The Psychology of Mountain Biking

The Psychology of Mountain Biking
Michael J. Vandeman, Ph.D.
January 24, 2000

"Violence does not live alone and is not capable of living alone: I is
necessarily interwoven with falsehood. Between them lies the most
intimate, the deepest of natural bonds. Violence finds its only refuge
in falsehood. … Any man who has once acclaimed violence as his method
must inexorably choose falsehood as his principle." Aleksandr
Solzhenitsyn

For a psychologist, mountain biking is a fascinating phenomenon.

Lying

The first thing one notices about mountain bikers is that they
lie continually! For someone from my generation, raised to tell the
truth at all times, this is puzzling. Surely, they must know that
everyone, at least all those who aren't mountain bikers, can easily
see through them! For example, Oakland Councilwoman Nancy Nadel caught
Eric Muhler, President of the Bicycle Trails Council of the East Bay,
publicly claiming that mountain biking in Joaquin Miller Park has
caused hardly any erosion! One look at Alec Karp's photographs of the
park is all it would take to know that he was lying. Similarly, the
vice president of ROMP ("Responsible Organized Mountain Pedalers"),
Patty Ciesla, was caught red-handed building an illegal trail.

Their favorite lie, of course, is that land managers who ban
off-road biking are banning mountain bikers. Actually, it is only
their bikes that are banned! It would be impossible to ban mountain
bikers even if we wanted to, since they don't look different from
anyone else.

And they aren't doing their already rotten image much good. Since none
of them ever admit lying, we can only guess at their motivation. The
best that I have been able to come up with is that they don't believe
that they can justify their selfish, destructive sport except by
lying. Well, … yes, of course! Since mountain biking destroys wildlife
habitat, drives away wildlife and other trail users, and benefits only
the mountain bikers, it is hard to see how anyone can justify allowing
mountain biking in any natural area.

Similarly, it is hard to explain why land managers lie so frequently,
when asked why they allow mountain biking. For example, a ranger at
China Camp State Park told me that mountain biking is causing "no
erosion". An equestrian familiar with the park then told me that the
bikers were "turning the trails into powder"! I guess that the land
managers are afraid to admit that they have allowed political pressure
-- or, in some cases, free trail maintenance provided by the mountain
bikers -- to cloud their better judgment.

Mountain Biking as an Addiction

Recently I suddenly realized why this pattern seemed so
familiar: they act exactly like the drug addicts that I knew when I
worked with Synanon Foundation! They demonstrate the same willingness
to take enormous risks, just to continue their "habit". They risk
their image, their job, their relationships, their freedom, even their
life, just to continue seeking the ultimate "high". Many subscribe to
mountain biking mailing lists at work, risking losing their job.
Thousands risk arrest and fines for riding illegally or even building
illegal trails on public and private land. The "Sedona Five" took
advantage of a temporary closure of Grand Canyon National Park to ride
down the North Kaibab Trail, which is closed to bikes (and got
arrested). Taking serious risks to continue a habit of doubtful value
is the best indicator of a true addiction. In mountain biking
newsgroups they exchange stories about their latest "high" (riding
"sweet singletrack"), with extra points given for experiences that
were dangerous, illegal, or both.

When caught riding on trails closed to bikes, in my
experience, they lie ("I didn't know it is closed" -- but they don't
offer to leave!), threaten ("I'm going to bust your head"), and even
physically attack whoever tells them to leave the closed area (one
biker rode back up the trail, turned around, and then rode into the
guy who had told him the trail is closed, as fast as he could,
knocking him bloody). That is a lot of risk to take, just in order to
ride one trail illegally! And a good sign that they are addicted.
Indeed, many of them, in their discussions on the Internet, describe
mountain biking as an "addiction".

Mountain Biking as an Image Enhancer

Another psychological factor, of course, is the image boost
that the sport and its accoutrements give to rebellious young people,
just as racing bikes did for an earlier generation (hardly any of whom
actually raced!). The knobby tires and "hardened" frames clearly say
"I'm tough. Don't cross me!" The names attached to the bikes and tires
("Velociraptor", "Omega-Bite", "Incisor") reinforce that image, as do
the photos in mountain bike magazines of bikers flying through the air
(getting "big air"). These bikes are clearly intended to indicate that
they will help you "conquer nature" (while, ironically, actually
insuring that you will have even less contact with that nature, due to
their speed, lack of contact with the ground, and suspension
systems!).

