Think back to the early days of mountain biking. A bunch of friends, getting to the top of the hill any way they could, not needing to ride up at any great pace, saving themselves for the real buzz, the ride back down. It didn’t matter who got tot the top first, as long as everyone made it and then could share a chat, maybe a beer and a toke, before they pointed their rigs back downhill. The hair was as flowing as the conversation, and that was just the guys.
The weight of their bikes wasn’t a factor, just making it to the bottom with functioning brakes and their jeans not tangled in the chain was the most important thing. Most of the bikes and parts were derived from road-going machines, and most of the early wheels were either cut down and re-welded road hoops, or beach cruiser wheels which came in some strange diameter. Innovation and invention was strong from the start, with a bunch of them making their own frames and cobbling together parts. They shaped the development of this new sport, which in turn helped revive and push road bike technology too.
While racing down the hill was the way it all started, soon the predominant racing genre would become riding around in circles, up long climbs and then back down again. Even though the climbing was the major element, the races were dubbed cross country. Downhill was usually raced on the same day, on the same bike, on the same part of the XC course. Gradually downhill technology advanced with suspension at both ends getting longer, while the XC bikes (and riders) looked to go on diets that would make Jenny Craig envious. Somewhere in between, regular mountain bikers just rode their bikes on the trails, up and down, without a label of their own to identify with.
Sometime in the last few years, the bikes that most people ride on most trails most of the time took on an identity of their own. The marketers, in a moment of brilliant clarity, called them trail bikes. But what were these trail riders going to do if they wanted to compete every now and then? The bikes didn’t fit into the XC category (too heavy, too much travel), they were too under-gunned for proper downhill racing, and most of the riders just wanted to have a bit of fun more than set any PBs or have to wear lycra and shave their legs to be considered worthy of the ‘racer’ tag. What they needed (even if only the marketers knew it) was a new type of racing, where the fun bits, the singletrack and the descents, mattered more than the boring hard bits, the climbs. Enter enduro.
Just about every company at Interbike recently released something that had the word enduro attached to it. Bikes, components, shoes, helmets, clothing, there’s something for everyone to just go and ride with, just like we used to, but now only better. Enduro has maybe not saved mountain biking, but has given it a whole new lease of life by bringing back the core elements of why we ride a bike on trails. Whether that needed a tag or not, well that’s debatable, but I know that the bikes we ride now are some of the most dialled and most versatile that I’ve ridden in my 23 years of mountain biking. They have certainly brought the fun back to my riding, by allowing me to ride faster, with more control and more confidence.
Those hippies back in the 70s and 80s were way ahead of their time in many ways. That the preferred wheel size back then was 650b could have changed the way bikes developed a lot sooner, and the way we’ve arrived at this ‘new’ wheel size via a smaller and then a bigger one is maybe a blessing in disguise. Maybe we wouldn’t have three sizes (soon to be two) to choose from, and all bikes would have at least one component that was a true ‘standard’. The way things are heading though, most trail riders in the next three or four years will be on the medium hoops whether they like it or not; the 26″ wheel holdouts will have nothing left to complain about except the fact they can’t get any tyres any more, and that they secretly wished they’d switched to medium wheeled bikes sooner, because, shhh, don’t tell anyone, they’re actually better.
I get to ride a few bikes in my job, on a lot of varied trails all around the place, and it’s hard to find many bad bikes these days. Whether it’s down to frame design, angles, suspension technology or wheel size, I don’t know. Probably all of those, combined with other factors like wider bars/shorter stems, the banishment of the front derailleur, big fat tubeless tyres, and the best invention in mountain biking in the last ten years, the dropper seatpost. All these things are staples of the modern trail bike, and whether or not they have the word enduro attached to them doesn’t really matter. But I know this; mountain biking is looking healthier than it has since the halcyon days of the early nineties, and racing is becoming popular again because the fun is being put back into it. Heck, I’m even having a crack at one of these new races next weekend too, and I’m actually looking forward to it.
Thanks, enduro.
This is what a modern mountain bike looks like… my new Turner Burner.
The Rise of Enduro – Teaser from Tom Teller on Vimeo.
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@brett
Forgive me if I missed it, but what's the spread on your cassette?
@PeakInTwoYears
11-36
Short stem and wide bars? Next you'll be saying that a 100mm fork isn't enough for attacking the downhills!
I'm testing my new set-up on Saturday. You may want to set aside some time now to visit me in hospital on Sunday...
