The hot-off-the-press print edition of Ride (N°93) contains an extensive report on the development of mountain biking from the perspective of commercial tour operators. The core message of the article is that the adventurers of the early years have become motorized bores with a lack of riding technique. This sounds exaggerated and fatalistic, but may be true from the perspective of the tour operators. However, the analysis is one-sided due to the focus on tour operators and does not reflect a comprehensive picture of the entire sport. At the same time, there are indications that allow other conclusions to be drawn.

Indication 1: More stable mountain bikes

In recent years, it has been observed that mountain bikes are becoming heavier rather than lighter, contrary to previous trends. The reason: manufacturers have to build their bikes more and more stable, as the use has become significantly tougher. Even all-mountain models now have to withstand jumps and enormous lateral forces. This shows that the average riding technique is obviously increasing.

Indication 2: Technology compensates for riding technique

There have been clear trends in the development of MTB technology in recent years: more upright seating positions, lower bottom brackets, wider handlebars, thicker tires, more suspension travel and lower tire pressure. These technologies enable a safer riding style, especially on demanding terrain. This means that even average mountain bikers can now tackle trails that were once only ridden by freaks.

Indicator 3: The youth

Children are already riding off-road with wheels, and training wheels have long since died out. As teenagers, they shred in bike parks. This means that the next generation of mountain bikers will have completely different skills. This is already apparent: the "new" mountain bikers literally fly over trails. They don't fight with the trails, they play with them. This also shows that riding technique has improved significantly.

Conclusion: Riding technique and new trends

The riding technique of mountain bikers has not declined - it has actually improved significantly. What has changed, however, is the breadth of the sport: coronavirus and the electric drive have opened up the sport of mountain biking to a larger target group. The proportion of beginners and occasional riders has increased, and this segment is often served by tour operators. Their assessment therefore reflects this development, but does not allow any general conclusions to be drawn about the sport as a whole.

Social trends in mountain biking

Two social trends are currently clearly visible in mountain biking: Convenience and self-optimization. Convenience means that everything has to work simply and smoothly. Shuttles up, developed trail down, no surprises. The flair for adventure has diminished in recent years. This fits in with the trend towards self-optimization: the trail should be fun and flowing, gravel roads are avoided and slogging for the sake of it is no longer in demand. This is why the once popular Transalp tours or classics such as the Tremalzo on Lake Garda are almost irrelevant today. Instead, short trips with organized luggage transport and a clever selection of the best trails in a region are more interesting. From this perspective, mountain biking has changed noticeably in recent years.

Four trends in mountain biking

The perspective of the tour operators in the print report may be correct from their point of view, but is of little relevance to the sport as a whole. Rather, these four major trends can be seen throughout the mountain biking world:

1. Riding technique: Difficult and high alpine trails have become more accessible in general. More and more mountain bikers are tackling more challenging routes.
2. Diversity: The sport of mountain biking has always been broad-based, but the range has widened further.
3. Convenience: The sport is increasingly becoming a consumer product where everything has to fit perfectly. Adventure and surprises are less in demand.
4. Optimization: The fun factor is becoming increasingly important. The focus is on the cost/benefit ratio.

The detailed background report by Ride author Steffen Kanduth on the perspective of travel providers offers an interesting but opposing view and can be found in the September issue of Ride (N°93). Who is right and where the effective future lies - the next few years will show.

More blog posts by Thomas Giger

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Preview of the print report in Ride N°93