[Closed] Warning!! old school moan about the Olympic Xc

The other thing is the whole attitude shift that's happened in MTB in the last 15 years.

XC used to be the bread and butter of MTBing - hill climbs were a regular feature of events, XC courses were great to race; long, technical, tough (but unbelievably dull to watch and impossible to televise). The now defunct magazine Mountain Biker International concentrated almost exclusively on the XC race scene. It was social, fun stuff.

But somehow, the magazines and industry have turned the sport on it's head - XC is no longer "cool", uphills are something that you "winch" or "grind" up (to use magazine speak) and it's all about the downhill, the gnarr factor. Anything that goes uphill is now the unfortunate flipside of a good descent.

I think some of the comments above illustrate the [b]perception[/b] of a lot of MTBers that XC requires a £5000 bike, lycra, no social life and hours spent on a road bike. At World Cup level, maybe but grass roots XC should be as accessible as cyclocross is.

[s]MTB[/s]capitalism is now just a big money making machine.

Just the once crikey because the quote marks didn't come out right 🙂
Edit
Anyway I thought you were out

the section I'm talking about had no jump in the berm and staying left through one very short section of rock would have made it practically a straight line.

The incoming and outgoing lines didn't match up with it though. Not at speed anyway. Although it looked like a wide gravel path, there were in fact definite singletrack lines through it all where the gravel had been compacted. Come out of that and onto the loose stuff and wheelspin/slide was inevitable.

Why are people blaming BC. Anyone who works for BC or knows people who work in the talent team/go-ride areas will know things are changing but success doesn't happen overnight. It will start with school kids, coaches and funding not some middle management weekend warrior who thinks Lycra is 'jey'
I wouldn't be too quick to diss the road/track either without their success there is no funding for MTB.
A lot of MTBers have a problem with 'xc' though which doesn't help.

Yep this is happening, early days though. Kids do seem to love XC so it would be great to see more venues.

A lot of MTBers have a problem with 'xc' though which doesn't help

😀

Who would have thought that messing about on bikes would cause so much fuss...

Anyway, closing ceremony. I hope Geri Halliwell has got that dress on.

That's what they would cost young johnny beginner to get a level playing field - thousands.

sorry but that is such a stupid point. A novice can race and be competitive on a relatively cheap bike in their category. Comparing what pros use with what sport cat racers use is irrelevant.

How many cat 4 roadies turn up on dura-ace equipped dogmas?
How many fun cat racers turn up on XTR equipped FSR's?

some might but in neither case does it really help you win.

I do wonder what the equipment entry level is for DH racing.

I agree with crazy-legs the mags and bike industry have made xc racing look lame and not covering it while trying to promote how cool DH/free riding is, a bit like imo what they are doing with 29er over 26" wheels.

Bloody Olympics!
I'll be glad when it's all over and the usual thread nonsense returns.

I do wonder what the equipment entry level is for DH racing.

GW serious question, novice level is it reasonable to do well, win without spending money? beyond the obvious helmet, etc.

From where i sit i see the entry equipment hurdle being pretty high. i don't see many on cheap hard tails, I know back in the day steve peat was winning on a hard tail but that was then not now, just looking at the coverage etc it suggests Full suspension bikes, lots of pads etc.

a reliable source told me it was an embarrassment to him as a mountainbiker. everyone seems to be moaning that all the strongest riders head for the road and track. surely that should tell you something? the courses are so tame any of of the top road guys and girls could move over and dominate? no?

Reading this thread reminds me of a Daily Mail story, lots of folk with a perception of something, but few who have actually any experience of it...

And as with most things, its skill, fits and dedication that wins - the equipment (as long as too a decent standard) is secondary. Many times I've been lapped by an Elite rider on an old 80mm v-brake HT.

a reliable source told me it was an embarrassment to him as a mountainbiker. everyone seems to be moaning that all the strongest riders head for the road and track. surely that should tell you something? the courses are so tame any of of the top road guys and girls could move over and dominate? no?

