More Mountain Bikers Than Ever...One Of The Pandemic's Silver Linings

Deep under the ugly folds of the pandemic, there are a few silver linings. For cyclists, we’ve seen more people on bikes than ever, and while cycling has become a hot topic as a form of transportation, there’s a whole other area where we’re seeing growth. 

Go into your local bike shop and try to find a mountain bike. Unless your shop ordered heavy, many dealers are almost completely sold out of entry to mid-level mountain bikes. That reflects what researchers have already spotted as an industry-wide trend. Mountain bike trails are experiencing a boom in traffic that could reshape what the sport looks like in the years ahead. 

Sales have mirrored the meteoric rise seen in other cycling industry segments. One tracker reports a 117% increase in mountain bike sales in the months of April and May as compared to the same time frame in 2019. That’s left many brands without stock to ship. Instead, many are resigned to rolling over into the new model year and rushing their normal production schedule to offer customers something before the end of the peak riding season later this summer or early fall. 

All of those bikes require riders, of course, and that means sharp increases in traffic on the trails. If you’ve ridden through or stopped by your local trailhead, you’ve undoubtedly noticed door-to-door cars and trucks in the parking lot. That led some local trail associations and recreation departments to actually gate some popular mountain bike trails to better enforce social distancing guidelines, especially in the earlier days of the pandemic. Trail counting equipment across the United States has found an increased trail traffic by 100-500%, though local numbers vary widely. 

The new users and increased traffic do have an impact on the trails themselves. Perhaps one of the most important points is safety, and that’s beyond coronavirus worries. Nearly every state continues to recommend social distancing on the trails and especially in parking lots, even closing amenities like bathrooms. But these newer mountain bikers also change the dynamic of safety in the woods. New riders are less likely to understand trail etiquette or standard practice when encountering other trail users, and may find themselves riding trails or features that exceed their skill level. Additionally, they may be less likely to prepare for mechanical issues in the woods, or even know how much water, food, or gear they need to stay safe. 

Many of those same concerns find a new velocity thanks to the growing popularity of eBikes. While many trails are designated as ‘non-motorized’, some trails do allow eBikes of a particular class. Trail associations have also found that those rules aren’t always followed, which could put inexperienced and less-skilled riders on powerful, heavy, fast mountain bikes in dangerous situations. 

Finally, all of these riders and the additional wear-and-tear often means more work for those same local trail associations. Erosion and general maintenance are on the rise, though groups also see it as an opportunity to grow the sport. More mountain bikers mean more trail association members, more financial support and, in some situations, the opportunity to advocate and design more trails. 

There are a lot of difficult aspects to events of the past four months, but a growth in interest of cycling is certainly something positive. Working to encourage and include these new riders, like the Michigan Mountain Bike Association “Welcome To The Woods” campaign, are exactly what we need to keep the momentum going.