is it the bike or the rider?

[lewis1641]

went out for a ride this week with 2 mates and 5 of their mates. i was rigid, retro, single speed adn v brakes. everyone else was 120mm plus full suspension, disc brakes. there must have been £20 grand's worth of bikes. well £20,020 if you count mine.

I am not a fast rider. I am fat. I am unfit. I am not a fast rider because i am fat and unfit.

Try telling that to these boys. I was slow because i had no gears or suspension.

They were being slowed because they didnt have "dropper posts" whatever the hell they are supposed to be.

I found it really amusing that often someone will fail and blame the tool, observers will say it has nothing to do with the tool.

In this instance it was absolutely clear my fitness was at fault yet they were blaming the tool for me.

I wish this was a post full of "i was just as fast as them" but sadly not.

one thing i can guarantee though, I had way more fun. and didnt need to worry about the sandy mud on my linkages

 

[jimo746]

it's mostly rider in my experience, I'd say rider:bike ratio is 80:20.
the guys I ride with are of around the same fitness level and my crusty old retrobikes fare just as well as any of their bikes in general, only when it comes to rocky, rooty, fast and technical downhills does the lack of suspension travel and disc brakes come into play, but that's to be expected I guess.

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)

 

[Russell]

only when it comes to rocky, rooty, fast and technical downhills does the lack of suspension travel and disc brakes come into play,

Fundamentally then there is no difference whilst riding on the road to the hills, its only when you hit the trails that the modern bikes really shine?

 

[FluffyChicken]

Rider first then then bike can make a difference.

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

But take the same rider and put him on different bikes, then some will make a difference.
Some might make him have more fun or make it easier. Some might make an unskilled rider have more fun and confidence by affording the rider mistakes or smooth the bumps out, hence having an effect on the rider.

Bikes...
For example, as you know us. I rode my Kona in the heavy mud and Chris (May) was struggling with his bike. We swapped bikes and Chris flew ahead.

or another way to read this is.
I look fitter and more skilled than I am, because my bikes help me look like that

 

[godders]

Its not the tools that are at fault its the tools that are riding them

 

[REKIBorter]

It's deffo the rider 100%. One of my bikes has won races at NPS level - but not with me riding it.

 

[1duck]

It's 100% the rider, just like any sport...you put a pro in against an amateur and he will just dominate them.


I once saw an exhibition game with a pro snooker player, he went on to challenge anyone in the room to a game of pool for 10 pounds and he offered to play with a broom handle.

He 8 balled the other guy who was a pretty decent by pub standards player, all whilst using a broom handle...probably the easiest 10 quid he ever made.

 

[jimo746]

only when it comes to rocky, rooty, fast and technical downhills does the lack of suspension travel and disc brakes come into play,

Fundamentally then there is no difference whilst riding on the road to the hills, its only when you hit the trails that the modern bikes really shine?

err... that's one way to interpret it but there's more to trails than just downhills you know

 

[tintin40]

It's deffo the rider 100%.

Agree. Until things go wrong then it the 'F**KING BIKES FAULT'

 

[perry]

Don't worry about it Dave , I had everyones back covered this week

Wednesday evening me and a mate who is staying over for a few days because of transport issues were sat at the pub on our way back from work . A few of our regular customers who are local racers rocked up . A couple carbon bikes and a kula supreme . I was on my smoke and my mate his orange blood . My smoke has done well over 2000 miles so is a bit ropey . it snapped a spoke while lent in the rack . Those guys found it highly amusing and made various comments while we left for home .

Thursday we were about to leave work , stood out the front , asked my mate what way we were going back ( either way around the water it's the same distance ) when just at that moment two of the guys who mocked the evening before rode past , clearly on a " training " ride .

That decision was made

I was on my explosif too

We were just going to show them that we could keep up , but one of them didn't have the common courtesy to hold a gate open when my mate was right behind him .

:x

That was it , I passed with a hearty hello and dropped them like they were stood still ; didn't see them until 10 miles later we were sat outside the pub with a lovely pint . They live just up the road and when they got back they rode straight into their driveway , then walked to the end where I waved hello



So I had single speed , rigid , retrobikes , smokers , hefty full sus and the common man who works 9 hours a day covered . Those that have met me will know I was of course wearing my usual jeans and a tshirt , some old vans . Well it was just a cruise to the pub after all