Kinda interesting to see how, amongst the field of top-level XC competition, there seems to be quite a difference in bike handling skill. That course in...
Kinda interesting to see how, amongst the field of top-level XC competition, there seems to be quite a difference in bike handling skill. That course in Crans-Montana really separates the "dirt-roadies" from the "real" mountainbikers. Some are attacking the jumps, drops and rockgardens with confidence while others ride sketchy and seem overwhelmed by the difficulty. I honestly would not have expected to see so much struggle.
That was really funny to watch. You could pretty much tell who was doing a modified lawn dart and who was riding their MTB just based on saddle height. Use them droppers, y'all!
I love it, I'm actually going to watch this one. Feels like xc has returned to being part of mountain biking.
"Still too nuanced. The elite field is way deeper and way more trained now. Just like almost everything else, like supercross. You don't really get to...
"Still too nuanced. The elite field is way deeper and way more trained now. Just like almost everything else, like supercross. You don't really get to be a semi-muscular party animal who rocks up to the hut and takes first these days"
Bullshit. Mik Hannah & GM did the same shit back then they've done in recent years. World Cup racers in the 2000's were as elite as they come. Don't buy the hype of the drunken sailor stuff.
Napalm at his peak was training more, eating clean & working his butt off to be the best. Please stop acting like training is some art form now versus then.
Elite then is just as elite as now. "...way more trained" is recency bias & complete fiction.
Oh please dude... Your average cat 1 junior these days would completely decimate an elite world cup in 2001. If you don't believe me...
In 1997...
Oh please dude... Your average cat 1 junior these days would completely decimate an elite world cup in 2001. If you don't believe me...
In 1997 there was a world cup at Massanutten. The winning time at that race was 4:28 by Tomas Misser. That time would've gone into a smoking 13th place this year at the DHSE race in male cat 2/3 40+ on the same track. Face it, people are WAY better at riding bikes these days.
Watch any footage of early world cup dh racing and then watch any vital raw of a recent round and see the difference in rider level. Even watching video of racing 5 years ago pales in comparison to the level of performance and raw speed top level athletes are pushing in 2024. The envelope is continuously pushed and that's one of the best things about this amazing sport
Dude racing is racing......doesn't matter what sport, age or era you are in the top guys will be getting as much speed as the technology allows them. Have you ridden a downhill bike from 1997?! It only looks like they were slower because the bikes had about 1/3 of the grip they do now...
I dont like people getting hurt, but xc racers failing is the content I didnt know I wanted hehe. We all have to walk our own walk, just shows what studs these DH racers are.
Can't say I'm too surprised tbh. The course in it's original form seemed too hard for some racers. Still, a bit disappointing. Even XC courses should be technically challenging and if you're not up to the task you shouldn't be considered an Elite racer IMO. After all, this is 2024, not 2004.
I love the taping. A nice way to say "if you have to use this enjoy your loss". Like the course builders who spent all that time building it are gonna put thumb tacks in the go around. "Send it or lose."
Kinda interesting to see how, amongst the field of top-level XC competition, there seems to be quite a difference in bike handling skill. That course in...
Kinda interesting to see how, amongst the field of top-level XC competition, there seems to be quite a difference in bike handling skill. That course in Crans-Montana really separates the "dirt-roadies" from the "real" mountainbikers. Some are attacking the jumps, drops and rockgardens with confidence while others ride sketchy and seem overwhelmed by the difficulty. I honestly would not have expected to see so much struggle.
Seems hard to say where this line really lies. Tom Pidcock might be the ultimate "dirt-roadie", but I've seen videos of him absolutely ripping singletrack. Looking forward to seeing how this goes down -- should be a battle.
Kinda interesting to see how, amongst the field of top-level XC competition, there seems to be quite a difference in bike handling skill. That course in...
Kinda interesting to see how, amongst the field of top-level XC competition, there seems to be quite a difference in bike handling skill. That course in Crans-Montana really separates the "dirt-roadies" from the "real" mountainbikers. Some are attacking the jumps, drops and rockgardens with confidence while others ride sketchy and seem overwhelmed by the difficulty. I honestly would not have expected to see so much struggle.
Seems hard to say where this line really lies. Tom Pidcock might be the ultimate "dirt-roadie", but I've seen videos of him absolutely ripping singletrack. Looking...
Seems hard to say where this line really lies. Tom Pidcock might be the ultimate "dirt-roadie", but I've seen videos of him absolutely ripping singletrack. Looking forward to seeing how this goes down -- should be a battle.
Probably the most concerned person in the pits is the mechanic who built the mid-pack guy's front wheel.
Most of these folks can huck it.
Now...gotta huck it w/ heart rate in zone 4 on scrawny tires & rigid rims.
Assume if teams saw it far enough in advance, teams would beef up the build out front as precaution.
Mid-pack guy shows up on skinny tire/rim combo fully committed to knowing he'll max his heart rate, cough up blood & huck them with his heart in his throat trying to keep a pack of other exhausted folks suffering along from dropping them.
