Video: Downhill Mountain Bike Racing Circa 1994

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Posted: 8/16/2017 11:37:42 AM EDT

Downhill 90 er Jahre

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzZkKE9Z35g

Posted: 8/16/2017 11:38:58 AM EDT

[#1]

...and then everyone slammed some Mt Dew and jammed out to Korn.

Posted: 8/16/2017 11:39:23 AM EDT

[#2]

Versus 2015

Aaron Gwin’s insane winning run – Windham UCI World Cup 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikxQc_GPfF4

Posted: 8/16/2017 11:52:55 AM EDT

[#3]

It looks like bike suspensions have really improved. In the original video the rider is bouncing and shaking all over the place going down was seems to be a pretty smooth hill. In the modern video they don't shake that much going over the jagged rocks.

Posted: 8/16/2017 11:53:02 AM EDT

[#4]

Here's a vid we made back then. Man times have changed

got to ride with some really talented guys.

Push tweekers

Posted: 8/16/2017 11:57:13 AM EDT

[#5]

Quote History

Quoted:
It looks like bike suspensions have really improved. In the original video the rider is bouncing and shaking all over the place going down was seems to be a pretty smooth hill. In the modern video they don't shake that much going over the jagged rocks.

View Quote

Increased travel and damping, sure. Also, brakes that don't fade out, larger volume tires at lower pressure, drop seat posts, far better geometry, wider bars, and riders that know how to ride. Notice how these guys are pretty much static on the bike, arms straight out, hanging on for dear life with very little active input over the terrain.

Posted: 8/16/2017 12:01:16 PM EDT

[#6]

Suspension is for wussy.

Posted: 8/16/2017 12:02:51 PM EDT

[#7]

Wow. I didn't realize there was such a difference, those guys were slooowwww

Posted: 8/16/2017 12:03:05 PM EDT

[#8]

Night and Day difference in "DH" bikes then and now. I'd actually prefer late 90 early 2000s DH races to todays Red Bull style with the built in stunts. Keeps the courses on the trails, some tight twisty, some striaghts, some steeps and woops

Posted: 8/16/2017 12:05:33 PM EDT

[#9]

Brings back memories. I mountain biked from 94 to 2000. First video is classic. I never did like and use clip on pedals and in that video you can see why, made me laugh.

Posted: 8/16/2017 12:09:47 PM EDT

[#10]

The technology in the bikes today is insane. Carbon fiber, magnesium and titanium are the norm. The forks and shocks are at least as sophisticated as motocross gear. Models from two years ago are completely obsolete. Tires are tubeless and super grippy. The riders are super skilled as well.

Posted: 8/16/2017 12:16:18 PM EDT

[#11]

I used to ride downhill at the ski resorts in CO every summer, back then. Hard tail, 1.5" travel fork, v-brakes. It was a good thing I was in my early 20s and falling down didn't hurt too bad, lol. Now, I ride a cushy 4" travel full suspension with discs, and try not to fall down.

Posted: 8/16/2017 12:25:31 PM EDT

[#12]

I can't imagine anything other than disk brakes

Posted: 8/16/2017 12:28:07 PM EDT

[#13]

Quote History

Quoted:
I can't imagine anything other than disk brakes

View Quote

It didn't really matter, because your tires were never on the ground long enough to actually slow you down. LOL

Posted: 8/16/2017 12:29:35 PM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:
Night and Day difference in "DH" bikes then and now. I'd actually prefer late 90 early 2000s DH races to todays Red Bull style with the built in stunts. Keeps the courses on the trails, some tight twisty, some striaghts, some steeps and woops

View Quote

Have you watched any of the modern races?

Posted: 8/16/2017 12:30:56 PM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:
Versus 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikxQc_GPfF4

View Quote

Gwin is a beast, a natural phenom on a bike. Had never ridden a DH bike until 2008 and in less than a year he was racing in World Cups and got a 10th place finish at his first race. Unreal.

Posted: 8/16/2017 12:37:17 PM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:
It looks like bike suspensions have really improved. In the original video the rider is bouncing and shaking all over the place going down was seems to be a pretty smooth hill. In the modern video they don't shake that much going over the jagged rocks.

View Quote

Geometry too. The industry finally realized that road biking geometry doesn't really work for mountain biking. DH bikes are way more "slack and low" these days.

Posted: 8/16/2017 12:40:04 PM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:
Night and Day difference in "DH" bikes then and now. I'd actually prefer late 90 early 2000s DH races to todays Red Bull style with the built in stunts. Keeps the courses on the trails, some tight twisty, some striaghts, some steeps and woops

View Quote

Amen brother.

