GMBN Does XC on Trail Bikes! | Can you race Cross-Country on a Trail Bike?
Vložit
- čas přidán 14. 06. 2023
- The trail bike is known as being the ultimate all-round mountain bike - happy to go up, down, and across any trail you might find. Its well-rounded skillset mean that it's a popular choice for many riders who have to choose one bike for all their needs. Anna and Isaac wanted to see just how capable a trail bike can be, so signed up for a Stroud Summer Series XC race to see how they'd handle it!
Useful Links:
Watch The UCI MTB World Series Elite Racing On GCN+ 👉 gmbn.eu/UCIMTB
Racing Highlights & More On GMBN Racing 👉 gmbn.eu/GMBNracing
Watch Shorts on GMBN 👉 gmbn.eu/GMBNshorts
Shop the latest GMBN Jerseys! 👉 gmbn.eu/Jerseys
Ride with us at the Global Bike Festival 👉 gmbn.eu/GBF2023
Submit your Photo and Video to us 👉 upload.gmbn.com/
Sign-up to our newsletter 👉 gmbn.eu/newsletter
Have you tried racing before? Do you have any races you're hoping to attend this summer? Let us know below!
Watch more on GMBN...
📹 Budget bike enduro racing 👉 gmbn.eu/BudgetBikeEnduro
📹 Watch our Editor’s Choice Playlist 👉 gmbn.eu/EditorsChoice
📹 Watch our weekly show, The Dirt Shed Show 👉 gmbn.eu/dirtshedplaylist
🎵 Music - licensed by Epidemic Sound 🎵
Game for You - Daniel Fridell
Made for you - STRLGHT
New Terrain - Aiyo
Valkyrie - Blac Bamboo
YOMI - STRLGHT
#GMBN #GlobalMountainBikeNetwork #MTB #MountainBiking
The Global Mountain Bike Network (GMBN) is the world’s largest and fastest-growing online mountain bike channel and community - and your destination for the best mountain bike content in the world.
GMBN is dedicated to inspiring and unlocking your riding potential. Our videos cater to fans of every mountain bike discipline: from mile-munching cross-country (XC) riders, through adrenaline-fuelled dirt jumpers, gravity-hungry downhillers or aspiring enduro racers, and beyond.
Every day of every month, our ex-pro presenting team are on hand to entertain and inspire you while also providing a uniquely qualified insight into the world of mountain biking. Every week we deliver original daily videos that include:
Adventurous and entertaining features
Mountain bike skills coaching
Technical advice and guidance
Mechanical know-how to keep you rolling
A place for the riding community with our weekly Dirt Shed Show
Thanks to our sponsors:
Canyon Bikes: gmbn.eu/Canyon
Nukeproof Bikes: gmbn.eu/nukeproof
Orbea Bikes: gmbn.eu/Orbea
Park Tool: gmbn.eu/ParkTool
Smith Helmets & Eyewear: gmbn.eu/Smith
Crankbrothers Pedals: gmbn.eu/crankbros
Shimano Footwear: gmbn.eu/ShimanoShoes
Ergon: gmbn.eu/ergon
Vittoria Tires: gmbn.eu/Vittoria
FSA: gmbn.eu/fsa
Spank: gmbn.eu/Spank
Topeak: gmbn.eu/topeak
Garmin: gmbn.eu/Garmin
Peaty's Products: gmbn.eu/Peatys
Wahoo: gmbn.eu/WahooTraining
Worx Power Tools: gmbn.eu/Worx
CamelBak: gmbn.eu/CamelBak
Watch our sister channels:
GMBN Racing - gmbn.eu/GMBNracing
GMBN Tech - / gmbntech
Electric Mountain Bike Network - / embn
GMBN auf Deutsch - / gmbnaufdeutsch
Global Cycling Network - / gcn
GCN Tech - / gcntech
GCN Racing - / gcnracing
Global Triathlon Network - / gtn
GCN Italia - / gcnitalia
GCN en Espanol - / gcnenespanol
GCN auf Deutsch - / gcnaufdeutsch
GCN en Francais - / gcnenfrancais
GCN Japan - / gcnjapan
GCN Training - / gcntraining - Sport
Have you tried racing before? Do you have any races you're hoping to attend this summer? Let us know below!
I was there!!!!
What were the bike sizes? They looked the same
Send gifts please 🎉
Yes, twice, last time (end of october, on my heavily modded UMF DirtKick). And yes, 2 XC in spring, and 1 enduro in summer. :)
I race xc on a trail bike and I can attest to it being miserable at times.
Anna, you are absolutely fabulous and a true asset to GMBN. I truly hope that they understand and appreciate what they have with you.
Recently did a Xc lap with some friends who were on their XC bikes, I was using my 170mm enduro. As was said in the video, you lose time on the straights and climbs but gain time when braking and cornering. It is a fun trade
You can tell Anna has an XC background, her flow was so natural. Well done! And commiserations Isaac, having to withdraw hurt sucks. You should both definitely return with retro bikes!
Anna is so awesome!!!
I ran a Ripmo last year for a few XC races an it was fun with XC tires. Turn up the PSI in the shocks to have 15% sag and go run. The issue vs a XC bike is all covered in the video. The biggest part was the amount of work you have to do to move that 34lb bike around for 90 mins. Still lots of fun and shows that you can still have fun.
Similar experience to Anna's with fast rolling XC tires vs trail/enduro knobies. I tried them ONCE on my trail bike. I thought they were great after my first climb, but when I hit the brakes going down I panicked while sliding down the hill!
Watching this video I see the difference in cornering techniques between XC and DH. Can you make video or discuss these differing techniques and answer why they are different?
Great job Anna and Isaac! I am spent just watching you guys race. Well Good as always. Cheers - M
Looks like more of a CX race
…without the mud, off camber bits, bunnyhop bars and deep sand.
Brits seem to Do gravel rides tougher than their XC rides 😆
You're all more fit than I am, that's for sure.
If I were to do an event like this, probably on a hardtail with suitable tires. I'm thinking Maxxis with some aggressive tread, but with soft compound and minimal sidwall features due to lack of impact and tech on the trail. Less rolling resistance but bite into the sod and soft soil really well. Hard tail I think would provide better rear tire traction feedback to judge grip limits coming into corners. Of course I might be all washed up.
Kudos to Isaac for dropping out after a lowside injury. Adrenalin can mask the severity of an injury and then we set off making it worse without knowing.
Very cool video! Enjoyed it!
Anna is a real trooper
Anna is tough and a good sport.
Great job to you both, definitely like to see you try the same race on the cross or gravel bike!
A close friend of mine just did a XC marathon with 86km and 2.500m of elevation in 6,50 hrs on a heavy trail almost Enduro bike 😱🤪 and he enjoyed it even he was done and dusted afterwards. The only thing he changed were the tyres from magic marry / big Betty to rocket Ron / racing Ralph
This was great , more of these vids
Pain is temporary, quitting lasts forever.
This was really cool! Great job.
Oh me oh my the adventures of Ol' One Lap Isaac! Can't wait so see what silly antics he gets into next week!
I did XC races and Jamboree rides on my Polygon T7 29er. I just changed both set of tires to the Vittoria Syerra and completely lowered down my Handlebars. It’s pretty much adequate.
Podium tak?😆
I race a weekly series and some weekend races. I'm no elite, not even expert, but I have fun in the sport category. Running a Downcountry bike (Norco Revolver FS 120) that has been converted to be more XC focused.. lacks lockouts though which make it a bit slow off the line.
Great job Anna!
Way to go Anna!!
That green spectral is such a beautiful colour!
Funnily enough I did exactly what you did in an XC Race at the weekend. The tracks were pretty claggy and muddy and I had so much friction from the tyres it was crazy. Super grippy but such a hard slog! My legs were cooked after lap one. I did three laps but only two were counted as the last one was outside the time limit. Definitely dusting off my hardtail for the next one with some faster rolling xc tyres. I think the tyres made a massive difference. I certainly didn't do as well as you 😂 it was great fun though. Quite a change from my normal style of riding.
Interesting - I think my old 2002 Klein Palomino would have been a better choice for this race than the modern trail bikes you guys were using. Enjoyed this video!
I did a XC race on my canyon Spectral. I threw on some XC tires and then over pumped my suspension so the bike wouldn’t sag too much
Well done,Anna! Sorry to hear about the issues,Isaac!
Great video. For next time, if they won't let you use a CX bike how about a flat bar gravel bike.
I use a perfect mix between XC and Enduro: the Rocky Mountain Element - the ideal Down Country Bike. 😊
Great job, Anna!
I’ve done a few xc runs on my trail bike it’s alright but would def use an xc bike for xc it’s more comfy
I've got a KTM FS Macina Lycan 271 E-MTB.... 130mm front (68 degrees) Pikes and 125mm rear Monarch....Do everything on it from trail centres(occasionally) to wilderness Torridon....
Having the grippy trail tires and went down which is very unexpected . I use my minions in xc races that are 2.3 with exo casing . I race in desert conditions so for me grip has a priority and a bit tougher casing for flat prevention
When can you guys move to filming in 4k?, we need to see Anna to higher pixel density 😆
This was great.
