From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

<https://www.bikeradar.com/news/drop-handlebars-banned-from-two-major-us-mtb-events>

Not ridden either of the races, but I was given the impression that both
had they been launched now would be Gravel events, a look on Pink bike and namely the comments kinda sums it up, if the course favours aero as a 100
mile relatively un technical race, canrCOt be surprised if folks use
technology to give them the edge.

<https://www.pinkbike.com/news/life-time-bans-drop-bars-from-the-leadville-trail-100-and-little-sugar-mtb-races.html>
IrCOd note though that while Dylan Johnson has been very much pushing the rCLMonster CrossrCY technology, such events have been won by Keegan Swenson be that flat or drop bars ie herCOs just a better athlete at least for such
races.

IrCOd also note the more iffy things such as Kate Courtney set up with
holding on to the fork!

Moving on to Gravel tyres, have what is i suspect is a clickbate aka the
big tyres make a gravel bike a MTB guff.

<https://www.bikeradar.com/features/opinion/everyone-says-bigger-gravel-tyres-are-better-i-m-not-convinced>

50mm tyres do if riding at slow speeds aka around the car park/cafe have a sluggish feeling and generally feel squishier, but once going even if
riding single track, which tends to be slower weaving though the trees and
so on, aka MTB trails that arenrCOt too technical.

IrCOd largely park it in the same camp pumping up to 120psi + as that feels fast, my Gravel bike has gone from 35 to 50mm judging from road sections
seems just as fast, I tend not to push it on road as itrCOs not my focus but the bike will happily clip along at 20mph or more aka it still feels very
much a road bike.

<https://www.bikeradar.com/news/schwalbe-pro-one-allroad-tyre>

Road tyre with a gravel tyre construction, looks very much like the G one
Speed which was/is a beach racer tyre, but with the newer compound and in
the road rather than gravel tyre line up.

Paris-Roubaix cobbles would clearly favour much more volume but there is a
lot of road hence the enjoyment of a race using somewhat compromised
equipment! To borrow a Gravel term on the cobbles they are under biked!

Roger Merriman

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From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

On 1/19/2026 8:56 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:

<https://www.bikeradar.com/news/drop-handlebars-banned-from-two-major-us-mtb-events>

Not ridden either of the races, but I was given the impression that both
had they been launched now would be Gravel events, a look on Pink bike and namely the comments kinda sums it up, if the course favours aero as a 100 mile relatively un technical race, canrCOt be surprised if folks use technology to give them the edge.

OVerall I can't say drop bars give much of a competitive advantage on
MTB races. If they did, we would be seeing alot more of it before now.
Drop bars on an MTB are nothing new. You _can_ get more aero with the
drop bars,but enough to give a competitive advantage in a race where
you're never in an aero position for more than a few minutes at a time?
I think that's highly questionable.

<https://www.pinkbike.com/news/life-time-bans-drop-bars-from-the-leadville-trail-100-and-little-sugar-mtb-races.html>
IrCOd note though that while Dylan Johnson has been very much pushing the rCLMonster CrossrCY technology, such events have been won by Keegan Swenson be
that flat or drop bars ie herCOs just a better athlete at least for such races.

Sure, Keegan won the last two editions on a drop-bar MTB, but hey -
here's a news flash, he also won in 2023 and set the course record on a flat-bar bike. His last two editions have actually been _slower_.
Further data points, when he set the record on his flat bar bike in '23
he beat 2nd place by 24 minutes. In '24 and '25 he beat 2nd by 15 and 14 minutes, respectively.

To put it bluntly, it's not the bike that wins the race, it's the rider.
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From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

On 1/19/2026 4:24 PM, zen cycle wrote:

On 1/19/2026 8:56 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:

<https://www.bikeradar.com/news/drop-handlebars-banned-
from-two-major-us-mtb-events>

Not ridden either of the races, but I was given the
impression that both
had they been launched now would be Gravel events, a look
on Pink bike and
namely the comments kinda sums it up, if the course
favours aero as a 100
mile relatively un technical race, canrCOt be surprised if
folks use
technology to give them the edge.