Posted: 8/16/2017 12:41:20 PM EDT

[#18]

I think it's mostly the progression of the riders. More so than equipment. Look at the 20" guys. Bikes haven't changed too much since the late 80s. But look how far dirt jumping and bmx have progressed.

Posted: 8/16/2017 12:44:13 PM EDT

[#19]

Back in the early 90s, we didn't even have DH bikes, or dedicated DH racers. They were all XC type mountain bikes and riders. Hell, half the guys in that video hadn't even figured out to lower their seats yet.

Posted: 8/16/2017 12:45:34 PM EDT

[#20]

.... goes and pulls his GT Team LTS out of the garage.

Posted: 8/16/2017 12:47:02 PM EDT

[#21]

I've been riding a '99 Cannondale F3000 for years. I finally broke down and ordered a Cujo 2 last week.
Goodbye V-brakes and 60mm headshock, lol.

Posted: 8/16/2017 12:56:53 PM EDT

[#22]

I mountain biked from 95-98. My bike was a pretty good bike for the day and back then (95), suspension bikes were rarely seen. I had a friend who got one with Rock Shoxs but it cost a small fortune and only the front had suspension. I still have my old bike and recently a co-worker asked if I wanted to go mountain biking with him so I took it to a bike shop to have it fixed up and and they told me to just get a new bike. Despite that, I had a few things fixed so it was ride-able again and then he shows up with a full suspension bike with disc brakes and expected me to be able to keep up with him.

Everything about todays bikes is infinitely better than 90's bikes. shifting is easier, braking is easier, steering is easier and suspensions suck up all the abuse. I couldn't believe how easy it was for him while I was being beat to death and hanging on for dear life. After that outing I hung up my bike and haven't gotten on it since.

Technology makes things easier and more exciting. I mean, take a 90's era bike down some of today's courses and the frame would snap. But I guess if people weren't willing to experience the rush in the 90's with shitty bikes, mountain biking wouldn't exist today.

Posted: 8/16/2017 1:23:01 PM EDT

[#23]

I still have a 92 Specialized Stumpjumper in my garage, to which I added an aftermarket Marzochi fork in about 95. It had about 1" of travel, and was spindly and floppy as fuck.

I also have a 99 Specialized FSR, full suspension, that was state of the art almost 20 years ago.

Posted: 8/16/2017 1:40:46 PM EDT

[#24]

Quote History

Quoted:
I used to ride downhill at the ski resorts in CO every summer, back then. Hard tail, 1.5" travel fork, v-brakes. It was a good thing I was in my early 20s and falling down didn't hurt too bad, lol. Now, I ride a cushy 4" travel full suspension with discs, and try not to fall down.

View Quote

Like an idiot, I went to an XC nationals race in Park City with my 70mm travel Headshox, 2.0" semi slick tires, and 130mm negative rise stem. Everything went well up hill until I had to go down the ski slopes, and not switchbacked either, straight the fuck down. They had these little speed bumps every 100 yards, so if you didn't slow down you'd be catapulted into the air. My brakes were dying so I had to stop the white knuckle experience and half way down and wait for my rims to cool. It f'n sucked. I also got a terrible placing.

Posted: 8/16/2017 1:44:41 PM EDT

[#25]

Quote History

Quoted:
I think it's mostly the progression of the riders. More so than equipment. Look at the 20" guys. Bikes haven't changed too much since the late 80s. But look how far dirt jumping and bmx have progressed.

View Quote

Yeah those guys were wooden. Bunch of roadies trying to downhill, lol. At least we got video.

Posted: 8/16/2017 4:49:28 PM EDT

[#26]

Aaron Gwin Race Run GoPro 2014 Mountain Creek ProGRT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3cw9j0Nitk

Posted: 8/16/2017 4:57:07 PM EDT

[#27]

Quote History

Quoted:
I think it's mostly the progression of the riders. More so than equipment. Look at the 20" guys. Bikes haven't changed too much since the late 80s. But look how far dirt jumping and bmx have progressed.

View Quote

Tha fuck?

Posted: 8/16/2017 5:04:20 PM EDT

[#28]

Quote History

Quoted:
I think it's mostly the progression of the riders. More so than equipment. Look at the 20" guys. Bikes haven't changed too much since the late 80s. But look how far dirt jumping and bmx have progressed.

View Quote

Wrong

Posted: 8/16/2017 5:05:32 PM EDT

[#29]

Quote History

Quoted:

Tha fuck?

View Quote

20" BMX bikes. Haven't changed much since the late 80s. Why is this hard?

Posted: 8/16/2017 5:10:06 PM EDT

[#30]

I still have my "Fat Chance Wicked" that I bought in 1989 or so. Handmade steel frame with no suspension. Everything except the frame has been replaced, most components multiple times. I have had lots of fun on that bike.

