Best idea of Each decade of MTB in UK

[Barneyballbags]

80s - Can't comment as I was only a nipper.

90s - Suspension, then in turn progressing to suspension which actually worked.

00s - Carbon (or at least its mainstream use now that manufacturers are confident with it as a frame/component material).

By far and away the WORST thing is all of the niches which have developed. As mentioned above in previous posts, you can no longer have one bike which does it all. Bike shops will now tell you that you have to have one bike for this, one for that etc. when it's just b**locks.

 

[24pouces]

So guys whats your big 3 for the last 3 decades of MTB in the UK

I understand your question, but why in UK ?
Most of the famous brands were in US or in Asia made…

 

[24pouces]

[
Sorry, keep forgetting we're multinational. What i meant was what were the big three in relation to your experience dependent on your geographical location. Its your opinions I seek not what the industry or some tech guru states

Sorry, I didn't see this answer

So :
80ies : the spirit : going off the road
90ies : marketing marketing…
00ies : nothing interesting

 

[highlandsflyer]

Not ideas as such, but:

80s: Mass production means dedicated, affordable mountain bikes for the masses

90s: Worldwide recognition of the sport, and resultant high water mark for development of the finished article, fast progress in suspension technology made affordable to the masses by the end of the decade

00s: Resurgence of the handmade bicycle, boutique small volume frame builders thriving

 

[yeti-man]

UK MTB innovations... ?

 

[matt24777]

To say that a move from a Do-It-All bike to specific duty bikes is a bad thing is wrong, I think....
Jack of All Trades, Master of None ?

What I meant by my comment was more the fact that when I got into it in the early 90's most people had a bike and used said bike for everything from XC to Downhill and doing tricks (or trials as it may be better known as).

To me it seems that a bit more skill from the rider was required to do this than having specific equipment for each facet of the sport.

Hell I used to do a ride when I was at uni that had everything in it.... serious climbing, general XC, Downhill and even a stop at the local bombholes for some air time. Most of us managed just fine with the one bike.

lets face it for a lot of us when it was the 90's we could only afford 1 bike!

Rant over

 

[N/B]

By far and away the WORST thing is all of the niches which have developed. As mentioned above in previous posts, you can no longer have one bike which does it all. Bike shops will now tell you that you have to have one bike for this, one for that etc. when it's just b**locks.

Couldn't disagree more, tbh.
Niche bikes are born out of rider progression within individual disciplines - ie, a pro rider works with his team/mechanic to get his bike as dialled as it can be for him to push the discipline as far as he can. When the limit of a bike/geometry is reached, it's redeveloped, tested, pushed and pushed until it's broken. Then it's done all over again.
That's how you end up seeing the sort of riding you'll witness at Red Bull Rampage, etcetera.
There's no way in hell any rider, no matter how skilled, could land (or even attempt) half the stuff that's done today if limited to riding a top-of-the-line rigid '80s setup. Sure, give Danny Mac a Yo Eddy to dick about on and he'll likely throw some impressive shapes, but it won't be anywhere near the level of showmanship he extracts from his current bike.

Nobody's forcing you to buy a niche bike. If you want versatility, you can do practically anything with an On-One 456, for example.

Back on topic though;

Best things
80's - Wild paint jobs & fantastic graphics
90's - Rapidfire shifting
00's - Weight saving

Worst things
80's - Rust!
90's - Awful graphics
00's - Even worse graphics

 

[highlandsflyer]

UK MTB innovations... ?

Velo clarified his meaning.

Feel free to list all the Norwegian innovations.

 

[matt24777]

Nobody's forcing you to buy a niche bike.

Correct, totally agree.

And isn't this what this is all about, buying/building what YOU perceive as a Retro bike? Be it a rigid 80's stumpy or a GT LTS from the late 90's for example?

I stand by MY opinion, it's mine shaped by my experiences. YOURS will probably differ. Fair do's.

 

[FluffyChicken]

70's : The 'scene'
80's : Concept of MTB components
90's : Me riding them
00's : Me starting riding 90's bike's again
10's : I'll tell you in seven and a bit years