Narcissism

Closely related to image is their narcissism: they apparently
have no awareness of, or interest in, the welfare or feelings of the
wildlife and people around them. Hikers who are young or elderly, and
are afraid of being hit, are ignored or termed "unreasonable". People
who say that they go to parks to experience peace and tranquility, and
to get away from all signs of civilization, are called "selfish".
Mountain bikers want to ride on trails that are as narrow as possible
-- exactly the trails that are too narrow to accommodate both bikers
and other trail users!

Cognitive Dissonance

Yet another factor explaining their insistence on biking at
all costs, even at the risk of getting arrested, is embodied in the
psychological term "Cognitive Dissonance": after spending often more
than $3000 for their bike, it would be very embarrassing and
upsetting if they had nowhere to ride it!

Perhaps this explains why, after years of talking about how
they are going to put an end to the erosion damage, illegal riding,
and illegal trail building in Joaquin Miller Park, the mountain bikers
are continuing all of those activities unabated.

Monomania

All land management plans are evaluated by a single criterion:
do they provide "sweet" (attractive), "technical" (difficult to ride)
"singletrack" (narrow trails)? The President could be about to
designate a million acres of new wilderness, but they don't care. All
they care about is "will I be allowed to mountain bike there?" (in
wilderness, no).

Laziness

Why ride a bike, when you can walk? Only because you can get
to your destination a lot faster and with a lot less energy. In spite
of their muscular, "hard-body" appearance, mountain bikers are lazy!

Bad Role Modelling

Mountain biking also provides very bad role modeling for our children.
Whether or not a bike is ever ridden off-road, any child looking at
one will get the impression that it is used to tear up wildlife
habitat, and that this is okay.

Paradox

Mountain bikers claim to want just what we all want -- the
experience of nature in all her pristine glory. However, the very fact
that they ride on a bike denies them that experience! They move too
fast to truly experience what they are seeing. They have to pay
attention to their "driving", to avoid crashing. They are insulated
from feeling the ground by distance, tires, and expensive suspension
systems. And they (in common with other trail users, of course,
although to a much greater degree) destroy nature in the very act of
"appreciating" it.
--
I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to
humans ("pure habitat"). Want to help? (I spent the previous 8
years fighting auto dependence and road construction.)

Please don't put a cell phone next to any part of your body that you are fond of!

http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande

On Sep 6, 10:11*am, Mike Vandeman wrote:
The Psychology of Mountain Biking
Michael J.Vandeman, Ph.D.
January 24, 2000
snipped for Clarity


Bad Role Modelling

Mountain biking also provides very bad role modeling for our children.
Whether or not a bike is ever ridden off-road, any child looking at
one will get the impression that it is used to tear up wildlife
habitat, and that this is okay.


What do you mean by "our" children? You have scribbled in your
delusional writings that you had a vasectomy. Being mentally ill is
NOT being a role model it means you should seek professional help.



I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to
humans ("pure habitat"). Want to help? (I spent the previous 8
years fighting auto dependence and road construction.)

Please don't put a cell phone next to any part of your body that you are fond of!

http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande

Mike Vandeman wrote:

Mountain Biking as an Image Enhancer

Another psychological factor, of course, is the image boost
that the sport and its accoutrements give to rebellious young people,
just as racing bikes did for an earlier generation (hardly any of whom
actually raced!). The knobby tires and "hardened" frames clearly say
"I'm tough. Don't cross me!" The names attached to the bikes and tires
("Velociraptor", "Omega-Bite", "Incisor") reinforce that image, as do
the photos in mountain bike magazines of bikers flying through the air
(getting "big air"). These bikes are clearly intended to indicate that
they will help you "conquer nature" (while, ironically, actually
insuring that you will have even less contact with that nature, due to
their speed, lack of contact with the ground, and suspension
systems!).

Narcissism

Closely related to image is their narcissism: they apparently
have no awareness of, or interest in, the welfare or feelings of the
wildlife and people around them. Hikers who are young or elderly, and
are afraid of being hit, are ignored or termed "unreasonable". People
who say that they go to parks to experience peace and tranquility, and
to get away from all signs of civilization, are called "selfish".
Mountain bikers want to ride on trails that are as narrow as possible
-- exactly the trails that are too narrow to accommodate both bikers
and other trail users!

