Have developments in MTB'ing made you a better rider?

[ferrus]

..Doesn't that show what modern bikes are capable of rather than whether they improve your skills?

I can't really comment as I've only ever ridden a fully rigid bike. But what I do know is that it demands intense attention on downhills and that I keep myself loose to float over the gnarly stuff; Being old and knackered, if I had a modern sus bike I'd most certainly sit my arse down more and let the bike do the work, so I'm sure it's made me a better rider. The point is you have to be attentitive on a rigid at times when you can be lazy (or think you can) on a sus.

 

[BarneyRubble]

They have made me faster over technical terrain, but not more skillful.

 

[Splatter Paint]

If you can ride a retro-bike FAST then you're damn fast on a modern steed. I learnt to pick better lines, both up and downhill as a consequence of limited grip and brakes on my rigid steeds. On the modern full susser I pick the same lines I just go a lot faster over them.

Retro-biking is the ultimate skills school! I don't think anyone brought up on a diet of modern full-suss bikes would find the ride of my 20 year old Kona too appealing though....

 

[Scrat]

They have made me faster over technical terrain, but not more skillful.

Modern = more able?

 

[clockworkgazz]

Don't think modern bikes will in themselves make you more skillfull but they do allow you to ride modern trails in fun mode as opposed to hang on in there stylee. You do learn some good skills on a full rigid bike but you also learn different skills on a modern bike as you ride differently. I have got better on a more modern bike as it gives me more confident on trail centre riding but if I spent more time on old school xc rides I prob. Wouldn't need these skills and would get better on the rigid so I guess it comes down to how and were you ride.

 

[messiah]

..Doesn't that show what modern bikes are capable of rather than whether they improve your skills?

:roll: :roll:

Riding below the tree is tricky on a modern bike, when we first built that bit we weren't sure it could be done and it took a fair few goes to get it. Now I sail through on a rigid singlespeed most of the time - or end up flying backwords down the bank hoping I don't get impaled on the trees at the bottom :shock:

Riding a modern bike shows you just what can be done, to then go and do some of those trails on an old bike adds another twist. I rode some scary stuff back in the day on old bikes, but now I ride even scarier stuff on old bikes. Riding modern bikes has absolutely improved my skills.

 

[cce]

riding has changed to meet the abilities of newer bikes too. trail centres and built courses are increasingly the norm these days

 

[REKIBorter]

4"+ of ineptitude filtration help to smooth out a bad line choice. Real skill shows when you can ride a rigid bike, spotting the smooth line, just as fast. To get back to the question, modern inovations make life better sometimes. Yes, disk brakes are brilliant when it comes to a wet muddy ride. They don't make you a better rider just a rider with more choices.

 

[RockiMtn]

:shock: Was it a regular thing for you to ride with a mask covering your head and barefoot???

if anything my modern ride is more comfortable and less punishing on the body. i haven't figured out how to tune modern forks and full suspension yet to make it any more advantageous.

 

[REKIBorter]

I have met Letmetalktomark and he does look like that.