I want to open a discussion about types of riding. I have dreams of riding off road and have been trying to find places to ride. The problem I have encountered is a disparity between what I think of as Dual Sport riding and Adventure riding and Dirt riding. I think the issue is my problem and a lack of understanding, but the problem I am trying to correct is to improve my understanding.
I know what is more likely to happen here, because we are talking about the definition of these riding styles, will be a extended dialogue about what the definition is to each one of us. I hope not, but then, that is very likely. The real core of the issue is that when I have been trying to find a riding event, being advertised by a group, that I have discovered an event that has been tagged as Adventure riding.
My opinion, worth absolutely nothing more than a starting point, is that Adventure Riding is the least strenuous and most geographically diverse riding style that incorporates roads, gravel and dirt as well as paved roads. Dual Sport is much more off road oriented and will include double track, single track, or no track but these bikes are plated and can arrive at their tracks via paved road or trailered. Dirt riding is, by my definition, motocross/trail full on dirt, always off road and un-plated and must be trailered to the riding destination.
The disparity of these definitions is causing problems for me in finding a group with which to ride because I cannot tell which group is going to riding what style on what kind of terrain.
I don't know if this issue will ever be resolved. I don't know if it can be solved. The heart of this issue, I believe, is that event hosts want to gather as many riders as possible, so they will market the event to the broadest audience, with the goal of attracting the most number of participants. Therefore, the handbills advertising an event may employ what ever title of riding style that will gather the most number of riders.
So, what do you think? What do these riding style titles mean to you? :beatnik: