Any opinions expressed in this article belong to the author alone and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Singletracks.com.
A survey of nearly 3,000 mountain bikers revealed that 60% of Singletracks readers would rather own one, do-all “super” bike than a quiver of average mountain bikes. Presumably, the percentages change if we’re talking a quiver of super bikes, rather than just average ones, but still. In another survey, readers told us “quiver killer” was their least favorite mountain bike marketing term, right after the word “acoustic.” Ouch.
Thinking back to the super-bike survey, I probably answered that I’d rather have just one really awesome mountain bike than a garage full of decent but specialized trail weapons. For one thing, I’d have way more room to store other stuff (like my car) but I also like the idea of investing in quality over quantity. In short, like many of you, I want a really nice mountain bike that’s just as well-suited to riding park one day as it is to climbing remote gravel roads the next.
I also want a pet unicorn. But that ain’t happening.
For starters, there’s the financial side of things. It might seem like buying a single, do-all wünderbike is cheaper than owning a fleet of bikes, but that’s usually not the case. A quiver can (and should) be built up over time. Buy a decent bike, ride it for a few years, then buy another one that fits a different need. Starting with a solid hardtail and upgrading to a full suspension trail bike down the road was once a pretty common path, though today it’s just as likely that a rider will start out with a trail bike and later add an enduro bike as their skills progress.
To be clear, if you’re new to mountain biking, I’m not suggesting you rush out and buy one of each bike, from XC to downhill. (Though doing so would make you a VIP at your LBS.) Building a quiver takes time.
Also from a financial standpoint, a super-bike is a risky investment, akin to putting all your eggs in one basket. Mountain bike technology changes quickly, and at the top end of the market, even more so. If you bought an Apple Vision Pro and don’t regret it, then by all means, go all-in on the super bike. For the rest of us, there’s safety in numbers.
Then there’s the practical side of things. Owning more than one mountain bike means you always have a spare one to ride, and spare parts to borrow. Bikes break, and repairs take time. Missing a ride because your bike is out of commission is totally lame. Personally, I’m religious about keeping all of my bikes in working order and the upshot is that I almost always have a bike to loan out to a friend who’s visiting from out of town.
Truthfully, the real reason I prefer a quiver to a quiver-killer is that I just like to have fun on my mountain bikes. Sure, I can ride my all-mountain bike on far flung ribbons of singletrack scattered around town, but I’m not going to enjoy the pedally tarmac sections in between. That type of ride is clearly a hardtail mission!
Likewise, if I’m riding fast, chunky trails in the mountains, I could get away with picking my way downhill on my hardtail. But those descents are going to be a lot more fun on a full-suspension trail bike. Depending on how long the climbs are, I might go with a short travel bike; with shuttle service, it’s a long-travel trail bike all day long. The way I figure, a shed full of bikes promises maximum fun with minimal suffering.
I’ve been testing a bike this week that has me thinking about adding to my quiver once again. Actually, quiver really isn’t the right term for a collection of beloved mountain bikes. No, it’s more like an energetic pack of dogs. Each has its own personality, there’s a clear hierarchy between them (I ride some more than others, after all), and ultimately the bikes need to get along and work well together. And just like with a pack of canines, it’s important to make sure my next bike is a good fit with the group, and that I don’t end up with two similar bikes competing for my attention.
When it comes down to it, a quiver-killer is basically a lone wolf. Sure, the lone wolf is a badass, but it’s the wolfpack that’s having all the fun.
0 Comments