The guys over at BlueCollarMTB.com posted a complaint a couple days ago about the 2008 National Mountain Bike Series calendar and the fact that only 1 out of the 6 events is on the East Coast of the US. Disappointing? A bit. Surprising? No.
In fact I’m more surprised that Idaho gets a stop on the National Mountain Bike Series. I mean, I’m sure the riding is incredible there but there just isn’t a lot of nearby population to draw for the event. I’m also surprised that Colorado gets the shaft, though Park City, UT is just a 7 hour drive away from Denver 😉 California gets 2 stops but they have a pretty good track record for getting folks out for big events (anyone ever hear of Sea Otter?).
So where are all the mountain bikers? While the east coast may have a large population, the truth is not many of us are riders out here compared to the west. For example, here is where our registered members call home:
1. California (6,157)
2. Colorado (5,296)
3. Georgia (2,788 and our home state)
4. North Carolina (2,702 and our previous home)
5. Virginia (1,890)
So yeah, 3 of the top 5 states (for singletracks users anyway) are on the east coast but add them all up and you barely beat California. Mountain biking is just more popular per capita in the west where land managers are more accommodating and the population is younger. So let the big mega events go to California and the west – most of us east coasters enjoy smaller, more selective MTB events anyway 😉
