Scott Martin

I’ve been getting back into mountain biking lately. I won’t bore you with the reasons – none of which is marijuana-related – but the change has given me a fresh perspective on road riding.

In fact, as much as I enjoy mountain biking, trail riding has increased my appreciation for certain aspects of road cycling.

Take technology. Sure, you can geek out on road bikes, but the basic equipment is mostly set: frame (probably carbon), drivetrain (10-speed shifting, more or less), wheels (aero or climbing). Nothing I can’t fathom.

Not so with mountain biking. Never mind suspension with its baffling terminology like sag, damping, pivot points and “That’ll be $300 to rebuild your shock.” Mountain bikers can’t even decide what wheel size is best. Standard 26-inch-diameter wheels seemed to be giving way to 29-ers, but now an in-between size is emerging. I believe they have settled on the best shape: round.

Ditto gearing. My 15-year-old hardtail has 3 chainrings, which you need for rugged off-road terrain, right? Wrong. The hot set-up isn’t even 2 chainrings anymore, it’s the single-ring “1-by,” so named because you can say “bye” to at least one of your knees.

Then there’s hydration. For roadies, it’s simple: fill water bottle, put in cage, don’t throw at moron driver on hot day. Mountain bikers, however, must decide between bottles and a backpack hydration system. I’m leaning toward the latter, because if I remove my hand from the bar for more than 2 seconds, my mountain bike plows into the nearest poison oak patch. (Something, incidentally, my road bike has never done.) Even so, cleaning the backpack’s bladder – must they call it that? – is no picnic.

The list goes on: Lycra shorts or baggies? Helmet visor or not? Scar tattoo or real scar?

Maybe I’ll go for a road ride.

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