MTB Races getting too Technical?

[Aggies]

MTB in South Africa grew extremely fast over the last two years!

 

The general feeling of most riders I spoke to (middle to end of pack) is of the opinion that race organizers is getting it wrong. They are making races too technical.

 

You would have had a wonderful experience during a specific race in 2009, just to find the "new" route for 2010 being too technical.

 

Fact is that 90% of MTB riders only get to train on offroad once a week and maybe get some minor technical routes once a month. To expect all to hit the same technical stuff as pros becomes rediculous.

 

Take the MTN series as an example: People that have done both the 75 and 50 at Clarens vowed never to do it again!!

 

The general suggestion is to make the normal Marathons and Half Marathons fair to 90% of riders.

 

Leave the serious technical stuff for areas within the Ultra Marathons and for XC.

 

You present the riders, please express your opinion and also think about the sosial riders that will not be hub members.

[svm3000]

it is a mountainbike race , learn to ride off road 

[Robrider]

Not even a little bit!!

 

I think in the last 2 years races such as MTN (and others) have steped up to the plate to provide much better routes. They are becoming more technical, but are not unridable.

 

If you riding a dual suspension, and you think its too technical, maybe you should stick to road riding and craiter cruise.

 

 

[Flowta]

Most are not technical enough!!

 

Even the cyclo-cross racers in Europe ride more technical stuff than some of the "Mountain bike" races

 

[Ratty]

In the western cape, we now have so many routes close to home to go practice our skills on so no excuses about not getting to ride off road. I will only do a race if it is technical, unless its something like Karoo to Coast which u do for the awesome scenary etc.

 

 

[kennyg]

Ride road then...or the shorter distances.

 

Just  my 2c

[svm3000]

Spot on

[Hairy]

MTB in South Africa grew extremely fast over the last two years!

 

?

 

The general feeling of most riders I spoke to (middle to end of pack) is of the opinion that race organizers is getting it wrong. They are making races too technical.

 

?

 

You would have had a wonderful experience during a specific race in 2009' date=' just to find the "new" route for 2010 being too technical.

 

?

 

Fact is that 90% of MTB riders only get to train on offroad once a week and maybe get some minor technical routes once a month. To expect all to hit the same technical stuff as pros becomes rediculous.

 

?

 

Take the MTN series as an example: People that have done both the 75 and 50 at Clarens vowed never to do it again!!

 

?

 

The general suggestion is to make the normal Marathons and Half Marathons fair to 90% of riders.

 

?

 

Leave the serious technical stuff for areas within the Ultra Marathons and for XC.

 

?

 

You present the riders, please express your opinion and also think about the sosial riders that will not be hub members.

[/quote']

 

 

 

Sorry Aggies ... you are joking right?

[Mudsimus]

Shees..if you moan about a race being to technical then you need to slap some slicks on your MTB.

[Mecnic]

A proper mountain bike race can never be to technical,

 

Learn to ride it or ride road,

 

I was in a bike shop a few days ago and a good road cyclist asked if the weekend mtb race was technical, the answer was no, to which he replied then I'll ride it,  thats the wrong attitude.

 

Saying a mountain bike race is to technical is like me saying road race are to far, technical makes a race and seperates average riders from great riders.

 

In all fairness technical is all part of the challenge, I'm not saying make it suicidal but it must by no means be easy.

 

There are non technical races to do, so stop complaining.

[AndreZA]

Marathons and Ultras should not be technical at all. There there challenge is the distance. XC should the technical one. But if you look at the condition of our roads it looks like road racing is the technical event.

[hipster]

The more technical the better

[bduplessis]

More Technical = More Fun

[Danger Dassie]

Which "90%"

Would that specific race be the Epic?

 

I know plenty social riders who are faster than pros in the technical bits, but then what is your definition of "technical" ?

 

Clarens is a challenge, if people can't make the full route perhaps they need to question how they approach their own skillsets, not to dumb down the route.

 

For myself I feel there are more than enough events catering to riders across the board. So perhaps people should choose their events more carefuly.

 

 

[ChigginLeg]

 

 

Roadie

[Aggies]

Not even a little bit!!

I think in the last 2 years races such as MTN (and others) have steped up to the plate to provide much better routes. They are becoming more technical' date=' but are not unridable.

If you riding a dual suspension, and you think its too technical, maybe you should stick to road riding and craiter cruise.

[/quote']

 

Maybe the hub was the wrong place for such a poll as you are all diehard MTB'ers.

 

I personally don't have a problem with Technical stuff as I am in the same category.

 

I am refering to the fact that the general sosial rider is starting to find it too difficult.

 

Don't we want to grow the sport?

 

I do every race possible and have at least 10 close friends that also try the sport. Most are getting reluctant to enter as they don't enjoy it anymore. Who is losing? The sport.

 

By the way, it is related to the shorter distance where you will find the newcomers and the sosial people. The people that starts with a R4k bike and out to enjoy it and admire your skills.

 

I have noticed a decline in participation at some events.

 

Maybe the answer is to have more XC races for the experienced riders and be aware of the fact to grow the interest with marathons.