floody
Wheel size expert
I really think this is more due to how specialised and how refined the XC and DH bikes are now.
Should we start writing downhills obituary?
- Thread starter The Fish
- Start date
I really think this is more due to how specialised and how refined the XC and DH bikes are now.
Downhill will never be dead.
Nothing can compare the thrill of going down a hill as fast as possible without worrying too much if the bike will be able to handle it. Sure it's a niche sport and not very accessible to the majority of the people, but the moment you first ride DH, you become addicted to it.
If i had the option to choose trail riding and DH, DH will always win hands down.
PS:http://www.pinkbike.com/news/must-watch-george-brannigan-loose-laps-2015.html
that will show people how fun DH actually is
Nothing can compare the thrill of going down a hill as fast as possible without worrying too much if the bike will be able to handle it. Sure it's a niche sport and not very accessible to the majority of the people, but the moment you first ride DH, you become addicted to it.
If i had the option to choose trail riding and DH, DH will always win hands down.
PS:http://www.pinkbike.com/news/must-watch-george-brannigan-loose-laps-2015.html
that will show people how fun DH actually is
This has nothing to do with bikes. It's about the trails.
If trails were designed in a way that accommodated DH bikes better there would be no need for Enduro. Unfortunately, most people aren't prepared to put in the time and effort that it takes to develop a DH skillset, so they ride and build mellow flow tracks. Because they ride mellow flow-tracks, people don't see the need for DH bikes. They go buy enduro bikes instead. It's a self-perpetuating circle of crap that's hollowing out mountainbiking as a sport and turning it into something entirely new.
I'm not entirely sure what to do - but I think it starts with continually positioning DH as a sport for spectating. Build the hype around watching the supremely skilled riders. Have people aspire to do the things they see the pros doing and the sport will move away from the vanilla direction it's currently moving.
Koper25
Likes Dirt
If you're in/around Melbourne there is something on almost every weekend, this is my regular list of DH riding:
- Shuttles with mates on weekends.
- Fat Tyre Flyres, Long Gully Shuttles (Thursday nights.)
- Mt Baw Baw
- Mt Buller
- Alpine Gravity ride days
- Blue Dirt ride days
- I-Ride at Apollo Bay (Haven't even been yet, because I haven't found the time)
- You Yangs ride days
- Vic DH Series, basically just an awesome weekend of shuttles with a timed run. Also the best way to meet people and learn about places to ride.
Between all that and maintaining a few short local tracks that I can push during the week there's always something going on.
In saying that I've also got a 160mm travel bike to fill the gaps. While I can ride most DH tracks on it, it's no where near as stable and confidence inspiring as a DH bike.
- Shuttles with mates on weekends.
- Fat Tyre Flyres, Long Gully Shuttles (Thursday nights.)
- Mt Baw Baw
- Mt Buller
- Alpine Gravity ride days
- Blue Dirt ride days
- I-Ride at Apollo Bay (Haven't even been yet, because I haven't found the time)
- You Yangs ride days
- Vic DH Series, basically just an awesome weekend of shuttles with a timed run. Also the best way to meet people and learn about places to ride.
Between all that and maintaining a few short local tracks that I can push during the week there's always something going on.
In saying that I've also got a 160mm travel bike to fill the gaps. While I can ride most DH tracks on it, it's no where near as stable and confidence inspiring as a DH bike.
Calvin27
Eats Squid
Like I said, it's the trails. Parts of that video are in Queenstown where people can ride DH on their lunch break! (And the rest is NZ by the looks of it) I'm sure at least 50% of MTBrs will consider a downhill bike if we had a DH trail with gondola service that's about 20km from cbd (the remaining 50% are really roadies). But the reality is here (in Vic at least) DH is realtively harder to get to and the DH trails:
1. Require pedaling
2. Are so far out in whoop whoop
3. Require shuttles or equivalent
4. Are not really DH trails.
I seriously wanted a DH bike but after going to Queenstown realized there is no point. Kind of like snowboarding in Aus.
ajay
^Once punched Jeff Kennett. Don't pick an e-fight
I have to agree with you, Link!
