Difference between an XC and Trail bike?
Comments
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Perhaps we should have a set down scale to show what kind of rider we are
1 = Shaves entire body, wears lycra, weighs food in and sh1t out. Rides a carbon hard tail that costs twice what my car does.
All the way to
11 = Shaves head, wears clothes that are baggy everywhere apart from over beer gut, eats only fried food and sh1ts in the woods. Rides a carbon 8 inch full suss that costs twice what my car does.
I am a 5 = Tubby middle aged bloke who rides a full suss that is capable of much much more than the rider. Who just rides because he loves it.Fig rolls: proof that god loves cyclists and that she wants us to do another lap0 -
I just ride mountain bikes, up down, along, and sometimes sideways.
how does that work?0 -
i think that is a very god description.idiotdogbrain wrote:XC bikes generally have 100mm of travel (front and/or rear), steeper head tube angle for more resposive steering and are generally aimed at those who may be wanting to race.
Trail bikes generally have 120-140mm of travel, slacker head tube angles for greater stability at speed downhill and are generally aimed at non-race types.
Massive generalisations there but that's the basic difference.
<awaits correction>
the important thing to remember that there are lots of types of bikes, but only a few types of rding.
for example, all mountain is a good way to describe a type of bike:
about 6 inches of travel built tough and designed to be efficient up and down hills.
however there is no such thing as all mountin riding, it is xc.0 -
Not saying i use it, just that others seem to use it for that reason :Pyeehaamcgee wrote:Seems that would only work if you rode with other limited riders.0 -
XC bikes = travelling long distances as efficiently and as fast as possible.
Trail bikes = haveing fun on anything from long singletrack to light downhill with shuttling up to the top.0 -
Would you need more travel if you're a bigger person?
Say a smaller guy was using his 120mm of travel but a bigger guy (17 stone 6ft 5 for eg.) was riding exactly the same things in the same way would he need more travel or is it just a case of changing the settings?Canyon Nerve AM 6 20110 -
yeehaamcgee wrote:I just ride mountain bikes, up down, along, and sometimes sideways.
how does that work?
That works for me. I ride bikes. I ride them with big wheels on the smooth black stuff, I ride them with small wheel on dirt with a start gate and banked turn. I ride them up muddy hills, I ride them down rooty rocky tight single track.
Most importantly, I have fun on them all0 -
Me toostubs wrote:Perhaps we should have a set down scale to show what kind of rider we are
1 = Shaves entire body, wears lycra, weighs food in and sh1t out. Rides a carbon hard tail that costs twice what my car does.
All the way to
11 = Shaves head, wears clothes that are baggy everywhere apart from over beer gut, eats only fried food and sh1ts in the woods. Rides a carbon 8 inch full suss that costs twice what my car does.
I am a 5 = Tubby middle aged bloke who rides a full suss that is capable of much much more than the rider. Who just rides because he loves it.
Riding a Merida FLX Carbon Team D Ultralite Nano from Mike at Ace Ultra Cycles, Wednesfield, Wolverhampton 01902 7254440 -
sharky1029 wrote:XC bikes = travelling long distances as efficiently and as fast as possible.
Trail bikes = haveing fun on anything from long singletrack to light downhill with shuttling up to the top.
Are you saying that people riding XC don't have fun?0 -
I say XC racers have no fun :P
Begin flaming.. ah rubbish this isnt the crud catcher...0 -
I still insist that it's ALL mountain biking. but there are various specialist sub categories. And like all "specialist" interests, they're a bit weird, and only look like fun to the people that do them.Thewaylander wrote:I say XC racers have no fun :P
Begin flaming.. ah rubbish this isnt the crud catcher...0 -
Indeed, yee, did you not sense the sarcasm i have for this thread dripping from my toast.. sorry post...0
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Yes, did you not pick up on mine?Thewaylander wrote:Indeed, yee, did you not sense the sarcasm i have for this thread dripping from my toast.. sorry post...0 -
I still insist that it's ALL mountain biking. but there are various specialist sub categories. And like all "specialist" interests, they're a bit weird, and only look like fun to the people that do them.
+1I say XC racers have no fun
Why not? I seem to be having a lot more fun than the overweight wheezing fatties I pass :-)0 -
I am having fun, just wheezing too much to smile. And I prefer to be called stout.njee20 wrote:I still insist that it's ALL mountain biking. but there are various specialist sub categories. And like all "specialist" interests, they're a bit weird, and only look like fun to the people that do them.
+1I say XC racers have no fun
Why not? I seem to be having a lot more fun than the overweight wheezing fatties I pass :-)I don't do smileys.
There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda
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Parktools0 -
Geez it seems like no one can ask a question on here without people like yeehaamcgee or cooldad having a keyboard warrior moment. I bet most of those 1000's of posts of theirs have been abusive or patronizing without actually helping anyone. Maybe you should stay out of the beginners section and stick to the Crudcatchers where some people might be amused by your egotistical rants. If you're not going to help out piss off, you're clogging up the threads with shit.
So, the question was xc or trail whats the difference?
Some have already mentioned but the general consensus is (even though yes, it's not an exact science and there is overlap, I rode my "XC" 100mm down the Fort William Downhill course a month ago, even spotted a hardtail on the way down) XC bikes -> 80-120mm marketed at the racer, flatter trails. Trail bike -> 120 - 150mm marketed at the non racer riding up/down/sideways tracks.0 -
Oh, I'm sorry, agg25, are we not allowed to have different opinions to you now?0
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Apology accepted and no.0
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Thing is, Agg, I'm dead against people pigeon-holing their riding. Too many people blame things on their bike, "ooh, I'll never ride that, not on this bike". When in reality, that's artificially limiting themselves. Most bikes are capable of most things.agg25 wrote:Apology accepted and no.