Laziness

Why ride a bike, when you can walk? Only because you can get
to your destination a lot faster and with a lot less energy. In spite
of their muscular, "hard-body" appearance, mountain bikers are lazy!

Bad Role Modelling

Mountain biking also provides very bad role modeling for our children.
Whether or not a bike is ever ridden off-road, any child looking at
one will get the impression that it is used to tear up wildlife
habitat, and that this is okay.


Allow me to tacklea few of your "points" above, if I might.

Mountain Biking as an Image Enhancer:

NEVER crossed my mind, not even once. I don't ride a mountain bike
because I think it makes me look cool. I could give a **** what people
think about me, especially while I'm out riding. I ride my bike because
it's fun, period. I don't care about getting from point A to point B as
fast as possible, it's just fun, it's challenging and it's a far better
cardio workout than hiking the trails. Let's move on, since you're
wrong on this "point".
__________________________________________________ __________

Narcissism:

Having grown up in Montana as an avid hiker and camper with the highest
amount of respect for the natural resources around me, this argument
falls flat again. It must be easy for to sit in front of your keyboard
and make gross generalizations about the biking community as a whole.
When out on ANY trail in the wilderness, I ALWAYS yield to any animals
and people that I come across on the trail. I ride my bike with as much
respect as humanly possible in regard to the trails I'm riding on. I
don't fly down single-track trails with any disregard for the landscape,
I enjoy a mindful pace both down and uphill. I keep any impact of my
riding on any trail to a minimum. Next.
__________________________________________________ ___________

Laziness:

I'm a Certified Fitness Trainer that works out twice a day 5 days a week
and enjoy some form of outdoor activity on the weekends. To say that
riding a mountain bike, for ME, is a decision in ANY way based in
laziness is not only laughable it's ridiculously so. Again I'll refer
you to the fun factor. I spend a LOT of time hiking in the summer time,
I also spend a considerable amount of time riding my bike while out
camping and hiking. Laziness doesn't enter into the picture, ever. If
I were lazy, I'd choose to drive my Nissan Titan from point A to point B
as a form of outdoor "activity". Sorry, you're just wrong again. Next
topic.
__________________________________________________ ___________

Bad Role Modelling:

I'm a father of two and I've never done anything but teach my children
to have the highest respect for the outdoors and our natural resources,
including responsible outdoor activities such as biking, hiking, camping
and trail-running. They know that trails and roads are the only places
in the outdoors they're allowed to ride their bikes and that they need
to do so thoughtfully.
__________________________________________________ ___________

Having tackled a few of your "points", allow me to offer a few thoughts
for you. I have seen hikers and campers do INFINITELY more damage to
our natural resources than mountain bikers. I've seen campers cut down
trees for firewood when they're clearly not supposed to be doing so.
I've seen hikers and campers litter more times than I could even count
anymore, yet I've NEVER seen a mountain biker litter... EVER. That's
just me, maybe you can pull some magical statistics out of your
delusion-hat, but I've never once seen a mountain biker throw trash off
of their bike.

It must be easy for you to sit at your desk and hurl generalizations
about an entire community of people. I've heard the rants of racists
and bigots that did the same thing, so kudos! The truth is that there
ARE thoughtless, inconsiderate bikers out there, just as there are
thoughtless hikers, horseback riders, campers, drivers, ATV riders,
etc... There are douchebags that engage in every activity, they're the
exception not the rule. Everyone that I've ever ridden a bike with has
always been respectful to both the environment and those people and
animals on the trails as well. So to sit in judgment over every
mountain biker as some horrible land-raping sociopath is flatly
misguided. Doing so, for ME, makes your only "point" the one at the
top of your head.

ALL outdoor activities lead to erosion of the trail system, some faster
than others. I've seen ATVs and horses lead to more trail erosion than
I've seen from mountain bikes, but again, that's my experience. But,
it's with that factor in mind that I also contribute both money AND time
to the trail system in my area. I've done volunteer vacations to
maintain wilderness trails and I make financial donations to the
American Hiking Society as well as a few local trail
maintenance/building charities in my area.

