Bontrager Ti lite
- Thread starter benjabbi
- Start date
Prodigal Son
Senior Retro Guru
Dont think so.
benjabbi
Bontrager Fan
Care to elaborate? Surely it's 99% down to the person on the bike? Put someone like Nino, Tom Pidcock or Mathieu van der Poel on this and me on the equivalent modern carbon 29er, I'm still not winning, even if you add a motor!
Prodigal Son
Senior Retro Guru
If it was 99% riders would not care about what they ride and they do to the tiniest detail that can give them an edge. 29er wheels are faster: more momentum, traction, roll over. That has been settled already. I love 26 wheels and 90s mtbs but that train has left the station when it comes to xc racing. I am sure your Bonty is a great and fun bike but when it comes to racing the new stuff rules. Forks, wheels, geometry, lightweight stiff carbon frames.Care to elaborate? Surely it's 99% down to the person on the bike? Put someone like Nino, Tom Pidcock or Mathieu van der Poel on this and me on the equivalent modern carbon 29er, I'm still not winning, even if you add a motor!
benjabbi
Bontrager Fan
@Prodigal Son OK, perhaps 99% was a bit of a strong number, maybe 90%. I don't disagree at all about 29" wheels, I have and thoroughly enjoy a modern 29er, disc brakes, dropper posts, wide grippy tubeless tyres, longer reach, slacker head angles, shorter stems and wider bars are all good by me!
At the sharp end of XC racing they're always going to be on the latest and greatest, after all they're sponsored by companies trying to sell you that latest and greatest. I'm just saying that the bike isn't the biggest part of it, a stronger, fitter, more technically skilled rider will generally win out regardless of the bike. Obviously not being stupid about it, the bike has to be of sufficient quality to stay in one piece and you'll not be seeing Enduro bikes in an XC race.
At the sharp end of XC racing they're always going to be on the latest and greatest, after all they're sponsored by companies trying to sell you that latest and greatest. I'm just saying that the bike isn't the biggest part of it, a stronger, fitter, more technically skilled rider will generally win out regardless of the bike. Obviously not being stupid about it, the bike has to be of sufficient quality to stay in one piece and you'll not be seeing Enduro bikes in an XC race.
DrGooGoo
Retro Guru
@Prodigal Son OK, perhaps 99% was a bit of a strong number, maybe 90%. I don't disagree at all about 29" wheels, I have and thoroughly enjoy a modern 29er, disc brakes, dropper posts, wide grippy tubeless tyres, longer reach, slacker head angles, shorter stems and wider bars are all good by me!
At the sharp end of XC racing they're always going to be on the latest and greatest, after all they're sponsored by companies trying to sell you that latest and greatest. I'm just saying that the bike isn't the biggest part of it, a stronger, fitter, more technically skilled rider will generally win out regardless of the bike. Obviously not being stupid about it, the bike has to be of sufficient quality to stay in one piece and you'll not be seeing Enduro bikes in an XC race.
I'm currently shopping for dual sport motorcycle for transportation. The advice I get is, "it is more fun to ride a slow bike hard than to have a rocket ship". I think that kinda applies here.
br0qn
Retro Guru
Same goes for cars! I have a 67' VW type 3 and I get to drive it with the pedal to the floor everywhere I go. Loads more fun than my girlfriends tesla that is a rocket.
@benjabbi Hats off, it's beautiful. In the unlikely event it ever needs a new home, don't even list it, just tell me what you're asking!
