I think there are two types of mountainbikers, so you have the people who get the same sort of thrill and excitement out of building and getting new bike parts pimpin there rides as other mountainbikers would get from riding or get a trick dialed

downhilll racing is nearer 10 than 1.

steve peats `no lycra` rants, the whole peak thing, the flat pedal thing.

its all about image and selling yourself and the sport. most interviews with racers and those involved at the pointy end reflect this.  say 7/8

xc is less image related cos you cant have a good image with skinny shaves chicken legs and lycra. hence he falling xc race coverage and entries.  5

enduro is a different bag again as you get those attending for the craic more than other disciplines and who are not prepared to pay for overpriced branded riding kit 4

me i`m about a 6 if i`m honest even tho i`d like to be a 3.

As much as i hate to admit it, I'm far to fashion conscientious when it come to riding. More so than I am when going out for a night out.

I always wear my pads under my clothing cause I think they look awfull on top, even though i know this will cause damge to my clohing when I crash. 

Not sure if this has been brought up, but one of the major factors that that influenced my decision for chosing my bike was that it was British. My excuse is I work in the Britsh engineering idustry, and I know that it needs suport due to the high cost of manufature compared to foreign companies. But in all hosest I just like been able to point out its made in the uk,  and how beautiful the welding is.

I ride a patriot 6.6 which i am very pleased with the frame, but I was majorly influanced by the hype with all this extra adjustability which I now realise I will never use. I could of just bought last years model and got a much better spec.

And to finish of my vainness  i have been slowly colour coordinating my bike, in black and gold (I just can't stop myself from looking at  the 50/50 pedals at the moment) . I have also changed my decals on my bike to mach in with the colour scheme.

Damn it, I feel like such a fashion freak now.

To me mountain biking is life and not a fashion but there are people that just do it because it is in fashion but they soon stop and then the riders that are left and carry on even if there is not a lot of people to ride with they are hardcore riders.

I would say that a was a harcore rider a i can get thrills from riderin, building, watching and even talking about mountain biking. I say this because about a year ago lots of people at my sixth form college started riding but they soon stopped as they were getting bored of it quickly.

I HATE THOSE TYPE OF PEOPLE.

James

bying bikes becomes an addiction for some people, i know people who buy new parts just because of the way they look rather than the way they function, there is no doubt that mountain bikiing is a fashion

I'm not really that bothered about the way my bike looks, so long as it works good. However I dont really want something that looks total s**t, but just because I like it when I own something that looks nice, not to show off to other people or whatever.