How To Setup Your XC Bike For Long Distance Riding | Cross Country Setup Tips

[@gmbn]

How do you set up your XC bike? For performance or with comfort in mind?

[@rogerhouben9230]

The middle

[@The80shilling]

I'm 60 years old and riding an XC hardtail on 20-30 mile rides, so I tend towards comfort, but more importantly AVOIDANCE OF INJURY! I make sure my knees don't hurt, my back isn't straining from being too stretched out, not too much pressure on the wrists. I have had a few bike fittings and it was completely worth it, and has taken me from having many aches and pains and saddle discomfort, to a place where I can put in a tough 40 mile ride and have no specific issues; lifesaver.

[@Paganiproductions84]

I don't mess to much with my bikes. Good Suspension setup+bikefit done.

[@briandorz6420]

Since im not competing, i choose comfort... thank you for always giving us detailed and wonderful videos... I hope i can get a bike or at least a frame like yours someday... Im a fire fighter here in the Philippines and i go to work riding my old bike... Thank you and more power:💪💪💪

[@letour32rr]

Love seeing more XC Race content on this channel!!

[@123camdm2]

Love xc bikes

[@gmbn]

Gotta love them!

[@YuunaAndCuddles]

I'm from the Philippines, where roads are not so much okay with lots of potholes, which makes mountain bikes the usual choice for long distance rides. I focus on shaving off weight and improving the reliability of my bike, like going tubeless on my Continental Terra Trail (650x47B). I'm running a 1x12 drivetrain to tackle even uphills. I also have lights, both on my bike and helmet for visibility. Lastly, I make sure that I got tools in my frame bag, in case of trouble. It's all about comfort and safety in all.

[@stuvademakaroner9607]

If you ride 47mm tires, riding a gravel bike would be totally fine

[@BingoCAAMS]

Same in México ✌️

[@tuftschristopher]

Long distance: Add alternative hand positions High rise bars Try tilting the saddle back a bit Add bottle & snack storage high up (bar bags, top tube)

[@chriscowan6630]

Another great example of the strong content you continue to produce on this channel. Thanks from Canada!

[@HLDefender]

Please do an XC bike and gym fitness video for beginners looking to start their conditioning journey. XC can be intimidating to typical body types. Literally detail how many miles weekly needed to train for a typical local race and expected heart rate zones needed to be competitive

[@fredEVOIX]

I'm 220lbs and every year does at least one 50-70miles ride with 4900-5900ft with almost no training last time I had 50 miles of bicycle on the year before I did 50 miles up a mountain and back in 1 ride I just did 4035ft of 9-11% slope a cat1 climb if those are impressive to you, forget racing those should be "easy"

[@RossFinnie]

Ergon GA3 Grips are a total lifesaver for long rides! Inner bar ends are helpful too if you're fighting headwinds on long straight stretches, either the SQLab ones or the £7 plastic copies from eBay etc.!

[@samstrolia]

Thanks for sharing tire pressure, this is something I've been trying to get dialed. I also weight round the same as yourself, so I will give the 25/23 a shot.

[@christiandonaj8257]

these are my always arms 😅 made my day!

[@TJrcTX]

I dig it. The vid on the 24hr race has made me start looking at endurance series. Looking at doing the Wisconsin endurance MTB series, and the Wausau 24. Thanks for the motivation and info to do this!

[@johnsonjay60]

I just built a close to 9k fully carbon fully rigid race bike. Dream build!!! Definatly get fitted! Hard seeing all these deals right now. I just gotta keep telling myself every single part is upgraded and high end. Just still need an air fork option 😆

[@Kamil_D.]

I have bought similar OIZ, as you are riding it a lot. ANd yes, it is excellent bike :)

[@dev1ce888]

I have done multiple 200km road rides on my XC bike the only thing I would change is my tire pressure I would pump it to 30-35psi instead of my usual 20psi. I would still average 30-40kph on flat sections and I actually prefer this because of all my years of riding I never got a flat tire on my tubeless mtb setup. Im running 36t front and 10-51 shimano at the rear 1by setup

[@joanneurbanoxx]

Hi there, planning to get an XC bike with 30t front, 10t-51t, 1x setup. With around 15-20 kgs of gears loaded, will it be fine to pedal on flat roads? Thank you!