Then your source is very sad, XC is XC is XC, if you want to win at the top level you will be fit and you will be strong. Evans made the move from XC to road Martinez tried and to be fair failed to cut it. Going back a bit I believe that JMc was doing trials for the Track squad, so does that mean Downhill is too easy as well?

how much skill exactly?

Anyway, closing ceremony

Wondered what it was like to be on acid.

Mountain biking still has a big image problem with the young. Most kids see mountain biking as downhill, they are less aware that XC is where it's at. Trying to get kids involved in the sport is critical, the young need to stal the sport back from fat middle aged IT guys with Audis.

A better racing scene for the young and more access to half decent bikes, not £100 tescos specials.

24hr racing killed xc racing in the UK.

used to be an XC race was a weekend out with mates with bikes. 24hr racing came along was a new challange, meant you could have that day out, a bbq, some beers etc etc.

XC racing has been decimated, can't think of an xc race where you can camp over after (anyone?) anymore, so XC has been left for the more serious competitors.

24hr racing killed xc racing in the UK.

and i think that this summer will have killed 24hr racing. that and the last couple where the weather hasn't been much better!

XC racing has been decimated, can't think of an xc race where you can camp over after (anyone?) anymore, so XC has been left for the more serious competitors.

To be fair i don't care about that, give me races on decent courses that aren't going to break my bike because of the weather and that are near home so i can do some other things at the weekend and i'll be happy.

Trying to get kids involved in the sport is critical, the young need to stal the sport back from fat middle aged IT guys with Audis.

what he ^ said.

without a huge government funded program, elite athletes/riders will only be found by getting loads of people* on bikes, and in races.

*and that means everyone, men and women, old and young, fat and thin.

if you want a race for the young hopefulls, you also need a race for the old giffers, if only so the race can make some money back...

Cycling in all its forms bucks that trend by having vets and super vets categories as does running and probably a few other sports but they are the exception.

maybe because in the end middle aged racers don't win elite cat races on a world stage. If you want to get olympic medals, if you want a world champion your looking at riders in there twenties and early thirties as a general rule. To do this you need to find teenagers and riders just entering there twenties to give them the time and guidance to get to the top.

One of the saddest things for me was seeing Malcolm Elliot still being competitive on the road, he is good but the competition should have been far better than they were.

That older races can compete is good don't get me wrong, but it doesn't get you medals, it doesn't get money from the government, etc.

Aye, Malcolm Elliot made UK cycling look very poor, good as he was...

Just back reading this thread, and had another thought.

Whilst the road racing scene has had its ups and downs, it has always had a strongish club structure where races were organised by clubs and so racing could always be done for 5 to 10 pounds (prices of about 10-15 years ago).

Mountain biking races were often put on by individuals in our area and would cost about 20-25 pounds to enter. Prizes were not so good either. So it cost a lot to race as a kid or youth - on top of a bike and replacing worn/broken bits and travel etc.

Perhaps road clubs could be the model for mtb? Perhaps, but I think the reason a lot of mtbers do it is to get away from things, out in the country, and not get tied up with meetings etc that are perceived as what goes on in clubs.

Also on the subject of British Cycling, how many mtbers are members? How many really look at what they are doing and don't just say 'bloody track and road orientated blazer wearing idiots...' I bet fewer than 10 percent of the membership are mtbers as opposed to roadies or roadies who dabble on the mtb. If half the membership were mtbers, perhaps there would be a greater effort towards mtbing

and 1 more thing - perhaps instead of sitting on our arses moaning, we should get racing, or organising races.

We don't have enough riders who ride UCI World Cup XC to get enough points to qualify for the Olympics. Ironically, of our two best XC riders, Oli Beckinsale earnt the UCI points which allowed Liam to ride....

Eh? Oli broke his leg and has been out for a year!
UCI points were gained by [b]lots[/b] of British riders, myself included and almost all of them by traveling overseas without any funding by BC.

