10-Year Mountain Bike Challenge
Although most social media challenges are a waste of time, Facebook’s 10-year challenge got my attention. Of course, like everyone else, I found a photo of myself from 10 years ago and compared it to my most current photo. Needless to say, I still look 19, so I thought about what could I post that would show some differences over a 10-year period. Then it came to me—mountain bikes!
Ten years may not seem like that long, but in the biking world, it’s an incredible amount of time. Ten years ago the words “light and tough” were never said together. Rather, everything was either “heavy and strong” or “fast and fragile.” Indeed, if you said that you wanted a Carbon Santa Cruz V10 with carbon wheels and tubeless tires people would think you’re crazy. Today, of course, many pro downhill racers rock a carbon bike.
Think about the simple bike parts we all take for granted today, like one-by gearing. Sure 10 years ago one-by drivetrains existed, but only with chain guides and bash guards, which added even more weight to your ride. Today riders run a 32-tooth narrow wide single-ring up front with no need for a chain guide or bash guard. And they now have 12 speeds! Ten years ago, you’d have been laughed out of the bike park if you even mentioned a 12-speed. After all, who would ever want a dinner-plate sized rear cassette? Today I have no idea how I’d ride without one. Also, consider that 10 years ago running electronic shifters on your bike seemed impossible, yet today this is stock on many bikes.
It’s amazing looking back at my old Rocky Mountain Switch. I loved that bike, but let’s be real. It weighed 45 lbs., had 26-inch tires, and was all aluminum—not a single piece of carbon anything on it. By comparison, today I get sendy on a Canyon Spectral that’s only 29lbs., has a dropper post (2009 me a what now?), carbon bars, and 27.5-inch tubeless tires. Oh, the 11 speeds are a huge upgrade from my Switch’s 8.
When it comes to suspension, my Switch had a double-crown enduro-style front fork with a rear-coil shock with maybe 5 inches of travel in the front and 4 in the rear. My Spectral’s front fork has 7 inches of extremely responsive travel that has more adjustments than a spaceship and my rear shock has replaced the coil spring for a nice ride-on-air shock with about 6.5 inches of travel.
Let’s talk peddles. Ten years ago, people would think you’re a nut riding downhill/enduro with clipless peddles—it was flats all the way. Today it’s a clipless peddle world. So much so, that it’s odd if pedal without them.
Another thing that’s changed in 10 years is protective gear. I remember the days wearing my full-face helmet with minimal vents and hard plastic 661 body armor. It was the norm and we all rocked it, even on the uphill. Now helmets convert so that one minute you’re on the uphill with just a standard MTB helmet, the next you’re atop the climb attaching your helmet’s chin strap to rock a full face helmet. As for body armor, today’s D30 armor lets you rip wearing a soft, extremely flexible, low-weight piece of protection that stiffens upon impact. It protects your body while barely feeling like it’s on.
To say mountain biking has been stagnant for 10 years just isn’t true. Of all the sports I participate in, biking has progressed significantly, and all these changes are pushing the gear in the perfect direction. I can’t wait to see what the next 10 years bring. But seriously, can we please drop the E-bikes!
