XC Vs Downcountry | What Is The Difference?

[@ftrujillomunizaga]

I've been doing down country my whole life, for me XC is really about racing and time focus, DC is what 90% of hardtail riders have been doing to have fun on our less expensive bikes.

[@prosnazzy]

Life was much simpler when I 1st started 30 odd years ago when you had a road bike and a mountain bike! It's not like you can change bikes mid ride! A downhill bike for the downs etc. They are all just bikes that you ride everywhere to get to and from where you want. The rest is very good marketing, but everybody buys what and rides what they want and where they want, and that makes me happy!! 😊

[@kevinross7565]

I bought I Giant Anthem a few years back. I swapped out the cockpit with a dropper, different saddle, 60mm stem and an aggressive trail oriented tire on the front. The bike went from being a straight up xc race bike, to a nice short travel trail bike by simply swapping a few parts. So yeah there is a difference, but I would say the difference is negatable.

[@jimrutherford2773]

In elite pro XC racing whomever designs the courses, sets the trend as to what bike will be ridden. The courses have gotten much more technical so the riders will respond by choosing bikes with a little more suspension. The courses today are so much different than they were 10 years ago. Even on my local trails the trail maintenance crews have allowed the trails to become more technical. Ten years ago the average guy riding the trail bike is now riding an enduro.

[@kyleslater5245]

It can be explained real simple like… levy can’t keep his mouth shut… that’s still the best reason for a category ever.

[@ghostdog6471]

That's why I love my scott spark rc pro, because it has a bit of both worlds in it🌎 😊. I'm simply amazed by the engineering team behind this.

[@krisqz]

Just bought Oiz H20. It feels like a bike I can do everything on. Love it!

[@andrewsiasparks]

I remember in the early/mid 2000s you could get hardcore xc bikes. I had a Brodie omega with 140mm fork a gt aggressor with 100-140 and a giant Boulder with 100-140 mm

[@DirtlovR]

Don't you guys think making a new category for a slightly changed bike isn't a good trend? I mean we're getting to a point where a slight change to geometry and suspension means a different category of bike.

[@rchydrozz751]

Its all about making money. Making you have more than one bike. Well, who has just one anyway.

[@rottieshepcalibre9156]

Anna on a Sunday 😊

[@jonbrown1371]

I'm on a Polygon D7 down country bike. I live in Fruita, and this bike gets me up easy & rips on the downs. Only thing I avoid is some of the Enduro level drops.

[@TC_Prof]

Same bike Jon love it 🙏

[@satchmotionrc8202]

Hardtail cross country with a dropper. 👍

[@theymademepickaname1248]

Fun, fast, affordable, low maintenance, versatile, etc.

[@the_spanner_ch7mp]

If/when 😉 i get a full sus bike it will definetly be a Downcountry one. Great explanation of the difference between the to bikes Anna. Great stuff #GMBNTech

[@MissionX5]

Yes I think there is. I just bought a Ripley to XC race this year. I been riding a DV9 . I know I am hoping that the full suspension will make up for my lack of skills in the ruff areas where I lose a lot of speed.

[@elmerreyes8985]

The difference may be small when it comes to the measurements but will definitely feel the difference when riding.

[@winklertribe5268]

This was a very enlightening video…Thank you!

[@gmbntech]

Thank you for watching! We really appreciate the support!

[@hanstubben]

Have a Niner RKT9RDO with 120 mm fork since 2018. By far the best bike purchase decision I have made. If you are not a racer, but ride the bike to have fun, then a true bred XC isn´t for you, go down-country and be happy.

[@edmundhodgson2572]

Good work Anna. My local is Thetford forest, Here a "downcountry" bike is Just a trail bike, there are no downs!🤭

[@gmbntech]

Hey Edmund! Thanks so much for the support!

[@mistermoore5784]

3:55 "Now, back in the early Naughties, when I started racing..." Tell us more!!!!

[@samblenkharn8099]

Mister Moore it's all here kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJ2VqZqVqdlnbbc

[@Anto_Levo_Mtb]

Have an Oiz H10 Tr, love it. Does everything.

