I know several mountain bikers in Oregon, and a whole lot in Washington where a lot of the bike industry is based who do wear lycra. Especially those riding cross country sleds like yours. Typically it's the free-ride crowd that will run baggy shorts up in the NW. If you don't want to wear it, fine, but let's not pretend no one up there wears lycra.
Ya’ want my bona fides of being a mountain biker? I’ve been riding mountain bikes for thirty years, including my years in Alaska when I was a forest ranger and worked in the Chugach. I took an old Italian road bike and rode the hiking trails of the Seward Ranger District. I moved to North Idaho, bought a top-of-the-line (at the time) steel Diamond Back Apex and road that all over North Idaho for many years, usually from Cd’A to Farragut state park and back, a century ride.
No one questioned your creds. If it matters, I've ridden everything from Vermont to Moab to Winter Park. I've met and ridden with dozens of factory team riders (they all wear lycra) all over Texas and in Moab. I'm not just a casual rider but employed in the bicycle industry by a manufacturer you'd recognize.
Btw, I don't know a single, even casually serious mountain biker who doesn't also own a road bike. I'll guarantee you that every racer rides one.
Oh, and I ride a Titus Racer-X with custom ti tubing
Sure, they wear it in Ashland and Eugene, but not really in Dreadford and not in GP.
Nice...I like your Bona Fides! I’ve always longed to go to Moab.
They say Whistler/Blackcomb in the black diamond areas is nice, but that’s WAAAAY beyond my skill-level!
I’d love to know who you work for. I’m an avid reader of the mountain bike press and it seems like working for a boutique manufacturer like Turner or Santa Cruz would be awesome. There’s a frame builder in Ashland who gives seminars on bike building and I always thought it would be a blast to go to one of his schools.
Of course it’d be nice to work for Trek or Spesh...not so much Giant.
Do you post to any of the forums like mtbr.com or bikeforums.com? I post a bit, but read a lot of the posts, just like Freep!
A Titus Racer-X with custom ti tubing?! Drooool!
But I’m a Clyde, so I’d prolly break it! I almost got a Hoss but it was too leaden so went with the 6500.
See ya’,
Ed