Definition: Trail & Cross Country riding

[nigelhicks]

Cross Country (Or XCO under UCI regulations) defines short course lap racing on a 5-6km long circuit

Marathon (Or XCM) defines longer single lap events that take place over a circuit greater than 40km (Im not sure of the length stipulation)

 

"Trail" is not defined by the UCI but would likely fall under Marathon, but is more the fun side of Marathon Racing.

 

Downhill is therefore DHI under UCI regs

[Clinton1]

Nigel, what do the acronyms stand for? I presume XCM would mean Cross Country Marathon? And I always assumed XCO meant Cross Country only, so is the "O" just for show?

[Tumbleweed]

Cross Country (Or XCO under UCI regulations) defines short course lap racing on a 5-6km long circuit Marathon (Or XCM) defines longer single lap events that take place over a circuit greater than 40km (Im not sure of the length stipulation) "Trail" is not defined by the UCI but would likely fall under Marathon, but is more the fun side of Marathon Racing. Downhill is therefore DHI under UCI regs

Interesting that Trials isn't listed as an MTB discipline by the UCI. Edited July 6, 2012 by Tumbleweed

[Tumbleweed]

Nigel, what do the acronyms stand for? I presume XCM would mean Cross Country Marathon? And I always assumed XCO meant Cross Country only, so is the "O" just for show?

 

Olympic format.

[Clinton1]

I think I much prefer Tumbleweed's definition. KISS. If you are riding on dirt, it's mountain biking. In fact, I am a fan of an even simpler definition, if you are using fat knobbly tires you are mountain biking, if you use skinny smooth tyres you are road cycling

[patches]

If there's dirt under your wheels, it's mountain biking. Finish and klaar.

 

what about cyclocross and BMX?

[Tumbleweed]

what about cyclocross and BMX?

 

Grass. Tarmac berms.

[patches]

Definition according to patches: If you're racing, then it's XC. If you're enjoying the scenery, then it's trail.

 

EDIT: it also has to do with your pants. If you're wearing tighties then it is definitely not trail!

Edited July 6, 2012 by patches

[Keep Pedaling]

The difference is in the bikes and what they are designed to do best.

 

Bikes seem to get more suspension, more strength/weight and more relaxed geometry as you go from cross country to trail to all mountain to downhill bikes. You can still ride along a district road on a downhill bike or down a steep hill on a cross country bike.

[awesme]

So basically allot of our outrides, or races like the MTB 40 and 70km falls under XMC, although it is not lap, it is point to point.

 

G

 

Cross Country (Or XCO under UCI regulations) defines short course lap racing on a 5-6km long circuit

Marathon (Or XCM) defines longer single lap events that take place over a circuit greater than 40km (Im not sure of the length stipulation)

 

"Trail" is not defined by the UCI but would likely fall under Marathon, but is more the fun side of Marathon Racing.

 

Downhill is therefore DHI under UCI regs

[Ryanpmb]

I think I much prefer Tumbleweed's definition. KISS. If you are riding on dirt, it's mountain biking. In fact, I am a fan of an even simpler definition, if you are using fat knobbly tires you are mountain biking, if you use skinny smooth tyres you are road cycling

 

Cyclocross?

[patches]

So basically allot of our outrides, or races like the MTB 40 and 70km falls under XCM, although it is not lap, it is point to point.

 

G

 

yup! 90%* of MTB races in SA are XCM (excluding the gravity genres). Very few in comparison are XCO. There seems to be a revival of XCO though. There's the XCOSA guys with their series, and a few other races here and there. But Nissan series... XCM. MTN National Series... XCM. etc etc

 

_{* I think up 74% of my statistics myself}

[Ryanpmb]

My 2c: trail riding is generally more technical, cross country is mostly faster with less ups & downs.

How to rate it: I don't know.

 

Have you ridden the Cascades World Cup XC course? Plenty technical and plenty of ups and downs, maybe over short distances but they are still there and you do them over and over again.

[Clinton1]

Definition according to patches: If you're racing, then it's XC. If you're enjoying the scenery, then it's trail.

 

EDIT: it also has to do with your pants. If you're wearing tighties then it is definitely not trail!

 

Hmmmm.... is it possible to like only half a post?!

[patches]

My 2c: trail riding is generally more technical, cross country is mostly faster with less ups & downs.

How to rate it: I don't know.

Have you ridden the Cascades World Cup XC course? Plenty technical and plenty of ups and downs, maybe over short distances but they are still there and you do them over and over again.

 

Again, the distinction bewteen XCO and XCM. Spartan is talking potato (XCM), Cascades course is Banana (XCO)... only commonalities are the bikes and tighty pants! Tech, endurance etc are very different

[patches]

Hmmmm.... is it possible to like only half a post?!

 

it was my edit wasn't it!