On Sun, Oct 25, 2009 at 3:05 AM, Greg M <gmack...@gmail.com> wrote: > > You have to remember just how 'cutting' edge Grant was in mountain > biking before he was labeled a retro-grouch by the mainstream. Almost > everything standard about a cross country mountain bike and its > geometry is a direct function of Grant's vision. > > I always thought that what Grant did with Rivendell was a departure > from what he was doing with mountain bikes. Obviously the technology > has changed in mountain biking with a continuing obsession with latest/ > greatest to feed the magazine/shop/consumer monster, however, there is > a market for a higher end mountain bike that is 'raceable' in the > early nineties sense. I've thinking like a Bontrager Race or Bontrager > Race Lite (pre-trek). > > Such a bike made of high zoot steel tubing would tip the scales well > under the disc brake, outboard bearing, full suspension boat anchors > people are riding today. > > I don't think a good steel cross country mountain bike exists anymore > (and no Surly's aren't). If there is one thing Grant knows its > mountain bikes.
I'd love a light steel MTB, and i spent months wishing that the last, discounted Bontrager Race in the bike shop window was just one size larger back around 1996, but i don't think today's market would give it a second look. There is too much emphasis on suspension bikes now, and there's some justification for it, with race courses getting tougher to take advantage of the use of suspension. I remember a shift a couple of years after the first suspension forks coming out, the cross-country races i was doing around here started incorporating much rocker sections and teeth-rattling descents that we'd ride, but weren't part of a race course before. There was a real choice on some courses between really punishing yourself and the bike, or having to slow down and let the suspended riders pass you by. Nobody racing seriously is going to make that choice nowadays. Still, i really enjoy the ride of a nice light steel bike on singletrack, being able to stand to hammer up a hill or bunny-hop an obstacle, things that aren't easily done on a full-sus bike. -- Bill Connell St. Paul, MN --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