OVerall I can't say drop bars give much of a competitive
advantage on MTB races. If they did, we would be seeing alot
more of it before now. Drop bars on an MTB are nothing new.
You _can_ get more aero with the drop bars,but enough to
give a competitive advantage in a race where you're never in
an aero position for more than a few minutes at a time? I
think that's highly questionable.

<https://www.pinkbike.com/news/life-time-bans-drop-bars-
from-the-leadville-trail-100-and-little-sugar-mtb-races.html>
IrCOd note though that while Dylan Johnson has been very
much pushing the
rCLMonster CrossrCY technology, such events have been won by
Keegan Swenson be
that flat or drop bars ie herCOs just a better athlete at
least for such
races.

Sure, Keegan won the last two editions on a drop-bar MTB,
but hey - here's a news flash, he also won in 2023 and set
the course record on a flat-bar bike. His last two editions
have actually been _slower_. Further data points, when he
set the record on his flat bar bike in '23 he beat 2nd place
by 24 minutes. In '24 and '25 he beat 2nd by 15 and 14
minutes, respectively.

To put it bluntly, it's not the bike that wins the race,
it's the rider.

Advantage to flat bars is better control in adverse (mud,
uneven surface) or extreme terrain.

Road bars offer periodic change to rider ergonomics; wrist
angle, weight over front wheel, back/neck angle and brief
standing position all of which matter more on longer rides.

Beyond that there's rider preference/taste which is broad
enough for both handlebars.
--
Andrew Muzi
am@yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

On 1/19/2026 4:24 PM, zen cycle wrote:

On 1/19/2026 8:56 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:

<https://www.bikeradar.com/news/drop-handlebars-banned-
from-two-major-us-mtb-events>

Not ridden either of the races, but I was given the
impression that both
had they been launched now would be Gravel events, a look
on Pink bike and
namely the comments kinda sums it up, if the course
favours aero as a 100
mile relatively un technical race, canrCOt be surprised if
folks use
technology to give them the edge.

OVerall I can't say drop bars give much of a competitive
advantage on MTB races. If they did, we would be seeing alot
more of it before now. Drop bars on an MTB are nothing new.
You _can_ get more aero with the drop bars,but enough to
give a competitive advantage in a race where you're never in
an aero position for more than a few minutes at a time? I
think that's highly questionable.

<https://www.pinkbike.com/news/life-time-bans-drop-bars-
from-the-leadville-trail-100-and-little-sugar-mtb-races.html>
IrCOd note though that while Dylan Johnson has been very
much pushing the
rCLMonster CrossrCY technology, such events have been won by
Keegan Swenson be
that flat or drop bars ie herCOs just a better athlete at
least for such
races.

Sure, Keegan won the last two editions on a drop-bar MTB,
but hey - here's a news flash, he also won in 2023 and set
the course record on a flat-bar bike. His last two editions
have actually been _slower_. Further data points, when he
set the record on his flat bar bike in '23 he beat 2nd place
by 24 minutes. In '24 and '25 he beat 2nd by 15 and 14
minutes, respectively.

To put it bluntly, it's not the bike that wins the race,
it's the rider.

p.s. this just in:

https://bikerumor.com/pinarello-unveils-new-drop-bar-mountain-bar-grevil-mx/
--
Andrew Muzi
am@yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

zen cycle <funkmasterxx@hotmail.com> wrote:

On 1/19/2026 8:56 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:

<https://www.bikeradar.com/news/drop-handlebars-banned-from-two-major-us-mtb-events>

Not ridden either of the races, but I was given the impression that both
had they been launched now would be Gravel events, a look on Pink bike and >> namely the comments kinda sums it up, if the course favours aero as a 100
mile relatively un technical race, canrCOt be surprised if folks use
technology to give them the edge.

OVerall I can't say drop bars give much of a competitive advantage on
MTB races. If they did, we would be seeing alot more of it before now.
Drop bars on an MTB are nothing new. You _can_ get more aero with the
drop bars,but enough to give a competitive advantage in a race where
you're never in an aero position for more than a few minutes at a time?
I think that's highly questionable.

It certainly wouldnrCOt for my riding but irCOm not racing 100 miles at 16mph average which is certainly into one should at least think about
aerodynamics, I believe Dylan Johnson has said that why this and few others
he targets with drops, as itrCOs a race that favours power and endurance
rather than technical skill, itrCOs essentially unashamedly old school XC
which has become much more technical of late.

