MTB Cross Country vs. Downhill (for beginners)
bicycles reviews | bicycles videos | bicycles online
Mountain Biking for Beginners Down Hill or Cross Country aka XC Until this video, this series has focused on Cross Country riding for beginners. There are at least half a dozen other mountain biking styles. However, the vast majority are a variation of either Down Hill or Cross Country. So what is the difference between a Down Hill bike and a Cross Country bike? Typically, the parts and geometry of the two bike styles are very different. DH bikes are designed to be sturdier and to shift the biker's weight more to the rear. The DH bike will have a heavier frame, large breaks, and long travel suspension. The DH biker will usually travel to the point of decent and is not usually expected to self-propel uphill terrains. Although DH biking does not usually require the rider to do much pedaling (as compared to XC), it is however considered to be much more challenging physically and mentally. The cross country bike is designed for longer distance riding over various terrains, including uphill climes. The rider's weight is more centered and the bikes are made with lighter materials. The vast majority of MTB riders start off on Cross Country bikes and riding. With XC bikes, comfort and maneuverability are the two things riders debate when buying or upgrading their bikes. For DH bikes, the discussion changes to durability and speed control. I still recommend beginners start off with cross country riding. You will become aware of the technical aspect and build the strength and endurance needed for DH biking. For your first DH ride, borrow or rent a proper DH bike (do not use a XC bike for DH riding) and go with an experienced rider. Please feel free to watch some of our other videos for MTB. For a collection of MTB videos, both DH and XC, visit the "SingleTrackCentral" channel. There you will find entertaining videos made by the MTB community for the MTB community. Don't forget to like, subscribe and click the share button. Thanks and have fun out there.
Comments
-
The normal XC rider drive a Hartail. :)
-
I've been doing pretty technical DH on an ol 2001 XC disc Stumpjumper with 29 fork. The front handles really great but the back end bounces helplessly. I take it All mountain is a cross or compromise between XC and DH? Correct? I guess I need an all mountain rig so I can do both climb and reasonable DH. Got any reasonable recommendations for the best of both worlds for a 6'4 200lb rider? Thanks for making and sharing the vid!
-
Why not use a XC bike on a DH course? You seem to put much emphases on it.
-
DH is cool cause you can be a fat tub of lard who gets winded changing channels and still have a good ride.
Kidding. DH is a howl. I still prefer XC though. Great conditioning and you learn a wider range of skills. Also, love feeling superior to the guys with the $7k bikes who can't get to the top of the hill without a chairlift (pussies). -
lol at people who say "I have ridden my XC bike on a DH track, I must be hardcore". I bet you did. I also bet that you are one of these people who block the shit out of DH tracks because of going so slow. DH is not about riding down, but riding down FAST.
-
I just rode on a downhill track where many races are held and I think I might have just raped the bike
-
I'd prefer XC cause i like to race where stamina and pedalling power is really needed. unlike DH cause bike control and other trail riding skills are much more needed in DH you can even get 4th place chainless at a UCI DH World Cup just ask Neko Mulally how?
-
He said don't ride an xc on a dh trail, but I did anyway cos I'm a badass
-
Spazzyy
u alway say ride to write
the translator is a software from you tube. -
1:16
-
u alway say ride to write
-
Thank you for all your videos, they have helped me out alot, and i'm sure many others too. keep it up :)
-
pff i went and did DH on a cheap hardtail xc bike, in a foreign country and on my own, it went well. K, also fell and got injured and had to visit a hospital, but apart from that it went well :p
-
the DH is cool the XC is not
-
downhill is amazing! i only wish i lived near some hills haha
-
Thank you
2m 14sLenght
166Rating