Over the years my views have come full circle on this.

When I first started mountain biking, there weren't guidebooks, or internet forums and blogs full of information on what were great rideable rides, so I looked at a map, joined up some hills via some bridleways, and more often than not ended pushing a bike up a hill for a good proportion of a ride.

Back then, there was no suspension, bike geometry was twitchier, so descents that are rideable now would have been less so then.

A mountain bike ride in the late 80s could be a walk up and then back down a hill. It didn't matter, because I knew no different.

As more knowledge beacme available via books and forums, and bikes became more skill enhancing, I moved away from any rides that involved HaB.

In fact I would see a ride as somewhat of a failure if it wasn't near all rideable.

I did a bit of fell running back then, so I could easily get my fix of big gnarly hills without a bike when needed.

In the last few years, I became jaded with how easy my off road riding had become. Plus the rideable classic loops were getting really busy, akin sometimes to a trail centre with the numbers of riders.

My knees resigned me from fellrunning far in the hills, and I was missing the quiet hill tops, plus I missed the challenge of would me and my bike get to the end of the ride.

So in search of those peaceful places away from the crowds, I'm happy once again to push my bike up a hill and hopefully find some sweet singletrack on the other side to ride back down.

I've not added up the number of hours I spent pushing a bike on the HTR550 (lots), but I can say that there was some amazing riding through some of the most beautiful remote scenery in the UK.

I'll happily sign up for hike a bike, if there is more of that.

When I first started mountain biking, there weren't guidebooks, or internet forums and blogs full of information on what were great rideable rides, so I looked at a map, joined up some hills via some bridleways, and more often than not ended pushing a bike up a hill for a good proportion of a ride.

I think a lot of peoples perceptions have changed over the years. I've a mid-Wales guidebook on the shelf that was published at the very start of 'mountain biking' in the UK and besides total distance, ascent and % of off-road it also lists the distance you'll be carrying your bike for

s8tannorm wrote:I think a lot of peoples perceptions have changed over the years. I've a mid-Wales guidebook on the shelf that was published at the very start of 'mountain biking' in the UK and besides total distance, ascent and % of off-road it also lists the distance you'll be carrying your bike for

It was even cool to tape pipe-lagging to the frame, to show that "I'll be carrying this bike where I'm going.."

After many epic hike a bikes, years a go I vowed never to ride a trail again that wasn't 90 - 95% rideable. This resulted in seriously limiting rides away from the beaten track so over the years I've got back into the hang of carrying the bike, especially after getting the fat bike which tends to encourage me to go places I otherwise wouldn't. I used to figure on about 50% of a trail being rideable as being the limit but these days I'm not so picky. If it fills in a gap in a route or leads to an amazing trail, I'll happily carry the bugger. Plus its all subjective - the trail from Bynack stables to Glen derry on the Cairngorm loop for some would be 95% carry / push and for some maybe 75% ride so it depends on your skill level and how much you want to hop off / hop on.

I'd like to work out a away of taking bags off the bike and onto my back as it does make it much easier, particularly if your balancing 35lbs of fat bike plus kit over your shoulder....

It was worth it for this view, however

And the ace single track from this point down past the old man of Hoy

Ok, Ok I'll MTFU and ask for a pair of these for my Birthday next month
http://www.giro.com/eu_en/products/men/ ... eduro.html

Good thread replies

jameso wrote:It was even cool to tape pipe-lagging to the frame, to show that "I'll be carrying this bike where I'm going.."

Like this?

JohnClimber wrote:Ok, Ok I'll MTFU and ask for a pair of these for my Birthday next month
http://www.giro.com/eu_en/products/men/ ... eduro.html

Don't forget some of this

You can't beat a bit of hike a bike for the reward of the view from the top........

We mostly carry like this:

Especially if you carry a rucksack it comes in handy.

That Giro shoe looks rather decent. Shame the sole isn't more aggressive.

I use Mavic Alpine (with out the "XL"). Onto my second pair and they've been okay. Soft enough to walk for ages without getting blisters and sore feet, yet stiff enough for riding.
Supplest shoes have an Offroad serie with HAB friendly soles too. I use the mid-high shoe for winter biking.

Pearl Izumi have been advertising HAB friendly shoes too, unfortunately with ratchets. I believe they explode then out in the sticks...

That Giro shoe actually looks OK - is the upper leather?, its hard to tell from the description and pic.
The shimano MT91 boots were comfy (if you could get a pair to fit you) but the cheapo upper absorbed gallons of water and fell apart. My northwave gran canyon gtx have done very well this year - lots of miles, lots of rivers and lots of HAB but I see the latest version looks like something best worn with a shell suit....

As long as I'm making progress I can do hike a bike. I am shameless when it comes to pushing and I moan when carrying but I love it all afterwards.

Ian wrote: Like this?

Yup. I like the shoulder hook style.


Bits of pipe lagging usually found by the road, no need to pre-fabricate one : )