[@edward1591]

I bought a Vitus Rapide FS a year ago and it's been just brilliant. Light, fast - only 100mm each end but with slacker, more stable geometry and easier to live with than pure XC. For me it's been the perfect compromise and I suspect that for most of us outside a bike park a Downcountry is a good bet.

[@patrickh4540]

New video with Anna. I'm watching.

[@gmbntech]

Hope you enjoyed Patrick! 🙌

[@Mr229357]

XC bike 😊👍🏻👍🏻

[@gmbntech]

All the way!

[@ulukai_555]

As we say in french, thoses marketing people are touching themselves the noodle.

[@myfrequencies1912]

Lol.

[@nakitojimo2001]

Just brought Patrol 094 hardtail down-country 29er with 130mm fork . Climb like an XC n shreds like a trail!

[@markday1714]

very informative. thanks

[@gmbntech]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@zaedbinaziz]

I'm riding a Trek Supercaliber 9.8 XT. This video makes me want to try a Down Country bike!

[@aldrinclementina4297]

Hi GMBN Tech. I’m looking for something to do some local trails. I’m more a roadie but do hit some trails. We do XC here but there are some technical descents that’s scares me at the moment. Why cuz I’m still doing them on a 26” ( Giant XTC 3). Old not modern geometry for sure. I’m looking forward to switch to an 29” but is a 100 mm travel enough to bring that confidence back or it’s better go for a 120 mm Mtb? Thanks. I hope you guys read this comment

[@Stickybutton]

The comparison should be short travel trail vs long travel trail. Seems like 120mm rear are now labeled as Downcounty but I feel they ride more like trail bikes nowadays.

[@padyakeroUK]

definitely down country for me🤘🏻

[@gmbntech]

Better than riding uphill! 😉

[@RomanMoroniesFargingWall]

MTBs are doing the same thing as the auto industry. Bikes keep getting bigger so they make new categories for the new "small" stuff that's the same size as the old stuff. CUVs are getting to the same size and shape as hatchbacks just lifted a bit. Don't call them hatchbacks, though.

[@MidlifeMTBdude]

What is going on with mountain biking! When did things become so complex. Oh yeah, I get it…..marketing driven not biker drive . Most people don’t need any of these distinctions, just a bike that does what they want it to do as well as it can. Let’s face it we all cycle up as well as down and want to do both as fast as possible!

[@ondrejmanych5688]

So is a classic XC bike UpCountry?

[@gmbntech]

You could say that! 😂

[@RedDaemon69420]

Downcountry is a bit of a vague term in marketing these days. Some of them such as the specialised epic evo are more of a "high travel XC" and others such as the polygon siskiu D are more of a "low travel trail bike" . It can be tricky to tell which side of "downcountry" you are on without giving the bike a ride as the numbers can be subtly different or even similar. I suspect the main difference would be geo and linkage/frame design.

[@puka6043]

Cmon, you cant drop some "polygon siskiu d" which is only the budget version of trail bike. From my point of view the low travel trail bike is Canyon Spectral 125, for Downcountry bike Cannondale Scalpel SE. You can see the difference on the first sight even though it's only 5mm of travel. Linkage/frame design is also irrelevant since most of the bikes use the 4-bar pivot or VPP.

[@Dlawler]

​@puka the D in Polygon Siskiu, literally stands for Downcountry

[@puka6043]

@@Dlawler "Frame":ALX XC TRAIL FRAME Even they doesn't know what they're selling.

[@markusilomaki8922]

Subtle differences is right 😊 one brands downcountry is another brands crosscountry 😂

[@markusilomaki8922]

So based on this video you can make any crosscountry bike a downcountry bike! Just change out the wheelset, cockpit, airspring in your fork and add a dropper and you have yourself a downcountry bike 😊

[@I_Am_Bone]

I'm riding a Marin Pine Mountain and all your geo points would suggest it's a down-country bike. It has more braze-ons than I can count, has 120mm fork, and is a hard-tail with 29"x2.6" Coming from cheaper big-box bikes I am still amazed at the massive differences riding a quality bike of the right size. It is massive compared to my previous bike that was the largest in the store.

