Because the pros...

[nickc]

LOL - have you seen how see through worn Lycra is in sunlight, okay if its a hot chick, not so if its an overweight guy.

 

I will ride behind her if she is wearing worn Lycra in the sun.

[Tubehunter]

I started out that way inclined, but have now gain a bit more insight.

 

I used to have a bike for each discipline, but realised that I could never spend enough time on each bike to be really comfortable on it.

 

Sometimes less is more.

 

Shot, I'll keep that in mind. I think each will have its own 'season' so to speak and it will depend on which event I am next ticking off the bucket list. Personally I love the different feel between the road and mountain bike setups when I spend more time on one above the other.

[rouxtjie]

I think almost everybody is missing the point of this thread. It is not about 29ers or lycra or spds or anything like that. mmmm, thought you were quite specific as to who the sheeple are, thought we just having a bit of fun.

 

It's about people who insist that people do things because the professional riders do it. A quote was made in a thread recently about how something is better because the pro riders do it.

 

A lot of this can also be seen when people insist that a new rider buy a specific bike because it is "better" without actually knowing why it is better or without knowing the riders preference to riding. How would the new rider know what his riding preference is if he is just starting out? Most probably they saw some event on tv or heard from friend or family member how lekker sani2c was...kitting someone out for XCM is probably 99% on the money. Which is what the lbs do.

 

A lot of people wear a certain outfit because it is what they have seen on TV and yet they only do a 5km ride. I am not going to tell them otherwise but I think if the shop assistant informed them of the alternative they might have gone that way. The shop assistant most likely used the words "all the pro riders do it" and the customer is fooled into buying this or that. Never had an assistant or lbs tell me get this or that cause the pro's use it...budget doesn't allow someone new to the sport or joe soap or me for that matter to get what the pro's use...Its really too big an investment to look like suzie if I am not even sure I am going to like the sport.

 

The point of this thread is not to stir up another debate of 29 vs 26 or budgie smuggling vs baggy transport. It's all about doing what you want and not because the pros do it. Agree, live and let live

['Dale]

4 words

 

 

What Would Burry Do?

[nolipoli]

Shot, I'll keep that in mind. I think each will have its own 'season' so to speak and it will depend on which event I am next ticking off the bucket list. Personally I love the different feel between the road and mountain bike setups when I spend more time on one above the other.

 

I cut down from 6 bikes to 4 - one road/TT combo, a freeride bike, a dirt jumper, and a do-everything else bike.

[rouxtjie]

4 words

 

 

What Would Burry Do?

He would FRIB....that is all that matters anyway

[Guest Kalahari ou]

4 words

 

 

What Would Burry Do?

Do I see that on a bracelet. .. w.w.b.d?

[Andrew Steer]

Do I see that on a bracelet. .. w.w.b.d?

Nope, needs to be clearer... else teens all over the world might well commit blasphemy and say/think "What Would Bieber Do"

[RockCoach]

How did you determine that she is more suited? Seriously interested.

 

She first came to me for skill lessons on a medium travel DS (Merida 120D) before. Average height for a lady. Became a reasonably good technical rider. Doesn't do any races. Likes shorter more challenging trails: Groenkloof, Rietvlei etc. Then she comes back to me for a refresher on a Merida 29er. She says she can't get comfortable riding the things she used to ride. Thinks it might be setup but I check it and it looks good. But she says it feels too high and she has no confidence. I don't know what it is but some people just don't feel like they are "in" certain bikes, rather "on". On her DS she used to be quite active on the bike and soaked up big terrain bumps with relaxed arms and legs. The bigger wheels just doesn't allow that. Then the technical climbing which she was able to do, she now struggles a bit with especially at lower speeds. Cornering, she just couldn't seem to get low and lean the bike over enough so was always going wide on the exit.

 

Fortunately, between my wife and daughter there are a few long travel 26" DS bikes with slackish H.A's to choose from. It only took about 30 seconds for a big smile to form and for her to realise for herself what type of bike suits her. Now, with a bit of effort we could probably find her a 29er that she feels more comfortable on but ultimately it is her decision to sell the big Merida and go back to a trail bike.

 

I think your idea that the majority of mtb newbies go to the races is inaccurate. I come into contact with many of them and very few actually race in their first year or two of bike ownership.