[@dev1ce888]

@@joanneurbanoxx 32/34t front chainring would be better I guess it's very easy to change 1x chainring lots of cheap options too busy make sure you get the right spec

[@mystudy6183]

are you riding a 29er ?

[@josemarieteomale5791]

I actually turned my xc to trail and, Doing some trick in our local trail course. This one is a good choice basing in my experience.. and xc or any bikes with big tires are so applicable in Philippines since there are so many pot holes and the traffics here is like a moving obstacles for some of us a bike commuters...

[@Planetone.]

Great tips brother, very useful tips to avoid discomfort on those long epic rides 👌

[@SlowRideHome]

This is really help and simple gonna do some canal riding this weekend so I’m gonna watch this again 😊

[@iggalan]

Later this year I have a 90 Km ride in my XC (it's a triathlon in fact, but gravel edition 😀 and I'm not buying or renting a bike), so I'm looking at everything to make it as easy as possible. I just replaced the old saddle with a new one (after measuring sit bones) similar to the one I'm already using on my road bike. Set up my tyres tubeless (which is a bit of a pain because I don't use this bike that much, so the sealant dries up). I have not installed the remote lock for the fork (it's a hardtail), I just don't like the mess of wires. I'll look at everything else.

[@robschafer2723]

Great video. Would love to see more information on your dropper button install.

[@GOdupont24]

I have done everything mentioned here. I also added SQ Labs inner bar ends so I can change my hand positioning on long rides and climbs. I can not recommend those enough.

[@papagodzilla5465]

exactly what ive been looking for. thank you so much for the tips.

[@bulinski1987]

Rich, wish you stuck around the Thunder Mountain shop a second longer and I would have had a chance to chat with you! The anecdotal content has been awesome. Hope you have a chance to get back to Sedona when the weather is more favorable, besides the White Line, Sedona has much to offer!

[@M3PH11]

2:51 i run 760mm bars on both my bikes (xc and trail) and i find if it run narrower it also restricts my breathing (i do have asthma though) as well all the things Rich said.

[@enriquee.k3329]

Great video 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@MissionX5]

So on a 24-hour ride that you're talking about in Arizona are you what are you packing for food?. I know we have some here in Wisconsin but I believe that's a team-based 24-hour ride. But those are all great points much appreciated to listen

[@Saturday_ProFuel]

YASSSSS!! Moar XC plz'n'thx.

[@jasonpatrickdeleon4701]

Good day GMBN, can you next topic or content about what is hard pavement, loose, wet, mud etc that indicate back of packaging of Maxxis tired thanks

[@TheBasil36]

more xc content!

[@fredEVOIX]

rode 8 years with a 620mnm (cut) handlebar constant pain in wrists and shoulders...don't be silly like me and keep your handlebar at a wider more comfortable and stable width if your lower back hurts you need to raise your handlebar (or swap for a higher rise one) and I recommend you find a steep road or trail next to where you live like 20% or more and pedal up it because if you have to climb hard slopes and your position is wrong it will crush your stomach, I had massive nausea after doing one of those to do a mtb-emtb comparison and a friend almost gave up on a road cycling race because he changed his setup and it made him sick (13'000ft elevation race >

[@anitalandkroon]

Great video 😃 I've never seen an orange spare tyre 😳

[@dougiegraham662]

Latex. They are lighter...and more expensive

[@anitalandkroon]

@@dougiegraham662 thanks 😃

[@ivankuhar9953]

Hi, what model is this saddle.. is it Ergon SM Pro men? Thx

[@paulv8453]

Fore/aft question: Due to XC bikes having steeper seat tube angles, is it normal for the front of the knee cap to be slightly in front of the pedal when they are parallel? I don’t have access to professional fitting due to my rural location. I don’t want to cause knee injuries. Thanks

[@Tazz6326]

Useful video especially as I'm looking to change bike. You mentioned lockouts on the suspension, do you know if you can use a LO on Rockshox 35 Gold RL 130mm forks?? Cheers👍

[@MTBukk]

Can't the Squidlock lever and the Axs dropper lever fit next to each other?