My old 1990 ish era Mountain bike from Raleigh had a dubious little sticker under BB that stated "this bicycle is not intended for off road use" WTF
Needless to say I took that sucker almost everywhere and over things that should never be ridden over. Still in one piece.
OK, something I can wade into fully here ...
I ride a 29er dually - Santa Cruz Tallboy with 2.25 Nobby Nics - this suits my build - a bit of a clydesdale at 182cm and 100kg. I had a 2007 Scott Genius 26er but was continually breaking suspension bolts - the rear suspension set up on the Genius didn't help though. Great bike all the same - had 140mm travel up fornt and 120mm rear. Frank - that bike (Genius) is definitely not for you - you would be snapping seat tubes off at the frame!
The big wheels suit bigger blokes in my opinion - I don't have any problems on the technical stuff & switchbacks, but then again I'm not the fastest through that anyway. Also age and wisdom has seen me take the descents a little more cautiously - I do not bounce! The 29er suits me and I don't think I'll go back to smaller wheels, even 650B.
I read an article that when they fitted a 2.25 tyre to a 26" the diameter difference between that wheel and a 650B was around 10mm - really - why all the fuss! But I think if you're of smaller lighter stature, and want a new bike, 650B will be a definite improve on the 26". Bigger wheels definitely roll over shit better.
I currently run a triple up front - the bike came that way, and I was going to convert it to 2*10, but I do like the granny options. Whilst I could climb almost anything on the middle ring of the 26, the 29er is a bit hard to turn on the middle & 36 at back. Really do need that granny ring. I read recently that the new 1*11's have a 42 tooth dinner plate at the back. Yet to see one, but doesn't appeal to the aesthetist.
I currently have my CX/graveller and roadie so never short of riding options. I see that even Niner is bringing out a graveller (v. sweet) - this is what I though you meant about going full circle at the start of your article.
Great article Brett.
@brett
Yup. Unless he's forgotten how to ride a bike, he's bloody quick downhill.
Re: the great wheel size debate, I think 29ers are the way to go when you're racing XC and you're interested in speed and nothing else. The handling is a bit ponderous but the lower rolling resistance lets you fly.
26ers are great for techy trails and when you want a bombproof wheelset - the handling difference is immediately noticeable.
I've not had a chance to try 650B in anger but I like the idea - I'm just not sure I want to shell out to replace two 26ers that I don't ride enough as it is for a minor improvement. I may be tempted to sell the hardtail to replace it with a 29er for racing though, at least that's seen some race action this year, even if it did beat the shit out of me in the process.
@El Mateo Sweet Bontrager. I have just gone back to fully rigid on my Race Lite from the mid-90s with a pair of Project Twos. Its a real gem and fun to whip around after bouncing around on a modern bike.
Not better, just different.
The day I turned to the road I turned away from the dirt...this article gave me a sense of longing for the first time in ages so well done @Brett
The thing is I now barely understand any of the language used, tech or even gearing but at least it looks interesting. I have recently given my son my old Dawes Watoga, which was in mint condition, now I am thinking I have either given him something very uncool....or a classic that I should be saving for a future retro rebuild!
Nice article, although I think I will stick with the road....there is something beautiful about winter road riding which completes the cycle of the seasons (see what I did there!)...
@the Engine yes, you should give it a really good clean, and then chuck it in the skip - wouldn't risk a lawsuit if someone else decided to ride it
@brett
Blimey, I just sold my FS MTB to fund a new Cx bike, thinking this would garner approval of the V tribe, only to find we are now suggesting MTB is cool!
That said, I'll take a couple of points for my new TRP V-brakes as per @Fronk's suggestion, and also propose that De Feet's Woolie Boolies are the best socks a man can by for winter riding in wet conditions
More to the point Brett, my heart felt commiserations on your boys delaminating in the Americas Cup - to have it taken away within 2 minutes of the finish line on friday because of a stupid time limit, and another due to it being too windy, and just to lose it because Larry specified first to 9 rather than first to 8, must be pretty shit - I do worry about Dean Barker, constantly talking about swallowing bitter pills, I hope he is okay - it was a very sad day in SF, a great day but a sad day, but you Kiwis are still the master race when it comes to sporting brilliance, awesome attitude, and being fucking hard as nails - bloody unlucky (but for the fact Ben Ainslie was on the Australian boat, I would be inconsolable myself!!)