What style of riding do these videos show?

morbiD
morbiD Posts: 14
edited July 2011 in MTB beginners
Hi!

Can anyone tell me what kind of riding these videos show?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBdQp5KRTVU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwqWSKJQGdQ

That's the kind of riding I would like to get into, but I don't even know how to describe it to people when I'm asking questions :roll:

I would take a guess at calling it singletrack. It certainly doesn't look hectic enough to be classed as downhill.

Then my next question would be, what kind of bike is best suited to that style of riding? XC, or All Mountain perhaps?
<hr noshade size="1">I like monkeys, monkeys are my friends.

Comments

  • Briggo
    Briggo Posts: 3,537
    I would call it ... mountain biking.
  • Extreme fireroad? :lol:

    Only joking... trail?
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Briggo wrote:
    I would call it ... mountain biking.
    Ditto that.
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    riding down a hill.

    the second was a bit steeper with a few bumpy bits. so I would say that you could class it as AM use a 140/140 travel bike.

    But they could easily be done on a 100mm HT.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • morbiD
    morbiD Posts: 14
    Haha! Ask a silly question... :D

    But seriously, if I went and started asking someone about "downhill" or "freeride" or "jumping," I'd be barking up the wrong tree. I just want to make sure I'm talking about the right thing.

    Northern Monkey suggested "Trail" and nicklouse says it could be classed as AM. Anyone else agree or disagree?

    Thanks for not being toooooo harsh on a newbie anyway :P
    <hr noshade size="1">I like monkeys, monkeys are my friends.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Trail, AM, Mountain biking, it's all the same thing. There's nothing specialist about it, which is where you start branching off into freeriding, XC, DH, or dirt jumping.
  • morbiD
    morbiD Posts: 14
    I see what you mean. Thanks for clarifying.

    Ok, so with reference to those videos and what nicklouse said about 140/140 travel, would a Canyon Nerve AM 5.0 do a better job than a Boardman FS Team?

    Whilst searching forums, I've seen it said multiple times that those two brands are far and away the best value for money, and the Canyon has 150/140 travel while the Boardman has 130/120...
    <hr noshade size="1">I like monkeys, monkeys are my friends.
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    I would call it pootling along a trail.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools
  • Bike Bloke
    Bike Bloke Posts: 172
    First vid looks like plain old mountain biking.....or XC, second slightly more gravity orientated but I'd still say XC.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    morbiD, ignore the travel numbers - bike designs can vary hugely. All non specialist mountain bikes are capable of a bit of everything. Just choose something you like, basically.
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    You don't need 150mm to do that. Add in some 4' plus drops etc and then maybe.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    Pretty much what Mcgee said, except you have to get the blasted thing up before you can go down, so hauling more metal than you need is a waste.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    cooldad wrote:
    Pretty much what Mcgee said, except you have to get the blasted thing up before you can go down, so hauling more metal than you need is a waste.
    True, but the flipside is that if you're riding something featherweight, then you may start limiting yourself, or wandering "what if..."
    Provided you don;t go for something daft like a Kona Stinky, you should be fine :lol: (but then, that's getting into the more supposeldy specialist machine anyway)
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    Fair enough, unless like me you know your limits and have no desire to to fly like an eagle.
    It hurts too much these days and takes ages to heal.
    I will continue to soar like a chicken.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Pah, you talk rubbish. Flying doesn't hurt. Landing does :lol:
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    True enough. My crashing style has changed from cool commando rolls to resembling a stuffed turkey falling off a truck.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools
  • morbiD
    morbiD Posts: 14
    Well I'm basically looking at the whole MTB thing as someone who currently just rides towpaths on a rusty old hardtail :oops:

    I saw those vids whilst trying to find out about types of bikes and thought "that looks good fun," so I'd like to head in that direction and have a bike that can take me wherever I might end up, within reason.

    4 foot drops certainly sound cool but I don't think I'll be doing them *just* yet. Still, I'd like to have a capable bike if and when the time comes.

    I have no interest in racing or long distance, so I assume an XC bike might just end up limiting me where an All Mountain wouldn't?

    I'm probably just reading into it too much.
    <hr noshade size="1">I like monkeys, monkeys are my friends.
  • you need this bike for that type of riding!

    1213666555775_f.jpg

    I mean, he never seems to go uphill so why not :wink::wink::wink:
  • morbiD
    morbiD Posts: 14
    Haha! Does anyone need one of those?!

