Are XCO riders the ultimate mountain bikers?

[GoLefty!!]

XCO is mountain biking, my 2nd MTB race ever was at Paarl rock in '94, anyone remember the 'drop off' that you rolled down, near vertical, with rigid forks, it was crazy, 3 laps of a 4km course for the 'sport class'.......toughest 12kms you spent on a bike back then, and this was how people got into mountain biking which was more of a fringe sport then....

 

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

[Wyatt Earp]

What bikes are most ridden in XCO, Hard tail or soft tail?

 

I don't think we will see soft tails at XCO races, unless of course someone like Seven makes a tasty bike for us all to drool at.

[milky4130]

Cape Epic Women winner Anika was on a hard tail I think she came 4th yesterday.

 

Edit: Oops I meant to say Dual Susser

Edited April 14, 2014 by milky4130

[GoLefty!!]

It looks like the majority of riders were on hardtails yesterday. There were a few full suspensions, and the best placed one was Ondrej Cink in 5th, if I remember correctly.

 

There weren't any softails though... And I doubt that you will see a soft tail at any modern XCO world cup race.

 

 

 

I haven't a seen a softtail reaced in anger around an XC course for more than 10years. ( opens argument that original Scapel was a softtail and not a full susser)

[Brian Fantana]

I personally think that Jared Graves is the ultimate mountain biker.

 

In 2013:

 

3rd Downhill World Champs

2nd Enduro World Series

 

In 2014:

 

2nd Australian XCO Champs (Dan Mcconnell who came 9th yesterday won by 1:20)

 

In addition to the above he is a former 4X world champion, 4X world cup winner and he came 6th in BMX at the Olympics.

 

Pretty much an ultimate mountain biker if you ask me.

 

I am pretty sure he will rock a marathon or stage race, should he decide to ride one.

Edited April 14, 2014 by Brian Fantana

[Stretch]

I haven't a seen a softtail reaced in anger around an XC course for more than 10years. ( opens argument that original Scapel was a softtail and not a full susser)

 

did you miss the olympics?

[Wyatt Earp]

did you miss the olympics?

 

Yeah, that race was won on a full suspension bike.

[Brian Fantana]

 

did you miss the olympics?

 

If you are referring to Kulharvey, he wasn't on a softail.

[Stretch]

I personally think that Jared Graves is the ultimate mountain biker.

 

 

 

Tracey Mosley is not far behind

 

DH World Champ

DH World Cup Winner

Enduro World Champ

4x British Champ

 

now competing in the xco circuit

[Stretch]

If you are referring to Kulharvey, he wasn't on a softail.

 

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

 

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

['Dale]

Found a pic of Ty after his crash. Courtesy of twitter

 

Ow!

[Wyatt Earp]

Time for a quick Hub educational course again.

 

Full suspension :

 

http://mtobikes.com/wp-content/ellsworth-dare-mountain-bike-frame.jpg

 

 

 

Soft Tail.

 

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_KfCsXGxNMGM/TGWDBP2TMJI/AAAAAAAACeM/DHT6xGzFfjE/s1600/moots_ybb.jpg

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

 

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

 

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

 

Yep. A softail doesn't have any pivots on the rear triangle. A full suspension bike does.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Time for a quick Hub educational course again.

 

Full suspension :

 

http://mtobikes.com/wp-content/ellsworth-dare-mountain-bike-frame.jpg

 

 

 

Soft Tail.

 

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_KfCsXGxNMGM/TGWDBP2TMJI/AAAAAAAACeM/DHT6xGzFfjE/s1600/moots_ybb.jpg

And that Spez shown above is a full susser. Has pivots all over the place.

[milky4130]

Time for a quick Hub educational course again.

 

Full suspension :

 

http://mtobikes.com/wp-content/ellsworth-dare-mountain-bike-frame.jpg

 

 

 

Soft Tail.

 

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_KfCsXGxNMGM/TGWDBP2TMJI/AAAAAAAACeM/DHT6xGzFfjE/s1600/moots_ybb.jpg

nothing wrong with a refresher course :-) thanks.

[Stretch]

Time for a quick Hub educational course again.

 

Yep. A softail doesn't have any pivots on the rear triangle. A full suspension bike does.

 

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