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There are several areas where you can find a significant difference between the two bikes. It does not reflect a 100 positive attitude of this trip, as I am not a trails fan, but an interesting trip just the same.Cross-country bikes can be great for long backcountry rides (Image credit: Cannondale)The trail mountain bike and the cross-country mounting bike are quite identical and can easily be confused at first glance. Just a note: You can see my blog write-up of this trip with photos. 17th Bike overnight tips and tricks: Bike headlight for trip through Big Savage Tunnel is a must. 17th October 2021 Blake Samsons DIY Garage Built Hardtail AKA The CRAB GMBN Tech Pro Bike Check.
He's been in the industry since the 90s and Pivot, founded in 2007, started with the genesis of its current World Cup XCO bike.According to Chris, "the XC category is an interesting one because at one time it was really the true heart of mountain biking." He goes on to say that most general mountain bike enthusiasts rode XC bikes. Chris Cocalis, founder of premier off-road bicycle brand Pivot Bikes, is someone who knows a thing or two about cross-country bikes. Cross-country mountain biking has a rich history that informs its present and future. Best lightweight mountain bikes under 10kgThe history of cross-country mountain bikingTo really understand something, it's important to look at its history. Types of mountain bikes : all the different mountain bike categories explainedTo find xc mtb tyres that can increase the performance of your bike, you need to know the type and conditions of the terrain you are about to tackle.
How Hard Can A Cross Country Mtb Ride Full Suspension Is
They are light and incredibly efficient, with a high level of stability and comfort.While wheel size is somewhat settled, hardtail vs full suspension is still very much up in the air. Today's cross-country bikes are once again amazing platforms for a wide range of riders. Cross-country started to borrow from the gravity-focused side of the sport, adopting slacker geometry, more suspension and dropper posts. This in turn led to a period where "many XC bikes changed their focus from being great all-around performers to hyper-focused race weapons that sacrificed speed and agility over comfort and stability."As with all things, the pendulum eventually started to swing back in the other direction. Technology allowed for more capable and longer-travel all-mountain bikes to pull riders away with increased efficiency. In Chris's telling of the story, that general ease of use started to fall away.
However, as geometry has started to become longer, slacker and lower, handlebar width has gotten wider and stem length shorter, so riders can make the most of the more capable geometry.(Image credit: Moe Lauchert for Pivot Cycles IG: ) What about cross-country-specific clothes?Every little bit of a bike design has undergone optimization so it only makes sense that clothing has too. The longer stem puts the rider's weight forward for better pedaling and the narrower bars help with avoiding bar-height obstacles like trees on narrow trails. Handlebars are usually narrower and stems are longer on cross-country bikes. That said, as XCO courses have become increasingly technical, bikes have started becoming far slacker, with some geometry settling for head angles around the 67-degree mark.Another area that cross-country bikes are seeing an evolution is in the cockpit.
Do whatever works best for you. Again, just consider these as broad strokes that tend to better match the experience of cross-country mountain biking. Of course, there is no trail fashion police telling you what to wear, so for those looking for a more casual look, consider a bib liner and a more fitted short paired with a technical t-shirt.For racing, the best XC helmets are peakless road-style ones, as they are lighter and have better ventilation, however these helmets may not offer quite as much protection as the best half-shell helmets that are designed for trail riding. Using bibs and jerseys that are similar to the road cycling world offers better ventilation, aerodynamics and muscle compression, on top of seated comfort for long days in the saddle.