Also I don't know if it's been broached yet but it is nearly impossible for an e biker that is not either paid to be riding...
Also I don't know if it's been broached yet but it is nearly impossible for an e biker that is not either paid to be riding it or hauling at least 40 lbs of tools to go dig to be core. I might even argue if you are not on the world tour of your discipline getting paid to ride one is not enough to make you core.
I had to chew on that sentence structure for a couple minutes. seems like 'ebike = not core' is the jistOne thing I will say, as...
I had to chew on that sentence structure for a couple minutes. seems like 'ebike = not core' is the jist
One thing I will say, as an anti e biker guy, is almost ALL the guys who put in the most work for trail maintenance now ride eebz. And they get a fcuk ton done. So yeah, not very core, not for me, but there are a ton of dudes using it as a tool to do the most core thing imaginable. Credit where its due.
This has been a great read- I’ve been following along and watching the boxes of ‘me’ get ticked off.. almost a better understanding of the why I’m perceived the way I am.
I definitely agree it’s a title you receive not one you give to yourself.
I will add that I am thankful for mountain biking. It is and has been a ‘core’ and defining aspect of my life. Mental, physical, psychological, community- all of it..
It’s just something you gotta do. It runs deep in the bones and you don’t know why. It’s not just a past time it’s part of your identity. You make sacrifices to do it.
To me “Core” is what is a result, not a thing. Core to me is the fact that we ride bikes to feel good. I also enjoy riding bikes with others if they are enjoying themselves. I may not be able to clear a big gap, but seeing one of my friends clear it makes me happy because it makes them happy. I’m old enough that I can see the end of my riding off in the distance. Once that gets here the only thing I’ll have left is the memories. I’ll think back to my first MTB ride in 1986 and how cool I thought it was to be out in the woods on a bicycle. That is the Core. Any gatekeeping whatsoever is anti-core. The remark about flats=core is that. Implies flats are more difficult so it’s more core. Following that logic dictates that a fully rigid single speed on 26” wheels is core, anything else is in no way core.
Outlawed would like to invite you to his Ted talk “The observer effect in quantum mechanics and core culture: how asking the question of what core means fundamentally alters the nature of core”
Im not core enough to comment on the core element of this. But I gotta say I agree with Lars on the long travel bike thoughts. I still love to go for big long pedals. I want to rip downhill, but it needs to still let me climb a shit ton in a day.
Although I do pedal with my knee pads around my ankles. D:
Im not core enough to comment on the core element of this. But I gotta say I agree with Lars on the long travel bike thoughts...
Im not core enough to comment on the core element of this. But I gotta say I agree with Lars on the long travel bike thoughts. I still love to go for big long pedals. I want to rip downhill, but it needs to still let me climb a shit ton in a day.
Although I do pedal with my knee pads around my ankles. D:
Im not core enough to comment on the core element of this. But I gotta say I agree with Lars on the long travel bike thoughts...
Im not core enough to comment on the core element of this. But I gotta say I agree with Lars on the long travel bike thoughts. I still love to go for big long pedals. I want to rip downhill, but it needs to still let me climb a shit ton in a day.
Although I do pedal with my knee pads around my ankles. D:
Kneepads at ankles is the way to go and I refuse any other opinion on the matter. I prefer my knees not constantly feeling like they are going to get some form of trenchfoot (trenchknee?)
Im not core enough to comment on the core element of this. But I gotta say I agree with Lars on the long travel bike thoughts...
Im not core enough to comment on the core element of this. But I gotta say I agree with Lars on the long travel bike thoughts. I still love to go for big long pedals. I want to rip downhill, but it needs to still let me climb a shit ton in a day.
Although I do pedal with my knee pads around my ankles. D:
Kneepads at ankles is the way to go and I refuse any other opinion on the matter. I prefer my knees not constantly feeling like they...
Kneepads at ankles is the way to go and I refuse any other opinion on the matter. I prefer my knees not constantly feeling like they are going to get some form of trenchfoot (trenchknee?)
