The DEATH of Mountain Biking...
Mountain Biking Fanatics LISTEN UP!
Mountain Biking is Dead.
Bike manufacturers will be just fine.
Trail builders could never be better.
Pros will keep riding and racing...
But...
12 months from now, 95% of Mountain Bikers will give up on riding due to injury, pain, or life getting in the way.
Read on if you want to know how to keep this from happening to you.
Before you shout that I'm being negative or making strange claims, hear me out.
Every product or experience goes through a life cycle that looks like this:
- Accidental Discovery
- Experimental Use
- Mass Adoption
- Maturity
- Takeover by something better
In short, something gets discovered, shared, used, modified to work really well, then replaced by something better.
When it is a product.
Or an experience.
Mountain Biking, for some, is more than a thing to "buy" or "do".
It's not just a product or a hobby, it's a transformation.
It's extremely hard to replace.
It's OK for someone who is just using MTB as a hobby to put the bike away for a time. Nothing will change for them. In fact, it's usually healthy to do this to make room for other important things.
But, for the handful of riders that count on riding to be something more...that's real trouble.
Here's why.
Mountain biking fanatics lose something else when they give up riding...
...and it looks like this:
- Slowly becoming people they are not proud of (physically, or they stop challenging themselves)
- They give up on a dream
- They resent other parts of their life that are important because it takes them away from riding
This happens when "life gets in the way."
Jobs, family, children, changes in general.
If you LOVE riding and constantly pushing yourself, the cost of not solving this is actually quite high...
- Loss of confidence can bleed over into work or relationships
- You start to feel lost because part of your identity is gone
- You might possibly even revert to negative behaviors as bad as drugs, alcohol, or not taking responsibility for important parts of your life...
All because you had to choose work, family, children, or "life" instead of riding.
It sounds extremely melodramatic...
But if Mountain Biking really is the best way for you to challenge yourself, stay in shape, and build your confidence...
How bad does it suck to have to hear "You better not get hurt again!" from your spouse?
This is why 95% of mountain bikers will have to settle for less than a "real" riding experience.
Think about it:
- If you just ride to stay safe, how long before you lose your edge and you just get soft?
- How long can you just "send it" and hope you don't crash?
- If your body doesn't work like it used to as a teen, how can you trust your body to perform at 40, 50, 60, 70+?
- If you have to keep telling yourself "I'll just take it easy", how long before it loses the fun?
Good news is...for mountain bike fanatics...
These are the symptoms, not the real problem.
The real problem is you haven't made the "5 gear shifts".
What you REALLY have to do is this:
Honor your your values, your family/children/parents/friends/coworkers AND honor your dedication to yourself as a rider.
Side note:
You can't just "balance more". You have to discover a way to ride at an even higher level AND win at your responsibilities!
Your system is broken if you are trying to achieve your goals and running into the problems I mentioned above.
Here is how to solve it with the "5 gear shifts". (Watch the video for more in-depth explanation, if you'd like).
- Define your goals and desired outcome
- Write down and EQUALLY honor your personal riding goals and your work, family, life goals.
- Do this even if it doesn't "work" yet.
- Have integrity
- Ask yourself, when is the last time you crushed it at work, were a great friend/dad/wife/etc. AND improved your riding?
- If you haven't done what you say is important to you, FIX it, now!
- Create a System
- Find a schedule, routine, or method that works for your goals.
- Eliminate obstacles, or leverage the obstacle itself to get the outcome. (Can't go to the gym- great, use the time to work on your mobility rather than just packing on muscle, etc.).
- Use the Secret Weapon: Get Expert Help
- Simply working AT a goal is a losing game because eventually your weak link will stop you.
- This is where doing what you used to do breaks down you hit a plateau.
- An expert will help you identify the weak link and build a new foundation for MTB skills.
- Re-Fuel Your Responsibilities
- This is where you use the confidence you earned and results you got in MTB to model an even more awesome life for your other things you value.
- Every kid wants to see their mom/dad crush it at work, help with homework at night and in between shred the gnar.
To Recap:
The single biggest reason why "practicing riding" or "hitting the gym" leaves MTB riders short is that they don't have time to figure this out on their own.
Figure it out on your own - hope your "workout" system gets your body to work like it did 5, 10, 20 years ago or before injuries.
And, even if you *could* do this on your own, do you have 3-5 hours per day to practice MTB?
No.
The only people who can do that...are Pro MTB riders.
So, now you have a choice.
You can take this info and use it...
...or,
...if you wish, you can do nothing with it.
That's fine.
Especially if learning to command your bike is just a hobby, and transforming your life through riding is kind of a weird idea, no need to do anything with this.
But... if you are a die-hard, ride-till-you-die, what's possible kind of rider?
I'm opening up my calendar to speak with me personally (or someone from my team) to have a conversation with you about:
- Your goals
- Your biggest challenge
And, most importantly, what you can do about it.
My team has over a decade of experience helping people ride, play, and compete pain-free and in less time.
You can book a call HERE with my team and snag one of the limited spots this week.
Again, if you are stuck with "life getting in the way" and you want help with getting your riding and life to the next level, simply find a time with my team by using this booking link here:
https://go.oncehub.com/ShredNow
Again, spots are limited, so book now if this resonates with you!
- Dave
P.s. I just got a message from one of my students who struggled with stiffness in the shoulders and getting winded on every ride. He mentioned he just posted his best time EVER on his favorite trail. He also aced rebuilding an engine, showed up to work, and took care of his family as well.
This is more than possible even if you have a full time job, a family, kids, dogs, or engines to rebuild :) Reach out now if you want to command your bike and transform your life!
