h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I am pleased to tell you that there is a sect of american mountain bikers who DO ride to the top of the hill before downhilling, and think that those who take lifts are punks. In fact, some of us believe that downhilling is a complete waste of time in the first place. Just hit the trail and ride.

I am with you on that one - I'm a Brit living in CA, and most of my 'merican buddies that I ride with, think that the down-hill thing is over-rated. At the local trail there is a bloody big hill that our route means we climb the dammed thing several times, but always take the slow and technical descent, rather than the one that the kiddies scream down...

However, I did just get a downhiller, and am off to Big-Bear at the weekend for some craziness, and yess I will use the lift, I do not fancy riding a 40lb betmoth up anything more than a curb - my CX bike weighs in at 22lbs, and flies uphills...