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Is XC Riding (Still) a Thing?

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Xcyclist

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I haven’t mountain biked for years, like before YouTube was a thing :ROFLMAO:

So I know what type of riding I prefer, and I would call it XC but it’s not racing (I noticed the XC racing sub forum). Maybe I didn’t pay attention before, or perhaps riding preferences have changed, but it seems these days most mountain bikers prefer downhill, technical (features) and challenging riding. Don’t get me wrong, this is awesome...it’s just not my thing. I probably fall into the niche of those who like overbiking, like when a bunch of people go out on a mixed terrain, long ride, and it’s like 90% gravel bikes and 10% mountain bikes. I like playing it safe and the mountain bike works for me on the more technical sections, and the gearing is easier at getting me up steep climbs. I prefer it over a gravel bike because I know I can ride anything I may come across.

On this site, is there a sub forum where people talk or post photos, videos for XC? Not racing. Not necessarily expedition or bikepacking. Or is it too boring? :D
 
#4 ·
Xcyclist said:
I haven’t mountain biked for years, like before YouTube was a thing :ROFLMAO:

So I know what type of riding I prefer, and I would call it XC but it’s not racing (I noticed the XC racing sub forum). Maybe I didn’t pay attention before, or perhaps riding preferences have changed, but it seems these days most mountain bikers prefer downhill, technical (features) and challenging riding. Don’t get me wrong, this is awesome...it’s just not my thing. I probably fall into the niche of those who like overbiking, like when a bunch of people go out on a mixed terrain, long ride, and it’s like 90% gravel bikes and 10% mountain bikes. I like playing it safe and the mountain bike works for me on the more technical sections, and the gearing is easier at getting me up steep climbs. I prefer it over a gravel bike because I know I can ride anything I may come across.

On this site, is there a sub forum where people talk or post photos, videos for XC? Not racing. Not necessarily expedition or bikepacking. Or is it too boring? :D
Click to expand...
It’s alive and well in Santa Cruz. Bikes may change, make things more expensive or easier for people, but for most riding - nothing has changed - a 26” hard tail is enough. Some of us who have gone FS will ride the same chit on a fully rigid gravel bike.

Get out and ride what gives you the stoke.

That said, my primary home - Graeagle - a nice plushy double bouncer is needed because of all the damn chunk.
 
#5 ·
A couple of years ago, I wanted to get back into riding, so I went in to my local bike shop to learn what I’d been missing during the past 20-25 years.

The lady asked me what type of mountain biking I do. I answered “cross country,” because the last time I rode, there was only cross country and downhill.

Soon I found out that now there is cross country, downhill, enduro, all mountain, trail, down country, free ride, gravel, and probably 10 others, and that you need a special bike for each.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#6 ·
celswick said:
A couple of years ago, I wanted to get back into riding, so I went in to my local bike shop to learn what I’d been missing during the past 20-25 years.

The lady asked me what type of mountain biking I do. I answered “cross country,” because the last time I rode, there was only cross country and downhill.

Soon I found out that now there is cross country, downhill, enduro, all mountain, trail, down country, free ride, gravel, and probably 10 others, and that you need a special bike for each.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Enduro is basically Cross Country but buying all the currently hot items while still riding cross country.
 
#7 ·
How do you define XC exactly?

I think most people I know who ride MTB do at least some 'XC' riding. I do laps of the local bike park, shuttles at a few places but still love going out and doing 50-100km rides through the bush. We have trails here that network up and you can cover a fairly large distance on single track with a mix of flow and tech and mellow to gnarly climbs.

Some people call it trail riding, some of the trails are jump lines, some are rocky technical trails, but its all XC if you want it to be. Even doing laps of the local bike park can be seen as XC and in fact they do hold XC races at most bike parks here every year as part of the local XCO season, and they just do laps of a marked course that links up a few trails in a circuit.

I do a couple of XCM (cross country marathon) races each year. 100km courses. It is a lot of fun. I just use my Nukeproof Scout with some XC tyres on it.
 
#8 ·
yeah I'd say most of the folks here (myself included) would claim Enduro, All Mountain, Trail, downhill or whatever buzzword fits our perception of what we think we ride, but 90% of our rides are really just XC.
 
#10 ·
Unless you live in the Rockies, a good lightweight (preferably full suspension) XC bike is the only way to go! It's flat as hell in 80% of this country, the most vert anywhere near me comes in the form of riverbanks 😖 constantly climbing and the descents are over in mere minutes, heavy bikes with lots of travel are completely useless around here. Trail riding with these lightweight XC bikes is top notch too since we don't have very extreme trails. Great new geo has me sitting back comfortably too instead of being lurched forward like Lance Armstrong. Newschool (non-race focused) XC bikes have become my weapon of choice for 90% of my riding! I also wouldn't mind having the same type of bike but in a hardtail for cruising around town, hardtails are so much more efficient on pavement than FS bikes even with lockout.
 
