Olympic mountain bikes.

Evan Evans said:

Looking over some photos from the olympic mtb race i noticed that
all the bikes were hardtails. That seemed strange to me because
almost all high end mtb's in stores are soft tails. Why don't the
olympians use the very best equiptment?

I'd assume they used the very best suited for this kind of race
(cross country) to win, with the limitation that pros will race the
sponsor's equiptment were possible.

--
MfG/Best regards
helmut springer

Evan Evans said:

Looking over some photos from the olympic mtb race i noticed that all
the bikes were hardtails. That seemed strange to me because almost all
high end mtb's in stores are soft tails. Why don't the olympians use
the very best equiptment? Many including the winner didn't even have
disc brakes.
What gives?

I'm not sure about the disc brakes, I think most did have them, but as for
hardtails - they are still perceived as being a little bit 'quicker' than
full sussers for XC racing,though I tend to the opinion that full-sussers
are better, but that is mainly the comfort factor making lesser mortals
like me race for longer, - they are more comfortable over the bumps, thus
you expend less energy absorbing the bumps with your arms and legs, so you
are not so fatigued after 2 hours.
The pros are several levels fitter than normal people so the extra bumping
wont adversly affect them ,as well as the XC course being quite smooth -
there were very few sections where rear sus will make a big difference,
and full sus bikes will be about 2kg heavier than their front sus only
bikes, so hardtails had a slight advantage over full sus on that course.
Alan.

--
To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'.
http://www.dvatc.co.uk - Off-road cycling in the North Midlands.

Evan Evans said:

Looking over some photos from the olympic mtb race i noticed that all
the bikes were hardtails. That seemed strange to me because almost all
high end mtb's in stores are soft tails. Why don't the olympians use
the very best equiptment? Many including the winner didn't even have
disc brakes.
What gives?

Weight, on a hilly course.

I also noticed that all bikes had straight handlebars, something that I
can't find on hardly any bikes in any shops around here. Riser bars never
made any sense to me, especially with suspension forks. At least, not for
cross country, but I think all XC bikes being sold are given the image of
downhill bikes anyways, because that's the cool thing right now... that and
free riding style. Infact, i've even had hard times locating straight bars
alone in this city.

Mike

"Helmut Springer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Evan Evans said:

Looking over some photos from the olympic mtb race i noticed that
all the bikes were hardtails. That seemed strange to me because
almost all high end mtb's in stores are soft tails. Why don't the
olympians use the very best equiptment?

I'd assume they used the very best suited for this kind of race
(cross country) to win, with the limitation that pros will race the
sponsor's equiptment were possible.

--
MfG/Best regards
helmut springer

Evan Evans said:

Looking over some photos from the olympic mtb race i noticed that all
the bikes were hardtails. That seemed strange to me because almost all
high end mtb's in stores are soft tails. Why don't the olympians use
the very best equiptment? Many including the winner didn't even have
disc brakes.
What gives?

I think you think those things are more important in this type of
race than they actually are. This was not a downhill race.

because hardtails rule the day!

hardtails with rim brakes are the fastest bikes for cross country for many reasons

1) more efficient pedaling
2) lighter
3) more ridged frames
4) rim brakes are considerably lighter than disk brakes

Olympians want their bikes to be as light and fast as possible. For light and fast a hardtail with XTR V-brakes can't be beat.

gevans-<< Looking over some photos from the olympic mtb race i noticed that all
the bikes were hardtails. That seemed strange to me because almost all
high end mtb's in stores are soft tails. Why don't the olympians use
the very best equiptment? Many including the winner didn't even have
disc brakes.
What gives? >><BR><BR>

MTB marketing departments must love you. Hardtail-with Vs, lighter, more
reliable.....How would a soft or full suspension and discs made these riders
faster?

Remember that for this course, legs and arms do a wonderful job of
'suspension'.

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

Quoted message said:

I'm not sure about the disc brakes, I think most did have them, but as for
hardtails - they are still perceived as being a little bit 'quicker' than
full sussers for XC racing,though I tend to the opinion that full-sussers
are better, but that is mainly the comfort factor making lesser mortals
like me race for longer, - they are more comfortable over the bumps, thus
you expend less energy absorbing the bumps with your arms and legs, so you
are not so fatigued after 2 hours.
The pros are several levels fitter than normal people so the extra bumping
wont adversly affect them ,as well as the XC course being quite smooth -
there were very few sections where rear sus will make a big difference,
and full sus bikes will be about 2kg heavier than their front sus only
bikes, so hardtails had a slight advantage over full sus on that course.
Alan.

The hardtails are perceived as quicker but actualy are slower than
f.s. bikes? Man that sucks!

Evan Evans said:

Quoted message said:

bikes, so hardtails had a slight advantage over full sus on that
course.

The hardtails are perceived as quicker but actualy are slower than
f.s. bikes? Man that sucks!

Actually the poster said exactly the opposite for the given riders
on the given course...

--
MfG/Best regards
helmut springer

Mike Beauchamp said:

I also noticed that all bikes had straight handlebars, something that I
can't find on hardly any bikes in any shops around here. Riser bars
never made any sense to me, especially with suspension forks. At least,
not for cross country, but I think all XC bikes being sold are given
the image of downhill bikes anyways, because that's the cool thing
right now... that and free riding style. Infact, i've even had hard
times locating straight bars alone in this city.

Riser bars can be nice -- most of them are wider, and a 25" bar gives a
bit more control than a 23" bar (because you have more leverage). But
really they're mostly the "in" thing right now... back in 1992 20" bars
were all the rage for XC.

Hardtail bikes are faster in most cases for high speed XC racing.
Certainly more so over a 2 hour race than a full squish.

Quoted message said:

Mike

"Helmut Springer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Evan Evans said:

Looking over some photos from the olympic mtb race i noticed that
all the bikes were hardtails. That seemed strange to me because
almost all high end mtb's in stores are soft tails. Why don't the
olympians use the very best equiptment?

I'd assume they used the very best suited for this kind of race
(cross country) to win, with the limitation that pros will race the
sponsor's equiptment were possible.

--
MfG/Best regards
helmut springer

[email hidden] (Qui si parla Campagnolo ) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

gevans-<< Looking over some photos from the olympic mtb race i noticed that all
the bikes were hardtails. That seemed strange to me because almost all
high end mtb's in stores are soft tails. Why don't the olympians use
the very best equiptment? Many including the winner didn't even have
disc brakes.
What gives? >><BR><BR>

MTB marketing departments must love you. Hardtail-with Vs, lighter, more
reliable.....How would a soft or full suspension and discs made these riders
faster?

Remember that for this course, legs and arms do a wonderful job of
'suspension'.

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene

I've been into bike's for like 25 years now but the current mtb
marketing game takes the cake !

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

gevans-<< Looking over some photos from the olympic mtb race i noticed that all
the bikes were hardtails. That seemed strange to me because almost all
high end mtb's in stores are soft tails. Why don't the olympians use
the very best equiptment? Many including the winner didn't even have
disc brakes.
What gives? >><BR><BR>

MTB marketing departments must love you. Hardtail-with Vs, lighter, more
reliable.....How would a soft or full suspension and discs made these riders
faster?

Remember that for this course, legs and arms do a wonderful job of
'suspension'.

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

Noticed the hardtails among the leaders as well. Does anyone Know if any
used suspension seatposts or Pantour hubs?