THIS IS MY DOUBT WHEN I SEE SO MANY PEOPLE RIDING MOUNTAIN BIKES AND DON'T CONSIDER AT LEAST A TELESCOPIC. DRIVING TECHNIQUE, SAFETY AND "CHIAPPE" TO SAVE.
No, don't tell me: “I'm sorry, with the saddle between my buttocks I feel better!”. For heaven's sake, I respect everyone's sexual tastes, but this is about driving technique and… greater safety in all conditions. Mountain Biking is also hard work, we all know, maybe the bearded ones think only of adrenaline, of the descent, but we must admit that the effort, to gain the summit with your own legs, is a reason for both psychological and physical pride. And here the spirit defined by the genes of "Enduro" marketing was born on this line, that is to have bikes ready to go downhill but pedal uphill, therefore "fun" bikes, capable of combining the useful (uphill) to the delectable (downhill), In Italy we are getting there and many brands are pushing on Trail bikes (see Cannondale Habit test in this issue), that is, all-rounder mtb with which we can ride on technical trails without being too limited either uphill or downhill. And then we also find very interesting Front models with telescopic and 120 / 130mm fork: they snap like springs (being Hardtail) but on the descent they give us a pinch of extra safety (on the next issue we will find the new Ghost Asket).
But for those who prefer the classic Front? No problem, rest assured, you are not evil, but you should take some small tricks into consideration. The doubt comes to me when I see Cross Countristi in training throwing themselves off technical descents without having the slightest control of the vehicle with the bike flapping from one side to the other: the excuse, about the lack of a telescopic is, 90% of the sometimes, the fact that the Pros don't use it and therefore don't need it. Too bad that the Pros have a completely different technique and in XC races they only look at performance (losing even 1 second to pull down the telescopic is precious time), with such nervous races that sometimes there is no material time to go down. the seat.
I had run an International of Italy two years ago with the telescopic in Nalles and I had gained great benefits from it, too bad it was one of the last Internationals I did and my physical shape was terrible, with Fontana who had already lapped me halfway through the race... but on the downhill, what a show! But let's give time to time, the Specialized Team is already using this system and soon we will see it as a fundamental object also for the Cross Country and Granfondo competitor... in the meantime, however, don't say: "I feel good like this"!
