PINKBIKE FIELD TEST
Cross-Country & Down-Country Bikes VS The Impossible Climb
Bro-Science in the Name of Climbing
Would it even be a Field Test if we didn't have some dubious challenges to attempt aboard our fleet of test bikes? The Huck to Flat video is on its way - I know that's what you're waiting for - but first, I had to get them all to the top of the mountain, and the route there was close to impossible. Perfect.
With this Field Test focusing on short-travel bikes that
should make your life easier on demanding ascents, we knew that our Impossible Climb had to be the most impossible yet. But then the rains came and, well, it ended up getting far trickier than the cameras make it look. I guess that's always how it is, though.
Last year's dusty and cactus-lined climb in Sedona, Arizona, wasn't easy, but the greasy mud, ice-like roots, and decieving steepness of this episode stretched traction and slow-speed handling to the limit. In the end, most were stopped in the same spot, a rocky, rooty uphill chute with a single, straight-up-the-middle line that offered close to zero grip during the afternoon downpour.
But while most bikes stumbled at that slippery wall, one bike did manage to get considerably higher than others.
The 2020 Pinkbike Field Test was made possible with clothing, protection, and support from Giro. Control tires provided by Schwalbe, and power meters provided by SRM. Filming took place at The Backyard pub in Squamish.
Video: Jason Lucas, Cole Nelson, Max Barron
Sorry Mike, you knew we were evil.
Suggestion: How about instead of a monster climb make it like a stage race/ elimination. That way all the bikes get a fair shake at easier short climbs and you can give each bike 1 mulligan ( non golfers that is free redo). As you go the climbs get more tech but you start to drop bikes.
All in the name of better bro-science.
Unrelated but still one of my favorite MTB moments
Both are kinda gross.
On other note, last week on holidays I had the chance to try an ebike in the trails for the first time, it handled LIKE A FCKING COW, seriously. Making climbs easy just to battle that pig downhill ain't worth it. Is like having just one ice cold coke with a lemon slice vs. bottomless pepsi at room temperature. Pass.
And I did so with an open mind, considering to rent it for a day or two. Went for a Trance 29 instead, which I loved.
So my question: How is a motor a clear line? Why are you the one to decide that? Back to the way normal bikes work, we're talking about creating mechanical advantage via the drive train to amplify output. Adding a pedal assist motor is another way to amplify that output. Its not a moped yet, its just a bike that's better at amplifying output. Point being, the line is more difficult to draw when you break things down to fundamentals.
Bottom line, go watch BK ride one and tell me that its not MTB. Pros are riding them harder, longer, and to a higher level than 99% of this forum will ever ride any kind of bike. Now whether or not eMTBs get regular Joes to places or into situations they don't belong, that's a whole other story.
This is turning into a long reply but there were a few barriers to entry before namely fear of injury and the fact mtbing requires a fair bit of effort. E-mtb removed that effort part and hence has opened the door some people who dont appreciate others in MTB. And just to be clear, this isn't a bias I applied to the e-mtb riders, before arriving at Hamsterley I had positive thoughts about them but seeing it that day changed my view.
I ain't no arbitrator but I've been riding long enough to know that biking is more than just the trail and your push iron. It's the people that make biking special.
Seriously though , dickheads can be seen riding all bikes so putting down ebikes is abit narrow minded . A group ebike ride is among the best Mtb experiences I’ve had in 35 years of riding . You’ll be on one soon
I think it's a bit embarrassing because even on normal bikes it can be awkward when somebody gets dusted by a superior rider, but e-bikes amplify that because in that situation it has less to do with the prowess of the rider and more to do with the type of bike they can afford. Which is why it isn't 'in the spirit of MTB' in that respect.
Most emtbers have the same ethos as you and are considerate on the trails . We are not all overweight , old and unskilled wannabes ! Give an newbie a £10000 s-works don’t make him a good rider , however he could ride alot more and learn quicker and offer you a tow up that hill !
Was only messing but it does fire up the haters !
