Who is Average Joe?

Average Joe has a house, a wife, one car and a baby. He has ridden bikes all his life but got into mountain biking 15 years ago with a Raleigh Activator. He has a trail bike and a bike for more aggressive riding. You couldn't call it a DH bike (although it has some DH bits) as he isn’t good enough for full blown DH madness. He loves his riding but isn't particularly good, dreams of being better and is inspired to get out and ride by films like the Collective and Earthed. Given the chance he would be out most days and all weekend but has to balance a family and work life with his interest to ride. He loves to get out in the wilds but has never competed, partly because he doesn't want to come last but also because riding is the only part of his life that isn't a competition. He is in reasonable shape but still puffs up hills and will never be an xc legend. He doesn't have the need to pedal when riding DH but loves the buzz and the challenge but only when adequately protected – he has a mortgage and a kid you know! He looks forward to the odd days a year he can grab at Cwm Carn or similar challenging DH tracks where he hopes to progress just a little in between the arm pump and the pain of thigh burn. One week a year is a pilgrimage to a foreign mecca where he can progress with chairlifts and uplifts to squeeze as much riding in as the weather allows. He is still trying to work out a way of combining a family holiday with riding at Whistler without pissing off the wife! He'd love to do the Mega-Avalanche but fears that he isn't good enough and would simply get trampled or still be trying to complete it by the time everyone turns up for the following event. Average Joe has the magpie-like interest in shiny parts for his bike and loves an upgrade, but often his purchases are compromises rather than that Chris King headset he really wants. His lunchtimes at work are spent trawling the forums looking for interesting chat and debates on bikes and avoiding being ridiculed for 'average replies'; either not funny enough or too blindingly obvious for the 'regulars'. He's regularly passed on the hill (up and down) but is happy to bob along enjoying the environment he rides in. He’s polite on the trail and respectful of other trail users regardless of how rude some can be. Can't manual, stoppie, jump doubles or style it up in the air and while he always intends to do that 6ft drop, the brake genie always chucks the anchor out the back before he gets there. Would love to do them all and will probably manage some at some point. He is embarrassed about using the terms 'buff' and 'sick' as it make him feel like an old bloke trying to be cool and anyway ‘sick’ brings images of carrot chunks not 'the Claw' 'pinning' something. Some would (and will) pour scorn on the 'average' tag but Average Joe is most of us out there. We aspire to be better (and often pretend we are) but its our purchases and inputs and the days on the trails that keep it alive. You don’t have to have a house, a baby or a wife to be average (or be 33). Average Joe is just one type of average joe. So get out there and ride, don't worry about the bike or what you can and can't do. Enjoy riding as you have always done for the fun of it, the challenge and the friendship you find along the way. Don't be afraid to ask 'how to jump' or 'how to corner', for all those that pour scorn on you, you will find someone who had the same questions to ask once. Don’t be ashamed of average status, moredirt.com and Average Joe are going to champion it! Join Average Joes army, your sport needs you! Average Joe will be writing regularly on MoreDirt.co.uk on issues that affect all average joes. If you have a topic you would be interested in hearing about then let us know at [email protected]. If you don't agree with Average Joe in someway then feel free to post your comments below and start the debate,, he'll get back to you when he can fit it in to his everyday schedule (i.e. When his boss ain't looking). Look out soon for Average Joe clothing to wear your average status with pride!