How Far Have XC Mountain Bikes Developed? | GMBN Rides The Toughest Day Of The BC Bike Race

How Far Have XC Mountain Bikes Developed? | GMBN Rides The Toughest Day Of The BC Bike Race

Contemporary Cross Country bikes are a far cry from the rigid, high seated machines they once were. Neil was recently out at the BC bike race on his Shimano XTR equipped Canyon Lux to see just how far XC mountain bikes have evolved.

In association with Shimano

Subscribe to GMBN: http://gmbn.eu/subscribe
Get exclusive GMBN gear in the GMBN store! https://gmbn.eu/1gD

Join Neil as he takes part in Stage 5 of the BC Bike Race, a punishing 7 day Cross Country stage race that pushes both rider and bike to the limit.

If you’d like to contribute captions and video info in your language, here’s the link πŸ‘ https://gmbn.eu/1gC

Watch more on GMBN…
πŸ“Ή https://gmbn.eu/EpicRideSquamish

🎡 Music – licensed by Epidemic Sounds
Bittersweetener – Duckmaw
Goldclap – Mar Vei
Like You (Instrumental Version) – Velveteen
Lost In a Dream (Instrumental Version) – Wellmess
Phogue – Felix Johansson Carne
Seona – Ooyy
Slow It Down (Instrumental Version) – Mindme
Summer Trip – Felix Johansson Carne
They Do Exist – Cerulean Skies
Trouble by Trouble (Luwaks Remix)(Instrumental Version) – The Eastern Plain
What We Didn’t Do – Particle

Submit your content here:
https://upload.gmbn.com/

Click here to buy GMBN T-shirts, hoodies and more: http://gmbn.eu/GMBNShop

The Global Mountain Bike Network is the best MTB YouTube channel, with videos for everyone who loves dirt: from the full-faced helmet downhill mountain biker to the lycra-clad cross country rider along with everyone and anyone in between.

With the help of our pro and ex-pro riding team we’re here to inform, entertain and inspire you to become a better mountain biker, including videos on:

– How to ride faster with expert knowledge
– Fix everything with pro know-how
– Ride anything with world-cup winning skills
– Dial in your bike with bike set-up advice
– In-depth entertaining features
– Chat, opinion and interact with us on the Dirt Shed Show

Welcome to the Global Mountain Bike Network | Covering Every Angle

Thanks to our sponsors:
Canyon bikes: http://gmbn.eu/Canyon
Nukeproof: http://gmbn.eu/nukeproof
Chain Reaction Cycles: http://gmbn.eu/chainreactioncycles
DT Swiss Wheels: http://gmbn.eu/DTSwiss
crankbrothers pedals: http://gmbn.eu/crankbros
crankbrothers seatposts: http://gmbn.eu/8b
Continental: http://gmbn.eu/Continental
POC helmets and eyewear: http://gmbn.eu/POCsports
Topeak: http://gmbn.eu/topeak
WD40: http://gmbn.eu/WD40
FSA: http://gmbn.eu/fsa
Ergon: http://gmbn.eu/ergon
Park Tool: http://gmbn.eu/ParkTool
Northwave: http://gmbn.eu/Northwave
Camelbak: http://gmbn.eu/camelbak
Douchebags: https://gmbn.eu/Douchebags
Garmin: https://gmbn.eu/Garmin

YouTube Channel – http://gmbn.eu/GMBNsubs
Facebook – http://gmbn.eu/GMBNFB
Google+ – http://gmbn.eu/GMBNGplus
Twitter – http://gmbn.eu/GMBNTW
Instagram – http://gmbn.eu/GMBNIG
GMBN Shop – http://gmbn.eu/gmbnshop
GMBN Tech – http://gmbn.tech/subscribe
GCN Tech – http://gcntech.co/subscribe
EMBN – http://embn.me/subscribe

Leave us a comment below!

50 Comments

  1. Matt Dean on July 30, 2019 at 11:41 pm

    Cool video! Maybe next year the full race? Always good thanks Neil.



  2. Bobby Hempel on July 30, 2019 at 11:43 pm

    That place is absolutely beautiful.



  3. Π’ΠΈΡ‚Π°Π»ΠΈΠΉ Мошин on July 30, 2019 at 11:46 pm

    What was the place?



  4. Vera 870 on July 30, 2019 at 11:46 pm

    So next year is Blake on his scout with Neil on his full sus both doing the entire 7 days? Yes, I think yes.