The knee trenchfoot is our badge of honor. Embrace your destiny.
Kneepads at ankles is the way to go and I refuse any other opinion on the matter. I prefer my knees not constantly feeling like they...
Kneepads at ankles is the way to go and I refuse any other opinion on the matter. I prefer my knees not constantly feeling like they are going to get some form of trenchfoot (trenchknee?)
Kneepads at ankles is the way to go and I refuse any other opinion on the matter. I prefer my knees not constantly feeling like they...
Kneepads at ankles is the way to go and I refuse any other opinion on the matter. I prefer my knees not constantly feeling like they are going to get some form of trenchfoot (trenchknee?)
The knee trenchfoot is our badge of honor. Embrace your destiny.
What’s mtbing without just the right amount of masochism. I’m sure i looked quite silly stomping up climbs with my pads hanging off the bars of my rigid ss mtb back in the day.
I do actually take them off if the climb is over 20 minutes or so. So pretty rare on the east coast but all the time when I had more vert. Everybody just chats for 5 minutes when we get to the top anyways and it takes a literal 30 seconds for me to get em on or off. On a real hot day I’d almost bet the time and effort would be less than riding with a heavy pair of knee pads on your body. I actually remember those rf pads getting released and thinking that’s a great idea. Would be nice to not have to do the dance of taking on/off shoes and pads without getting the foot muddy.
Um... Do you guys really not take the kneepads off? A I the only one weird enough to only consider fully opening knee pads (RF Roam for...
Um... Do you guys really not take the kneepads off?
A I the only one weird enough to only consider fully opening knee pads (RF Roam for example)?
I think it might be time to try out some new knee pads. I remember the feeling of taking off the old tld t-bones or 661 Kyle straits. It felt amazing at the end of every ride but everything I’ve used in the last 10 years has been totally fine to wear all day. I’ve even driven home in my Rapha knee pads because I forgot I had them on.
I think it might be time to try out some new knee pads. I remember the feeling of taking off the old tld t-bones or 661...
I think it might be time to try out some new knee pads. I remember the feeling of taking off the old tld t-bones or 661 Kyle straits. It felt amazing at the end of every ride but everything I’ve used in the last 10 years has been totally fine to wear all day. I’ve even driven home in my Rapha knee pads because I forgot I had them on.
Do you think they will do anything in a crash tho ? I see lots of ppl on YouTube wearing tho 7protection Sam hill knee pads . Whilst very comfy, I stopped wearing them scared they would just twist on impact
Thats my problem. For summer I use IXS dagger knee pads which have a hard shell cup on the knee. If im gonna wear pads I want them to work when I eat shit. You can pedal /w them on, but if I'm doing an hour plus climb I guess I gotta do that with the fashion police on my tail.
Winter riding I use the Race Face Ambush pads that just velcro on. Put em in the pack for the climb and then do the ole pull the pants down at the top routine. TMI sorry ;p
Do you think they will do anything in a crash tho ? I see lots of ppl on YouTube wearing tho 7protection Sam hill knee pads...
Do you think they will do anything in a crash tho ? I see lots of ppl on YouTube wearing tho 7protection Sam hill knee pads . Whilst very comfy, I stopped wearing them scared they would just twist on impact
I've had a few big ones in the bike park and never had any issues. They definitely don't have the 'steel toe cap boot' feel that you'll get with a hard shell but the lack of mass on the front means they do a really good job of staying put, plus they don't shred the knees on your pants.
Thats my problem. For summer I use IXS dagger knee pads which have a hard shell cup on the knee. If im gonna wear pads I...
Thats my problem. For summer I use IXS dagger knee pads which have a hard shell cup on the knee. If im gonna wear pads I want them to work when I eat shit. You can pedal /w them on, but if I'm doing an hour plus climb I guess I gotta do that with the fashion police on my tail.
