New bikes! wtf

Bojangle

So i want to buy a new bike but can't see a lot of point in some of the 'new' ideas about what makes a bike good.
For example, i like to ride fast and technical and i'm 5' 9"so 29" wheels are out of the question, 1, they are awkward and clumsy in tight technical sections 2, with shorter riders they look like clown bikes, or a kid that that has borrowed his mums bike!

I like to ride fast on the downs and flats so a 1x11 is out of the question. 1, I like to climb easy so love a granny gear, 2, when i get to a flat section i'm 90% of the time in the big ring 'giving it some'!

Dropper seatposts????????? I feel that this is a gimmick that the bike companies have brainwashed us into believing we need, i have been riding mtb's since 1988 and have never felt the need to lower my seatpost for a downhill section that lasts 10 seconds!!! I use the saddle between my legs as control for the bike, i can use my core and weight better than if my seat was down out of the way.

I'm going for a sit down and look on the bay for a good second hand bike!!!

kajjal

It is good to have the variety of bike options now but some seem more change for the sake of change and to introduce redundancy into bikes so people have to buy new bikes more often.

I started in the early 1990's and saw the positive changes brought in by v and the disc brakes. Also suspension was also a big improvement then compared to rigid bikes. Wider bars and proper mtb flat pedals also improved things greatly at the time.

The problem now is riding a plus sized, long travel full suspension bike is more like riding a comfy arm chair than a bike you can feel and ride the trail on. Things like boost hubs, etc. are all pointless marketing to me.

FishFish

I am not sufficiently consistent or good on a bike to be able to discriminate on the effect that a change in the bike has on my riding. I do know when I enjoy riding better because of a different bike and I have enjoyed getting a better spec 26 inch and moving up to 29 inch. When I made one myself it was ok - then I rebuilt it as 1*11 and really enjoyed it. My point being that for me the marketing is pointless but the change in technology might not be.

cooldad

Are you older than me? And grumpier?

The Rookie

Perhaps not older.....

Dropper seatposts are being put on new bikes because so many people were fitting them anyway, not the other way round.

Your interpretation of 1x11 is off the mark as well, it saves weight and complexity and ensures all the shifting is at the back when its a better shift than you can ever get on the front.

step83

cooldad wrote:

Are you older than me? And grumpier?

FIGHT!

I went from 2X10 to 1X10, im quicker with 1X10 because it forces you at times to man up, like Rookie said its also lighter an simpler so win win. If you feel under geared up the front ring size simple as that.
Droppers are handy but yes a ten second decent its hardly worth the bother but its nice when you have it to lob the seat out the way. an get on with seeing how close you can get your backside to the tyre.
Bigger wheels can help for Lanky people they are great, I have a friend same height is as me 5ft 11" an he uses 27.5" he prefers it over 26". Its almost like frame sizing, a bigger frame will work better with bigger wheels. Im sure ive seen a few brands doing this already.

oodboo

Are these assumptions you've made or observations from test rides?

kickaxe

If you don't like these things, don't buy them, it's that simple! That's why you decide what bike to get for yourself, not anyone else.

Angus Young

Bojangle wrote:

Dropper seatposts????????? I feel that this is a gimmick that the bike companies have brainwashed us into believing we need, i have been riding mtb's since 1988 and have never felt the need to lower my seatpost for a downhill section that lasts 10 seconds!!! I use the saddle between my legs as control for the bike, i can use my core and weight better than if my seat was down out of the way.

And you'd be wrong. Best thing since sliced bread.

Briggo

The OP clearly has no experience in actually riding any of the items mentioned.

It's either trolling or baseless opinions.

rockmonkeysc

Using the saddle between your thighs to try to control the bike I'd dreadful technique. Your weight should be back and low for descending and for cornering you should be pushing the bike down in to the turn (bike leans, not rider) which is impossible with the seatpost in the way.
Early 29ers were cumbersome in corners, modern ones Corner as well as smaller wheels.
1x11 makes climbing much faster than spinning away in a tiny granny ring. It's actually difficult going that slow and if a 36t '- 11t gear is enough for the world's best downhill racers then it's enough for anyone off road.

