Flats and the World Championships
- Thread starter Inclag
- Start date
08 results:
1 Greg Minnaar (RSA) Santa Cruz Syndicate
2 Nathan Rennie (Aus) Santa Cruz Syndicate Flats
3 Gee Atherton (GBr) Animal Commencal
4 Fabien Barel (Fra) Subaru Mountain Bike Pro Team
5 Chris Kovarik (Aus) Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense Flats
-ska todd
1 Greg Minnaar (RSA) Santa Cruz Syndicate
2 Nathan Rennie (Aus) Santa Cruz Syndicate Flats
3 Gee Atherton (GBr) Animal Commencal
4 Fabien Barel (Fra) Subaru Mountain Bike Pro Team
5 Chris Kovarik (Aus) Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense Flats
-ska todd
i know the past Tour de France winner used a chainring similar to biopace, but what mountain biker has used them since the 1990's?
I can't see switching pedals being a good move either way. Of all the things on my bike that I need a familiar feel to, pedals are at the top of the list.
Barel
The guy I saw on the trail a couple weeks back w/ a circa 1992 Trek Antelope
-ska todd
yeah, but maybe if Rennie and Kovarik had run clipless, they would have done better...
the french are weird.
cant wait till next week to show em how 'Mericans roll
did he have a helmet covered in mesh too?The guy I saw on the trail a couple weeks back w/ a circa 1992 Trek Antelope
-ska todd
So getting something other than first place in the World Championships is an accomplishment? Do you think that Sam or Peaty are satisfied with last years result?
All I'm asking is if the idea should be entertained. Back in the day there was a certain rider who won 10 world championships in row which by all accounts was done by trying anything possible to get an edge (I'm sure Stik could document countless occasions). I just think that it is a bit narrow minded to not even entertain the idea or at least do some testing and data acquisition.
^^ i think riders will stick with what they find most comfortable.
if theyve been running flats for years, im sure they dont want to change their setup right before the Worlds. it might fvck with their mooojo
if theyve been running flats for years, im sure they dont want to change their setup right before the Worlds. it might fvck with their mooojo
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you make the mistake of assuming the flat pedal riders will go the same speed they normally would everywhere else on the track while being clipped in. for many it would involve an entirely different riding style; very few guys can switch easily between the 2. no point getting more pedal power if it costs you a few tenths in the corners.
from what i understand the finishing straight at Canberra is gong to be changed up from what was used at the wc last year.
from what i understand the finishing straight at Canberra is gong to be changed up from what was used at the wc last year.
Was it Da Peach?The guy I saw on the trail a couple weeks back w/ a circa 1992 Trek Antelope
-ska todd
you think those guys never try something new?
No not at all but your original post insinuated that no body can do well on the track without clips, therefore riders should switch over to them Clearly that isn't the case here. Yes, riders might do things to shave fractions at Worlds but most of them are not going to throw their personal set-up, comfort zone, and potential safety out the window. Being mentally comfortable wins Worlds. Top guys who have exclusively spent the past 5 or 10 years on flat pedals are probably not apt to change at the 11th hour. I'd say you're more likely to see some guys and gals donning skin suits than clips.
-ska todd
Sam Hill runs clips for xc.......i think he said that in an interview or something.
I don't think he'll change though. Just throwing that out there....
Worlds Champs is race between Hannah and Minnaar....Gee is the only Dark Horse IMO. Minnaar seems to be able to peak well for pedal courses, Hannah can pedal but is also the Grand Master Pumper.
I don't think he'll change though. Just throwing that out there....
Worlds Champs is race between Hannah and Minnaar....Gee is the only Dark Horse IMO. Minnaar seems to be able to peak well for pedal courses, Hannah can pedal but is also the Grand Master Pumper.
He runs flat pedals 100% of the time; even on his road bike.
From DescentWorld:
..should have taken 5 seconds to check this....i thought it was Hill must have been someone else...
DW: You're well known for riding flats, but have you tried clips to see if they'd make you any faster? Even if only on certain tracks?
SH: I have never ridden with clips off a stationary bike, I wanted to try them when I was younger but I couldnt afford them. By the time I could I wasn't having any trouble with my flats and just kept running them. I dont think you will ever see me change. I have flats on my XC and road bike as well; I just dont like the thought of being clipped in. I want to be able to bail if I need to. haha
..should have taken 5 seconds to check this....i thought it was Hill must have been someone else...
DW: You're well known for riding flats, but have you tried clips to see if they'd make you any faster? Even if only on certain tracks?
SH: I have never ridden with clips off a stationary bike, I wanted to try them when I was younger but I couldnt afford them. By the time I could I wasn't having any trouble with my flats and just kept running them. I dont think you will ever see me change. I have flats on my XC and road bike as well; I just dont like the thought of being clipped in. I want to be able to bail if I need to. haha
I've actually insinuated or assumed nothing. I was just hoping to get some other people's insight into this matter. Alot of posters have bantered about the skillsets required of some of the WC tracks so far this year and how they have suited more powerful riders. Obviously both flats and clips have there place, and there are riders that kill all types of tracks on either. I'm with what I think is the majority in that the WC circuit (I'm lumping the World Championships in here as well) should utilize tracks that challenge all types of different skillsets. With that said, I just think that it is odd that with all the different tools available to riders these days, there are some that don't appear to utilize or learn how to take advantage of other technologies. Obviously, I can say the same with clipless riders that don't use flats, but bringing up the Canberra side of things is a little more of a hot button issue that gets some people acting all defensive which pleasures that antagonist side of me :biggrin: .
However, I love these riders that are always switching things up and doing everything possible to try to understand their bikes and gain that extra speed to put them on top.
However, I love these riders that are always switching things up and doing everything possible to try to understand their bikes and gain that extra speed to put them on top.
I thought your Original Post was interesting and you'd think some flat riders would at least give it some thought....but how many people on here know the exact layout of the track as a racer...?......some of the Aussie guys know it quite well and can probably gauge how big of advantage flats vs. clipless might be.....most are going off of media reports and 2 dimensional video clips...
I can't believe you guys care so much
Hell yeah we do. I hang out in the bottom of the port-a-potties the racers use just to find out what they were eating.