Just curiosity really...
After this thread, http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/race-winners-taking-their-bike-on-the-podium I thought I'd see if we could compile a list of the winning bikes at BBF.
All I know so far is;
Male Solo Single Speed;
1st Singular steel rigid 29er
2nd Singular titanium Lefty 29er
3rd Qoroz titanium Lefty belt drive 29er
Mixed Pairs;
3rd Female rider, Qoroz titanium 29er
Can anyone fill in the gaps ?
And it's not looking good for the "29ers are no good on singletrack" argument so far. 😛
[i]And it's not looking good for the "29ers are no good on singletrack" argument so far[/i]
I didn't know there was one, tbh.
"Some bike designs are no good for singletrack" is possibly a discussion worth having, though?
Was it at Ashton Court?
When I was there I did think it was more suited to a road bike.
Ashton court? you could ride it on your tt bike. A crosser would be quick though and that has 700c wheels the same as a 29er
Ashton Court is well suited to a 29er.
Having said that I remember at BC Bike Race about 2 yrs ago some of the winning bikes there were 29ers too & BC has some really quite techie riding.
I wonder how one would get on at the Trans Provence?
I don't think this has a great bearing on the future of 26" wheeled bikes in races IMO.. the fact all the top end riders are getting pushed the 29r sponsored bikes at the moment.. and Specialized (to name one) are not even offering to sell the 26" wheeled version this year in the UK!
End of the day its the rider not the bike is it not?
Wonder if 29 inch wheels save energy and less stress on the body but you need to look at each circuit and get the calculator out...
Mens team:
1st: Torq/Whyte Carbon 29er
2nd: 3x Cube Elite Super 29er, Matt Dennis on a 26" Trek 9.9 hardtail
3rd: 2 of us on (26") Top Fuel 9.9s, 1 on a Salsa A La Carte Ti 650b
Mixed pairs:
1st: I think Maddy and Jay both ride 29er S-Works Epics edit: or not, one on a hardtail according to Mike!
Mens pairs:
2nd: John and Stuart Prentice, both on 29er S-Works Epics
3rd: Josh Ibbett and Rob Dean, both on Santa Cruz Tall Boys
Pairs Female: Cotic/AQR -- at least one was on a Cotic Soda.
Pairs Male: Clive Mitchell Cycles -- one 26in HT, one 26in FS (I think)
Pairs Mixed: Certini -- 29er HT & ??
Pairs Old Gits & Singlespeed (combined): Clayton Cars -- Giant Anthem 26 & ??
Bored now 🙂
Having ridden the Bristol trails for 10 years+ on a 26er and having now swapped to a 29er I haven't noticed any loss of agility on the singletrack.
Oh and I was 6th in cat 😐
From what I witnessed, the winning bikes all had 2 wheels and were all ridden by people in full lycra with massive legs who managed to mtfu and pedal hard all the way round. I imagine they also took their training seriously, rather than talk about how to train on an internet forum or down the pub. None of them looked like they were about to throw up after every completed lap and didn't appear to walk like john Wayne as every muscle in their legs simultaneously cramped up! I was quite jealous.
Tis about the rider...
FWIW, the last cross bike I saw at AC stormed past me on the quarry climb. I then overtook him on the way down as he fixed his pinch puncture.
looked like they were about to throw up after every completed lap and didn't appear to walk like john Wayne as every muscle in their legs simultaneously cramped up!
That sounds familiar.
That cross rider neads to pump his tyres up and use landcruisers then as I have managed the 3 peaks cx without punctures several times
i'm fairly certain the SS male 4 were all on 26" wheeled bikes and have been for the last 8 or however many years they've won it.
Well I was the slow one in our team, but got plenty of cramp and an impending feeling of vomiting, if that makes you feel any better!?
The speed at which the winning solo rider was going he'd have beaten me on a BMX bike. Truly staggering when he crossed the line to start his last lap.
I don't think this has a great bearing on the future of 26" wheeled bikes in races IMO.. the fact all the top end riders are getting pushed the 29r sponsored bikes at the moment.. and Specialized (to name one) are not even offering to sell the 26" wheeled version this year in the UK!