[@dpugh39]

Love that bike looks sweet 😋 I have a trek procaliber with Barzo front and rear. How much of a diffrence do you think mezcal front and rear would make on rolling resistance ?

[@scottleech9571]

I have same bike but why does the XTR front brake feel way worse than a XT brake .. seems like its just lacking in power and feels spongy and yes I have bled it etc

[@GinoPeljcule]

How's this new Oiz doing?

[@nicka-m]

That looked a hard one to make, brrrr!

[@Bored-G]

25PSI? is that for tubeless only? i normallly use inner with 35 to 40 psi.

[@fredEVOIX]

27.5x2.25 mostly road or hard trails going up and forest trails, grass going down I run 40psi too, this got me into trouble when I brought this bike usually doing plains or "mid" mountains 5250ft into the swiss alps, front wiped because I was going DH on glacier rocks with 40psi really bad idea I need to order a digital pump or display to adapt to the terrain

[@cristovaomorgado]

Does the CO2 give any problem with those TPU inner tubes?

[@fredEVOIX]

since you talk about TPU I just removed the oem scwhalbe aerothan on my ebike, since day 1 I tought I had tubeless because there was white stuff on the wheels and they kep losing pressure...not tubeless actually they had TPU tubes which put me in a bad position after 12miles and 3195ft at the top of the mountain with -2°C 28°F and a constantly deflating rear tire, not pierced not damage just sweating air and slight valve leak (both of them) immediately put back regular tubes 3 days later they haven't moved well worth the +110gr/tube

[@gotrain4me]

😝 "Ari snow na"

[@fernandosantos2358]

Main tip would have to be to ride a bike that’s actually your size. Not like Rich did on the 24h race 😬

[@Indicasativa55]

I just get on my bike and ride 40 to 50 km and my bikes set up the way it was when bought 😂 can’t say iv noticed any discomfort

[@franklee6301]

Apparently Rich is the only one left and he's just rehashing everything Blake did previously and better. See ya gmbn.

[@fernandosantos2358]

@gmbn I’ve now watched a number of videos of Rich’s adventure in the States, and there’s one thing that keeps throwing me off a bit, which is just how odd Rich looks sitting on that Orbea. It might be because of personal preference, but the bike just seems way too tiny for him. He seems like he’s just hanging on top of the handlebar in a position that looks comical at times. Even the curvature of his back seem odd. Is it just me?? Didn’t anyone else comment how squeezed he seems on that bike?? I’m really curious.

[@ArkUSAbikerchick]

Agreed. But Alessandra Keller is even more so. It might be an XC extreme athlete thing? More powerful when pulling on the handlebars and stomping the pedals up a tech climb? I was wondering about it all. It does seem to be an individual preference kind of thing.

[@333wheeler]

How the hell did bar end stubs lose favour... Not ride a bike without them myself..

[@chriswilliamson5167]

It’s dead simple the fitter you are the longer you can ride ,

[@FraserRobertTorpy]

Crank length. Too long makes long distances hard going.

[@thehigsy]

How about not overtraining. 😆

[@petersilie2432]

A tube? Seriously? Why are people still carrying these? Doesn't everyone know how to patch busted tires by now?

[@osi22]

You're a lucky person that you never had such a puncture where an inner tube was needed :)

[@dev1ce888]

Everyone should be riding tubeless on mtb and tpu on road bikes

[@lanuyey4593]

Maybe a kid who can't afford go tubeless

[@lanuyey4593]

Snobs

[@dev1ce888]

@@lanuyey4593 if you're on a budget yeah I still prefer to carry tubes + patch kit.

[@bobothericefarmer1878]

Xc 💀

[@lanuyey4593]

The best mountain biking brah

[@garycockbain6506]

All a bit boring xc sorry rich

[@lanuyey4593]

Just say you can't climb

[@garycockbain6506]

@Lanu Yey not as good as spiderman

[@josemarieteomale5791]

I actually turned my xc to trail and, Doing some trick in our local trail course. This one is a good choice basing in my experience.. and xc or any bikes with big tires are so applicable in Philippines since there are so many pot holes and the traffics here is like a moving obstacles for some of us a bike commuters..