I'll address this once but I really don't want to divert the core thread (I'll separate them if necessary) but since you repeatedly bring it up, as a tent pole of your argument it seems necessary.
Understand that the history of "The Cruzbike Tribe" has absolutely nothing to do with earning a right of passiage or mastering the MBB. It came about last year in support of several members doing extra-ordinary boundary pushing (for them personally) things. I don't remember if I, @Lief,or
@Abbott Smith coined it. But it was derived from some banter about the Familial experience of this place; and what happens when we happen to meet each other in the real world; which is usually more hugs than handshakes. (In the U.S. that's rather abnormal, but perhaps it's improving). Somewhere along the way it stuck.
What we have here in this forum a unique corner of bike enthusiasts that have a statistically odd slant to the glass is half-full side of the equation. We enjoy each others company, we revile in solving problems and helping other succeed and we are not stingy with our time or knowledge. Lastly and potentially most importantly we do not make up answers, we actually try it in the dirt and report back; leaving the speculation for other places. When someone struggles with learning the bike we do get passionate in trying to help; we know what success means and it pains us when someone really struggles; hence the floods of:
- encouragement
- don't give up's
- tell us what you are experiencing
99.9% of us here do not control how the bikes work; we are just customers. Passionate customers of a company that has earned our respect by listening to our feedback and when possible and practical has incorporated it into the product lines (even when we are testy about it). So we help with what we know works and try to pedal-steer people past difficulties.
The reactions at the start of this thread go way back further that the thread itself. At one time we had a couple people have disasterous results with home brew stabilizers because they lacked the necessary skills to create one beyond a bungie cord; and worst they did so without trying the bike without them, they left mad and unhappy. Basically they assumed they needed them from the get go sight unseen, and said so in many places; So when that became a recurring "belief" of newbies who didn't even own the bike yet; the community countered it by supporting the idea that you can easily learn to ride the bike without one; and perhaps you should try it first and see. (Sort of like tasting your food before you dump a bunch of salt on it; better to know how much salt you need to get a good result). All of that predates any notion of Tribe; and was simply the experienced people debunking the myth that the bike are hard to ride; which they are not; they are simply different to ride; and thankfully they continue to evolve and improve in many ways that will draw a larger audience. Successful homemade items like Jason and Gary made are the two well documented exceptions, and they simply had the skills and knowledge to do it right and with a specific personal goal in mind.
Everyone is welcome here, the tribe isn't going away, but that's just another way to say we are a family and one that continues to grow. The successful participates, are: Authentic, Honest, Genuine, Consistent, and Reasonable; everyone is welcome and really we don't care if you own one of the bikes yet; we are convinced that at some point in time there will be a model that suits you.