British Cycling were quite happy to only have one male and one female representing us at the Olympics. We could easily have had 2 had they provided some funding for people to travel and race overseas. Or possibly get some more UCI races in the UK.

mtbmatt, I think that BC are caught though, medals equals money, how many XC racers does the UK have who realistically could win a Medal in London.

How much would they need to invest to get an mtb medal, when there are far more track medals available.

It is a catch 22, you need role models to get the winners, but you need money to get the winners.

The question i asked earlier, what do the swiss do?

Hoarde Nazi gold?

honestly xc is a bit dull,
compare watching todays race- 2 very dull commentators and a load of guys in lycra

with rob warner screaming himself hoarse while danny hart showed more balls than all the lycra posing pouches on view today

hence

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

with rob warner screaming himself hoarse while danny hart showed more balls than all the lycra posing pouches on view today

Sorry but i find DH dull, it isn't fast enough, there is no apparent competition, i appreciate it takes skill, and. I don't find timetrials interesting in whatever form they take. I can't figure out why anyone would watch F! qualifying etc.

Put lots of competitors on the track at the same time and you can see a race.

mtbmatt, I think that BC are caught though, medals equals money, how many XC racers does the UK have who realistically could win a Medal in London.

What about giving potential future medalists a taste of the Olympics to gain experience now before they have a genuine medal chance in the future?

UCI points were gained by lots of British riders, myself included and almost all of them by traveling overseas without any funding by BC.

British Cycling were quite happy to only have one male and one female representing us at the Olympics. We could easily have had 2 had they provided some funding for people to travel and race overseas. Or possibly get some more UCI races in the UK.

shirley dh receives less funding than xc(is that correct?), its not even an olympic sport

we dont seem to have a problem producing great dhers

What about giving potential future medalists a taste of the Olympics to gain experience now before they have a genuine medal chance in the future?

but if it is going to divert money from another area where medals are more certain? I think the current focus is the result of chasing government money for better or worse, I certainly don't think it is helped by how the BCF,BMBC, etc merged and how XC has been regarded.

just playing devils advocate.

So you don't like XC kimbers.
I assume that's Danny hart, haven't a clue who the girl is?
Each to their own, I;ve never seen a downhill race, I have seen snippets.
You have to get into the head of some racers. To me rolling downhill has no value whilst hurting myself going uphill gives me a buzz.

shirley dh receives less funding than xc(is that correct?), its not even an olympic sport

we dont seem to have a problem producing great dhers

Roll models and quality of competition. IF you are lucky and get a good batch they push each other, this is where the comments about Tim Gould, Dave Baker etc fit in. The UK had good XC racers but did nothing to bring through the next generation, when they retired not much was left. I think too the foot and mouth, 24hr racing etc pretty much killed the sport.

but if it is going to divert money from another area where medals are more certain?

It really wouldn't have cost much. We were the highest ranked country with only 1 rider present.

Put lots of competitors on the track at the same time and you can see a race.

I think too the foot and mouth, 24hr racing etc pretty much killed the sport.

Switzerland has 24hr races as well you know...

But is XC really that good a spectator sport?

Are many sports? really?

To me [s]rolling [/s]racing downhill [s]has no value whilst[/s] hurting myself [s]going uphill[/s] gives me a buzz.

Switzerland has 24hr races as well you know...

don't doubt it,

it also has Cristalp, swiss bike masters, a lot of very good XC racers, a history of good XC racers. etc.

What it lacks is DH riders and yet look at the courses available to them?

Which does point to something in the mentality of riders?

What it lacks is DH riders and yet look at the courses available to them?

Which does point to something in the mentality of riders?

Why ride DH when you can ride uphill AND downhill 😉
MTB XC is pretty much their national sport.

Why does a thread asking why we do not have the strength in depth in the xc scene these days, have to become a dh vs xc vs whatever sort of thread?

Just cos it is not your chosen style of racing does not mean it's necessarily crap. At least it is not dressage or something.

Are many sports? really?