  5. Mark Clark on July 30, 2019 at 11:46 pm

    My 2015 Marin XM9 carbon is meant to be a ‘Trail’ bike but it feels like a full downhill bike compared to the full rigid Kona days from 20years ago πŸ˜‚



  6. zeus zuki on July 30, 2019 at 11:49 pm

    When I started out mountain biking there were just bike’s and ummm eeer trails in the mountains. The industry’s constant relabelling of bike’s is what’s changed ! Just ride …



  7. rcs2003 on July 30, 2019 at 11:50 pm

    OMG that race more like an enduro event o.O



  8. Maverick is underpowered on July 30, 2019 at 11:52 pm

    Hi I’m new to mountainbiking and I’m only thirteen but how do you not break gears?



  9. Jason Worswick on July 30, 2019 at 11:55 pm

    Just spent a week in Morzine on my Giant Anthem, took it all in its stride! Wasn’t any massive air but still, felt great.



  10. Chav Le J'ai on July 30, 2019 at 11:56 pm

    Niel: "Fruit!"

    *Proceeds to grab fists full of gummy bears*



  11. reprobate337 on July 30, 2019 at 11:56 pm

    The GMBN content just gets better and better. Great riding and production. Brian (BKXC) was an added bonus. assume you kicked Paul the Punters butt as well πŸ˜‰



  12. Whiplash on July 31, 2019 at 12:03 am

    What was your placing for the day??



  13. Bartholomeus Clever on July 31, 2019 at 12:05 am

    did he just kill a rat at 0:32 ?



  14. Rostislav Kocev on July 31, 2019 at 12:07 am

    You guys should try the Bulgarian XC race Vitosha100
    It is a 100km race around and trought mount Vitosha it is quite hard 2 day 1 stint mud everywhere and around 1300 bikers every year check it out



  15. Pedaling Dave on July 31, 2019 at 12:08 am

    Thoroughly enjoyed this edit. Top notch.
    Great riding and cool to see Brian (BKXC) in the mix.



  16. Global Mountain Bike Network on July 31, 2019 at 12:09 am

    What do you think about contemporary Cross Country bikes?



  17. P0rtti on July 31, 2019 at 12:09 am

    Could you do a video with entrylevel (1000 dollar mark) hardtails and what they are capable of? With for example 100mm travel up front and no dropper post. I own such a bike and would like to see how hard can you ride them πŸ˜ŽπŸ‘Œ



  18. JJ HO on July 31, 2019 at 12:10 am

    0.18 fox 32 gang πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚



  19. CristΓ³bal MuΓ±oz on July 31, 2019 at 12:10 am

    Yeeeaaaa sig sey yu guy NILS is ryalment nice the Crossmountain bike. Saluds of the Santig of Chile πŸ‡¨πŸ‡± nice day saluds tods the guy’s rider’s.yeaaaa β™₯️ epesialment the GMBN chou yeaaaa sig sey yeeeaaa in yuor paid yeeeaaaa.



  20. lazo marsh on July 31, 2019 at 12:11 am

    Welcome to B.C. πŸ˜€



  21. Matt on July 31, 2019 at 12:11 am

    Terrible subject line designed for click bait. . This had nothing to do with how far xc bikes have come. It was a race report and an advertisement for the bike they gave you.



  22. Kevin Smith on July 31, 2019 at 12:12 am

    Welcome to the trails as a beginner mountain bike rider I am learning on. Neil will you be doing the B.C.Bike race next year? Loved the video good job and thanks.



  23. koko lores on July 31, 2019 at 12:12 am

    No big crashes, injuries, helicopter rides? Well done, Neil! πŸ˜‰



  24. Laron West on July 31, 2019 at 12:16 am

    Neil, I saw you out there in BC. What a beautiful place and a head rush to ride. I did the whole week. EPIC..! I was riding 130mm travel awsome



  25. Lukas Games on July 31, 2019 at 12:20 am

    I love what you did with lux! I want to do smethink similar in few years so thanks for idea



  26. TomSJazzBass on July 31, 2019 at 12:21 am

    He managed to attend a race and not horribly injure himself!!!! Way to go Neil! Progress! πŸ˜‰



  27. Barry Peavy on July 31, 2019 at 12:21 am

    Great Video Neil !



  28. Paul Lowe on July 31, 2019 at 12:21 am

    I remember guys saying that Enduro was more like everyday riding when it first started than XC. "We are riding the trails we ride everyday" was a common phrase I heard. But it seems like Enduro has become more like DH used to be and DH has become insanely technical.