<https://www.pinkbike.com/news/life-time-bans-drop-bars-from-the-leadville-trail-100-and-little-sugar-mtb-races.html>
IrCOd note though that while Dylan Johnson has been very much pushing the
rCLMonster CrossrCY technology, such events have been won by Keegan Swenson be
that flat or drop bars ie herCOs just a better athlete at least for such
races.

Sure, Keegan won the last two editions on a drop-bar MTB, but hey -
here's a news flash, he also won in 2023 and set the course record on a flat-bar bike. His last two editions have actually been _slower_.
Further data points, when he set the record on his flat bar bike in '23
he beat 2nd place by 24 minutes. In '24 and '25 he beat 2nd by 15 and 14 minutes, respectively.

To put it bluntly, it's not the bike that wins the race, it's the rider.

Indeed he seems fairly dominant doesnrCOt he! And yes i suspect that aero advantages are fairly minimal to the best of my knowledge riders who have
used drops havenrCOt suddenly become much faster itrCOs all within what yourCOd expect.

Roger Merriman

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

On Mon Jan 19 17:06:42 2026 AMuzi wrote:

On 1/19/2026 4:24 PM, zen cycle wrote:

On 1/19/2026 8:56 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:

<https://www.bikeradar.com/news/drop-handlebars-banned-
from-two-major-us-mtb-events>

Not ridden either of the races, but I was given the
impression that both
had they been launched now would be Gravel events, a look
on Pink bike and
namely the comments kinda sums it up, if the course
favours aero as a 100
mile relatively un technical race, can?t be surprised if
folks use
technology to give them the edge.

OVerall I can't say drop bars give much of a competitive
advantage on MTB races. If they did, we would be seeing alot
more of it before now. Drop bars on an MTB are nothing new.
You _can_ get more aero with the drop bars,but enough to
give a competitive advantage in a race where you're never in
an aero position for more than a few minutes at a time? I
think that's highly questionable.

<https://www.pinkbike.com/news/life-time-bans-drop-bars-
from-the-leadville-trail-100-and-little-sugar-mtb-races.html>
I?d note though that while Dylan Johnson has been very
much pushing the
?Monster Cross? technology, such events have been won by
Keegan Swenson be
that flat or drop bars ie he?s just a better athlete at
least for such
races.

Sure, Keegan won the last two editions on a drop-bar MTB,
but hey - here's a news flash, he also won in 2023 and set
the course record on a flat-bar bike. His last two editions
have actually been _slower_. Further data points, when he
set the record on his flat bar bike in '23 he beat 2nd place
by 24 minutes. In '24 and '25 he beat 2nd by 15 and 14
minutes, respectively.

To put it bluntly, it's not the bike that wins the race,
it's the rider.

p.s. this just in:

https://bikerumor.com/pinarello-unveils-new-drop-bar-mountain-bar-grevil-mx/

Hard tails are fine for flatter courses, but for really difficult stuff you need full susoension, wide, flat bars for leverage and trigger shifters so you don't have to think about shifting.
The 29er I had was so much better than the 26" wheels that there was no contest.
Unfortunately I'm too old to ride off-road. On a more or less dead flat course this morning I averaged 11.44 mph at an average heart rate of 113 or just 25 beats below my max.
I imagine that I could carry huge gears on an MTB but going that slow would be very hard for me.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

On Mon Jan 19 17:05:37 2026 AMuzi wrote:

On 1/19/2026 4:24 PM, zen cycle wrote:

On 1/19/2026 8:56 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:

<https://www.bikeradar.com/news/drop-handlebars-banned-
from-two-major-us-mtb-events>

Not ridden either of the races, but I was given the
impression that both
had they been launched now would be Gravel events, a look
on Pink bike and
namely the comments kinda sums it up, if the course
favours aero as a 100
mile relatively un technical race, can?t be surprised if
folks use
technology to give them the edge.

OVerall I can't say drop bars give much of a competitive
advantage on MTB races. If they did, we would be seeing alot
more of it before now. Drop bars on an MTB are nothing new.
You _can_ get more aero with the drop bars,but enough to
give a competitive advantage in a race where you're never in
an aero position for more than a few minutes at a time? I
think that's highly questionable.