Bojangle

Briggo wrote:

The OP clearly has no experience in actually riding any of the items mentioned.

It's either trolling or baseless opinions.

What is an OP? Some really good comments here,

oodboo wrote:

Are these assumptions you've made or observations from test rides?

Bit of both, it's more about riding with people with these things and always seeming to have a slight edge on them.

Using your saddle to control the bike is still used a lot in XC, I guess i just don't like standing up to climb or riding long sections, i am/was the same in motocross/enduro i was always sitting down.

and yes i am old and grumpy and tight and oldschool.......and

Wheelspinner

"OP" = Original Poster.

That's you in this example.

Angus Young

Bojangle wrote:

Using your saddle to control the bike is still used a lot in XC, I guess i just don't like standing up to climb or riding long sections, i am/was the same in motocross/enduro i was always sitting down.

How can you ride sitting down all the time? You need to be in and out of the saddle and moving your weight around constantly, plus your bike should be free to move underneath you not clamped between your thighs. I think a skills session might be in order.

Rookie1986

Angus Young wrote:

Bojangle wrote:

Using your saddle to control the bike is still used a lot in XC, I guess i just don't like standing up to climb or riding long sections, i am/was the same in motocross/enduro i was always sitting down.

How can you ride sitting down all the time? You need to be in and out of the saddle and moving your weight around constantly, plus your bike should be free to move underneath you not clamped between your thighs. I think a skills session might be in order.

This, without the freedom to shift your weight around when riding your seriously limiting your riding. To be honest I would put this type of riding in the "bad habits" category but don't be offended, we all have them and a good skills session will help correct and overcome them.

rockmonkeysc

Clamping the saddle between your thighs is about the worst thing you can do for cornering. There's no way you can get your weight in the right position for good control or decent grip.
The majority of xc racers definitely know how to handle a bike properly and do not grip the saddle between their thighs.

kajjal

Rookie1986 wrote:

Angus Young wrote:

Bojangle wrote:

Using your saddle to control the bike is still used a lot in XC, I guess i just don't like standing up to climb or riding long sections, i am/was the same in motocross/enduro i was always sitting down.

How can you ride sitting down all the time? You need to be in and out of the saddle and moving your weight around constantly, plus your bike should be free to move underneath you not clamped between your thighs. I think a skills session might be in order.

This, without the freedom to shift your weight around when riding your seriously limiting your riding. To be honest I would put this type of riding in the "bad habits" category but don't be offended, we all have them and a good skills session will help correct and overcome them.

It depends where and how you ride. On a steep, rocky, loose descent sitting in the saddle would be suicidal. On a fast smooth, downhill it could work very well. Climbing seated in most cases is easiest seated as well.

rockmonkeysc

Even on smooth descents staying in the saddle is fairly suicidal. One big bump are you're eating dirt.

Bojangle

It depends where and how you ride. On a steep, rocky, loose descent sitting in the saddle would be suicidal. On a fast smooth, downhill it could work very well. Climbing seated in most cases is easiest seated as well.[/quote]

This is a really good comment, i don't ride sat down 100% of the time!!! All i'm saying is that i don't ride with my seat post down so i HAVE to stand on most sections. I have no need for a skills course, i rode crosscountry from 1988 to 1997, motocross untill 2001 then DH all with very good results and podiums.

Isn't it funny how some people get wound up about little things, this thread was started talking about bikes and it ended up talking about riding style. I think we need a new thread about qwirky riding styles, i seem to remember one of the top DH racers in the early 2000's riding with his bars not straight! ....yup i'm gonna do it....start a new topic

FishFish

Briggo wrote:

It's either trolling or baseless opinions.

The technical term is Internet Forum Posting.

Actually.

The Rookie

That's the whole point of dropper posts, you can have it up for the pedally bits and then down for the rougher/faster/gnarlier/sketchy (delete as appropriate) bits, and then with a flick it pops back up for the next pedally bit, it's not so you climb standing out the saddle it's so you CAN climb seated and not compromise the down. So as mentioned, you clearly don't really understand why people want them!

I mostly climb seated, then drop the post as a start to scare myself, I have a rigid post for XC rides and use that when appropriate.