Pinkbike Poll: What Type of Mountain Biking Do You Do the Most?

Pinkbike, the ubiquitous online mountain biking platform, recently published the results of its latest community poll, revealing that "Trail" riding overwhelmingly dominates its readership's preferred discipline. Out of over 30,000 respondents, a substantial 45% identified as primarily trail riders, with "Enduro" coming in a distant second at 18%, and "Cross Country" trailing further at 14%. Downhill, Freeride, and Dirt Jumping collectively accounted for less than 10% of the vote.

This outcome, while perhaps unsurprising to those familiar with the sport's evolution, underscores the continued mainstreaming of mountain biking. Trail riding, with its accessible blend of climbing and descending on purpose-built singletrack, represents the sweet spot for many enthusiasts, requiring less specialized equipment or extreme skill than its more gravity-focused counterparts. It reflects the industry's shift towards versatile, capable bikes designed for a broad range of terrain, moving away from the niche specializations that once defined mountain biking's various factions.

Ultimately, the poll confirms what many bike manufacturers and trail builders already know: the average mountain biker just wants to ride some good singletrack, preferably without a chairlift or a full-face helmet.