{"id":67353,"date":"2024-07-26T20:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-26T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/1fe3d348-768d-4474-8f2c-4c649b0a2812"},"modified":"2024-07-26T20:25:31","modified_gmt":"2024-07-26T18:25:31","slug":"4-tech-trends-that-will-define-paris-2024-olympic-mtb-racing","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/4-tech-trends-that-will-define-paris-2024-olympic-mtb-racing\/","title":{"rendered":"4 tech trends that will define Paris 2024 Olympic MTB racing"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"rssexcerpt\">Expect wide tyres, dropper posts and long-travel bikes <\/p><p class=\"rssauthor\">By Tom Law\n      <\/p><p class=\"rssbyline\">Published: Friday, 26 July 2024 at 18:00 PM<\/p><hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\" standalone=\"yes\"?>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><p>As it&#8217;s an Olympic year, plenty of juicy XC mountain bike tech has been released, with top brands and riders eyeing a gold medal in Paris.<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/advice\/buyers-guides\/best-cross-country-bikes\">Cross-country mountain bikes<\/a> are now more efficient and capable than ever, with many bikes knocking on the door of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/advice\/buyers-guides\/best-trail-bikes\">trail bikes<\/a>.<\/p><p>Looking deeper, key trends can be spotted across rider setups and new bikes. <\/p><p>Here are our top tech trends that will define mountain bike racing at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/news\/cycling-at-2024-paris-olympics\">2024 Paris Olympics<\/a>.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Tech Trends That Will Decide Cross-Country Olympic Gold\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/i79l_Z4FJLk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/><\/div><\/figure><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-electronics-will-be-everywhere\">Electronics will be everywhere<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Electronic groupsets are the norm for SRAM-sponsored riders. &#8211; Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>While electronics on bikes aren&#8217;t new, they initially made a greater impact on road bikes. <\/p><p>Electric components have since proliferated on cross-country bikes, starting with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/advice\/buyers-guides\/electronic-groupsets\">electronic drivetrains<\/a>, and now with electronically-controlled suspension dampers.<\/p><p>Some frame manufacturers have gone as far as designing their competition-level bikes to be electronic drivetrain-specific, as is the case with the latest <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/reviews\/bikes\/mountain-bikes\/full-suspension-mountain-bikes\/specialized-s-works-epic-8-review\">Specialized S-Works Epic<\/a>. <\/p><p>We expect all SRAM-sponsored riders will ride <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/reviews\/components\/groupsets\/groupset-mountain\/sram-xx-t-type-eagle-transmission-powermeter-axs-review\">AXS Transmission<\/a> drivetrains (although Shimano-sponsored riders will still use mechanical XTR).<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/07\/DSC00493.jpg\" alt=\"RockShox Sid Flight Attendant on Ghost Lector at Les Gets\" class=\"wp-image-873417\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Electronically controlled suspension is also commonplace. &#8211; Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>We expect many riders will also run <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/news\/rockshox-cross-country-flight-attendant\">RockShox&#8217;s fully automatic Flight Attendant<\/a> suspension lock-out and control system.<\/p><p>This uses sensors on the fork, crankset and shock to automatically change the shock and fork&#8217;s ramp-up, firming it up on climbs for increased pedalling efficiency.<\/p><p>Rockshox isn&#8217;t the only brand messing around with electronics.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2023\/06\/SR-Suntour-Wireless-Suspension-pidcock-14-of-5-2df0bce.jpg\" alt=\"SR Suntour Tact on Pinarello Dogma XC\" class=\"wp-image-735365\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pidcock uses SR Suntour suspension components.<\/figcaption><\/figure><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/news\/sr-suntour-tact\">SR Suntour has been using its Tact system<\/a> for a couple of years on Tom Piddcock and Pauline Ferrand-Prevot&#8217;s bikes. Meanwhile, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/reviews\/components\/rear-shocks\/fox-live-valve-first-ride-review\">Fox\u2019s Live Valve technology<\/a> is well-established, but rarely seen in XC events. <\/p><p>BMC has also been spotted running \u00d6hlins electronic suspension with a large control module connected to the team&#8217;s TXC1 shocks and RXC34 forks.