Why we dont need loads of travel at both ends.

[Neil G]

Some good riding on that video, definately knows those trails!

 

[giant-one]

Try this one.

http://vimeo.com/10695528.

I'm staying out of this one though

 

[kaiser]

Watching this one makes me realise I don't even need a mountain bike

http://vimeo.com/11695455

 

[giant-one]

He has skills but if I tried anything like that on a cc bike, it would crumble like tin foil.

 

[KeepItSteel]

Great vid, great to se what a hardtail is really capable of. Its a s/s right?

No, it's geared

Didnt see him go up a hill
Is it just me, or to hit trails that fast and with that much conviction would he/you not need to know them like the back of your hand?

Well, yes, he probably does - just like I know lots of my local trails like the back of my hand.
It's just nice to see someone ragging a bike on "normal" sort of terrain like most of us ride.

It wasnt a criticism, in fact quite the opposite. I was wondering if i'll ever be able to hit the trails with anything like his speed!
More to the point, I was wondering if its at all possible that he could carry such speed and conviction on a trail he'd never ridden before.
With alot of practice on the very same trail, id hope to be merely 50% as awesome...
And I agree, the 'normalness' of the trail added to it.

 

[hamster]

Let's face it, most bikes are capable of much more than we give them credit for - or maybe put another way, it's amazing what you can get over on a normal rigid or hardtail.

I rode the Slickrock trail in 1992 on a stock Marin Palisades.

A pal of mine's 10 year old son rode down all the black runs at Coed y Brenin on a rigid 24" Islabike.

I regularly tear past people on decent full sussers in the New Forest (Up and downhill) on a rigid singlespeed.

Of course the monster sussers have a speed advantage downhill, and of course they are more tolerant of mistakes. But are they more fun to ride?

But, in general it's what's on the saddle that counts.
By the way, I don't want to blow my own trumpet. I am 43, a rubbish rider at technical stuff, have very average athletic capabilities and a leaking heart valve.

 

[Dr S]

Whilst its true that you can ride anything on a penny farthing if you go slow enough, is that what we want?

I love my old bikes but they just can't go as fast as I want to on really rough, fast descents. Even long forked 'hardcore hardtails' struggle. I've come to the conclusion that if I want to go faster down the black runs I need a full susser. My shed is littered with bent rear wheels, slashed tyres and wrecked innertubes through trying to keep up with full suss bikes. This weeks trip to Glentress resulted in two slashed tubes in the space of a mile- too much pressure gave no grip at all and it was stepping out all over the place, dropped the pressure to give grip and traction and bang- blowouts. Would not have that problem with a bouncy bike.

 

[Anthony]

Would not have that problem with a bouncy bike.

Or tubeless tyres?

 

[gradeAfailure]

Well put Dr S - this is exactly the reason I'm in the market for a 5-6" travel FS. I love retro stuff but have no desire to wreck it needlessly..

Those who slate modern 5"+ FS, how many of you have ever ridden a good one in anger..?

 

[MikeD]

Would not have that problem with a bouncy bike.

You would, you'd just be going faster when it happened ;-)