Mountain Biking - Is your normal trail harder than the olympic course

Watching the olympic coverage on NBC a while ago got me to thining is your local trail harder or easier than the olympic run. I'd say mine is about the same, but no laps just a long loop.

Going by their times I'd say they had more climbing, but the technical parts are about the same or slightly harder where I ride.

so is your normal ride harder than the olympic course?

Climbing? No. Technical? Hell yes.

Climbing about the same. I would say out of five local trails, three are more technical and two about the same.

Our trails are radical! Freakin' Gnar-thrash!!

We have a section of trail that actually has a log across it! Flippin roots and skeeters.

Kansas is effing CORE, yo!

(what B2B said)

for the local trail here... you've got:

less hills.

a lot more vegetation. (vegetation that you ride over/hit)

a bit more technical stuff.

Around here there are lot more roots and rocks but it is easy to find trails that are rock-garden fests or stuff similar to what you see on the Olympic course. In terms of elevation, we have some trails that are relatively flat or that offer the same amount of climbing or more. It all depends on what direction out of the city you take.

Our trails are radical! Freakin' Gnar-thrash!!

We have a section of trail that actually has a log across it! Flippin roots and skeeters.

Kansas is effing CORE, yo!

(what B2B said)

Straight reppin'!

Straight reppin'!

I've never really ridden on a mountain, hehe. Closest I've come is Arkansas.

I'm planning to remedy that though.

That trail wasn't what I considered an olympic level course. Shouldn't it be test technical skill a little more? That seemed biased towards endurance...

I'll say that the smog is a factor that would make the climbing that much harder (When we were in Bejing, it was a bit like breathing a dog's breath). I loved the slow-mo of the guys going over that section where you could see them locking. Looks fairly tecnical, but, other than one section, most of it looked easier than the "Expert" section (the expert section is like some of the intermediate trails that I've ridden on elsewhere, though) at one of the local riding areas (only with much more climbing).

the olympic course has a lot more climbs but my local trail is more technical

Local trails are MUCH more technical!

But, being in west central Florida NO hills, just steep, root, rock filled drops and whoops cut into the sides of old phosphate mine pits. :D

Steve

The Olympic course really didn't look too difficult. Compared to my local area trails, the track looked very smooth. Locally, the trails here are covered with small rocks, gravel, and uneven patches. I was also expecting the trails to be more technical, with some serious obstacles. That's not to say that the Olympic mountain bike event itself wasn't difficult, with riders pushing themselves hard and all that climbing. And I did enjoy watching it, it just didn't look all that bad, at least from the comfort of my sofa.

There was only 40 meters difference in elevation (131 ft) from the lowest point to the highest point. That's not much climbing at all guy's. We got that covered here in Kansas.

I 'd say that my local trails are a little bit more tech than the Olympic course.

Definitely more elevation here, and more technical if you want it to be.

The olympic course was a little lame for sure, but was pretty much on par with most of the european world cup courses. They all favor power over finesse. But that's what you get when you race on trails designed to allow passing about 80% of the time.

Why is it that this thread has gone unharmed and when I mentioned this crap in the "Leadville 100" thread...I got flamed by a school of roadies?

^^^ that's because the "roadie" took second, the only way to justify that in a roadie's eye is to talk of how hard the course is.
PS. your rabble rowsing aghain!

That trail wasn't what I considered an olympic level course. Shouldn't it be test technical skill a little more? That seemed biased towards endurance...

I tend to agree with you, and since you have a Coug avatar that's really something. I wanted to see a couple of logs, ledges, rocks, step-ups, or something in there to make them deal with some obstacles. I realize that they're riding XC bikes with only enough travel to help keep the tires on the ground but throw in some sort of obstacle for them to deal with. Still, the course was tough enough that you ended up with the riders strung out at the end and not a big pack.

Now, where were the US Men? Down 1 and down 3? Did they forget to put chains on their bikes? Looks like we need Ned to suit up!

Go Dawgs,
Mike

Watching the olympic coverage on NBC a while ago got me to thining is your local trail harder or easier than the olympic run. I'd say mine is about the same, but no laps just a long loop.

Going by their times I'd say they had more climbing, but the technical parts are about the same or slightly harder where I ride.

so is your normal ride harder than the olympic course?

the "fast" trail around here is 11 miles at 1700 feet of climbing. what did the olympic trail have to offer?

This olympic trail is said to actually be much harder than past trails.

I didn't watch the Olympic mountain biking, but that doesn't mean I can't compare my indoor, mountain-bike simulator set up with the track used. I would say my indoor set up is much tougher. No doubt.

This olympic trail is said to actually be much harder than past trails.

This one looked more challenging than what I remember of the Athens course. That said, I didn't get to see all of the race last Olympics because of the sub-par coverage, but...

