It’s not often I walk away from a fight, but I’ve been on a WhatsApp Mountain Bike group for the past week which started out good, but after a while it felt like being back on the forums again where some people would put you down for the choices you make for yourself.

IE: Cloak and dagger shit.

There’s been all sorts of pressure to get a new $6,000+ bike (there’s nothing wrong with my old bike!), nbt nbt nbt… I’m like WTF is nbt? NEW BIKE TIME. I bought a new hydration pack, but got bagged out for that as all the new kids are using hydration bum bags these days. It was suggested that I get new tyres as mine are 10yrs old, fair call. I did just that, but now there’s lots of poo poo over my tyre selection.

End of the day I just want to get out and ride. Full stop.

PS: Love this video, reminds me of old times when we stopped to try something gnarly out on the trails, no egos, no pressure (just gentle encouragement!).

Neverdie 2007 Giant Reign 1.

I’ve been meaning to get back on the bike as I’ve got an old man belly that just won’t go away. I hate gyms, and exercising for exercising’s sake. For me, fitness has to be a hobby. The skate parks way too hardcore (downtime from injury is a sure way for me to get unfit quick), so I figure cycling is the key.

I’ve got a lovely old 80’s road bike, but doing laps of Heffron, or Centennial Park gets pretty boring fast. I also look ridiculous in cycling shorts, so I figure I get back into Mountain Biking as I love being in nature (one lap of Loftus Oval feels like a trip out of Sydney to me!).

I’ve still got my trusty 2007 Giant Reign. I spent some serious money on this thing over the years. The only component on it that’s standard is the frame, even that’s powdercoated black. The bike was in bits, but I’ve put it together, and with a little bit of TLC it’s come up diamonds.

I’ve almost managed to convince Chris to buy a MTB so we can lob them into my new Jazz and do Loftus rides. Earlier today Chris and I dropped by my local MC Cyclery, turns out Ash from back in the day is working there (hands down legend, best nike mechanic in Sydney!) and he explained that the scene is nothing like it once used to be, and that inflation has hit hard. $3k won’t buy you a top of the line bike these days, now we’re looking at $6k!

$6,000!

You can buy 2 iMacs with that (my iMac is 8 years old and still making moneys!). $6k… you still have to pedal the fucking thing, right?! MC Cyclery don’t cater for the MTB crowd anymore (sad face) but they suggested we drop past Summit Cycles just down the road so we dropped past Summit and fucking hell, bike start at $6k! I’m like WTF! $6k buys you a bike heavier than old school bikes due to bigger wheels, thus bigger forks and such, but hey they’re more comfy like a lounge chair… I was left speechless.

I’m determined to get Chris a bike in the $3k department, as $3k is still a shitload of money to me, but it’s sad to think a Dad has to buy his kid a $6k bike just to get off the streets and out in nature for a ride. Times truly have changed!!!

Will post updates as they come. I’m so keen to ride it’s not funny.