#12 · (Edited)
Xcyclist said:
I haven’t mountain biked for years, like before YouTube was a thing :ROFLMAO:

So I know what type of riding I prefer, and I would call it XC but it’s not racing (I noticed the XC racing sub forum). Maybe I didn’t pay attention before, or perhaps riding preferences have changed, but it seems these days most mountain bikers prefer downhill, technical (features) and challenging riding. Don’t get me wrong, this is awesome...it’s just not my thing. I probably fall into the niche of those who like overbiking, like when a bunch of people go out on a mixed terrain, long ride, and it’s like 90% gravel bikes and 10% mountain bikes. I like playing it safe and the mountain bike works for me on the more technical sections, and the gearing is easier at getting me up steep climbs. I prefer it over a gravel bike because I know I can ride anything I may come across.

On this site, is there a sub forum where people talk or post photos, videos for XC? Not racing. Not necessarily expedition or bikepacking. Or is it too boring? :D
Click to expand...
Old style XC is now called "gravel" so you have an excuse to buy another bike.

Jokes aside: modern XC bikes feel very capable on technical terrain but also slow in easy trails (that's my opinion). I ended buying a gravel for that as I could not stand how draggy the whole bike felt. My old geometry 26" was definitely faster than my current 29" on non technical terrain. My gravel feels like a rocket compared to both (like 80% road bike, but on dirt)... until things get technical and you have to slow down to a snail pace.

On the other hand, when I ride the mountain bike, I always look for technical terrain, since it climbs and descends so well that everything else makes me feel like driving a dump truck on a F1 track.

To be honest, if you're not riding technical or extremely steep terrain, just buy a gravel. They're really fast, really fun, low maintenance bikes (no forks and shocks, etc...). Current mountain bikes can also ride this type of terrain, but they're so capable that it's boring as hell, and they also feel slow when not descending.
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
Thanks for the replies!

Regarding HT vs FS, I was thinking HT but my LBS gave me an amazing deal on a FS. I can lock out both shocks but it’s a bit heavy.

I’ve had many gravel bikes last 7 years or so. I found them way slower than my road bike on road rides (plus my road bike is custom and so comfy), and on the trails I can hit out my front door, I struggled on 20% of the terrain. I’ve had the Mtb out twice in those trails (before snow) and I crushed that 20% (smiling the whole way). I don’t have gravel roads close to home, and driving to gravel roads and then doing a gravel ride wasn’t my jam.
 
#14 ·
Xcyclist said:
Thanks for the replies!

Regarding HT vs FS, I was thinking HT but my LBS gave me an amazing deal on a FS. I can lock out both shocks but it’s a bit heavy.

I’ve had many gravel bikes last 7 years or so. I found them way slower than my road bike on road rides (plus my road bike is custom and so comfy), and on the trails I can hit out my front door, I struggled on 20% of the terrain. I’ve had the Mtb out twice in those trails (before snow) and I crushed that 20% (smiling the whole way). I don’t have gravel roads close to home, and driving to gravel roads and then doing a gravel ride wasn’t my jam.
Click to expand...
Then buy a MTB. If you only struggled on 20% of the terrain when riding on a gravel bike, I think you'll be fine with a hardtail. Cheaper to buy and easier and cheaper to maintain.
 
#15 ·
If 90% of the people you are riding with are on Gravel bikes, it would be debatable if that is even mountain biking at all. Sure, in MTBs earliest days it might be what we now call Gravel, but I got into the sport around 1997,, and you would not want to ride a gravel bike for the stuff we rode.
 
#16 ·
Xcyclist said:
... and on the trails I can hit out my front door, I struggled on 20% of the terrain.
Click to expand...
That menas you're doing it right. This is my favorite part of riding a gravel bike. It flies for 80% of the route, then I run into panicky bits of trail where the bike and rider are quickly overwhelmed by chunk and chatter. White-knuckle stupid-fun!
 
#18 ·
mack_turtle said:
That menas you're doing it right. This is my favorite part of riding a gravel bike. It flies for 80% of the route, then I run into panicky bits of trail where the bike and rider are quickly overwhelmed by chunk and chatter. White-knuckle stupid-fun!
Click to expand...
I agree totally. Gravel bike combines the fast speed of road cycling (without cars around you!) and also manages to bring the fun back on terrain that is boring on a modern mountain bike.

It's exactly like you said: "Stupid-fun".

And the best thing is that maintenance work is almost at a road-bike level: non-existent except to clean and lube the chain every once in a while, and pump up the tires.
 
#19 ·
"Don’t get me wrong, this is awesome...it’s just not my thing. I probably fall into the niche of those who like overbiking, "
Today you're in luck. All the current better XC bikes are going to overbike you for everything you ride are want to try.
 
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