I would like to ride this Olympic course, though. Looked like fun even though it may not be technically challenging. That is, if the air quality was better :)

my is almost te same

This one looked more challenging than what I remember of the Athens course. That said, I didn't get to see all of the race last Olympics because of the sub-par coverage, but...

I would like to ride this Olympic course, though. Looked like fun even though it may not be technically challenging. That is, if the air quality was better :)

I've ridden the Athens course. Conyers today is harder than the 96 version.

Watching the olympic coverage on NBC a while ago got me to thining is your local trail harder or easier than the olympic run. I'd say mine is about the same, but no laps just a long loop.

Going by their times I'd say they had more climbing, but the technical parts are about the same or slightly harder where I ride.

so is your normal ride harder than the olympic course?

but what is your point? The olympic course was what? 4.4km done 8 times so that's about 21 miles. The winning time was just sub 2hour. The pros at the 11 mile course that I listed earlier do it in around 48 minutes so that's 22 miles in about 96 minutes.

While the course might not look all that challenging, the constant up and down of the course for 4.4k with 8 loops leaves little room to really build speed in the flats which means you are constantly up and down with no rest.

Sometimes...you have to look at a course hard. We might ride it and think...well that wasn't tough. Try to ride it fast...multiply by 8, add passing and the heat of a 3pm start time.

Some course that I ride are a freaking breeze when I ride them. They become more challenging when you try to make places to go faster.

As technical, no....hard...probably. slower...yes.

but what is your point? The olympic course was what? 4.4km done 8 times so that's about 21 miles. The winning time was just sub 2hour. The pros at the 11 mile course that I listed earlier do it in around 48 minutes so that's 22 miles in about 96 minutes.

While the course might not look all that challenging, the constant up and down of the course for 4.4k with 8 loops leaves little room to really build speed in the flats which means you are constantly up and down with no rest.

Sometimes...you have to look at a course hard. We might ride it and think...well that wasn't tough. Try to ride it fast...multiply by 8, add passing and the heat of a 3pm start time.

Some course that I ride are a freaking breeze when I ride them. They become more challenging when you try to make places to go faster.

As technical, no....hard...probably. slower...yes.

Yeah we definately don't want to take away anything from the athletes, they are strong. We are simply noting the difficulty of the course. I have two local trails, Dornwood, and the Lawrence river trails, that really offer nothing in a technical ride. However if I ride them as hard as I can,(which is slow at best compared to an Olympic athlete) I still can get a hell of a workout.

the constant up and down of the course for 4.4k with 8 loops leaves little room to really build speed in the flats which means you are constantly up and down with no rest.


This is a good description of KS trails. Never any extended climbs that reward you with a looooog/fast DH. Actually, I think I would do better riding in a mountainous or at least "hilly" area b/c I tend to do better when my speed is built up and I can "blow-through" sections or jump over technical sections.


Who am I kidding? I'm not fast anymore, hehe.

Man, you guys are a pretty tough bunch.

Parts of that Olympic course looked plenty tough to me. I would have been over the bars on some of the sketchy descents. Or eating trees.

]but what is your point? The olympic course was what? 4.4km done 8 times so that's about 21 miles. The winning time was just sub 2hour. The pros at the 11 mile course that I listed earlier do it in around 48 minutes so that's 22 miles in about 96 minutes. [/COLOR]

While the course might not look all that challenging, the constant up and down of the course for 4.4k with 8 loops leaves little room to really build speed in the flats which means you are constantly up and down with no rest.

Sometimes...you have to look at a course hard. We might ride it and think...well that wasn't tough. Try to ride it fast...multiply by 8, add passing and the heat of a 3pm start time.

Some course that I ride are a freaking breeze when I ride them. They become more challenging when you try to make places to go faster.

As technical, no....hard...probably. slower...yes.

That's right. That's what struck me as I watched the entire race on the internet. There was very, very little in the way of 'rest'. I've done plenty of regional races and 24 hour events, and all have some pretty easy sections where you could recuperate. This race was pretty much flat out hammer time the entire way.

Man, you guys are a pretty tough bunch.

Parts of that Olympic course looked plenty tough to me. I would have been over the bars on some of the sketchy descents. Or eating trees.

I didn't see the competition, so I can't really judge. But, what I've noticed is that seeing video of a skilled rider on a gnarly course often makes the course appear easier than it is. Also, the steepness of a climb doesn't always translate well onto video. Without having seen the competition, I can't judge, but this might be part of it.

I didn't see the competition, so I can't really judge. But, what I've noticed is that seeing video of a skilled rider on a gnarly course often makes the course appear easier than it is. Also, the steepness of a climb doesn't always translate well onto video. Without having seen the competition, I can't judge, but this might be part of it.

