I seem to recall that the Olympic XC race would be the defining moment for the 29er.
If that’s so what was the outcome?

Don’t leave a gap on the inside of the corner when you are sprinting for the win…

Wheel size means nothing.

Shall I put the 1.5k back in my wallet then crikey?

Full suss!

The fastest RIDER won.

if you ride in mountainous essex then it seems a 29er is the way forward

but hold on 650b was 1 second behind

by next year 650b will be the essential piece of kit

I’d go for best price rather than wheel size, and shut that door in the sprint!

He gave that win away by not staying left.

Unless your a lady it seems, then 26″ is the only way to go FTW.

The rider who was least fatigued was able to win the sprint. Why was he less fatigued? Could be the bike…

Could be the bike…

Could be that the guy he was racing made a mistake. Could be that he was hugged more as a child, could be that he got the breakfast he wanted, could be lots of things.

Could be desperation to prove a point…

Could be yeah, could be sucking wheel for over an hour. Reckon though it was the bestest racer that won it.

Though robbo, years ago they timed elite XC riders at Sandwell on HTs and short travel sussers. All the riders thought they’d put in faster times on the HTs, but were in fact faster on the sussers.

He won because his bike was orange.

Tyres?

He won because his bike was orange.

That’s what I thought!

Gave up on spot the 559’s, saw a few but not many. I can however confirm that I counted 5/47 FS in the line up. HTs didn’t look any slower down triple trouble from where I stood.

Fastest rider won, hed have still been fast on the second placed bike.

He won because his bike was orange.

+1

it isn’t about the bike, but i bet Specialized marketing team have gone apoplectic this afternoon and i bet they’ve probably sold out of FSRs for 2013 already!

however at the other end of the scale whoever supplied the Italian’s seatpost will be keeping a very low profile

The bike looked more fluorescent red in real life…

and no chain device! 650b must be awesome!

Don’t think there is a quicker bike cross country than a 22lb Epic’ you could argue about course types etc but as long as there’s bumps I just can’t see a hard tail being any quicker..

Heck look at those elite cyclists sporting long stems. I guess we’ve all got it wrong riding with short stems 😉

I guess we’ve all got it wrong riding with short stems

for riding flat out XC yes you have got it wrong, for techy downhill trail mincing then short stem and wide bars are spot on 😉

Most of the bars were narrower than I would like too

I also noted that being thin and very, very fit seemed to help. Can’t see it catching on around here.

a ‘tache is essential for a top 5 finish too

transapp – Member
I also noted that being thin and very, very fit seemed to help. Can’t see it catching on around here.

That made me grin a little 😀 Nice one!

gonetothehills – Member
transapp – Member
I also noted that being thin and very, very fit seemed to help. Can’t see it catching on around here.

That made me grin a little Nice one!

ditto

Loved being there. Proves its not the bike. Best athlete won.

Negative rise stems and skinwall tyres? Have i gone back in time 20 years?

er depends how tall you are, and other stuff.

How did that chain stay on the swiss guys bike then? Have we been conned all these years into thinking you need a fr mech or chain device when you only 1 chainring + gears? or was there a special chain ring with some form of retention rims or something?

They are tubs.

They are tubs.

what the stereotypical STW forumite? they may be a bit rotund, but is that not a little on the harsh side?

Bratty – pay attention… http://singletrackworld.com/2012/07/sram-unleashes-xx-1/
New specific chaining designed to hold the chain..

whoever supplied the Italian’s seatpost will be keeping a very low profile

Just like his seatpost

Just like his seatpost

Good old fashioned LOL

I spent six days at Hadleigh Farm marshalling the Monument Drop with a good view of Deans Drop. I had the opportunity to talk with the riders and their coaches, couldn’t really observe any advantages of any particular kit being used. I did have to recover a bike of a fallen rider, a carbon Cube 29er hard tale, really light with the forks set up really hard! These riders have excellent skills and ability, their fitness is fantastic. On the whole this event and all the people involved are a credit to the sport of mtbing.

Ah a bit like my first mtb [a raleigh maverick] which had 1 chain ring too. That had only 5 gears though and the chain was kept on by 2 chain guards on eith side of the chain ring.

So what is wrong with a similar chain ring as my old maverick – ie a chain guard and a 11-40-odd tooth cassette on a conventional set up – you would only really need a special cassette and mech?

with the forks set up really hard!

Clearly their mistake was listening to Chris Boardman rather than all the middle aged pony trekkers on bikes on here.

Just dont see why you would need a 29r on a garden path
But then again i am a trail rider

to my mind if you weren’t riding a 29er or at the very least 650b on that course you were doing yourseld a disadvantage . . .

they fly, i’ve got one , ride one, maybe peeps should try one, otherwise you’ll never know.