This has always been my path. Still using my first snowboard I got for Christmas in 2003. Was about the cheapest snowboard package one could get too (do they even make liquid snowboards anymore?).
The nice board setup was like a teenage status thing. Seemed I went over too many rocks and rails to even want a board like that.
ā¦imagine my surprise 
You are a man of many talents, both a communist and a mountain bike expert.
Tools, not jewels. All skis are rock skis.
You should demo a 2021 bike this spring/summer. See what youāre missing out on. Depending on the trails you have access to maybe nothingā¦ But, maybe a lot.
It might be better for me to not know. What if they are way better. Then I would have a desire to have that new bike when I was plenty happy with the old one.
MN has better Mtn Biking than most would expect. Nothing compared to out west though. Mostly Xc stuff.
Always looked like some fun trails out that way.
Detroit Lakes & Cayuna Destination Showcase: Detroit Lakes & Cuyuna, Minnesota - Pinkbike
Duluth & Lebanon Hills Destination Showcase: Duluth & Lebanon Hills, Minnesota - Pinkbike
Supposedly, Cuyuna will eventually have 75 total miles (I think it is about 30 miles currently). That area is cool, lots of lakes, and lots of old mining sites (they donāt really look like old mining sites anymore because they are overgrown). I havenāt been up there yet though.
Lebanon Hills is only a couple miles from my house. It is a cool area. Lots of little lakes that are easy to portage with a canoe. The biking is pretty fun there (and they have a good mix of difficulty). Some of it is pretty gnarly actually. If you go on a hot summer day, there is a nice swimming beach on one of the lakes (Shultz Lake). Good hiking, snow shoeing and cross county skiing too. The MN zoo is bordering it, so that is a fun stop as well.
I enjoyed those links you posted. Iāll have to head up to Duluth to do some Mtn biking. I have done lots of climbing around Duluth and north of it, but never biking.
If you get a chance (not sure if you climb), check out the climbing at Shovel Point and Palisade Head just north of Duluth. They are some of the longer climbs in MN. Palisade has a two pitch climb I have done that was a ton of fun (lead climbing is a rush, pun intended).
Shovel Point is kinda neat. You have to lower from the top, or lead climb from a boat. From a distance the cliff looks like it was cut out by a shovel.
Palisade Head is a bit taller and more vertical. Some really good crack climbing.
While l long for the old way, retail is dead for most non perishable items.
Not insinuating your knowledge on this, just commenting out loud.
I bought a road bike by mail order in the 80s, but have spent relatively few dollars that way through the years. Maybe a couple of car stereos, but never the speakers.
Youre not wrong that Little Bike Shops are dying.
The two things that bike shops have going for them is service and stock. Most people dont know how to fix a flat, let alone have the tools and knowledge to replace a pressfit bottom bracket or install a new drivetrain. Not to mention that suspension servicing and setup is a bit of a dark art. Covid was a huge boon for bike shops. With no indoors entertainment allowed EVERYBODY decided that mtb was the outdoor hobby to pick up and bike shop sales went gangbusters this past year. Good luck finding certain bikes or parts online nowā¦ the only way you can find them instock or without a 4-6 month delay is by calling around to bike shops to find who has it in stock.
But yeah, the shops that will survive have really good service departments. The shops that rely on selling softgoods and hardgoods (not including complete builds) will die off. Such is capitalism.
FYI, 40% is standard pro/shopform pricing. Anyone working in the industry will get that discount on current year stuff. Military and LEO also get proform on a number of outdoor related brands
Friends never let friends pay retail haha.
Oh shit yeah. Now weāre talking my language. Both of those climbs look epic. That is an amazing view at Shovel Point dude.
People are often surprised by the quality of outdoor sports Minnesota has. It is assumed to be flat by many. That spot is one of my favorites. Those two cliffs are right next to each other too (visible). If your lucky, scuba divers will be at the bottom of shovel point looking for dropped gear. Pretty cool to be lowered down for a climb and have scuba divers pop up.
Minnesota also have wave sports like surfing which surprises many people as well. My buddy does this surfing kayak thing (called a surfski). He goes out during storms to do it. Superior is long, so it the wind is right, the waves can be 10 plus feet tall. It is a dangerous sport. He has been on two rides in which people died. Part of it is the frigid water.