What also grinds my gears is when people use the excuse of "we're trying to attract new, younger riders to the sport, so the tracks must be easier". I have a huge amount of respect for anyone that puts time on a shovel, and I'll happily ride any type of trail, but dumbing down trails won't attract new riders to DH.
needaride
Likes Dirt
What is currently being labelled as "Enduro" has to be good for the sport in many ways, and not necessarily the death of DH.
Mountain biking is growing as a result of the current Enduro format as it's seen as a format that anyone can have a go at.
XC is often perceived as too physically demanding from a fitness perspective for the average rider - when you rock up to an XC race the vibe can be similar to a road crit, with more lycra and gel packs than you can poke a stick at. On the other end of the scale, many average mountain bikers tend to view DH as a mad-mans sport - great to watch but too dangerous to really get into and if the ride didn't kill them their missus would for going! The other issue with DH racing can be the scene that is attached, (not always the case) but there isn't always a 'kid-friendly' vibe at a DH race. That being said I have seen the DH community embrace young riders on a regular basis.
Anyway, the current Enduro style slots in the middle of the XC - DH divide and opens up a mountain bike racing format to a broader audience of punters.
Yes this means more people on the trails, some 'dumbed' down, "sustainable" trails and a whole heap of thinly veiled marketing strategies involving bright yellow, green and a heap of old ideas made new, just lighter, carbon and now in fashion. But the bottom line is: more people ride, more money talks, bike gear gets better and more trails are built (both legally & illegally).
As some one mentioned earlier in the thread - the Enduro format as it currently stands is a great gateway into downhill, although it doesn't intentionally do so. I know myself, having taken younger riders to Enduro events, they go home saying "The tracks were cool but pedalling back to the top sucked!" or "If only they let you shuttle at these races". Now before you stone me for taking young riders to enduro races rather than downhill (I race both), the only reason for this is: 1. parent concern about downhill & 2. quality of bikes. Either way, my point is that if more people ride bikes some of them (you'll never get, and don't want all of them) will get the DH bug.
I heard some one say before - downhill is the F1 of mountain biking: the peak of adrenalin, speed, style, spectating and technological performance in the sport of MTB - I really can't see it fading into insignificance.
Mountain biking is growing as a result of the current Enduro format as it's seen as a format that anyone can have a go at.
XC is often perceived as too physically demanding from a fitness perspective for the average rider - when you rock up to an XC race the vibe can be similar to a road crit, with more lycra and gel packs than you can poke a stick at. On the other end of the scale, many average mountain bikers tend to view DH as a mad-mans sport - great to watch but too dangerous to really get into and if the ride didn't kill them their missus would for going! The other issue with DH racing can be the scene that is attached, (not always the case) but there isn't always a 'kid-friendly' vibe at a DH race. That being said I have seen the DH community embrace young riders on a regular basis.
Anyway, the current Enduro style slots in the middle of the XC - DH divide and opens up a mountain bike racing format to a broader audience of punters.
Yes this means more people on the trails, some 'dumbed' down, "sustainable" trails and a whole heap of thinly veiled marketing strategies involving bright yellow, green and a heap of old ideas made new, just lighter, carbon and now in fashion. But the bottom line is: more people ride, more money talks, bike gear gets better and more trails are built (both legally & illegally).
As some one mentioned earlier in the thread - the Enduro format as it currently stands is a great gateway into downhill, although it doesn't intentionally do so. I know myself, having taken younger riders to Enduro events, they go home saying "The tracks were cool but pedalling back to the top sucked!" or "If only they let you shuttle at these races". Now before you stone me for taking young riders to enduro races rather than downhill (I race both), the only reason for this is: 1. parent concern about downhill & 2. quality of bikes. Either way, my point is that if more people ride bikes some of them (you'll never get, and don't want all of them) will get the DH bug.
