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Let’s get this out of the way: we all love a good riding video. A drone shot of a bike carving through switchbacks? Awesome. A well-edited tour vlog with killer music? Inspiring.
But somewhere between the gear flexes and the over-polished trip recaps, something’s gotten lost.
Social media is slowly ruining ADV riding, not because people are sharing, but because of how they’re sharing.
Here’s what’s gone sideways and what we can do about it.
It’s Becoming a Performance, Not an Adventure
ADV used to be about the unknown. You’d set off with a rough plan, a paper map, and the understanding that not everything would go as planned. That was part of the fun.
Now? It’s GoPros at every angle. Pre-scouted drone flyovers. Matching color palettes on panniers. And a whole lot of people doing it for the ‘gram, not the grit.
If you’re more worried about content than the ride, are you really riding?
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The “Highlight Reel” Syndrome Is Killing Confidence
You scroll through social and see:
- Perfect lines through gnarly terrain
- Bikes that never seem to fall
- Campsites that look like REI catalogs
- Smiling riders who never seem tired, lost, or sore
What you don’t see? The five crashes that happened before that hero shot. The exhaustion. The sketchy repairs. The panic when the route didn’t exist in real life.
New riders see this stuff and think, “I’m clearly not cut out for this.” But the truth is: nobody shows the messy stuff.
And that’s messing with people’s expectations of what adventure really looks like.
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Places Are Getting Trashed and Crowded
Geotagging once-secret trails. Posting detailed GPS tracks for sensitive areas. Encouraging people to “go ride this epic spot” without explaining the permit process, the land-use rules, or the local etiquette.
It’s all leading to:
- Trail damage from increased traffic
- Overcrowding in fragile backcountry zones
- Land closures from misuse or overuse
- More noise, more trash, more tension with locals
Sharing is fine. Blasting locations without context or care? That’s another story.
Too Much Gear Talk, Not Enough Riding Talk
Some ADV social content feels like an ad disguised as a ride:
- What helmet to wear
- Which tires to run
- Which GPS mount is best
- Why your kit isn’t “dialed” unless it costs four grand
Gear matters but it’s not the point. The best riders aren’t the most accessorized.
They’re the ones who can ride well with what they’ve got. Social media’s obsession with stuff makes it feel like adventure is only for the wealthy or the sponsored.
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What You Can Do About It (Without Quitting Social)
You don’t have to ditch your feed or delete your videos. But you can be part of the fix:
- Show the full story. Post the drops. The fails. The dust and sweat.
- Protect locations. Share general areas, not GPS pins for sensitive routes.
- Encourage skill over stuff. Talk about riding, not just gadgets.
- Support small creators and real riders. Not just the shiny influencers.
- Remember who you’re riding for. It’s you. Not a bunch of strangers tapping like.
Wrap-Up: Keep It Real, or We’ll Lose What Makes ADV Special
Social media isn’t all bad. It builds community. It inspires people to ride. But when it turns the ride into a performance, or the landscape into a backdrop, we all lose something.
So yeah, take the photo. Shoot the video. Share the story. But ride for you, not for your followers and don’t forget to put the damn phone away and enjoy the trail once in a while.
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