Yup, singular are definately one of those nasty companies forceing you to buy 29ers, that just happen to look cool and ride brilliantly. And surely if Spesh were trying to make you buy as many bikes as possible they'd sell you a 26" and 29" epic. Hang on a minute, singular don't have a marketing department (AFAIK), and spesh don's make a 26" epic..........
Just saying...........
A crosser would be quick though and that has 700c wheels the same as a 29er
Technicaly, 700c wheels are less than an inch taller than 26" wheels once you put tyres on them, 29ers are about 2" taller than crossers.
pjt201 - Member
i'm fairly certain the SS male 4 were all on 26" wheeled bikes and have been for the last 8 or however many years they've won it.
Yep, that's right - and half of them were pretty shonky 26" bikes at that... It's almost like it's the riders who make the bikes go fast rather than the other way round 🙂
I got the worst cramp ive ever had after 1 hour 7 minutes. I had to stop. Now - its only 4 hours - I should of been able to go at the pace easily for 6.
To put it this way - I needed to MTFU. on a 26er.
2nd Male Solo was on a 29er Scandal (singlespeed) he didnt realise there was a cat for it, he hurt after.
2nd Male Solo was on a 29er Scandal (singlespeed) he didnt realise there was a cat for it, he hurt after.
2nd place Male solo was Huw Thomas who was riding a Niner, riding for the same team as me Loco Racing. He is also sponsored by Niner/Stans/Ergon.
We were 5th in Old Gits Pairs, I was riding a Salsa Mamasita and Mark a Scandal, both 29ers. Hard to say if the course was more suited to a 29er or indeed if a 29er was quicker. I was certainly quicker than previous years on 26" but I would expect to be. For the first time in my life I've followed a proper structured training plan in preparation for 24 solo at Twentyfour12.
Janesy is talking about Sunday.
...the fact all the top end riders are getting pushed the 29r sponsored bikes at the moment...
Not everyone on the podium gets a free bike from their sponsor. 😉
Not everyone on the podium gets a free bike from their sponsor.
Indeed 😀
MidlandTrailquestsGraham - Member...the fact all the top end riders are getting pushed the 29r sponsored bikes at the moment...
Not everyone on the podium gets a free bike from their sponsor.
I think I had the cheapest bike on the SS podium. (Not that I'm complaining)
Well Torq and Cube do.
Of those on the mens team podium the ones who chose their bikes
- Matt went for a 26" hardtail
- Gee has a 26" hardtail which he's fitted with 650b wheels because he likes his 29er more, but doesn't like racing on a bike he paid for - so we can chalk that up to 29ers if you like
- Phil and I both have (the same) 26" FS bike
So 1/4 prefer 29ers, ish. Phil and I both kept our bikes from last season.
Not sure this really shows what you want it to. 29ers are more popular than ever, and are certainly not a hindrance, but why are we not looking at material (for example) as you seem to be seeking some sort of vindication that 29ers are 'better'?
Bikes vary: FS, hardtail, steel, ti, carbon, rigid, disc brake, rim brake, SS, double, triple, 1x10 etc etc. You can now just add wheel size to that variety. I think some folk are over analysing, and I'm not necessarily sure that looking at the fastest riders is always indicative of what's 'best'.
Quick as Aidan was he was beaten by people:
- on carbon bikes
- with gears
- with suspension
Does that mean conclusively that a 3x10 carbon FS bike is better? No.
We won the Mixed 4 cat on Saturday. I think i had one of the quickest laps of saturday on a 26 Anthem. No likey 29erss
...as you seem to be seeking some sort of vindication that 29ers are 'better'?
No, it's just that of the four bikes that I new of, they were all 29ers, which I thought was a bit of a coincidence.
Now that other people are adding what they know to the list, there is a bit more of a mixture.
Don't read too much in to the question. If you look at motor racing results it will always tell you the make of car or bike. I'm just curious to get similar information on mountain bike races.
I think i had one of the quickest laps of saturday on a 26 Anthem. No likey 29erss
24:57?
There was a Torq 24:35 and a Cube 24:55. Ergo hardtails are quicker, and 29ers are quickest of all 😉
I'm just curious to get similar information on mountain bike races.
