As someone who actually races XC and is now switching to Enduro. I actually agree with the OP.
It used to frustrate me that as a mountainbiker, it was entirely my fitness and none of my skill that would yield my result.
Its fair to say that in the top twenty guys in my Marathon races, I was amoungst the best in bike handling skills but really struggled in the fitness stakes. I would train my arse off (literally
) but would be frustrated at races on trails where a log ride or a ladder crossing would yield no time advantage from just riding around it.
Call it "home ground advantage" in ball sports, "tracks that suit your style" in Motorsport or "pitches prepared for speed or spin" in cricket, "clay court specialists" in tennis . Whatever you want... It exists in every sport. Track design in XC is frustrating.
Roadies should be able to pedal around without fear their skill set isn't up to the task of the days race. But MTB technical skills should be rewarded in XC races.
This is what has lead me to Enduro. You must be able to descend but the descent should be long enough to test your fitness and then have to pedal up to the next..... guys like Graves have posters on my wall for this reason.
It used to frustrate me that as a mountainbiker, it was entirely my fitness and none of my skill that would yield my result.
Its fair to say that in the top twenty guys in my Marathon races, I was amoungst the best in bike handling skills but really struggled in the fitness stakes. I would train my arse off (literally
) but would be frustrated at races on trails where a log ride or a ladder crossing would yield no time advantage from just riding around it. Call it "home ground advantage" in ball sports, "tracks that suit your style" in Motorsport or "pitches prepared for speed or spin" in cricket, "clay court specialists" in tennis . Whatever you want... It exists in every sport. Track design in XC is frustrating.
Roadies should be able to pedal around without fear their skill set isn't up to the task of the days race. But MTB technical skills should be rewarded in XC races.
This is what has lead me to Enduro. You must be able to descend but the descent should be long enough to test your fitness and then have to pedal up to the next..... guys like Graves have posters on my wall for this reason.
