I am relatively new to this forum, but in my time here I have learned quite a bit about biking. I have a developing theory about biking and 29er's which I'll float here for you guys to throw darts at. It seems to me that the sport of mountain biking is comprised of four main components: Passion, Power, Endurance, and Finesse. Passion is naturally occurring. Power and endurance are the result of dedication and conditioning. Which leaves finesse.
Merriam Webster defines finesse as "skillful handling of a situation: adroit maneuvering". In terms of mountain biking, I consider finesse to be the ability to apply passion, power, and endurance to the trail. It is the abilty to pick lines and execute them artfully.
Since I have been frequenting these pages, I have seen several posts about cracked frames, bent seatposts, broken pedals, etc. These posts have influenced me (and I assume others) in deciding which gear to purchase. Most of these posts blame the manufacturer for substandard equipment or the LBS for subpar builds. While both of these are possible causes, my suspicion is that a large portion of equipment failures are actually due to a lack of finesse.
My guess is that newbies' lack of finesse results in bad lines, hard knocks, and mis-hit obstacles that could be major contributors to equipment failure. I'd bet that enthusiasts are more likely to have finesse than newbies. Furthermore, It seems to me that newbies (like myself) gravitate to major brands while enthusiasts (like the more established board regulars) choose the specialty brands. When I read about Fisher frames cracking at the seattube (DISCLOSURE: I own a Paragon), I am instantly curious what they hit while seated. This may account for the frequency of posts complaining of Fisher, Cannondale and Kona failures.
I am not accusing anyone of anything, but I'd like to see what the regulars think of my theory.
BayouBQ
Merriam Webster defines finesse as "skillful handling of a situation: adroit maneuvering". In terms of mountain biking, I consider finesse to be the ability to apply passion, power, and endurance to the trail. It is the abilty to pick lines and execute them artfully.
Since I have been frequenting these pages, I have seen several posts about cracked frames, bent seatposts, broken pedals, etc. These posts have influenced me (and I assume others) in deciding which gear to purchase. Most of these posts blame the manufacturer for substandard equipment or the LBS for subpar builds. While both of these are possible causes, my suspicion is that a large portion of equipment failures are actually due to a lack of finesse.
My guess is that newbies' lack of finesse results in bad lines, hard knocks, and mis-hit obstacles that could be major contributors to equipment failure. I'd bet that enthusiasts are more likely to have finesse than newbies. Furthermore, It seems to me that newbies (like myself) gravitate to major brands while enthusiasts (like the more established board regulars) choose the specialty brands. When I read about Fisher frames cracking at the seattube (DISCLOSURE: I own a Paragon), I am instantly curious what they hit while seated. This may account for the frequency of posts complaining of Fisher, Cannondale and Kona failures.
I am not accusing anyone of anything, but I'd like to see what the regulars think of my theory.
BayouBQ
). Finesse on the road is within grasp, but finesse in the dirt still eludes me. It seems that many more hours are ahead of me before I feel as comfortable off-road as I do on-road. If someone invites me on a road century, no problem. It’s all paved. But when I ride a new trail, I am full of questions about the surface, slope, mud, etc. All because I have no finesse – yet.
