is it the bike or the rider?

[cornholio's RC200]

I'm always going to be rubbish regardless of which bike you put me on

 

[JamesM]

It's both bike and rider. The sport is mountainbiking, to say that the mountainbike itself makes little or no difference is foolish.

 

[JamesM]

it's mostly rider in my experience, I'd say rider:bike ratio is 80:20.

Rider fitness and skill count for A LOT, stick a pro MTB racer on a shopping bike and me on (for example) a Scott Spark and there will still be only one winner.

(and it won't be me)

You may be right. But how about timing a lap then swapping bikes and timing a second lap. Would the gap between the pro and you be the same, or even close to the same, for both laps? I suspect not.

 

[dyna-ti]

Rider first then then bike can make a difference.

An unfit rider is unfit compared to a fit rider.
Some goes for unskilled riders.

Glad that clears things up .I am both unfit and unskilled,its a wonder i can keep upright .

Im sitting here in pain after falling off again ,my mistake was to ride through a puddle.
Puddle turned into a pothole and i wasnt concentrating enough to be holding on tightly enough
At least I didn't land on my head this time

 

[FluffyChicken]

Rider first, then the bike can make a difference.

An unfit rider is unfit compared to a fit rider.
Same goes for unskilled riders.

Glad that clears things up .I am both unfit and unskilled,its a wonder i can keep upright .

Im sitting here in pain after falling off again ,my mistake was to ride through a puddle.
Puddle turned into a pothole and i wasnt concentrating enough to be holding on tightly enough
At least I didn't land on my head this time

You see in those situations you need a Trimble, so the canoe er bike can make a difference.