Winter riding I use the Race Face Ambush pads that just velcro on. Put em in the pack for the climb and then do the ole pull the pants down at the top routine. TMI sorry ;p
I'm so worried about how thin, fragile, and expensive riding pants are these days that I've quit sliding out and hitting my knee pads as a strategy for saving money. I still wear knee pads, but mostly as a mental/emotional safety blanket. This also allows me to feel total confidence in the new knee-sleeve style knee pads. YMMV
Thats my problem. For summer I use IXS dagger knee pads which have a hard shell cup on the knee. If im gonna wear pads I...
Thats my problem. For summer I use IXS dagger knee pads which have a hard shell cup on the knee. If im gonna wear pads I want them to work when I eat shit. You can pedal /w them on, but if I'm doing an hour plus climb I guess I gotta do that with the fashion police on my tail.
Winter riding I use the Race Face Ambush pads that just velcro on. Put em in the pack for the climb and then do the ole pull the pants down at the top routine. TMI sorry ;p
I'm so worried about how thin, fragile, and expensive riding pants are these days that I've quit sliding out and hitting my knee pads as a...
I'm so worried about how thin, fragile, and expensive riding pants are these days that I've quit sliding out and hitting my knee pads as a strategy for saving money. I still wear knee pads, but mostly as a mental/emotional safety blanket. This also allows me to feel total confidence in the new knee-sleeve style knee pads. YMMV
Love the winter riding where I just wear jeans and don’t worry about thrashing them to bits when I crash.
I often wear my knee pads in the car on the drive to and back to the trails and don’t think about them while riding. I think finding the proper pads is the key to ride them on the knees at all times.
I have found a few that I love (100% Terratec pro for colder days, Leatt 3df 6.0 or Chromag Rifts for all the other days) and I treat them like they’re my child.
On the long-travel thing, after going between 120, 160 and 180mm travel bikes, I have found that I don’t care how too much travel I have, but I do enjoy the idea that the bike will last longer because it’s rated and tester for harder shit than I can ride. And since I try to keep my bikes as long as I can, I’ll continue being overbiked for the foreseable future.
Plus my 120mm Rift Zone from 2018 ended up being 36 pounds with proper tires and light suspension, so why not ride a 38 lbs Slayer? I am used to pedal to mitigate bobbing on uphill fireroads so I don’t care for a lockout either.
Everything I do is core and everything I don't isn't. Casing jumps, Mid pack finishes at my local races, slightly creaky frame. Super core
It's like a nickname, you can't give it to yourself, someone else has to.
As for myself, I'm like my favorite Poke bowl; albaCORE!
This has been a great read- I’ve been following along and watching the boxes of ‘me’ get ticked off.. almost a better understanding of the why I’m perceived the way I am.
I definitely agree it’s a title you receive not one you give to yourself.
I will add that I am thankful for mountain biking. It is and has been a ‘core’ and defining aspect of my life. Mental, physical, psychological, community- all of it..
Thanks for the ‘podcast’ fellas!
It’s just something you gotta do. It runs deep in the bones and you don’t know why. It’s not just a past time it’s part of your identity. You make sacrifices to do it.
Exactly
To me “Core” is what is a result, not a thing.
Core to me is the fact that we ride bikes to feel good. I also enjoy riding bikes with others if they are enjoying themselves. I may not be able to clear a big gap, but seeing one of my friends clear it makes me happy because it makes them happy. I’m old enough that I can see the end of my riding off in the distance. Once that gets here the only thing I’ll have left is the memories. I’ll think back to my first MTB ride in 1986 and how cool I thought it was to be out in the woods on a bicycle.
That is the Core.
Any gatekeeping whatsoever is anti-core. The remark about flats=core is that. Implies flats are more difficult so it’s more core. Following that logic dictates that a fully rigid single speed on 26” wheels is core, anything else is in no way core.
Core is the vibes, the smiles, and the joy.
Outlawed would like to invite you to his Ted talk “The observer effect in quantum mechanics and core culture: how asking the question of what core means fundamentally alters the nature of core”
Im not core enough to comment on the core element of this. But I gotta say I agree with Lars on the long travel bike thoughts. I still love to go for big long pedals. I want to rip downhill, but it needs to still let me climb a shit ton in a day.