But it's not the same. How often do you watch the F1 and hear comments about a car struggling, or drivers struggling with a car?
When did you last hear anything remotely similar in cycling? The rider is so much more significant that changes in equipment - be they suspension, gear or wheel related - aren't necessarily influential to that rider's performance.
I think I had the cheapest bike on the SS podium. (Not that I'm complaining)
ha you're not wrong there. You were being chased by some right pricey niche machines 😀
Rider > bike
I think I had the cheapest bike on the SS podium. (Not that I'm complaining)
You had the cheapest bike in your team didn't you!? What you need is some carbon wheels 🙂
Interestingly I don't think there were ANY 29ers being raced at the Downhill World Cup in Fort William the same weekend.
I think its fair to say that the winning riders in each category could have acheived a similar result on almost any bike. The level of fitness and preparation was impressive. It made being able to turn up and compete (figuaratively speaking not literally speaking) with them all the more fun.
When did you last hear anything remotely similar in cycling? The rider is so much more significant that changes in equipment - be they suspension, gear or wheel related - aren't necessarily influential to that rider's performance.
I think this is absolutely right, stick me on a carbon gucci 29er and i am still inept..... stick the leading riders on my bike and they are still fitter and technically superior
Interestingly I don't think there were ANY 29ers being raced at the Downhill World Cup in Fort William the same weekend.
I didn't see any DH bikes at the BMX park the other week... Your point?
Fit riders win races, they just happen to do it on the bike they ride.
There were also no cross bikes in the Dauphiné, imagine!!
If you look at motor racing results it will always tell you the make of car or bike.
That's because in motor racing it sometimes matters.
Good fast riders are good fast riders.
Interestingly I don't think there were ANY 29ers being raced at the Downhill World Cup in Fort William the same weekend.
I didn't see any DH bikes at the BMX park the other week... Your point?Aidan - Member
These days Ashton Court is barely mountain biking, hence the presence of 29ers
Move to proper rough stuff and it's 26er all the way.
Waits for knee-jerk backlash from Mr Agreeable and BTG henchmen.....
Waits for knee-jerk backlash from Mr Agreeable and BTG henchmen.....
Oh, so you were just trolling. Thought so.
Oh, so you were just trolling. Thought so.
No, it's just that as soon as anyone says something that's not complimentary the usual suspects start laying in.
Move to proper rough stuff and it's 26er all the way.
Is it?
No, it's just that as soon as anyone says something that's not complimentary the usual suspects start laying in.
And conversely any thread about Ashton Court and up you pop trolling away.
KINGTUT - [s]Member[/s] usual suspect
yawn.
But as predicted.
I was on my Felt Edict 26" and made 10th place in 12 hr solo - Don't personally think a 29er would have made ME any faster TBH - as said above - training and mental strength gets you through although doing the Oktoberfest for 8 hours on a Alu HT (Kinesis XCPro3) was torment TBH - short travel Full Suss made me more comfortable and thus able to withstand the punishment better 🙂
BTW - Paul informed me that piccies should be available next week from the Bikefest 🙂
as soon as anyone says something that's not complimentary the usual suspects start laying in
Hello again. FYI, I'm not a "usual suspect", I'm someone who spends a decent amount of his free time trying to keep the trails (new and old) enjoyable year round.
My name and phone number are on notices at the start of the trail in Ashton Court and 50 Acre Wood.
If you've got something you'd like to discuss, you can phone me, email me, or talk to me in person when we're out on a trail day (most months).
Or you can keep making anonymous negative comments on an internet forum. Just don't get upset if people assume you're doing it from the wrong motives.
Happy riding.
Anthem X, and (truly battered) Cannondale Scalpel. Both 26` wheels.
Old gits pairs winners.
Gee has a 26" hardtail which he's fitted with 650b wheels because he likes his 29er more, but doesn't like racing on a bike he paid for - so we can chalk that up to 29ers if you like
Its as much a 29er as its a 26er I think you'll find.. 😉
Just to completely **** up the argument, I was actually slower on my 29er than I was at the Oktoberfest on my 26er*.
*Although it probably had nothing to do with the bike.