For what it's worth - people working in the industry tell me that there are two waves of people buying eMTBs. One is people who've ridden MTBs for years, and this is an addition to the sport for them (want to ride more/shuttle less, or want to get more laps in, or want to be able to ride to the trails from further away without having to drive, or want to compensate for injuries or flagging fitness as they're aging). The other are people who came into it from e-bikes as commuters (started riding e-bikes all over town after ages of driving everywhere, loved it, then were exposed to the idea of eMTB and decided to branch out on the trails). Not to have a huge pro/con eMTB conversation (that has all kinds of facets, especially in places where there may be access issues to contend with), but to me that sounds like it's not too much of a different crowd than other people who might discover MTB and join us on the trails (like the parents whose kids got hooked on MTBs and who are now discovering them for themselves; trail runners who are getting into it; etc.) In the end, the higher number require us to be better about integrating them into the community (and educate them about trail etiquette, volunteerism, etc.) not just to make it a better experience for everyone, but also to get them involved in the responsibility parts that are absolutely vital (respect for other user groups, building more trails, advocating for trail access).
@tempest3070 You know what I mean.
I was the only one who could stand up and not spin out the rear tire.
( ) )
and the comment of the month goes to..: !!
That being said these tires are absolute beasts, when i first put them on i thought my brakes were dragging, and that was coming from High Rollers not even an XC tire.
Don't ride the assegai then.
Try the WTB vigilante sometime. Very good grip/sturdy at low pressures, but it rolls a lot faster than Minions and Mary's.
I know cameras don't always convey gradient well, but this looks like basically every climb around me but with a few less roots/rocks and not as steep. Not saying I can clean this sort of stuff every time, but I know A LOT of riders who can zip up this terrain w/o a thought.
I kid
kindof
also geeze, they chose a trail that they could repeat all day. don't expect it to be the hardest thing ever.
He should go out and ride laughlintown or rothrock. The fun will be watching to see how many times his bike gets thrown and says f*ck this.
Could just be excuses, but I thought it was funny to think of after reading this. EVERYONE thinks their trails are the hardest trails.
I haven't been to Canada, but 2 areas in the US really stand out to me though for being difficult:
Western Washington seems to have all the altitude change + all the wet roots and rocks. It's the rockies plus the east.
The Fruita Colorado through most of Southern Ut area and south into NM and AZ. It's dry and you have tons of traction but it's always some damn rock step every damn place, all of that is interspersed with trails where failure = death.
I live in Idaho- tons of climbing but not great tech. My trails aren't the hardest but we get some decent cardio.
But that doesn't mean east coast riding is weak. Just silly arguments from internet people "My trails are harder." Just ride what you got and enjoy. I'm hoping to do some east coast riding soon.
You also gotta remember that Denver is flat as a pancake but a mile high so you're starting w a taller "first floor" than we are :-)
Of course us Carolina boys think we are hard because NC has the tallest mtns in the east.
Friend of mine did one of those guided trips in NC last year and hasn't stopped raving about how awesome it was. I am stopping to visit a friend in Lexington, so NC will hopefully be on my list.
Lexington isn't "Near" anything :-) But you can get to some of our DH resorts and the Mtns in probably 2.5 hrs from there. Also fun fact it's the crossroads for NC BBQ so all the different styles are there.
Alternately, just bring on the 36ers!
Just want to know if that was the "review" of the Grim Donut??????
Funny how you can go over the bars on a climb, but not on the Donut?
I bet we all have our own impossible climb somewhere.
This about hiking steep rocky terrain vs walking up a smooth path. Different cadence, more bent over upper body, etc. Similar here.
Saddle at full height and its down to the suspension, tyre deflection and maybe some ankles, as on the tech you will have to put power down on the tech bits.
Lower that saddle 1" and you have 1" of body weight movement to play with too, move forward on the saddle if its pointing slightly down and you have probably 2" to play with, stand and power and any kick back off a root etc or even just a step up and your saddle is not going to hit you.
Technical climbing is not about 1 minute efforts, not many could manage 15 seconds at 100% effort let alone 1 minute up something technical (I cant thats for sure and I am a pretty good technical climber). XC WC racers are something else, plus they have saddles pointing way down and low front ends coupled with masses of power to power up the tech. I have yet to see a trails rider (which has to be the ultimate tech) ride with a saddle up.
Watch Chris Akkrig climb or Barelli (Saddle all the way down, dont think he has it wrong)
www.pinkbike.com/news/video-yoann-barelli-climbs-double-black-diamond-trail-in-whistler.html
"All nine of our review bikes were equipped with identical sets of control tires - a Schwalbe Racing Ralph out back and a Racing Ray on the front - so we could eliminate a variable that has a massive effect on performance. Tire pressures were consistent, too, which allowed us to focus on the handling and suspension, and to compare the bikes on more equal footing."
www.pinkbike.com/news/welcome-to-the-2020-pinkbike-field-test-cross-country-bike-edition.html