In conclusion, quit being such a negative Nancy and try something out
before you demonize everyone that does it. Riding a mountain bike is
fun and CAN be done responsibly, sorry but it's true.

"JTS" wrote in message
...
Mike Vandeman wrote:

Mountain Biking as an Image Enhancer

Another psychological factor, of course, is the image boost
that the sport and its accoutrements give to rebellious young people,
just as racing bikes did for an earlier generation (hardly any of whom
actually raced!). The knobby tires and "hardened" frames clearly say
"I'm tough. Don't cross me!" The names attached to the bikes and tires
("Velociraptor", "Omega-Bite", "Incisor") reinforce that image, as do
the photos in mountain bike magazines of bikers flying through the air
(getting "big air"). These bikes are clearly intended to indicate that
they will help you "conquer nature" (while, ironically, actually
insuring that you will have even less contact with that nature, due to
their speed, lack of contact with the ground, and suspension
systems!).

Narcissism

Closely related to image is their narcissism: they apparently
have no awareness of, or interest in, the welfare or feelings of the
wildlife and people around them. Hikers who are young or elderly, and
are afraid of being hit, are ignored or termed "unreasonable". People
who say that they go to parks to experience peace and tranquility, and
to get away from all signs of civilization, are called "selfish".
Mountain bikers want to ride on trails that are as narrow as possible
-- exactly the trails that are too narrow to accommodate both bikers
and other trail users!

Laziness

Why ride a bike, when you can walk? Only because you can get
to your destination a lot faster and with a lot less energy. In spite
of their muscular, "hard-body" appearance, mountain bikers are lazy!

Bad Role Modelling

Mountain biking also provides very bad role modeling for our children.
Whether or not a bike is ever ridden off-road, any child looking at
one will get the impression that it is used to tear up wildlife
habitat, and that this is okay.


Allow me to tacklea few of your "points" above, if I might.

Mountain Biking as an Image Enhancer:

NEVER crossed my mind, not even once. I don't ride a mountain bike
because I think it makes me look cool. I could give a **** what people
think about me, especially while I'm out riding. I ride my bike because
it's fun, period. I don't care about getting from point A to point B as
fast as possible, it's just fun, it's challenging and it's a far better
cardio workout than hiking the trails. Let's move on, since you're wrong
on this "point".
__________________________________________________ __________

Narcissism:

Having grown up in Montana as an avid hiker and camper with the highest
amount of respect for the natural resources around me, this argument falls
flat again. It must be easy for to sit in front of your keyboard and make
gross generalizations about the biking community as a whole. When out on
ANY trail in the wilderness, I ALWAYS yield to any animals and people that
I come across on the trail. I ride my bike with as much respect as
humanly possible in regard to the trails I'm riding on. I don't fly down
single-track trails with any disregard for the landscape, I enjoy a
mindful pace both down and uphill. I keep any impact of my riding on any
trail to a minimum. Next.
__________________________________________________ ___________

Laziness:

I'm a Certified Fitness Trainer that works out twice a day 5 days a week
and enjoy some form of outdoor activity on the weekends. To say that
riding a mountain bike, for ME, is a decision in ANY way based in laziness
is not only laughable it's ridiculously so. Again I'll refer you to the
fun factor. I spend a LOT of time hiking in the summer time, I also spend
a considerable amount of time riding my bike while out camping and hiking.
Laziness doesn't enter into the picture, ever. If I were lazy, I'd choose
to drive my Nissan Titan from point A to point B as a form of outdoor
"activity". Sorry, you're just wrong again. Next topic.
__________________________________________________ ___________

Bad Role Modelling:

I'm a father of two and I've never done anything but teach my children to
have the highest respect for the outdoors and our natural resources,
including responsible outdoor activities such as biking, hiking, camping
and trail-running. They know that trails and roads are the only places in
the outdoors they're allowed to ride their bikes and that they need to do
so thoughtfully.
__________________________________________________ ___________

Having tackled a few of your "points", allow me to offer a few thoughts
for you. I have seen hikers and campers do INFINITELY more damage to our
natural resources than mountain bikers. I've seen campers cut down trees
for firewood when they're clearly not supposed to be doing so. I've seen
hikers and campers litter more times than I could even count anymore, yet
I've NEVER seen a mountain biker litter... EVER. That's just me, maybe
you can pull some magical statistics out of your delusion-hat, but I've
never once seen a mountain biker throw trash off of their bike.

