Why Has XC Tech Changed So Much? | GMBN Tech Show 337

In this week's GMBN Tech Show, Anna Cipullo is joined by Neil Donoghue are looking at the evolution of XC bike tech since 2004. Look how much bikes have changed! Plus your usual favourites including this week’s Quiz question, Top Mods, and much more!

⏱️ Timestamps ⏱️
00:00 - Intro
00:23 - XC Bikes Have Changed A Lot
03:59 - XC Wheel Tech from Val di Sole
06:08 - News
11:48 - Quiz
12:41 - Top Mods
13:59 - Comments
15:42 - Coming Up On The Channel

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What are your thoughts on the evolution of the XC bike?

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[gmbntech]

What are your thoughts on the evolution of the XC bike?

[MegaIceeagle]

Hey don't knock my triple chain ring guys 😭

[ynie]

I'm so glad for the modernization of XC bikes. My local XC race is adopting more wrinkles every year including adding a few rock features, a few additional jumps here and there, ect... I'm already pushing my 120/115 just riding that course.

[theakh]

Still riding a hardtail, but now with a 120mm fork. I'm having fun and staying in shape. The cost of these rigs has become abusive.

[JeffMTBinVA]

The Val Di Sol XC course was gnarly and that drop they were taking was nuts. I would have wanted an enduro bike to ride that. Speaking of Enduro, it really sucks that the UCI is covering EDR so poorly.

[paulhodgson]

Showing my age but I miss the 90's craze for Onza bar ends.

[TheRickysee]

I think longer lower slacker is a fine line. I think we’ve reached the limit. I don’t want to see less than 66° head angles and my bottom bracket is already ridiculously low and pedal strikes are so annoying. The bikes are getting heavier, but I guess as long as we’re all getting heavier together that’s OK right?

[The-Jokes-on-You]

They need to have a retro or vintage class for 26" riders. Modern geometry & new tech is phenomenal & truly much nicer to ride, but much like riding single speed there is just something spiritual & nostalgic about racing/riding old tech.

[carloshenriquealvesdossant]

I ride a 2013 Fuji SLM 2.0, added a dropper, but tubeless, single chainring never catch me. 30 psi on tires and platform pedals for life! Anna is gorgeous!

[matt_acton-varian]

I have a Cannondale F2000 (the same frame type that Cannondale Volvo team used to win the World Champs in 2000 and 2001) with the Headshok suspension system (70mm). That bike was, in a way, ahead of its time but its old school sizing and geometry makes the bike handle very differently to a modern bike.

[MTNMAX]

27.5 still lives and the victory proves it. I’m not sure why that’s so shocking to everyone. 29 is just too big and looks a bit like a circus bike. I really hope they never phase out 27.5

[elizabethpoley]

I thought I'd like dark yellow Ergon grips....until I actually used them. Now I know why the pros usually stick to black. The yellow, and even orange, grips get so dirty by the end of a ride that you have to get an old toothbrush and clean them every time...and that's when you're now most tired. Alot of work for pretty. I eventually dumped the color and went back to black.

[chrisridesbicycles]

I still have my fancy Scott scandium frame from back in the day but today I did a loop on my Scalpel SE and I don‘t miss the old times at all. It‘s such a good, capable bike. The only thing I miss from time to time is the big gears on the 3x chainset which would be handy to drop e-bikes.

[yvpdjgw]

I am riding a trail frame with XC forks/shocks, XC tires and short handle bars. LOVE IT! Not close to be a pro but do well in local events...

[rupedog]

Shim fiddling is scary but fun... I re-shined my 2018 RS super deluxe after fitting the high flow 'hotdog' piston which cures it's knocking problem

[johndef]

My 1989 Raleigh Peak is fully rigid and weighs 28 lbs. with XT. My Specialized Epic has full sus and xt 12 speed and 29" wheels and weighs 25 lbs. Huge improvement

[andymakarewich]

With respect to the quiz it’s the rock shox flight attendant

[toddpillow]

IMO it was obvious in 1992 that Full SUS would come to dominate in all forms of racing. I come from an off-road motorcycle racing background and understood perfectly well that SUSPENSION was the most important aspect of chassis performance; reduced crashes, less fatigue and better traction up, down and around. I bought a Cannondale Delta V1000 in 1992 and went faster overall except on the smoothest of terrain. Hardtails lasted so long because riders were stubborn and macho….

[NonLegitNation]

wait, so the Charger 3.1 damper is only $75.00? I was looking to possibly install a Charger 2.1 damper in my Domain and it was around $275.00. If the 3.1 is compatible then I'll definitely go with that instead.

[jimdurham]

I still like riding the SC Blur from 2021.