In the words of the late actor Charlie Chaplin: “You’ll find you’re life is more worthwhile if you just smile.” And perhaps the hardest thing to find on the faces of many mountain bikers these days are smiles. That’s because, apparently, mountain biking has become very serious.
Yes, I know, Bend is the home to every great recreational athlete in the world and that just about everyone who straddles a mountain bike is training for the next world championships or something equally important. And that’s probably why riding around Phil’s trailhead this past weekend there were lots of scowling faces, as if the workout (not fun ride) in progress was way too important to interrupt with a friendly greeting, hell, even a smirk.
And by being among the slowest mountain bikers in Bend, I often get smirks of derision from faster riders. But to his credit a very fast rider in full Lycra race kit didn’t smirk as he passed but said, “hi.” Kudos to him, and thanks for keeping it real.
To give grim-faced riders the benefit of the doubt, I think the problem lies in riding the Phil’s Trailhead area. There are so many people at Phil’s on weekend day that it becomes a scene. That means some riders feel it’s necessary to make sure the hoi-polloi know who they. So they dress sharp, have the latest fast bike, and generally let you know on the trail that their time in the saddle is more valuable than you’re time in the saddle. So, let’s call the apparent over-seriousness and lack of civility the Phil’s Trailhead Syndrome.
It has to be a Phil’s area problem because after some riding on that trail system this past Saturday, I ventured over to Shevlin Park. What a difference a couple of miles made. The mountain bikers I encountered in and around Shevlin seemed happy. They were smiling, exchanged pleasantries on the trail and seemed to be having a wonderful, albeit probably way slow, ride.
Further proof that dark anti-social forces are at work on the Phil’s area was borne out the next day on a ride at Horse Butte. Other riders encountered looked happy and exchanged greetings when they witnessed my snail-like pace.
Of course writing about bringing good cheer to the trail and having fun while riding will fall on deaf ears. Recreation riding used to be all about recreating yourself joyfully in a natural environment. Now, it seems to be a near life or death, grim experience.
This article appears in Apr 21-27, 2011.
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Hey Bob,
Great write-up. I too often wonder what happend to “fun” while riding; after all, thats the whole reason I like to ride my bike everyday! These grim faced, race training yahoos, need to lighten up a little and see the joy in being outdoors on your 2 wheeled steed. Simpler riding… FUN riding!
I took my wife for her first ever mtn bike ride on Sunday, two falls, a couple bruises and a cut knee, but she still has all of her teeth! Almost everyone we encountered was happy and greeted us. Perhaps Sunday was “couples” day but the support she received was great. Oh, btw, she is 64, too, maybe it all was out of respect for the gramma on the Litespeed!
Jerry
I encountered about 4 or 5 different groups of people I knew at Phil’s that day and chatted it up off the side of the trail. I try to always at the very least smile or say “hi” and “thanks” for letting me by on the trail. I notice this walking and running a lot around Shevlin, 1st St. Rapids trail, etc. as too many people are obsessively cued in to their Ipods to even realize that my lips are moving to say “hello.” I miss the neighborly feel now that people are literally “tuned out” all the time.
True. It’s a Bend disease. That tough appearance that people hold so tightly. I see it at the mountain, I see it at Smith rock, I see it at the gym. Those super serious frowns don’t help anyones performance. Let this be our secret weapon: you will be stronger, faster and endure more if you have a peaceful smile in your face and spirit.
Well put B.Swett. Frowning requires more energy thatn smiling; which means their training is flawed. Smile people! Be HAPPY!!!
I have seen both sides of the Phil’s Scene and I agree it is just bike riding and it should be fun.I just feel really fortuante to have such great access to great riding.
There is plenty of room out there people need to just relax and enjoy what we have, and remeber to be polite.