If you could have one mountain bike, would it be a trail or XC bike?

[Jan Myburgh]

18 hours ago, DieselnDust said:

Can’t see the point in buying a 100mm travel XC bike unless you’re racing regularly or are an investment banker entering the cape epic (where people seem. More keen to ride what the pros ride than buying a bike more suitable for long days in the saddle

I started racing rigid bikes, yes, rigid... With 1.95 inch semi slick non tubeless 26 inch wheels... I do race regularly, yes. Sadly, I am not an investment banker 🙂

[Hairy]

49 minutes ago, Jan Myburgh said:

I started racing rigid bikes, yes, rigid... With 1.95 inch semi slick non tubeless 26 inch wheels... I do race regularly, yes. Sadly, I am not an investment banker 🙂

prob faster than the investment banker

[DieselnDust]

1 hour ago, Jan Myburgh said:

I started racing rigid bikes, yes, rigid... With 1.95 inch semi slick non tubeless 26 inch wheels... I do race regularly, yes. Sadly, I am not an investment banker 🙂

Ditto, steel fully rigid 3x7 gearing, thumbshifters toe clips and straps then road shoes and pedals on an Mtb before spd came along. 
 But today I’d chose a 120mm marathon/downcountry/ light trail bike rather than steep XC bike. 
I’m still fast up and down but I just prefer to be beat up less. I’m a lover not a fighter man…

[SwissVan]

4 hours ago, Hairy said:

"I remember when 65mm elastomer forks were ample" 

Like rim brakes....😁

[LazyTrailRider]

1 hour ago, DieselnDust said:

3x7 gearing, thumbshifters toe clips and straps

This just reminded me how rubbish thumbshifters were, even the expensive-feeling XT ones…

[Jan Myburgh]

4 minutes ago, LazyTrailRider said:

This just reminded me how rubbish thumbshifters were, even the expensive-feeling XT ones…

Thumb shifters were better than the crime against humanity that way dual control.....

[LazyTrailRider]

Just now, Jan Myburgh said:

Thumb shifters were better than the crime against humanity that way dual control.....

Haha. Yes, it works fine on the road and gravel, but definitely does not translate well to technical riding…

[DieselnDust]

38 minutes ago, Jan Myburgh said:

Thumb shifters were better than the crime against humanity that way dual control.....

sacrilege !!!

I begged Shimano to not drop Dual Control and Rapid Rise.  I loved M965

Alas "Merica spoke

[thebob]

Elastomer forks, please never again. Manitou 3, Rockshox Indy and Judy where acceptable back in the day, but man are they rubbish compared to what we have now

Edited April 28, 2022 by thebob

[Hairy]

13 hours ago, SwissVan said:

Like rim brakes....😁

As in cantilever brakes, and not even the fancy V-Brakes.

[Hairy]

11 hours ago, DieselnDust said:

sacrilege !!!

I begged Shimano to not drop Dual Control and Rapid Rise.  I loved M965

Alas "Merica spoke

Was also a fan of them

[dave303e]

XC bike with a dropper post and some good tyres is more than enough fun and can handle most of it. 

[Jewbacca]

29 minutes ago, Hairy said:

Was also a fan of them

Weren't those still cutting edge the last time you rode a bike?

[lechatnoir]

13 hours ago, LazyTrailRider said:

This just reminded me how rubbish thumbshifters were, even the expensive-feeling XT ones…

but thinking back, the maintenance and reliability was just wonderful....

[Headshot]

12 hours ago, DieselnDust said:

sacrilege !!!

I begged Shimano to not drop Dual Control and Rapid Rise.  I loved M965

Alas "Merica spoke

I liked my XT dual controls, not that the brakes worked that well...

[Hairy]

36 minutes ago, Jewbacca said:

Weren't those still cutting edge the last time you rode a bike?

F.A.C.T