@gmbn yes Anna, come back wednesday on a gravel bike, did it last week; i was the only one 😢
I remember Ben Moore turning up to an Xc race once on a 160mm giant Trance with flats and won it
Feels like a Cyclocross bike would to well there.
Yeah. It doesn't look like mountain biking.
I race XC and Enduro on my 120mm full sus bike! I even podium sometimes.
What bike? Im looking at a 120mm bike that could race XC but still be fun on the rough stuff
@@povadventure5305, depends whether you're after something new or from years gone by.
If I was on the look for a 120mm full sus all rounder I'd look no further than a 2009 Marin Mount Vision 5.8.
I'm slightly biased due to owning one for the past 12.5 years, but it is more than able to hold its own against more up to date bikes... It was voted Mtb of the year in 2009 & 2010 for good reason.
If you had a decent budget to spend, you could upgrade the drive train and groupset, maybe the rear shock, service the forks, some good tyres and you're good to go...
Awesome all round bike.
@@MrLg55555 sounds pretty sweet, my dad has an 27.5 rift zone and its heavy and sucks on the smoother stuff. I raced XC on it before but I dont recomend it. I am looking at the trek top fuel now
@@povadventure5305, I'd feel the same pain on a Rift Zone!
I've also got a 2015 Mount Vision C XM8 27.5 Enduro rig and although it's half decent on the level, I wouldn't want to be using it for XC stuff all the time... To heavy for starters. Around 14.5 kg even though it's carbon...
On the descents altogether different story...
@@povadventure5305 I'm on a 2020 Polygon D7, but upgraded. Only thing stock is the crankset and saddle. Sid Select+ fork, Rockshox Deluxe shock, Hunt Trailwide rims, etc.
I have raced xc on a super heavy marin rift 27.5 with dh tires and on a 27.5 trail hardtail with xc tires which is not that bad
Even though it was a very flat xc race, in a technical race it's different, I ran a polygon siskyu n9 an xcm and the result was what I expected 13 out of 100, it's not the arrow, it's the warrior
Would be nice to see the Neuron in this test. I think it would be a better trail bike for these type of races.
Would be interesting to see how down country bikes like the Yeti SB115 would do, with some fast tyres in a XC race 😅
I´d love to see a gmbn presenter race with a short xc race and then a dh race. That would be really cool
Good thinking! We'll pass that on to the team 👍
Enjoyed seeing all those Scott bikes on course with you guys ;) 😉
good effort anna, again you stuck it out
Good stuff. Short answer: absolutely
1:05 I genuely tought they brought a Sintesi Bazooka. It would have been awesome
when i did my first race i did it on my trail vitus escarpe proper nailed me used a hardtail the next time and got better time
Love them bikes❤
I’m literally in the middle of trying to decide on getting a spectral 125. I live and work in south Florida most the year but spend time in New England.
Sounds like a good option, for both. Hardtail may be more fun in Florida.
fun vid....
It doesn’t matter whether it’s a hardtail or a full sus. Whether it’s running an 80 mm or 190 mm fork or 150 mm rear shock. No matter what the geometry get out there and just ride.
Boom.
🎶 I'm too xc for my bike... 🎵😁
The Canton Spectral is not the typical trail MTB. It's an all-mountain, (light) Enduro bike. So much that Jesse Melamed is using it at the EWS this season.
Yeah 160mm is Enduro
The women seem better mannered and just plain enjoy it more than us men😊 well done Anna. I hope you don’t GOOSE yourself next time 😂
I only race XC on a trail bike. I only have a trail bike lol. Do swap tires though it doesn't seem to help 😂
You did good with that bicycle😮.
Just go for it, the bike just needs to survive to be suitable IMHO
This seems like a prime race for a Gravel Bike
Looks way smoother than most courses I’ve raced
lol so true every time i see xc on youtube it looks so easy but then the xc race where i live are insane last week we raced xc on an enduro track so much fun
Was the track just a grass field
I still want to see the retro bike tried here in another video.
Do it on a gravel/CX bike.
My guess prior to watching says a trail bike lags a little on the climbs but absolutely murders XC on the descents. My x-duro build kind of fits with trail and on the climbs it lags behind XC bikes but on the downhills it keeps the pace like an enduro.
To clarify, X-duro because it has Enduro geometry with 150mm in the nose but a very short rear with 120mm travel out back. Enduro tyre (Conti Der Kaiser 61mm) on the nose and an XC tyre (Conti Vapour 54mm) on the back. It's more XC meets enduro than a balance like a trail bike.
Your front end doesn't lift off the ground on steeper climbs?
