Trail centres - do they really work for a retro bike?

[Dr S]

I've conquered Dalby, Innerleithen and Glentress on my Schwinn amongst others- in fact I had more fun on the Klunker than on my moderns.
Trail centres are great for a quick hit in any weather. I've seen folk do Dalby on unicycles- to suggest that trail centres are only suitable for moderns is bollocks. Anything can be riden on any bike. As long as you enjoy yourself it's cool- if you can't enjoy it there is something wrong with you!

 

[elite504]

:?: :?:
Damn right retro works.
Were mountains not ski-able before ski-lifts were installed?
So why aren't gnarly mountain tracks now ridable on an old machine, just because 6" of trave and discs isn't now unusual? The hill didn't know that?

I usually ride retro- can usually out-ride most guys I ride with (who ride modern). Sure, 1.5" old skool ealstomer forks, or accutrax smash your wrists up more than a modern Fox fork, and your fingers are pumped from braking on cantis rather than discs; but its not necessarily a race, and so what if your time is 5 minutes more than on a modern rig. Its all about the journey.

Retro is so possible, I almost don't understand the question. .

 

[MJN]

:?: :?:
Damn right retro works.
Were mountains not ski-able before ski-lifts were installed?
So why aren't gnarly mountain tracks now ridable on an old machine, just because 6" of trave and discs isn't now unusual? The hill didn't know that?

I usually ride retro- can usually out-ride most guys I ride with (who ride modern). Sure, 1.5" old skool ealstomer forks, or accutrax smash your wrists up more than a modern Fox fork, and your fingers are pumped from braking on cantis rather than discs; but its not necessarily a race, and so what if your time is 5 minutes more than on a modern rig. Its all about the journey.

Retro is so possible, I almost don't understand the question. .

Very well put

 

[ededwards]

:?: :?: Retro is so possible, I almost don't understand the question.

Perhaps a little extra clarification would help. On Boxing Day I was out with a group of about 20 of which at least 15 were on modern full suspension (Orange 5, Ibis Alibi etc.) while I persevered full rigid with cantis. I fared no better nor worse than usual, with being me waited for at the bottom but me waiting at the top. Many of these guys ride at trail centres and have a different approach so I was wondering if a particular sort of bike favoured a particular sort of riding hence the thread.

The concensus appears to be that you can have a good time anywhere on an old bike - fair enough.

...... to suggest that trail centres are only suitable for moderns is bollocks. Anything can be riden on any bike. As long as you enjoy yourself it's cool- if you can't enjoy it there is something wrong with you!

Not sure that I quite follow the twisted logic there - as long as you enjoy yourself that's fine but if you don't then it's your fault? Perhaps the dryness of the comment alludes me given the inclement weather we have been experiencing.


Anyway, with so many rocking double black diamond runs on fully rigid rigs with cantis, MM should be a no problem so expect to see some pretty sharp performances......

 

[kaiser]

Too much of a pigeon hole, 'trail centre' some are good retro some aren't. Drumlanrig is retro gold and by another members account(and a very fine bike handler) anything less than 4" at Fort Bill is a waste of time, even the new red run. If I was to generalise the way the trails are constructed a bit of front sus seems a fair compromise.

 

[the great roberto]

Dunno the answer the the original question, but I love the admiring looks I get from my 97 Zaskar when I go to my local trail centre.
I always get a load of questions mainly from those that had a Zaskar and now can afford some 5" £3500 trail machine, and realise that it just might be more fun on something retro.

So, get out to those trail centres and show off what you built.

(Maybe in 20 years, turning up at trail centres with "retro" Orange 5's will get the same result )

 

[Andy B]

Maybe in 20 years, turning up at trail centres with "retro" Orange 5's will get the same result

That is my master plan seen as I only have one MTB at the mo (really skint), it's an '08 Orange 5 & a keeper*


*provided some scrote doesn't nick this one....

 

[Davedownhill]

Big Kudos though when you come to a halt beside modern riders who look at you and your bike with disbelief and awe

Thats what trail centres are for isn't it?

by another members account(and a very fine bike handler) anything less than 4" at Fort Bill is a waste of time, but only the new DH red run.

Correction!!