It must be easy for you to sit at your desk and hurl generalizations about
an entire community of people. I've heard the rants of racists and bigots
that did the same thing, so kudos! The truth is that there ARE
thoughtless, inconsiderate bikers out there, just as there are thoughtless
hikers, horseback riders, campers, drivers, ATV riders, etc... There are
douchebags that engage in every activity, they're the exception not the
rule. Everyone that I've ever ridden a bike with has always been
respectful to both the environment and those people and animals on the
trails as well. So to sit in judgment over every mountain biker as some
horrible land-raping sociopath is flatly misguided. Doing so, for ME,
makes your only "point" the one at the top of your head.

ALL outdoor activities lead to erosion of the trail system, some faster
than others. I've seen ATVs and horses lead to more trail erosion than
I've seen from mountain bikes, but again, that's my experience. But,
it's with that factor in mind that I also contribute both money AND time
to the trail system in my area. I've done volunteer vacations to maintain
wilderness trails and I make financial donations to the American Hiking
Society as well as a few local trail maintenance/building charities in my
area.

In conclusion, quit being such a negative Nancy and try something out
before you demonize everyone that does it. Riding a mountain bike is fun
and CAN be done responsibly, sorry but it's true.

You know Vanderman is just going to call you a LIAR because, after all,
mountain bikers are all LIARS. Nice effort at refuting his idiotic rant
though.

You know Vanderman is just going to call you a LIAR because, after all,
mountain bikers are all LIARS. Nice effort at refuting his idiotic rant
though.

You're probably right. He is a simplistic sort of creature, isn't
he? Oh well, if LIAR is his only retort it will only cement in my mind
that he's a completely closed-minded, ignorant ass-hat that can't open
his mind to the world of specifics and chooses to dwell in the world of
generalizations - like the Nazis.

On Sep 23, 3:27*pm, "Rob Osborn" wrote:
"JTS" wrote in message

...





Mike Vandeman wrote:

Mountain Biking as an Image Enhancer

Another psychological factor, of course, is the image boost
that the sport and its accoutrements give to rebellious young people,
just as racing bikes did for an earlier generation (hardly any of whom
actually raced!). The knobby tires and "hardened" frames clearly say
"I'm tough. Don't cross me!" The names attached to the bikes and tires
("Velociraptor", "Omega-Bite", "Incisor") reinforce that image, as do
the photos in mountain bike magazines of bikers flying through the air
(getting "big air"). These bikes are clearly intended to indicate that
they will help you "conquer nature" (while, ironically, actually
insuring that you will have even less contact with that nature, due to
their speed, lack of contact with the ground, and suspension
systems!).

Narcissism

Closely related to image is their narcissism: they apparently
have no awareness of, or interest in, the welfare or feelings of the
wildlife and people around them. Hikers who are young or elderly, and
are afraid of being hit, are ignored or termed "unreasonable". People
who say that they go to parks to experience peace and tranquility, and
to get away from all signs of civilization, are called "selfish".
Mountain bikers want to ride on trails that are as narrow as possible
-- exactly the trails that are too narrow to accommodate both bikers
and other trail users!

Laziness

Why ride a bike, when you can walk? Only because you can get
to your destination a lot faster and with a lot less energy. In spite
of their muscular, "hard-body" appearance, mountain bikers are lazy!

Bad Role Modelling

Mountain biking also provides very bad role modeling for our children.
Whether or not a bike is ever ridden off-road, any child looking at
one will get the impression that it is used to tear up wildlife
habitat, and that this is okay.

Allow me to tacklea few of your "points" above, if I might.