    At the same time I have always ridden "XC" trails and done races on those same trails. But the way courses are set up for most XC races in Colorado, you do 1 big loop of 15-25 miles. It was intriguing to me that nationals was in Winter Park this past weekend and they did loops of a 5 mile course. Which is a little disappoining because WP has over 300 miles of trails! I know the shorter course is more spectator friendly but it isn’t anything like to other races I have done there or anywhere else in CO. So I guess for me, in CO XC is the every day sport that Enduro was claiming to be.

    I’m not saying one is better than another, just finding the claims that one is more "everyday" riding than another amusing. I imagine, if I lived in Winter Park, I would do DH a lot more and that would be "everyday riding." Or maybe go on on the Enduro course everyday. Or go on long rides on the 300 miles of "XC" trails everyday.

    They are all challenging in their own right and whatever types of trails you have in your backyard, just ride them and don’t worry about what the internet says is the cool new thing.



  29. Ronald Tartaglia on July 31, 2019 at 12:21 am

    PREMIUM NEIL!



  30. jackal monkey on July 31, 2019 at 12:23 am

    you tube will tell you everything you need to know… don’t try anything yourselves and make sure you aren’t comfortable on your bike but what everyone else tells you is best..



  31. al1stare on July 31, 2019 at 12:24 am

    The irony of a paid promotion video, presumably from Canyon, Shimano, both or other manufacturers about MTB evolution.

    Because they ALWAYS have our best interests at heart right? πŸ˜‰



  32. Sebastian Lang on July 31, 2019 at 12:29 am

    Sick that BKXC whas in the vid



  33. s Smit on July 31, 2019 at 12:29 am

    >open Vid
    >not told I’m one of a beautiful people

    πŸ˜”



  34. Anonymous Ph on July 31, 2019 at 12:31 am

    By seeing Neil’s face down to the neck @8:22 you can really tell that those mud guard was really functional lol. πŸ˜‰πŸ˜πŸ˜



  35. Graptos on July 31, 2019 at 12:31 am

    Skookum, eh!



  36. stvchelgren1 on July 31, 2019 at 12:31 am

    if you can manage it i definitely think you should try and do the whole race next year.



  37. ricardo rivera on July 31, 2019 at 12:31 am

    Can you please have a review of maxxis assegai



  38. Gabriel on July 31, 2019 at 12:32 am

    Its weird how nobody has ever though about making tiny camera lens wipers, like the ones you have on your car windshield.



  39. Daryl Cunningham on July 31, 2019 at 12:32 am

    First new mtb (second bike from start of riding) was a fully rigid Cannondale SM 600 – Black Beauty. Rode plenty of tech up and down in Northern NM in early 90’s. Best way to learn how to climb. Now I rock it on 2017 Yeti SB6 – apart from the suspension, one of the best improvements in bike tech has been the dropper post! XC riders are mostly roadies; I get smoked by them until we hit tech then they have to get off and walk. Enduro is IMO closest to the pure mtb riding of the early days.



  40. Paul The Punter on July 31, 2019 at 12:33 am

    Was great hanging out at the start Donny! Never saw you again after ‘that’ climb haha.



  41. The Midnight Rider on July 31, 2019 at 12:33 am

    Neil ROCKS🀘🀘



  42. Ian Canuckistan on July 31, 2019 at 12:36 am

    If you get the opportunity, do it! It’s fun and will test you physically and mentally.



  43. Peter Strenk on July 31, 2019 at 12:37 am

    Those retarded ppl that do not know how to change gears, cannot read the terain and they do it in worst time in biggest load, my GOD … and they ride BC bike race … sight! (that was my evil side writing)
    Wau nice video and thanks for the footage and everything! Lets go GMBN!



  44. Nick Watkins on July 31, 2019 at 12:37 am

    Great stuff Neil



  45. Mark M on July 31, 2019 at 12:37 am

    BKXC makes a cameo… are you doing the full race next year?



  46. Ric Quintanilla on July 31, 2019 at 12:38 am

    I was wondering if Brian was going to be in the video at all, and great to see him!!

    thanks to you both for putting out great content of riding trails and events!



  47. The Nuclear Narwhale on July 31, 2019 at 12:38 am

    I’m hoping to do the southern classic in a year πŸ™‚



  48. BKXC on July 31, 2019 at 12:38 am

    This came out great! Really fun riding with Neil for the first time ever. We both cleaned one of the hardest climbs I’ve ever seen, you see it a couple times where everyone is walking off to the right. Neil kicked my butt by the way!



  49. MTB Playgrounds on July 31, 2019 at 12:39 am

    NICE JOB Neil !!



  50. Mr. EIT on July 31, 2019 at 12:40 am

    nice camera-kid 6:45 😜