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-expect-more-travel-and-bigger-forks\">Expect more travel and bigger forks<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/07\/DSC00466.jpg\" alt=\"Ridley Raft at Les Gets\" class=\"wp-image-873421\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">120mm travel bikes are now common. &#8211; Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>As race circuits have become more technically demanding, most riders have moved away from 100mm, 32mm stanchioned forks to 120mm, 34\/35mm stanchioned forks <\/p><p>Narrower fork stanchions are often lighter but they&#8217;re more flexible, resulting in less accurate handling.<\/p><p>Chunkier forks may weigh up to 200g more, but riders value the increase in travel and steering precision on rougher descents.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-dropper-posts-dominate\">Dropper posts dominate<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/07\/DSC00468.jpg\" alt=\"Joshua Dubau's Rockrider 940 at Les Gets\" class=\"wp-image-873422\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">They may not have as much travel as those seen on trail or enduro bikes, but dropper posts are now common on XC bikes. &#8211; Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/advice\/buyers-guides\/best-dropper-posts\">Dropper posts<\/a> were rarely used as recently as five years ago. <\/p><p>Nowadays, you&#8217;d struggle to spot a fixed seatpost, with droppers almost universally accepted by XC racers. <\/p><p>The adoption of dropper posts has, in part, pushed modern cross-country course design \u2013 large drops, jumps and rock gardens are considerably less terrifying with your saddle out of the way.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-larger-volume-tyres-and-inserts-are-the-norm\">Larger volume tyres and inserts are the norm<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/07\/ethirteen-Optimus-XC-Tread-pattern2.jpg\" alt=\"e*thirteen Optimus XC Casing Endurance Compound 29x2.4 tyre\" class=\"wp-image-874469\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The days of the super-skinny XC tread are largely over. &#8211; Andy Lloyd \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>The widely-held assumption that wider tyres are efficient has mostly died out.<\/p><p>While narrower tyres still have a place in wet conditions, where thick mud can clog chainstays, wider tyres offer significantly increased traction and damping.<\/p><p>In addition to growing in width, cross-country racers now generally prefer tyres with more aggressive treads and increased puncture protection.<\/p><p>Increasing rotating weight was once viewed as sacrilegious, but increased protection makes tyres more resilient and capable than before.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/07\/DSC00512.jpg\" alt=\"Bjorn Riley's Trek Supercalibre with Maxxis Aspen 2.4in tyres at Les Gets\" class=\"wp-image-873426\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Many riders fit tyre inserts too. &#8211; Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Many riders use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/advice\/buyers-guides\/best-tubeless-tyre-inserts\">tyre inserts<\/a> to fend off pinch-punctures, which will spell the end of any race run. <\/p><p>These systems also offer run-flat ability, meaning you can still press on if you puncture.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Expect wide tyres, dropper posts and long-travel bikes <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":67354,"template":"","categories":[1,36],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"4"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/07\/4-tech-trends-that-will-define-paris-2024-olympic-mtb-racing.jpg",2560,1707,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/07\/4-tech-trends-that-will-define-paris-2024-olympic-mtb-racing-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/07\/4-tech-trends-that-will-define-paris-2024-olympic-mtb-racing-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/07\/4-tech-trends-that-will-define-paris-2024-olympic-mtb-racing-768x512.jpg",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/07\/4-tech-trends-that-will-define-paris-2024-olympic-mtb-racing-1024x683.jpg",800,534,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/07\/4-tech-trends-that-will-define-paris-2024-olympic-mtb-racing-1536x1024.jpg",1536,1024,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/07\/4-tech-trends-that-will-define-paris-2024-olympic-mtb-racing-2048x1366.jpg",2048,1366,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Expect wide tyres, dropper posts and long-travel bikes","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/67353"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67354"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67353"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67353"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}