Are XCO riders the ultimate mountain bikers?

[Brian Fantana]

 

And that is exactly why I asked if we were splitting hairs...fact is that for the past 10 odd years we have been referring to anything with a rear shock as a softail

 

Splitting hairs would be arguing over the use of terms like dual suspension vs full suspension.

 

Full suspension vs softail? There are distinct differences as pointed out in this thread, which means it's not splitting hairs.

 

Fact is that the "we" you refer to have been wrong for the last 10 odd years.

[kosmonooit]

What about fixed seat stays that are designed to flex? (like the Flash)

[Stretch]

Splitting hairs would be arguing over the use of terms like dual suspension vs full suspension.

 

Full suspension vs softail? There are distinct differences as pointed out in this thread, which means it's not splitting hairs.

 

Fact is that the "we" you refer to have been wrong for the last 10 odd years.

 

perhaps the collective we is wrong - but nowdays when seeing softail mentioned we automatically assume full suss...just as when people mention front shock..anything else is splitting hairs

[Eldron]

In my opinion XCO riders are the best all round mtbers.

 

Best rider of all time: Marianne Vos - pick a cycling category and she is probably the reigning or ex world/olympic champ.

[Caerus]

are we splitting hairs between the def of a softail vs a full suspension?

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7109/7775680744_28104a3832.jpg

Maybe it's the angle of the picture, but doesn't that bike look too small for him?

[kosmonooit]

In my opinion XCO riders are the best all round mtbers.

 

Best rider of all time: Marianne Vos - pick a cycling category and she is probably the reigning or ex world/olympic champ.

 

Ms Vos just won the Short Track and XC at Sea Otter this weekend. Suzzie took the mens,

[SwissVan]

Then you do a open road mtb race, you make it easy and not technical and you will pull 200plus x say R120--easy money for orgenizers.

 

Although i love XC i can clearly see in the Southern Cape, guys are trying to build it here but lots of local riders wont come and do it they will rather go on a easy long ride.

 

 

 

 

Its simple, XCO is associated with flat out racing at max effort for a relatively short period of time...if you don't ride hard then you face getting lapped...not many like to suffer and face the potential of being lapped in the space of 2 hours

[Wyatt Earp]

Maybe it's the angle of the picture, but doesn't that bike look too small for him?

 

Of course it is, he won Olympic gold and numerous other races on a small bike

[rouxtjie]

Guys...it is what it is....XCM is more participation friendly. Show me a XCO event that can handle 2000 participants? yep there aint none...

 

Doesn't mean its any easier....its just possible to organize.

[Wyatt Earp]

And that is exactly why I asked if we were splitting hairs...fact is that for the past 10 odd years we have been referring to anything with a rear shock as a softail

 

Not where I come from.

I think however us guys that are anal about this have had soft tails before.

[Caerus]

Of course it is, he won Olympic gold and numerous other races on a small bike

Well there you have it.

[Eldron]

 

 

Its simple, XCO is associated with flat out racing at max effort for a relatively short period of time...if you don't ride hard then you face getting lapped...not many like to suffer and face the potential of being lapped in the space of 2 hours

 

Ultimately it's a numbers game. You can get 100 max people on an XCO course. Plenty thousand on an XCM course. XCO will never be huge.

 

Typical XCO race takes up the whole day. If you have members in different age cats you have to pretty much be there all day. Tough on a family.

 

XCO will only ever be a niche discipline.

[rouxtjie]

Ultimately it's a numbers game. You can get 100 max people on an XCO course. Plenty thousand on an XCM course. XCO will never be huge.

 

Typical XCO race takes up the whole day. If you have members in different age cats you have to pretty much be there all day. Tough on a family.

 

XCO will only ever be a niche discipline.

yahtzeeeee!!!!

 

Imagine a nissan or mtn race but in XCO format....it will be a disaster.

[Eldron]

Guys...it is what it is....XCM is more participation friendly. Show me a XCO event that can handle 2000 participants? yep there aint none...

 

Doesn't mean its any easier....its just possible to organize.

 

Snap :-)

 

XCO is more spectator friendly - XCM is more participant friendly.

 

The other harsh thing about XCO is unless your tech skills are hot you spend the whole day trying to catch up. With Iron and BoostedGP as friends I spend all my time on tech/XCO courses trying to close the gaps that open on the tech stuff. It adds an extra vomit factor to the red lining!!

[GoLefty!!]

Not where I come from.

I think however us guys that are anal about this have had soft tails before.

 

 

Exactly. the difference in feel of a soft tail and a full susser is huge, (unless you ride one of those "brain" equiped things)

 

Also, its not a front "shock"...... A shock does not incorporate a spring mechanism to suspend the weight (thereare springs in Shocks but they're used to affect damping).

 

the suspension forks on our mtbs are front suspension, not just shocks as there is an air spring and a oil damper (Shock)

[rock]

Yip clipped into Time Racing Road pedals and Gaerne shoes on a Cannondale M800 with rigid steel forks and cantilever brakes

 

Power grips and a flex stem....

 

http://images.evanscycles.com/product_image/image/9fe/d73/780/26238/large/powergrips-pedal-straps.jpg

 

http://www.bikepro.com/products/stems/stems_jpg/n_girvin_stem.jpg