<https://www.pinkbike.com/news/life-time-bans-drop-bars-
from-the-leadville-trail-100-and-little-sugar-mtb-races.html>
I?d note though that while Dylan Johnson has been very
much pushing the
?Monster Cross? technology, such events have been won by
Keegan Swenson be
that flat or drop bars ie he?s just a better athlete at
least for such
races.

Sure, Keegan won the last two editions on a drop-bar MTB,
but hey - here's a news flash, he also won in 2023 and set
the course record on a flat-bar bike. His last two editions
have actually been _slower_. Further data points, when he
set the record on his flat bar bike in '23 he beat 2nd place
by 24 minutes. In '24 and '25 he beat 2nd by 15 and 14
minutes, respectively.

To put it bluntly, it's not the bike that wins the race,
it's the rider.

Advantage to flat bars is better control in adverse (mud,
uneven surface) or extreme terrain.

Road bars offer periodic change to rider ergonomics; wrist
angle, weight over front wheel, back/neck angle and brief
standing position all of which matter more on longer rides.

Beyond that there's rider preference/taste which is broad
enough for both handlebars.

I had particularly hard time requiring a lot of leverage on rain rutted steep downhills.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

cyclintom <cyclintom@yahoo.com> wrote:

On Mon Jan 19 17:06:42 2026 AMuzi wrote:

On 1/19/2026 4:24 PM, zen cycle wrote:

On 1/19/2026 8:56 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:

<https://www.bikeradar.com/news/drop-handlebars-banned-
from-two-major-us-mtb-events>

Not ridden either of the races, but I was given the
impression that both
had they been launched now would be Gravel events, a look
on Pink bike and
namely the comments kinda sums it up, if the course
favours aero as a 100
mile relatively un technical race, can?t be surprised if
folks use
technology to give them the edge.

OVerall I can't say drop bars give much of a competitive
advantage on MTB races. If they did, we would be seeing alot
more of it before now. Drop bars on an MTB are nothing new.
You _can_ get more aero with the drop bars,but enough to
give a competitive advantage in a race where you're never in
an aero position for more than a few minutes at a time? I
think that's highly questionable.

<https://www.pinkbike.com/news/life-time-bans-drop-bars-
from-the-leadville-trail-100-and-little-sugar-mtb-races.html>
I?d note though that while Dylan Johnson has been very
much pushing the
?Monster Cross? technology, such events have been won by
Keegan Swenson be
that flat or drop bars ie he?s just a better athlete at
least for such
races.

Sure, Keegan won the last two editions on a drop-bar MTB,
but hey - here's a news flash, he also won in 2023 and set
the course record on a flat-bar bike. His last two editions
have actually been _slower_. Further data points, when he
set the record on his flat bar bike in '23 he beat 2nd place
by 24 minutes. In '24 and '25 he beat 2nd by 15 and 14
minutes, respectively.

To put it bluntly, it's not the bike that wins the race,
it's the rider.

p.s. this just in:

https://bikerumor.com/pinarello-unveils-new-drop-bar-mountain-bar-grevil-mx/

Hard tails are fine for flatter courses, but for really difficult stuff
you need full susoension, wide, flat bars for leverage and trigger
shifters so you don't have to think about shifting.

More technical than if something is flat or hilly, and yes suspension and
big volume tyres doesnrCOt needed it to be particularly technical before itrCOs a net gain, hence hardtails being much less used by the Pros and I believe generally much less popular in generally bar the much more affordable end.

The 29er I had was so much better than the 26" wheels that there was no contest.

Unfortunately I'm too old to ride off-road. On a more or less dead flat course this morning I averaged 11.44 mph at an average heart rate of 113
or just 25 beats below my max.

I imagine that I could carry huge gears on an MTB but going that slow
would be very hard for me.

Considering where you ride canrCOt imagine yourCOd need MTB gearing while Cull Canyon is on the longish side, itrCOs not steep even if it has steep pitches, kinda depends if your running out of gears or cardiovascular, i suspect at
80 that pushing hard isnrCOt a wildly wise decision!

Roger Merriman

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