@@BIIIKES The nose can get a bit excited but you very quickly learn to keep it down. It's a compromise I'm happy to make though and after the last bout of upgrades the rear travel is up to 130mm, the Chainstays are 8mm longer and the nose is a little better at staying down. It's also a good bit more capable downhill which is where I want the control and performance.
I totally would race XC on my Enduro hardtail! Perhaps i would change the rear tire? hmm
Where has Isaac gone? We need him back on the team!
As the steering angle is very slack, do you think that, for example, the Canyon Spectral K.I.S. could give any benefit from it?
Hi guys. If my size is on the border between small and medium, is it better to choose a larger or smaller mountain bike?
If you can ride both sizes or go somewhere to ride the different sizes then that's the best way to figure it out. If you can't do that then the best option is to go for the smaller size. It's easier to conform to a smaller frame.
@@Speedy.V Thank you .
@@Pompelaify no prob. Glad I could help. If you end up getting a smaller frame and it doesn't fit well the best and least expensive thing to do is adjust the seatpost hight and the saddle position. Then the stem if that doesn't work. Hopefully you get the best bike that fits you well. Also some frame geometry from on brand may be different than the one your looking for. For example on a specialized I fit a large but on a canyon I fit a medium. Always check out the bike websites and compare your body measurements with the ones they have for the frame sizes .
He's canyon spectral with 160mm is Enduro not trial. Surely.
Seems like a rigid mtb or gravel bike(Cutthroat or the like) with 29x2.2 xc would have been the right choice here.
I think I just witnessed a cyclocross race on mountain bikes. I mean, seriously this isn't a true test of the bikes on a real XC race course.
Stiff frame to track the ground?? 🤔
"Can you go racing a (butchered) cyclo-cross track against XC bikes, ON TRAIL BIKES?"
Would be a better fitting titlte
I would’ve just used a gravel bike on this course.
Welp I'm doing a XC race in a couple of months in my santacruz chameleon with 140mm up front and i35mm rims with 2.6 tires... Yeah... 😅😅😅
You need to drop this seat 😉, you learn that in the enduro race
Modern trail bike geo definitely makes sacrifices for that high speed descending stability. No steering precision, steep and committed seating positions, longer, heavier.... They've become slower in a lot of ways.
"no steering precision"
Yep, all things being equal a slacker head angle makes the steering slower, and takes more weight off the front, making it easier for the front to washout in corners, probably why james crashed.
@@benjy288 operator error
@@Dreggz1312 Its always operator error, the question is would he of crashed if he took the same corner at the same speed on a cross country bike? there's a reason why sports motorcycles have steep steering angles, because it turns better and gives more front end grip.
Would he have crashed if he rode it like a trail bike instead an xc bike, and put more weight on the front when a particular corner calls for that?
Honestly trail bikes are no comparison to an xc bike. I own both and my average speed is down by a good 2mph with the same heart rate on the trail bike.
I don’t understand why they’re riding full suspension on this. Looks like a cx race, might have been faster on a hardtail or cx bike. Especially when they said no technical. Also that guy was like it’s not competitive so it’s not a race?
At 1:38. Did I see Anna cutting zip ties with a Park Tool cable cutter?
It annoys me so much how there is a need to create a bike category for every 10mm of travel.
Gaining time braking on grass with chunkier tyres? I find that hard to believe, if the ground is hard then the big knobs can't dig in, I've run big tyres before, vigilante, magic mary, now I run barzo front and rear and I can't tell a difference, I can still keep up with my friends on their enduro tyres.
XC is awesome...so is CX
I thought Canyon Spectral was an enduro bike.
The strive is the enduro bike
Spectral is somewhere in between. The category is called all-mountain
Enduro bike is thé best
Next week borrow Blake & his fatbike
If terrain would have at least few technical bits downhill or even uphill the results would be different. Exactly what they mentioned in the beginning of the video, that current XC races are not what is in this video.
Yeah but, Rocky Mountain Instinct tho
Ian better toughen up, or he might get traded to GCN for Hank. 😱 Seriously, all good, hope you’re back to 💯
Yeah you can, I did, and i was faster. I raced on a trance 29 advanced with 130mm and downcountry tires and it was fine because i could pin it everywhere.
Anna... 'into retro'... That's new... Thought she believes it's 'old tat'? 😮
Shame you couldn't get hold of those rigid bikes in time. That course was so tame you coulda smashed it on some rigid nineties beast no problem.
That was XC?.... I was expecting some shredding down trails and such like I see on lots of aggressive XC racing, and so I expected the trail bike to do good, but it was just cut grassy fairways basically.... So I feel a gravel bike would've been a better choice even. Like what?
If I wanted to ride fire roads I would get a road bike
That's xc?
Yes, you can race on a fat tire bike too, won't win, or finish.
Should be fun to watch your pain 😂