Good, and correct observation.

The Olympic course was not as diffficult as most of what I ride, at least in terms of vertical gain and technical difficulty. Most of our trails have root and/or rock steps on all climbs and descents, loose rock on most and scree on quite a few. There are also mud bogs, cows and the occasional bear.

A good example of the riding we have locally is the UCI World Cup Course in Canmore, Alberta. I recall being at the top of the first pitch of the main climb, and watching pros pushing their bikes up the hill on the 3rd or 4th lap. The last [?] year they ran the race, it snowed for the women's final and a bunch of people got hypothermia. Normal daytime high at that tiime of year was about 22C, but it only got as warm as 6C that day. :D

just got back from a 24hr race this weekend at a nearby park, and spent a while checking out the youtube coverage...

looks like a fun trail to ride! but taking the tougher of our local trails... the nearly impossible 50m climb, the huge switchback climbs, the fast downhills, technical rock gardens and whoops, and often slick catwalks, including that one that turns and goes uphill...

our course seems faster on the downhills, but has gnarlier climbs methinks. lots of roots and they get steep.

harder? i think the T.O. crew will likely agree, catalyst, P.A. and the dropoffs considered.

(this is the city trail, the one for the 24hrs is def. harder. 15.5km, with massive climbs and sicker downhills for sure)

I didn't see the competition, so I can't really judge. But, what I've noticed is that seeing video of a skilled rider on a gnarly course often makes the course appear easier than it is. Also, the steepness of a climb doesn't always translate well onto video. Without having seen the competition, I can't judge, but this might be part of it.

I noticed that too. At first, I thought, "that doesn't look so hard". Then I watched the winner spin up the hill in her small ring & you could tell she was working. "Hmmm... I don't have legs like her, or do this for a living - maybe it isn't as easy at it seems....". Also, the difference between watching the leaders and the stragglers do the technical downhills also lead me to believe they weren't quite as "easy" as it looked at first.

^^

thats actually another very valid consideration, and it all comes back into the earlier mentioned lack of rest periods, eight laps, smog, and stiff competition trying to kill themselves to pass you.

i was thinking simply in technical chops, as in it is difficult to actually ride, not in race loop terms. There are a few recuperatory sections in our trails, even at the race there were some flats, so in that sense ours arent as difficult. thinking about it as a loop and taking endurance and speed into is key, but easily overlooked when you begin to compare swathes of dirt..

EDIT: and as an olympian, even hell should look easy to ride when you hit it :D

Of course all these bad *** members could have beat any of those olympic contenders on any course...:rolleyes: I seen the subject on this thread and new all the bench racers would be out in full force saying how hard they have it on their trails and that the olympic trails are flat and easy, blah, blah, blah. You guys are funny....:roflmao2:

Of course all these bad *** members could have beat any of those olympic contenders on any course...:rolleyes: I seen the subject on this thread and new all the bench racers would be out in full force saying how hard they have it on their trails and that the olympic trails are flat and easy, blah, blah, blah. You guys are funny....:roflmao2:

hmmmm...perhaps you meant to post in a different thread because no one in this thread has posted anything like that.

re: the course - I would like to see more technical climbing. roots, rocks, ledges, etc. It seemed like all the rocks/ruts/roots were on the descents, but the climbs were basically paved.

re: the race - It was pretty clear to me that Absalon won because he was so much smoother than the swiss riders on the tech parts.

Of course all these bad *** members could have beat any of those olympic contenders on any course...:rolleyes: I seen the subject on this thread and new all the bench racers would be out in full force saying how hard they have it on their trails and that the olympic trails are flat and easy, blah, blah, blah. You guys are funny....:roflmao2:

I didn't see anyone post that they could beat olympic racers. How 'bout poting that quote up?

Exactly, I never wrote that I could climb quicker or that I would pwn them on the descents. I compared the terrain.

I didn't see anyone post that they could beat olympic racers. How 'bout posting that quote up?

Yah...that was a pretty poor assumption.

I was basically saying that the technical level of the course was poop. I think the rider's endurance levels are most likely top notch and lightyears ahead of my lazy butt. I have been pissing and moaning this year an aweful lot about the lack of "off road terrain" on MTB races.

Basically dirt/road races.

There's more to high level MTB'ing than endurance. I feel that the focus should be on the technical skills aspect. Then you'd have Olympian Roadies pissing and moaning b/c they're not quite tough enough for the road course, but skinny lil' Ryan Leech kicked their tails on the MTB course, haha.

(and no...I don't think the MTB courses should be a "trials course"...I was just giving an example of a person who has mastered their technical skills)

66 could beat all the olympic riders. He is by far better than any of those hacks.