Posted: 8/16/2017 5:14:32 PM EDT

[#31]

Pioneers

Posted: 8/16/2017 5:32:28 PM EDT

[#32]

Technology on modern bikes is incredible. Everything is stronger, lighter and faster. The suspensions travel more like a motorcycle rather than none or front suspension only, tubeless tires, larger wheels, and the brakes are hydraulic disc rather than cantilever on rims. I think anyone in the sport would agree, downhill racing 20-25 years ago took a lot more balls than now just because of the equipment they had to use.

Posted: 8/16/2017 5:32:45 PM EDT

[#33]

Quote History

Quoted:

20" BMX bikes. Haven't changed much since the late 80s. Why is this hard?

View Quote

Lighter, stronger materials, and different frame geometries. It was just subtle over a long time. Id say they chaged enough that there are tricks you can do on a modern bike that you would not be able to do on an 80's.

Posted: 8/16/2017 5:45:09 PM EDT

[#34]

When you watch the vids with the full suspension bikes, and then watch the vids with the rigid bikes, it's easy to think "how could they crash on that simple descent", but it sure was easy to crash on those descents, on a rigid bike. Especially easy if you rode the same stuff with your motorcycle that had lots of suspension travel. It was easy to get on the bike and try to duplicate your MC riding. Nope, nope, nope, rigid was far different.

I started mountain biking in 1969, on a ten speed road bike, yeah is did not do very well, yeah it had drop bars, toe clips and down tube shifters. Got the first mountain bike in 89, it was a huge improvement, but still no suspension. Got hurt every ride on those bikes.

In the early 90's I actually used drop bars on a rigid mountain bike, on some serious mtn rides, yes you can descend with drops, but hands on the hoods.

Not a serious ride, but I rode Gettysburg, Little Round Top on a road bike, made it to the top, the brakes just screamed on the way down. That was a beater grade lugged steel bike, triple on the front, six speeds on the rear, with down tube shifters and 700c tires. See Gettysburg from the saddle, like Lee did.

Back in the 50's we did ride offroad, with our single speed paper-boy bikes, but we needed low gears and didn't have them and the rear coaster brake just locked up the wheel on dirt descents, so that was not mountain biking as we know it.

The downhill bikes of today are just soooo sweet! I'd love to have a good one to make a mid drive ebike. Big suspension travel is so excellent.

Thanks for posting those vids.

Posted: 8/16/2017 5:52:24 PM EDT

[#35]

Not that different from 1984. Or even 1974.

Gary Fisher rode Repack in 4:22 on a 1930's-40's beach cruiser. Two miles with a 1300 foot drop in elevation. Two miles in 4:22 on an ancient fat tire cruiser. Do the math.

Go to Amazon video and rent Klunkerz. It's the fascinating history of the development of the modern mountain bike.

Charley Kelley riding down Repack in the 70's

Attached File

Posted: 8/16/2017 5:53:06 PM EDT

[#36]

Missy the Missile

EDIT
Cost me $4000 to get my 97 Stumpjumper Pro hardtail into the 21- 22lb territory and now you can buy a bike close to that for $800

Posted: 8/16/2017 5:55:49 PM EDT

[#37]

Quote History

Quoted:
20" BMX bikes. Haven't changed much since the late 80s. Why is this hard?

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:

Tha fuck?

20" BMX bikes. Haven't changed much since the late 80s. Why is this hard?

While I have moved to mountain bikes I still have my late 90s or early 00s DK six pack. Some of the neighborhood kids have 20" bikes. I'm not seeing a difference. Geometry appears the same. I doubt materials have changed much if at all on a good entry level bmx bike.

Eta: it is an interesting subject and I can't find anything online about the progression of the bmx bike. So far all I can find is Kevin Robinson saying "the biggest difference between now and the is the tricks." And a web site saying the biggest improvement was linear brakes.

Posted: 8/16/2017 6:04:30 PM EDT

[#38]

Quote History

Quoted:
When you watch the vids with the full suspension bikes, and then watch the vids with the rigid bikes, it's easy to think "how could they crash on that simple descent", but it sure was easy to crash on those descents, on a rigid bike. Especially easy if you rode the same stuff with your motorcycle that had lots of suspension travel. It was easy to get on the bike and try to duplicate your MC riding. Nope, nope, nope, rigid was far different.

I started mountain biking in 1969, on a ten speed road bike, yeah is did not do very well, yeah it had drop bars, toe clips and down tube shifters. Got the first mountain bike in 89, it was a huge improvement, but still no suspension. Got hurt every ride on those bikes.