I heard some one say before - downhill is the F1 of mountain biking: the peak of adrenalin, speed, style, spectating and technological performance in the sport of MTB - I really can't see it fading into insignificance.
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scblack
Leucocholic
I have been racing DH and attending DH races since about year 2000.
I have NEVER come across this non-kid friendly vibe you mention. Not even remotely.
I would MUCH prefer to take my young girls to a DH race than a XC race. DH racing has always been the friendliest, most supportive group of organisers or direct competitors I have come across in any sport. When I started racing back in the early 2000's direct competitors would gladly help with riding, bike setup or anything they possibly could do. I have walked away from every DH race loving the scene.
The closest I can think of to what you are saying is sometimes the younger guys who are not riding can be loud, occasionally swear a bit much and maybe appear to be goading racers. But that's basically good-natured egging them on. Not bad sportsmanship.
Admittedly my attendance to XC is minimal, but they have mostly been populated by people who are self-absorbed, not approachable and generally more clique-ey than DH or 4X people. Not nearly as friendly an atmosphere as DH.
From my observation at the local DH trail although in saying would be a less aggressive than some trails but non the less no room for error with trees that grab bars and rocks that take out shoulders, these smaller bikes with dh geo are fast, and when these riders are hitting all of what they hit up on their once bigger rigs that would easily be a more forgiving at poorer judgement on a off line, well for some reason because it's not dh anymore there is no need for a full face knee guards and the like, you guys are nuts.
needaride
Likes Dirt
I guess I was referring to that culture of swearing/drinking at races - not to say that I haven't found it friendly but I know it's a reservation of parents of some school kids I teach..
Well i havent found the dh scene unfriendly as such either but it has a 'young male action sport' feel to it complete with frequent throwing of horns and chainsaws to motivate participants. In my old age it sometimes makes me cringe. Personally i wish dh scene would move closer to downhill snowskiing than the 'monster energy motorcross explosions fireworks why is that girl dressed in a bikini and winking at the camera' side of things.
This is just a troll isn't it?
Beej1
Senior Member
I am about to embark on a weekend at Buller with 4 riding buddies. One of them - another Rotorburner who may see this - is uber-reliable. The other 3 are your underpant-headgear, cork-on-the-fork, cant-find-their-arse-with-both-hands type clusterfucks of unorganisation when it comes to getting a group ride happening.
But they're my boys and I love 'em and it's for my 40th and it'll be fun even if I have to tie them together with rope like kids in childcare so they know where they're going.
We will ride the trails of Buller and lament the death of DH as we Enduro our way from the top of the mountain to the bottom. Sans-skidding though ... it looks fkn cool when George Brannigan does it, but whenever I try lock-up around a corner I just fuck it up and end up slower, or stack.
waldog
Likes Bikes and Dirt
Hi........
thecat
NSWMTB, Central Tableland MBC
As I'm getting older and I've seen a few injuries I do question DH for young and new riders. Definitely needs to be stepping stone in there somewhere between beginner, young rider and racing full full blown DH trails.
Our DH trails have never been overly technical, but do have some bits where you need to commit to go fast. Pony Express has some spots that I struggle with and thus I don't race it often, but that more me getting old and sooking it.
To help with the progression we run mini DHs that take part of sections of Xc trail, sometime modified. These give kids and beginners a chance to learn racing against the clock in a relatively safer environment and lets them build their skill set before tackle the big trails
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binner
Hath shat hymself
early 2000's
ahh you are talking about the good ol days there, yes QLD is/was known for it's bad boys, such a shame :behindsofa: I'm sure its cleaner these days :love:
The "MOB" was on a few occasions brought down south and frowned upon, some establishments never healed after a few wild race weekends back then....:heh:
ahh you are talking about the good ol days there, yes QLD is/was known for it's bad boys, such a shame :behindsofa: I'm sure its cleaner these days :love:
The "MOB" was on a few occasions brought down south and frowned upon, some establishments never healed after a few wild race weekends back then....:heh:
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