eventho at the cost of speed, small potholes can be faced straight on if you have an MTB with good suspension same with drains and sewer mouths, sidewalk borders can be droppes off much easly with a MTB where with a gravel or road bike you can't without possibly damaging the rims Equipment wise if we talking MTB in the city you can wear whatever you want, shorts, t-shirt, just have a spare t-shirt with you in the backpack and a spray for once you arrive at work or school, the t-shirt you wear at work can be worn until you're back home... this is a me thing but to work i wear my full face helmet just in cause, i don't agree with half-nut helmets in mountainbiking With road bikes/gravel bikes you MUST wear spandex which can be annoying to take off if you sweat from the backpack, it also takes time to change in and out of the whole cycling outfit, pants, top, shoes etc... Personal suggestions for those who are looking to buy a MTB, 75-60mm stem, 680-720mm handle bars, 27.5 or 29 inch wheels, 1x9, 3x9 or 3x7 gears, flat/platform pedals, fork 100mm or 120mm, don't be scared of the SR Suntour forks, XCT30 and XCM30 are build to withstand neglect long term (Never serviced mine, and i had it for 3 years) and most importantly Hydraulic Disk Breaks, Rim breaks (V-Breaks) tend to lose breaking power in the rain

Could be a generation of fact here. BMX and mountain bike numbers are falling on a large scale. I'm in the BMX era. I graduated to BMX and mountain biking for obvious reasons of enjoying being on the dirt. But I've always had a road bike. I think some people have it on point with the cost factor of having multiple bikes. I used to have 11 at one point and I only keep two or three. But keeping it on my point of age is that the newer generation is not as physically active in my opinion and they're not as aggressive as us baby boomer and Gen X and older millennials are. They are jumping on the e-bike bandwagon and then enjoying not even using much of their muscles and not even sitting at the proper seat height. They're embedded by charging phones charging batteries charging bikes and now charging cars So what's the point of them getting a bike designed to get muddy and dirty and pedal on their own when they can enjoy the comforts of yet another charging device And write casual and avoid the dangers that we embraced as Gen X😊

I’ve noticed a huge uptick in e-bike sales. Lots of retirees getting back into mtb through them. I agree with the gravel bike statement. Lots of people have been switching from trail and enduro bikes for either an e-bike or a less extreme form of cycling

I’ve purchased 9 oldschool big bmx bikes in the last few years… SE, Haro, GT… part of my collection… one other bike-afixed gear… The last time I bought a mountain bike was 1995… The last time I bought my wife a mountain bike was 1997… our only mountain bikes… since then, my wife prefers traditional bikes with a spring seat and comfort… cruisers or beach bikes basically

In addition to the other things you mentioned, I feel like the physical exertion of climbing giant hills is what turns most people off to mountain biking. That's probably why we're seeing a spike in e-mtb sales. 😃

I bought my last mountain bike in 2018, a Transition Sentinel, and, honestly, it's so much better than I am, I see no need for anything else. It climbs great, can do anything downhill, and is sturdy AF. There's people that buy a brand new $10k bike every year (your dentist) and I think the manufacturers are chasing those folks at our expense.

And here I am at 41yo having just bought a Trek Marlin a little over a month ago, already planning on buying another bike. Going to buy a Trek Roscoe 8 also, partly from your videos and the FB group. As for the trails, I live right next to a local rail trail that has lots of more real trails off shooting from it, less than a minute from my door on the bike and Im on the rail trail. And theres lots of beginner/intermediate trails within 20min drives from me.

I’m 38yo and first started racing BMX and doing XC races when I was 8yo. I will always be a mountain biker and try to ride at least once a week. However, living in Oregon it’s so much work to get to the trails and then climb for an hour to take one run. Never thought I’d make the leap, but I finally pulled the trigger and bought a Specialized Levo S-Works frameset and will be taking all the parts off my current bike to build it up. My hope is to ride more in less time and not have to rely on others to get together a shuttle crew.

Some fair points there. This summer I was trying to get a friend into mountain biking and he literally said it wouldn't be for him because he dislikes the maintenance part

Price is killing mountain bikes. They are now considered a status symbol for dentists. $15000 for a bicycle is absolutely insane.

Been MTB riding since 1992. Have 3 Klein MTB, including the “flip the rider” Klein Mantra Comp dualie, Specialized XT equipped Curve Pro. Have mountain biked off and on through the decades. In fact on a recent ride an old riding buddy joked how Labor intensive it is to go mountain biking. Unless you have a trailhead outside your door, like you said, prepping, loading, driving to the trailhead can be a pain. Riding is still blast, otherwise.

I would add another reason is the quality of the trails to ride. Many of my local trails are built by people who ride constantly and have $8000 bikes. The builders forget some of us just want some fun. We don’t need massive drops that damage our knees or back?? And often it’s not even a fair comparison with the high end equipment they are using

I didn't look up how much regular suspension servicing would cost until after I bought the bike...

I've been looking for a new mountain bike forever. It finally happened with BCM XC Twostroke AL 3. Was the best 1200 I spent. I use it for everything. I'll upgrade as needed.

Mountain biking is difficult and demands strength, endurance, technical skills, and style. It is an expensive and time-consuming activity. Considering how soft each generation has gotten, it is no surprise it is an unpopular sport when one can just sit, online shop, sip coffee, and rot in front of an electronic time sucking device.

So many people are over-biked due to marketing IMO. The majority of people riding would be fine on a hardtail or XC full sys and save a lot of money doing so.

Ya know what's better than a gravel bike? A hardtail. The front suspension allows for a more comfortable ride. You can ride anywhere and anything with a hardtail. Wanna ride road, get a road bike. Wanna ride off road, get a mountain bike. Why ride a rigid frame off road? You ain't doing your joints any favors. Besides, to anyone that complains about driving to a trail... whats wrong with finding places to ride around your neighborhood? Practice on rocknislands in parking lots, find stair sets to ride down and up, curbs, various walking trails that have a single track next to them all easily accessible from your garage. Get out and explore what's around you, it's not that hard and it's fun to find things!

Like any hobby there’s quite a bit of consumerism and I think people are realizing it. I realize it’s not all that great of a bike but I got a diamondback overdrive in 2012, and it’s served me well. Not something I’d take on risky trails but I can at least get out there with it

Hey Matty one more point I would add is full suspension bikes are also a lot of work to maintain and replacement parts for suspension can be costly. On top of the already high price tag to entry. I currently ride my hardtail more often then my full sus.

As somebody who rides a bike for both recreation and transportation, a gravel bike is the only type of bike I'm really interested in. It combines the reliability of rarely getting flats on my commute with the versatility to hit the trails on the way. I've had road bikes and mountain bikes before and neither of them are quite what I need, either too finicky or too heavy and slow.

I had a Roscoe 8. I sold it and got a Polygon Siskiu T8. First, I honestly miss the simplicity of the Roscoe sometimes. Second, a guy that I ride with often has a $400 ish Schwinn. We both have a ton of fun riding. It doesn’t have to be a $3000+ to have a great time. Don’t buy something that you’re gonna need to make payments on. Get what you can afford and go ride! Love the channel btw!

Just like most drivers never take their SUVs off-road, most bikers never take their mountain bike on the trail. So gravel & hybrid bikes have filled up suburban sheds, while Crossovers have filled up the garages.

I do a lot more gravel riding than mtb now a days but there is a huge mtb crowd around where I live. Gravel biking to me is just so much more versatile.

I'm a Swede, we are basically allowed to ride our bikes everywhere. Sweden is the dream for trail biking

I just bought my first MTB 2 weeks ago. Trek Marlin 8 plus.