I’m loving the increased difficulty in XCO. If you can’t handle it as top-level racer; swap the xc bike for a trail bike, wear an actual MTB helmet and back protection, or go race gravel or XC marathon instead.
She says they've been taken out in the video. They added a D-line on the rock drops too.
She says they've been taken out in the video. They added a D-line on the rock drops too.
Isn't there supposed to be some oversight/consulting w/ the technical delegates on course construction, including site visits, leading up to the race or is that just for DHI?
Seems like removing and routing around major technical features because weather wasn't factored in (in the Alps!!) is a pretty big fail...
Sad they are closing the features, there are already B and C lines for whoever is not up to the challenge. It's removing opportunities for the most skilled riders. What's about adding a chairlift section in the climbs to help the racers with less stamina?
Racers are adults (for the elite) and can choose the amount of risk they want to take even if they might have to crash a couple times to find their limit. Honestly, the track doesn't look different than what you would find in a public bike park. Any kids from Whistler would shred these features with ease...
Maybe not the smartest to have wood features on a wet track but nothing that could not be fixed with some chicken wire..;-p
That was really funny to watch. You could pretty much tell who was doing a modified lawn dart and who was riding their MTB just based on saddle height. Use them droppers, y'all!
I love it, I'm actually going to watch this one. Feels like xc has returned to being part of mountain biking.
Is... Is this an insult?
That's the most mundane accusation I can think of.
"I bet you enjoy mustard on your hot dogs. And drink water when you're thirsty."
Dude racing is racing......doesn't matter what sport, age or era you are in the top guys will be getting as much speed as the technology allows them. Have you ridden a downhill bike from 1997?! It only looks like they were slower because the bikes had about 1/3 of the grip they do now...
I think he’s been sampling the shrooms…
We do have a couple VWs right now!!!
Full send!
Drops can be hard, when you do them wrong:
...or, when you really know what you're doing...drops are easy (2nd slide):
I didn't realise accusing someone of being part of the majority of the European demographic was considered an insult in the States?
Soundtrack might be a little too mellow for that clip.
And when I look at the following xco_mtb clip I struggle with the assertion that they're all better riders than any of us here.
I dont like people getting hurt, but xc racers failing is the content I didnt know I wanted hehe. We all have to walk our own walk, just shows what studs these DH racers are.
XC in 1994:
There’s a new go-around now:
Can't say I'm too surprised tbh. The course in it's original form seemed too hard for some racers. Still, a bit disappointing. Even XC courses should be technically challenging and if you're not up to the task you shouldn't be considered an Elite racer IMO. After all, this is 2024, not 2004.
Hitting a small drop should not pose any problems at a world level mtb event. Seems like it's a skill/under-biking issue.
Found the best comment on that video:
Isn't the sketch bridge more dangerous once it's wet?
I love the taping. A nice way to say "if you have to use this enjoy your loss". Like the course builders who spent all that time building it are gonna put thumb tacks in the go around. "Send it or lose."
Was that Leeroy Jenkins?
I bet you have socialized healthcare, low gun crime and obesity rates.
Didn't insult anyone.
You think someone offering you shroom chocolates keeps them in a Volvo in the countryside?
Seems hard to say where this line really lies. Tom Pidcock might be the ultimate "dirt-roadie", but I've seen videos of him absolutely ripping singletrack. Looking forward to seeing how this goes down -- should be a battle.
Probably the most concerned person in the pits is the mechanic who built the mid-pack guy's front wheel.
Most of these folks can huck it.
Now...gotta huck it w/ heart rate in zone 4 on scrawny tires & rigid rims.
Assume if teams saw it far enough in advance, teams would beef up the build out front as precaution.
Mid-pack guy shows up on skinny tire/rim combo fully committed to knowing he'll max his heart rate, cough up blood & huck them with his heart in his throat trying to keep a pack of other exhausted folks suffering along from dropping them.
I’m loving the increased difficulty in XCO. If you can’t handle it as top-level racer; swap the xc bike for a trail bike, wear an actual MTB helmet and back protection, or go race gravel or XC marathon instead.
Puck's course preview: "We are now doing the b-line and are scared": https://youtu.be/Hgdx61zMj-U?t=999
And looks like the log drops to log-rounds drop might be out? Not in Puck's preview or Tempier's either: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzwf2XQR6Bk
She says they've been taken out in the video. They added a D-line on the rock drops too.
Isn't there supposed to be some oversight/consulting w/ the technical delegates on course construction, including site visits, leading up to the race or is that just for DHI?
Seems like removing and routing around major technical features because weather wasn't factored in (in the Alps!!) is a pretty big fail...
Snowshoe whale tail...
Sad they are closing the features, there are already B and C lines for whoever is not up to the challenge. It's removing opportunities for the most skilled riders. What's about adding a chairlift section in the climbs to help the racers with less stamina?
Racers are adults (for the elite) and can choose the amount of risk they want to take even if they might have to crash a couple times to find their limit. Honestly, the track doesn't look different than what you would find in a public bike park. Any kids from Whistler would shred these features with ease...
Maybe not the smartest to have wood features on a wet track but nothing that could not be fixed with some chicken wire..;-p
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