In the early 90's I actually used drop bars on a rigid mountain bike, on some serious mtn rides, yes you can descend with drops, but hands on the hoods.

Not a serious ride, but I rode Gettysburg, Little Round Top on a road bike, made it to the top, the brakes just screamed on the way down. That was a beater grade lugged steel bike, triple on the front, six speeds on the rear, with down tube shifters and 700c tires. See Gettysburg from the saddle, like Lee did.

Back in the 50's we did ride offroad, with our single speed paper-boy bikes, but we needed low gears and didn't have them and the rear coaster brake just locked up the wheel on dirt descents, so that was not mountain biking as we know it.

The downhill bikes of today are just soooo sweet! I'd love to have a good one to make a mid drive ebike. Big suspension travel is so excellent.

Thanks for posting those vids.

View Quote

Ahem....

Posted: 8/16/2017 6:12:02 PM EDT

[#39]

The guys in the first video looked like they were drunk.

Posted: 8/16/2017 6:14:40 PM EDT

[#40]

Quote History

Quoted:
The technology in the bikes today is insane. Carbon fiber, magnesium and titanium are the norm. The forks and shocks are at least as sophisticated as motocross gear. Models from two years ago are completely obsolete. Tires are tubeless and super grippy. The riders are super skilled as well.

View Quote

+1

Night and day difference between today's bikes and those of even ten years ago.

Back in 1997, I asked someone about disc brakes on mountain bikes, and he said they hadn't gotten them to work well yet. Three years later, I saw he had a bike with discs and I reminded him about my question from three year's prior and his response was: "They finally got them to work right." That was 17 years ago.

Posted: 8/16/2017 6:20:15 PM EDT

[#41]

Quote History

Quoted:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3cw9j0Nitk

View Quote

Sweet Mary of Magdalene, how is that even possible?

Posted: 8/16/2017 6:20:56 PM EDT

[#42]

That Gwin fella, that's fucking beautiful to watch. He's out of control but in control, just insane ! Thanks for posting that. Totally in the zone.

Posted: 8/16/2017 6:24:12 PM EDT

[#43]

I lived it.

From the coaster brake cruiser, to the heavy steel early MTB with steel wheels, aluminum hard tail Cannondale upgraded with elastomer front shocks and then to the 1996 Super Vee 3000 Cannondale. It was eventually upgraded to oil filled Marzocchi fronts, Fox Alps 4 air in the rear, and Hayes large disc brake. My rear axle was always the weak link. I busted a few of them.

I have no idea how I survived. I was a balls to the wall downhill hammerhead. I broke my ribs and a toe. Lots of poison ivy. Battled a cactus. Slight concussion once.

I still have the bike, it is covered under a layer of dust. My knees are fucked.

Posted: 8/16/2017 6:27:00 PM EDT

[#44]

I'm with the guys above who suggested a lot of those guys' problems were their riding styles. I rode back then and did so much better than the guys who'd never rode BMX bikes and had road backgrounds. Their bike handling skills were shit.

Posted: 8/16/2017 6:30:11 PM EDT

[#45]

Quote History

Quoted:
I can't imagine anything other than disk brakes

View Quote

LOL, I rode The Kamakazi at Mammoth(CA) on a GT Zaskar hardtail with Tektros and a weak ass Judy fork in the late 90s(I was 15 or 16yo).

Speaking of the Zaskar, I just picked up a '97 Zaskar frame to build up into a "Restomod" XC rig to go with my short travel Joe Murray Voodoo Zobop('99). 2-6 mafia, bitches

Posted: 8/16/2017 6:40:28 PM EDT

[#46]

Quote History

Quoted:
Missy the Missile

EDIT
Cost me $4000 to get my 97 Stumpjumper Pro hardtail into the 21- 22lb territory and now you can buy a bike close to that for $800

View Quote

Hell, you could go to a department store and get a full suspension disc-braked fat tire bike light-years beyond anything in the OP's video.

Posted: 8/16/2017 6:51:22 PM EDT

[#47]

LOL roadie goobers. One dude was running a TT disk or a wheel cover.

This must have been triathletes from the 90's, I can't imagine off road riders being that bad. Seat posts all the way up, hanging out over the front wheel like a moran. It must have been beginner class.

Posted: 8/16/2017 6:55:13 PM EDT

[#48]

still have 3 90's zaskars in the garage and an LTS team but now have embraced a Ibis Mojo SL and a Pivot Mach 4. The modern FS bikes don't weigh any more than the older FS bikes but the performance envelope is ridiculously expanded. You can ride a modern FS bike faster than an old sub 20 lbs hardtail on just about any trail now. Oh, and 29r's are for bragging.