Although I do pedal with my knee pads around my ankles. D:
The unforgivable sin.
Kneepads at ankles is the way to go and I refuse any other opinion on the matter. I prefer my knees not constantly feeling like they are going to get some form of trenchfoot (trenchknee?)
The knee trenchfoot is our badge of honor. Embrace your destiny.
Kneepads belong on your knees or in your bag, if anyone ever sees me with them around my ankles you have permission to shoot me
I hit my knees on my top tube too much on technical sections to wear my kneepads around my ankles while climbing.
Um... Do you guys really not take the kneepads off?
A I the only one weird enough to only consider fully opening knee pads (RF Roam for example)?
Sorry, yeah... I think you're the only one.
What’s mtbing without just the right amount of masochism. I’m sure i looked quite silly stomping up climbs with my pads hanging off the bars of my rigid ss mtb back in the day.
I do actually take them off if the climb is over 20 minutes or so. So pretty rare on the east coast but all the time when I had more vert. Everybody just chats for 5 minutes when we get to the top anyways and it takes a literal 30 seconds for me to get em on or off. On a real hot day I’d almost bet the time and effort would be less than riding with a heavy pair of knee pads on your body. I actually remember those rf pads getting released and thinking that’s a great idea. Would be nice to not have to do the dance of taking on/off shoes and pads without getting the foot muddy.
So there’s at least two of us……
Taking them off you don't even need to stop if you have an asphalt transfer. Pull them off, swing the backpack around and stash them.
I think it might be time to try out some new knee pads. I remember the feeling of taking off the old tld t-bones or 661 Kyle straits. It felt amazing at the end of every ride but everything I’ve used in the last 10 years has been totally fine to wear all day. I’ve even driven home in my Rapha knee pads because I forgot I had them on.
Do you think they will do anything in a crash tho ? I see lots of ppl on YouTube wearing tho 7protection Sam hill knee pads . Whilst very comfy, I stopped wearing them scared they would just twist on impact
Thats my problem. For summer I use IXS dagger knee pads which have a hard shell cup on the knee. If im gonna wear pads I want them to work when I eat shit. You can pedal /w them on, but if I'm doing an hour plus climb I guess I gotta do that with the fashion police on my tail.
Winter riding I use the Race Face Ambush pads that just velcro on. Put em in the pack for the climb and then do the ole pull the pants down at the top routine. TMI sorry ;p
I've had a few big ones in the bike park and never had any issues. They definitely don't have the 'steel toe cap boot' feel that you'll get with a hard shell but the lack of mass on the front means they do a really good job of staying put, plus they don't shred the knees on your pants.
I'm so worried about how thin, fragile, and expensive riding pants are these days that I've quit sliding out and hitting my knee pads as a strategy for saving money. I still wear knee pads, but mostly as a mental/emotional safety blanket. This also allows me to feel total confidence in the new knee-sleeve style knee pads. YMMV
Love the winter riding where I just wear jeans and don’t worry about thrashing them to bits when I crash.
I often wear my knee pads in the car on the drive to and back to the trails and don’t think about them while riding. I think finding the proper pads is the key to ride them on the knees at all times.
I have found a few that I love (100% Terratec pro for colder days, Leatt 3df 6.0 or Chromag Rifts for all the other days) and I treat them like they’re my child.
On the long-travel thing, after going between 120, 160 and 180mm travel bikes, I have found that I don’t care how too much travel I have, but I do enjoy the idea that the bike will last longer because it’s rated and tester for harder shit than I can ride. And since I try to keep my bikes as long as I can, I’ll continue being overbiked for the foreseable future.
Plus my 120mm Rift Zone from 2018 ended up being 36 pounds with proper tires and light suspension, so why not ride a 38 lbs Slayer? I am used to pedal to mitigate bobbing on uphill fireroads so I don’t care for a lockout either.
Zipper knee pads for big alpine days. Long climbs on road and fireroad I definetly don't need knee pads. Lunch stop and pad up, then go down.
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