*Mountain Biking as an Image Enhancer:

NEVER crossed my mind, not even once. *I don't ride a mountain bike
because I think it makes me look cool. *I could give a **** what people
think about me, especially while I'm out riding. *I ride my bike because
it's fun, period. *I don't care about getting from point A to point B as
fast as possible, it's just fun, it's challenging and it's a far better
cardio workout than hiking the trails. *Let's move on, since you're wrong
on this "point".
__________________________________________________ __________

Narcissism:

Having grown up in Montana as an avid hiker and camper with the highest
amount of respect for the natural resources around me, this argument falls
flat again. *It must be easy for to sit in front of your keyboard and make
gross generalizations about the biking community as a whole. When out on
ANY trail in the wilderness, I ALWAYS yield to any animals and people that
I come across on the trail. *I ride my bike with as much respect as
humanly possible in regard to the trails I'm riding on. *I don't fly down
single-track trails with any disregard for the landscape, I enjoy a
mindful pace both down and uphill. *I keep any impact of my riding on any
trail to a minimum. *Next.
__________________________________________________ ___________

Laziness:

I'm a Certified Fitness Trainer that works out twice a day 5 days a week
and enjoy some form of outdoor activity on the weekends. *To say that
riding a mountain bike, for ME, is a decision in ANY way based in laziness
is not only laughable it's ridiculously so. *Again I'll refer you to the
fun factor. *I spend a LOT of time hiking in the summer time, I also spend
a considerable amount of time riding my bike while out camping and hiking.
Laziness doesn't enter into the picture, ever. *If I were lazy, I'd choose
to drive my Nissan Titan from point A to point B as a form of outdoor
"activity". *Sorry, you're just wrong again. * Next topic.
__________________________________________________ ___________

Bad Role Modelling:

I'm a father of two and I've never done anything but teach my children to
have the highest respect for the outdoors and our natural resources,
including responsible outdoor activities such as biking, hiking, camping
and trail-running. *They know that trails and roads are the only places in
the outdoors they're allowed to ride their bikes and that they need to do
so thoughtfully.
__________________________________________________ ___________

Having tackled a few of your "points", allow me to offer a few thoughts
for you. *I have seen hikers and campers do INFINITELY more damage to our
natural resources than mountain bikers. *I've seen campers cut down trees
for firewood when they're clearly not supposed to be doing so. I've seen
hikers and campers litter more times than I could even count anymore, yet
I've NEVER seen a mountain biker litter... EVER. * That's just me, maybe
you can pull some magical statistics out of your delusion-hat, but I've
never once seen a mountain biker throw trash off of their bike.

It must be easy for you to sit at your desk and hurl generalizations about
an entire community of people. *I've heard the rants of racists and bigots
that did the same thing, so kudos! *The truth is that there ARE
thoughtless, inconsiderate bikers out there, just as there are thoughtless
hikers, horseback riders, campers, drivers, ATV riders, etc... *There are
douchebags that engage in every activity, they're the exception not the
rule. *Everyone that I've ever ridden a bike with has always been
respectful to both the environment and those people and animals on the
trails as well. *So to sit in judgment over every mountain biker as some
horrible land-raping sociopath is flatly misguided. * Doing so, for ME,
makes your only "point" the one at the top of your head.

ALL outdoor activities lead to erosion of the trail system, some faster
than others. *I've seen ATVs and horses lead to more trail erosion than
I've seen from mountain bikes, but again, that's my experience. * But,
it's with that factor in mind that I also contribute both money AND time
to the trail system in my area. *I've done volunteer vacations to maintain
wilderness trails and I make financial donations to the American Hiking
Society as well as a few local trail maintenance/building charities in my
area.

In conclusion, quit being such a negative Nancy and try something out
before you demonize everyone that does it. *Riding a mountain bike is fun
and CAN be done responsibly, sorry but it's true.

You know Vanderman is just going to call you a LIAR because, after all,
mountain bikers are all LIARS. *Nice effort at refuting his idiotic rant
though.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

He's also an admitted mountain biker by his own definition of the term.

Siskuwihane wrote:

He's also an admitted mountain biker by his own definition of the term.

Ahhh, so they're all rants of self-loathing then?

"JTS" wrote in message
. ..
Siskuwihane wrote:

He's also an admitted mountain biker by his own definition of the term.

Ahhh, so they're all rants of self-loathing then?

And LIES. DUH!

Rob Osborn wrote:

And LIES. DUH!




LOL... Nicely played, sir!

On Sep 23, 5:19*pm, JTS wrote:
Siskuwihane wrote:
He's also an admitted mountain biker by his own definition of the term.

Ahhh, so they're all rants of self-loathing then?

Ah yes, self, a word very dear to Mikey. Self-loathing, self-serving,
self-righteous, selfish and his favorite, self-gratification.