    That looks 80% of the way towards being a motocross bike.
    <hr noshade size="1">I like monkeys, monkeys are my friends.
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    morbiD
    Ok here are some of my bike with a brief description of their use.

    img1228av.jpg
    Commuting and going to the Pub

    p4pb3035449.jpg
    DH racing ( not competitive)

    p4pb3035452.jpg
    playing on Tarmac and concrete

    p4pb3035453.jpg
    XC fun and long rides.

    p4pb3093894.jpg
    General riding (XC)

    p4pb3035447.jpg
    Playing Mad buggers.

    p4pb3035448.jpg
    Playing about and general trail riding.

    p4pb3035451.jpg
    Playing about and general trail riding.

    then there are a few more if I am doing some thing else.


    but I digress.

    if you are looking at stating from new I would look at a HT with 130-150mm travel or a Fully with 140-150/140-150 front and rear travel.

    and have fun.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • Mark909
    Mark909 Posts: 456
    Yep id definantely buy a bike for every possible combination of riding style or terrain and then get your mum to drive around after you in her 4x4 with trailer so you have the correct bike at the right time. So for example in the second video i'd use your hipster single speed to ride along the road past all the people so you look cool. Just off the road switch to your 100m lightweight xc whippet for 10 secs of riding then up to 120mm xc full sus for another 10 secs. When things start to get a bit more bumpy out comes your 140mm canyon AM steed. Want to jump off a rock? Deffo need a freeride bike! Loosen your hand off those brakes then downhill is the only way!!
  • kdawg74
    kdawg74 Posts: 271
    very nice collection of toys nicklouse.
    2008 Kona Dawg Deluxe http://s1187.photobucket.com/albums/z39 ... luxe%2008/

    Schwinn Madison fixie
    Tifosi Road bike
    Singlespeed Hardtail http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z39 ... AG0457.jpg
  • wordnumb
    wordnumb Posts: 847
    Nicklouse is just showing off now. This chap however
    1213666555775_f.jpg

    is clearly trying to compensate for something.
  • kdawg74
    kdawg74 Posts: 271
    Got to love monster T's, just needs an engine.but yes making up for something.
    2008 Kona Dawg Deluxe http://s1187.photobucket.com/albums/z39 ... luxe%2008/

    Schwinn Madison fixie
    Tifosi Road bike
    Singlespeed Hardtail http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z39 ... AG0457.jpg
  • P1Fanatic
    P1Fanatic Posts: 12
    I was thinking of starting a similar topic. My first taste of singletrack was at Cannock Chase Monkey Trail with my brother. Since then Ive been riding the trails at the Lookout nr Bracknell. What is the general category singletrack trail riding (at the 2 sites I mentioned) comes under?. I assumed XC but is that based on riding a flatter offroad terrain rather than riding down a trail as fast as possible?

    DH seems fairly clear that its a lot steeper with more technical descents like rock gardens, drop offs, jump etc?
  • paul.skibum
    paul.skibum Posts: 4,068
    The first one is dull the second is badly edited but better trails. Personally those trails are just riding - they would probably feature in my "I cant be bothered going anywhere further afeild to ride so I will do these" route plans - they are down hill but not downhill, they are trails but not Trails and they are free to ride but not freeride.

    This would fall in between downhill and freeride in that it is both downhill, freeriding and fun as F*ck!
    Closet jockey wheel pimp whore.
  • t0pc4t
    t0pc4t Posts: 947
    P1Fanatic wrote:
    I was thinking of starting a similar topic. My first taste of singletrack was at Cannock Chase Monkey Trail with my brother. Since then Ive been riding the trails at the Lookout nr Bracknell. What is the general category singletrack trail riding (at the 2 sites I mentioned) comes under?. I assumed XC but is that based on riding a flatter offroad terrain rather than riding down a trail as fast as possible?

    DH seems fairly clear that its a lot steeper with more technical descents like rock gardens, drop offs, jump etc?

    I ride Swinley a lot and I;d say with the notable exception of Sandy Gorge it's XC riding.
    Whether you're a king or a little street sweeper, sooner or later you'll dance with the reaper.

    Cube Curve 2009
    Giant Anthem X4

    FCN=6
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    wordnumb wrote:
    Nicklouse is just showing off now. This chap however
    1213666555775_f.jpg

    is clearly trying to compensate for something.
    You realise who that is, right?

    (and besides, he was only about 4 foot tall or so, incredibly talented kid. Bike looks weird because he used forks for 26" wheeled bikes on his 20" wheeled frame - that's right, those are BMX wheels :wink: )