I was really suprised to see that most were riding hardtails on a course so technical particularly nearly all the front runners. I wasnt there so am only seing it from a armchair TV watchers perspective, but all the bigboys and girls seem to be on hardtails. Curious about learning about the XC race scene, so why would the pro's choose hardtails on a course so steep and technical ? I know the obvious answer is "coz they are faster" but doesnt that go against what clueless newbies like me would automatically assume (i.e surely a full suss would be better on a rocky technical course)
obviously I am not questioning the pro's judgement , clearly they get it right and ride what is quickest, just curious to learn a bit more about it 🙂
Because the course isn't [i]really[/i] rocky, steep doesn't mean it requires full sus and there are lots of short sharp climbs which hardtails excel at.
what's more, between the technical and rocky sections its actually quite a smooth fast course...
oh and because they're all pretty smooth riders not relying on suspension to smash through things!
basically weight, even a few years ago you would still see them riding v brakes when most 'civilian' riders were on disk many only going disk if their sponsors required it. The fact you think you need suspension is driven by the marketing strategy of the companies that make suspension bikes, even when they tried to make 4x world cup tracks more brutal most riders stuck with hard tails only changing to full sus if their sponsors made it worth their while. top level racers are not that short of power that they need the assistance of technology to go faster, often the deciding factor of who wins can be down to the weight of the bike to the point that the feed zone at Dalby at the bottom of the hill was considered to be wrongly placed as many riders would not want to carry a half full water bottle up the hill because of the amount of extra power needed.
There were also lots of clown bikes (29r) being ridden.
With thighs like that who needs suspension ?? It would have to be a VERY technical descent to make the extra weight worth carrying, and that kind of descent ususally means a huge climb, another reason for the hardtail.
And they are super fit and strong so can cope with the bumping.
my mate was talking to someone from fisher there and they were saying all their lot love the 29ers and he couldnt understand why it wasnt a bigger movement in uk
oh and because they're all pretty smooth riders not relying on suspension to smash through things!
that was the main thing that impressed me, as well as the pace that they maintained for 2 hours!
And to be fair all world cup race courses are pretty groomed after two days so there is little detritus strewn across the course and they ride tyres with minimal tread which smoothly compact the ride line into something more akin to a luge piste, it was interesting to note how rotovated the course became after the Dalby Dare after two days of pro elite practice and the junior race
They don't need the skills compensation.
So, if in the hands of a world cup pro a hardtail is lighter, quicker on the uphills due to efficiency, and no major detriment on the technical downhills due to the riders skill, then why is the ever a need for them to use short travel full suss, like spesh epics or trek top fuels ? surely they are pretty reduntant to top end xc racers. Or do they use them under sponsors pressure ?
firestarter - Member
my mate was talking to someone from fisher there and they were saying all their lot love the 29ers and he couldnt understand why it wasnt a bigger movement in uk
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because they didn't bring nearly enough of them over that's why!!! Sold out in January fo a lot of the models
[i]my mate was talking to someone from fisher there and they were saying all their lot love the 29ers and he couldnt understand why it wasnt a bigger movement in uk [/i]
We're sensible over here and don't get fooled so easily.
The Brits are a cautious lot, plus the evolution started in the US.
But the change is well underway, so the sooner all you 26HT riders evolve.... !
(The pick of the bunch? Actually an / my M6 Non-TTL as the speed dial works the "right way"!)
They really benefit from the weight savings. As world class athletes, they have no spare body fat and have trimmed themselves down to the very lowest weight they can. Therefore weight savings make a real difference. Much more than they do to mr average. Plus of course they are incredibly talented.
I've watched the footage,they aren't human.They climb quicker than I descend.Very impressed.