Best Leadville Bike

[tball]

Did you break 10 hours?

I've never done Leadville. I wish I had to say I did. Our crew deemed it too easy back in the day, so I did the Beaver Creek Ultra 100 four times. A defunct race nobody has heard of now. It's tough to get into Leadville now, but I might as well try for a lottery spot

 

[scott43]

Just popped up in my feed..

The Leadville Trail 100 MTB: Gravel vs MTB choice and how I got the bug

Sometimes you just need a break from an event, but I think I'll try Leadville on a gravel bike soon. However I wouldn't recommend it.

velo.outsideonline.com

 

[robertc3]

The fact anyone considers using drop bars for Leadville says all you need to know about the course.

Here's a great video of the race from a helicopter(!!) where you can get a good idea of the course:

I didn't watch the whole thing, but every shot I saw they were either riding three or four abreast or they could have been. That isn't a mountain bike race. Plenty of 100 mile MTB races for those looking for that kind of pain.

But all of this discussion is a diversion. We should be talking about the greatest bike name in the history of bike names, the Chamois Hagar. That bike rocks.

 

[scott43]

But all of this discussion is a diversion. We should be talking about the greatest bike name in the history of bike names, the Chamois Hagar. That bike rocks. View attachment 209293

I can't ride 55??

 

[robertc3]

I can't ride 55??

If you do you will be riding with the devil.

 

[tball]

Just popped up in my feed..

The Leadville Trail 100 MTB: Gravel vs MTB choice and how I got the bug

Sometimes you just need a break from an event, but I think I'll try Leadville on a gravel bike soon. However I wouldn't recommend it.

velo.outsideonline.com

Thanks, great perspective in that article.

I think for most mortals, even as non-technical is the course is, the choice is still between a hardtail and a FS to reduce fatigue. The drop bar idea seems silly. If you want to be cool, ride a single-speed.

Leadville, The 100 Mile Mountain Bike Race Podcast p/b Shimano: S3E19: Singlespeeding and the Leadville 100

Have you ever seen a racer on a Singlespeed at the Leadville 100 and wondered, "Why would someone do THAT?" Well, this is the episode that tries to answer that question. Fatty has raced on a singlespeed for six of his 22 finishes — even winning the category once. Fatty's built (and will talk at...

leadville100podcast.com

 

[cantunamunch]

The drop bar idea seems silly. ]

...until we notice that aerobar accessories for flat bars are banned outright.

 

[scott43]

If you want to be cool, ride a single-speed.

Don't start!!

 

[cantunamunch]

More FS gravel stoke

Momsen builds a special bike for MUNGA: full suspension drop bar VIPA ULTRA

How do you prep for what’s considered one of the toughest races in the world? A custom bike is a good start. The MUNGA is…

bikerumor.com

^bottom triangle is remarkably similar to a Rocky Mountain Element Alloy 10 but the RM is much slacker up front.

 

[tball]

I did a little survey of bike choices, searching the race photos by race number:

It looks like the question is hardtail vs. full suspension, not drop bars or gravel bike. I'm surprised by the number of FS bikes ridden by the leaders.

Given I'll be spending A LOT more time in the saddle than those guys (if I can get in), I'll have to move up my plan to buy a new FS bike.

Lots of Epics and Canyons, both HT and FS, in the pics.

 

[scott43]

If price is no object I'd do FS everytime.

 

[cantunamunch]

Since you all seem to be bored, I'll put this right here:

 

[tball]

^^^ I don't know if marathon-distance mountain bike races make for much of a spectator sport, even with a camera on the course.

 

[cantunamunch]

^^^ I don't know if marathon-distance mountain bike races make for much of a spectator sport, even with a camera on the course.

Good thing this series has follow drones, e-bike cams and helicopter cams too then.

 

[tball]

Too hot to ride, so I looked at the bikes of the top finishers in the 50-59 age group:

They all look to be high-end bikes, as expected for the top 5% of finishers. It's got to be tough for most to fork out for a high-end hardtail in addition to an expensive FS bike that's undoubtedly the proper tool for most other marathon races.

 

[cantunamunch]

It's got to be tough for most to fork out for a high-end hardtail in addition to an expensive FS bike that's undoubtedly the proper tool for most other marathon races.

In THAT age group? Not seeing it.

Also not seeing the point of a premium hardtail if one already has a Cervelo ZHT or Digit Datum or whatever.

 

[crosscountry]

Also not seeing the point of a premium hardtail if one already has a Cervelo ZHT or Digit Datum or whatever.

What makes you think anyone who owns a decent FS bike haven't already got a similar class of hardtail prior to that?

 

[tball]

I saw A LOT of S-Works in the pictures. If an age group athlete is on one of these or a similar high end FS at Leadville:

How likely is it they also have one of these or a similar high end HT back in their garage?

Those bikes are so similar and so expensive. I'll never be in the top 5%, so maybe I'll never understand. Gotta also spend money on a road bike, a gravel bike... N+1.

 

[tball]

So maybe drop bars are the way to go. I have been following Dylan Johnson's training videos on YouTube for a couple of years, and he opted for drop bars during his Leadville ride, finishing 16th and recommending them as the best choice. Today, he posted a fantastic video detailing his race.



I like how he emphasizes the importance of pacing and setting a ceiling.

 

[martyg]

So maybe drop bars are the way to go. I have been following Dylan Johnson's training videos on YouTube for a couple of years, and he opted for drop bars during his Leadville ride, finishing 16th and recommending them as the best choice. Today, he posted a fantastic video detailing his race.



I like how he emphasizes the importance of pacing and setting a ceiling.

A new record was set this year. Why didn’t that athlete, who has a long, winning history with the race (and the other top 10 men’s and women’s finishers), use drop bars? I have three neighbors that finished top ten. Not a drop bar in sight.

If his post was to gain views, they seemed to have succeeded.

Smells of click bait to me.