Jeffgre_6163
Likes Dirt
In the current issue of AMB Dan McConnell and Bec Henderson [two of Australia's leading world class XC competitors] are asked to comment on the increasing level of difficulty for WC XC courses
On page 63 Ben says "it seems to be more common in countries where the sport is less popular, where its perceived that bigger features make for bigger audiences"
Bec is quoted as saying "We are yet to see the Cairns course, but it sounds like its heading more in the four-cross, downhill direction, which is not what we do, really: we're on 100mm hard tails with a small bucket on our heads"
I am fortunate enough to live in the Cairns area and have had the opportunity to ride the WC XC course several times since completion in recent months. I could in no way be considered an "elite" level rider, in fact I am a 50 year old bloke with good fitness but a decidedly average skill set, however I can successfully negotiate the lap [with the exception of the "rockslide" which admittedly does my head in] with some degree of speed and control
If a rider of my standard can handle the lap on a dual suspension trail bike then surely a world class XC rider should have no trouble on a 100mm hard tail with their undoubtedly vastly superior fitness and theoretically stratospheric skills?
My point being that if Bec thinks that its "not what they do" and that "they are on 100mm hardtails" maybe she should consider riding a 100mm dual suspension bike with wider bars and slacker head angle or even something with longer travel or perhaps [Gasp, shock and horror] actually improve her skill set if she elects to stay on the hard tail!.
Or maybe it is "what they do" in world XC now and Bec needs to step up
Surely the XC category of our sport at the very highest level should not only be a test of fitness but also a true test of technical skill?
Who would you prefer to see crowned XC WC champ: the rider with superior fitness but a smaller set of skills or the slightly less adept climber but one with much better bike handling skills?
The course is not in any way a four cross or downhill track, those claims are absurd.
It is a common topic among riders around the trailheads and rest stops on group rides that often there is not enough emphasis on bike handling skill in XC races and more on fitness. The RRR classic for example really only has one section [the bump track] where a rider with superior bike handling skills can hope to make ground on a part time MTBer, full time, leg shaving, 400km a week roady who brushes the cob webs from his MTB maybe once or twice a year. The majority of the 35km short course is a fire road & beach drag race where skill counts for nothing.
Do we really want to see this at the highest level?
The design of a course at WC level should demand the highest level of not only fitness but also skill from the riders.
If a rider doesn't feel they can ride it safely on a "100mm hard tail with a small bucket on their head" then I think the course designers and builders have done a brilliant job and eliminated those from the results who don't have the skill set to ride at the highest level of competitive mountain biking.
A bit harsh maybe but I am sure I am not alone in thinking this.
Comments welcomed
On page 63 Ben says "it seems to be more common in countries where the sport is less popular, where its perceived that bigger features make for bigger audiences"
Bec is quoted as saying "We are yet to see the Cairns course, but it sounds like its heading more in the four-cross, downhill direction, which is not what we do, really: we're on 100mm hard tails with a small bucket on our heads"
I am fortunate enough to live in the Cairns area and have had the opportunity to ride the WC XC course several times since completion in recent months. I could in no way be considered an "elite" level rider, in fact I am a 50 year old bloke with good fitness but a decidedly average skill set, however I can successfully negotiate the lap [with the exception of the "rockslide" which admittedly does my head in] with some degree of speed and control
If a rider of my standard can handle the lap on a dual suspension trail bike then surely a world class XC rider should have no trouble on a 100mm hard tail with their undoubtedly vastly superior fitness and theoretically stratospheric skills?
My point being that if Bec thinks that its "not what they do" and that "they are on 100mm hardtails" maybe she should consider riding a 100mm dual suspension bike with wider bars and slacker head angle or even something with longer travel or perhaps [Gasp, shock and horror] actually improve her skill set if she elects to stay on the hard tail!.
Or maybe it is "what they do" in world XC now and Bec needs to step up
Surely the XC category of our sport at the very highest level should not only be a test of fitness but also a true test of technical skill?
Who would you prefer to see crowned XC WC champ: the rider with superior fitness but a smaller set of skills or the slightly less adept climber but one with much better bike handling skills?
The course is not in any way a four cross or downhill track, those claims are absurd.
It is a common topic among riders around the trailheads and rest stops on group rides that often there is not enough emphasis on bike handling skill in XC races and more on fitness. The RRR classic for example really only has one section [the bump track] where a rider with superior bike handling skills can hope to make ground on a part time MTBer, full time, leg shaving, 400km a week roady who brushes the cob webs from his MTB maybe once or twice a year. The majority of the 35km short course is a fire road & beach drag race where skill counts for nothing.
Do we really want to see this at the highest level?
The design of a course at WC level should demand the highest level of not only fitness but also skill from the riders.
If a rider doesn't feel they can ride it safely on a "100mm hard tail with a small bucket on their head" then I think the course designers and builders have done a brilliant job and eliminated those from the results who don't have the skill set to ride at the highest level of competitive mountain biking.
A bit harsh maybe but I am sure I am not alone in thinking this.
Comments welcomed
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