It's ALL just mountain biking. Never look at things and think you'll never do that, look at it instead and think "I can't/won't do that JUST YET". Who knows where your riding will have reached in years to come?
Mountain bikes are mountain bikes. Ignore the labels, ignore what you're told by the magazines you should have, just get on whatever you DO have, and ride.
this is particularly important in the beginner's sections. There are no limits, only what you set yourself.
And for god's sake stop taking yourself so seriously - that's for the roadies
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In the 90s when things were black and white, 99% of bikes were XC bikes: steep angles, long stems and short forks.
When colour was invented manufacturers realised that this approach was limiting for some riders, and too nervous for others. Hence the angles were slackened a touch, longer forks were introduced and the result was more stable handling with a more comfortable fit that suited how we were beginning to ride. These are your' trail' bikes.
The old approach is still about. And there is a lot of crossover. If in doubt, test.0 -
But we did a lot of silly things on some very unsuitable bikes back then, sonic, and not everyone got hurt. It's all larking about, innit?0
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yeehaamcgee wrote:
Thing is, Agg, I'm dead against people pigeon-holing their riding. Too many people blame things on their bike, "ooh, I'll never ride that, not on this bike". When in reality, that's artificially limiting themselves. Most bikes are capable of most things.agg25 wrote:Apology accepted and no.
It's ALL just mountain biking. Never look at things and think you'll never do that, look at it instead and think "I can't/won't do that JUST YET". Who knows where your riding will have reached in years to come?
Mountain bikes are mountain bikes. Ignore the labels, ignore what you're told by the magazines you should have, just get on whatever you DO have, and ride.
this is particularly important in the beginner's sections. There are no limits, only what you set yourself.
And for god's sake stop taking yourself so seriously - that's for the roadies
That's is all good and I actually agree, but besides the point. He asked a simple question, no need to hijack it with your agenda. Over.0 -
In the end yeah, just get what suits you best. I like a steeper bike for my riding, with narrower than average bars and shorter travel. Many don't though, and with different geos about there is something out there for all. Plus you can tweak what you have quite a bit.
An XC bike seems to be the term for these very racy looking machines nowadays.0 -
agg25 wrote:Geez it seems like no one can ask a question on here without people like yeehaamcgee or cooldad having a keyboard warrior moment. I bet most of those 1000's of posts of theirs have been abusive or patronizing without actually helping anyone. Maybe you should stay out of the beginners section and stick to the Crudcatchers where some people might be amused by your egotistical rants. If you're not going to help out wee-wee off, you're clogging up the threads with shoot.
You've hit the nail on the head. However, just ignore them and take advice from the forumites who do want to help - there are plenty of them on here.0 -
Monkeypump, agg25, let your egos go for a minute, and lay it out then. What exactly do you want to say?
Are you wanting to suggest that only certain types of bikes are usable for certain things?
This is a question that is asked over and over and over and over and over and over again, and every time people keep spouting the same specialised mantra, when all that's important is just riding.0 -
yeehaamcgee wrote:Monkeypump, agg25, let your egos go for a minute, and lay it out then. What exactly do you want to say?
Are you wanting to suggest that only certain types of bikes are usable for certain things?
This is a question that is asked over and over and over and over and over and over again, and every time people keep spouting the same specialised mantra, when all that's important is just riding.
No ego here mate, pot calling the kettle black I think.
Didn't say that at all, I've ridden my 100mm on all sorts, and already said I agree that you can ride pretty much anything anywhere, did you miss that?
Wouldn't hurt though to either not enter the debate again if you're sick of the topic, as not everyone has been on this site and heard all the threads before, especially in the beginners section, or give some helpful advice.
And if all that's important is riding, why do you have so many posts?0 -
Good for you, I'm not clogging up the thread any more, adios.0
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It's an internet forum agg25. If you are sitting in the pub with your mates do you insist they stay sensibly on topic, or do you accept a bit of debate, nonsense, humour, tangential discussion and general conversation.
I have my say and if you disagree or think I'm a d1ck, you're quite entitled to say so or ignore me.
I say nothing here that I wouldn't say to someone's face.
Normally with a smile, so don't take it so seriously.
But to get on topic, I actually agree with Yeehaa here.
In the mid 70's, when you had a choice of racing or touring bikes we used to 'scramble' by turning the bars on our racing bikes upside down or used kids bikes. Think Klunkerz but more BMX than MTB.
I have progressed through rigids (still have a Rockhopper with cantis and a U brake on the chainstay), front suspension and V brakes, and full suss with discs. In all that time I just rode whatever I was capable of (which with my limited skill level and abject fear of pain, is admittedly nothing too heroic), without considering how it could be categorised. You can ride pretty much anything on anything, just at differing speeds and comfort levels.
It's all mountain biking, the bike just makes some of it a hell of a lot easier.I don't do smileys.
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Parktools0 -
Do you know there's a difference between the pub and a forum? I hope so. You've still missed the point of his question, he wasn't asking your life history, just what's the difference between an xc and trail bike and I wouldn't have said anything but I've noticed you's two in particular are always being narcy, so yes I think you're a d1ck and now I shall do my best to ignore you. Arivaderci.0