['Dale]

Nope, needs to be clearer... else teens all over the world might well commit blasphemy and say/think "What Would Bieber Do"

 

Heehee

[Wyatt Earp]

She first came to me for skill lessons on a medium travel DS (Merida 120D) before. Average height for a lady. Became a reasonably good technical rider. Doesn't do any races. Likes shorter more challenging trails: Groenkloof, Rietvlei etc. Then she comes back to me for a refresher on a Merida 29er. She says she can't get comfortable riding the things she used to ride. Thinks it might be setup but I check it and it looks good. But she says it feels too high and she has no confidence. I don't know what it is but some people just don't feel like they are "in" certain bikes, rather "on". On her DS she used to be quite active on the bike and soaked up big terrain bumps with relaxed arms and legs. The bigger wheels just doesn't allow that. Then the technical climbing which she was able to do, she now struggles a bit with especially at lower speeds. Cornering, she just couldn't seem to get low and lean the bike over enough so was always going wide on the exit.

 

Fortunately, between my wife and daughter there are a few long travel 26" DS bikes with slackish H.A's to choose from. It only took about 30 seconds for a big smile to form and for her to realise for herself what type of bike suits her. Now, with a bit of effort we could probably find her a 29er that she feels more comfortable on but ultimately it is her decision to sell the big Merida and go back to a trail bike.

 

I think your idea that the majority of mtb newbies go to the races is inaccurate. I come into contact with many of them and very few actually race in their first year or two of bike ownership.

 

 

I know, it goes with that old saying that geometry is in our imagination.

[canfan]

The sport has etiquette.

Consider that too?

Agreed. Same concept as golf shirts.

[rouxtjie]

She first came to me for skill lessons on a medium travel DS (Merida 120D) before. Average height for a lady. Became a reasonably good technical rider. Doesn't do any races. Likes shorter more challenging trails: Groenkloof, Rietvlei etc. Then she comes back to me for a refresher on a Merida 29er. She says she can't get comfortable riding the things she used to ride. Thinks it might be setup but I check it and it looks good. But she says it feels too high and she has no confidence. I don't know what it is but some people just don't feel like they are "in" certain bikes, rather "on". On her DS she used to be quite active on the bike and soaked up big terrain bumps with relaxed arms and legs. The bigger wheels just doesn't allow that. Then the technical climbing which she was able to do, she now struggles a bit with especially at lower speeds. Cornering, she just couldn't seem to get low and lean the bike over enough so was always going wide on the exit.

 

Fortunately, between my wife and daughter there are a few long travel 26" DS bikes with slackish H.A's to choose from. It only took about 30 seconds for a big smile to form and for her to realise for herself what type of bike suits her. Now, with a bit of effort we could probably find her a 29er that she feels more comfortable on but ultimately it is her decision to sell the big Merida and go back to a trail bike.

 

I think your idea that the majority of mtb newbies go to the races is inaccurate. I come into contact with many of them and very few actually race in their first year or two of bike ownership.

I see, good one sorting her out though. Initially I would have said setup is wrong and played around with stems, seatposts to find the desired result...if anything I feel more skittish on the trails you mentioned, especially on the short loose sharp climbs like wendell's revenge on the smaller wheels, its more a cadence / keeping momentum thing...I find the bigger wheels help keep that. On the really twisty stuff fo sure, the 26 is boss..Thaba, parts of rietvlei and fountains come to mind.

 

Hear what you saying, whoever I still think the majority get into the sport to participate in an event...almost a case of I got an entry but no bike so will shoot over to the lbs and get one, how hard can it be. Looking at the number of hands raised and the condition of the bikes and gear when asked at races "So who's first time is this" by the announcer, I still reckon the majority of people have no clue what type of riding they like before they purchase their bikes.

[JannievanZyl]

The Pros do things in a certain way because it increases their efficiency, or at least 99% of the time. So we should take note of what they do and steal with pride if it makes sense.

 

Lycra, Clipless and 29ers all makes sense to me, so I use them where appropriate. I suspect for the same reasons the pros do. So I don't consider it "copying", just a logical conclusion of applying technology to a specific problem.

[Guest Oom Kalahari!]

Nope, needs to be clearer... else teens all over the world might well commit blasphemy and say/think "What Would Bieber Do"

curses!!!

[Gambithunt]

Saw a guy on a 29er today, he didn't even have to peddle up the hills. Amazing.