[@ondrejmanych5688]

Pine Mountain isnt XC at all, more of a bikepacking/mountain rig. It is not designed to be fast, at least all the reviews suggest it is kinda sluggish. But it definitely rides great, if you arent a racer (lets be honest, almost nobody is)

[@jaymargarcia8544]

What are your thoughts on rigid mountain bikes/gravel mtb/criterium mtb?

[@X41N3]

My next bike is probably downcountry..or something in between oldschool xc. Currently I have a 2010 era xc bike with adjustable ritchey mtb stem. It's super playful and a lot more comfortable...I just sometimes hit my knees against the handlebar in supertight corners and when I'm putting too much force in the pedal when climbing slippery stuff.. But...I'm rly interested in dirtjumpers with gears as well cause I used to be a skateboarder and whenever you see a jump..you know the feeling

[@RYADADEV]

Hi Anna! Im wondering how tall are you? And what size Canyon do you ride? Im asking because I believe we are the same height (5'5" 31 inseam) and Im about to buy a Canyon bike

[@codyswartz997]

Down country is just a term for an XC bike most people can ride on all trails. All mountain but less suspension. I’d like to see ibis make the exie 120mm rear. Flex stay is nice but to me daul pivot would be better for DC

[@kaltonian]

intresting......., myself i love a bit of everything, in the late 80's & early 90's i would ride trails, go down mountains, but not fast as they would be technical decents were you would be leaning right back & be using the brakes constantly...& to be fair my riding style after a 20 year gap of road racing & now back on mtb's hasn't changed, so all these different models was an eye opener, but it's still hard to choose

[@frienduro24]

An XC race bike has less travel and remote suspension lock outs. A DC has slighter more travel without lock outs.

[@markas85]

You mention rim width in millimeters but tire width in inches? Is that normal?

[@jaycarneygiants]

It should be called a "Trailcross" bike not "downcountry". Downcoutry implies a mix of cross country and downhill and there is already a name for that (Enduro)

[@myfrequencies1912]

Yet another new niche discovered!

[@westbrookwellness4366]

Please comparison ride a Fox 32 SC Vs a Fox 34 SC

[@treyhorn5645]

Xc and road. All the way

[@gmbntech]

Maybe not the road bit. 😅😉

[@TC_Prof]

Using polygon D7 with 120 travel 😊

[@Velo1010]

Not relative to this video, but why are the big riding glasses coming back? These were popular in the 80’s to late 90’s. It interesting how styles repeat themselves.

[@tomassanesson902]

Awesome cool beautiful bike

[@geoffreyfletcher-chef]

I think the strangest bike category is 'trail'. Yo! Isn't all mountain biking done on trails?

[@ravennexusmh]

So that's a trail bike that. It even says it in the name. 😂😂

[@myfrequencies1912]

Well to qualify as a true downcountry bike it must have a 2x drivetrain. Typical 1x's top out at what, 32kmh?

[@ahmedrais1994]

bmc❤

[@ataraxia4526]

Sounds like the differences between XC and downcountry are similar to the differences between cyclocross and gravel bikes.

[@Blunt33bdx]

In a year and a half things have evolved even more - modern cross country bikes like the Orbea Oiz tested on the chanel is full sus and 120 mil frony/rear. but still very stiff and fast. The border between modern cross country and down country is almost non existant now...

[@islarun4103]

Marathon

[@heavyfuzz9675]

Its a funny trail bike that’s what it is.

[@arboristknots2220]

So basically its a re-termed All Mountain Bike. Remember those?

[@robertthomason7619]

Halfmountain: between trail and All Mountain. Allduro: Bit more than All Mountain not quite full Enduro Downduro: Yeah you get it 👌 -SMH-

[@1969Escobar]

Anna, so a DC is a short travel trail "try to be light" bike, LOL Cheers

[@ProfeTa6]

A downcontry bike is more conformable, more confidence inspiring, better if you are not going for all-out speed, fighting for podiums, going for long distance riding etc. So a Trail bike? Call me old but all this categorization is needless and getting downright annoying just so brands can sell their newest model.

[@tb4326]

Now, what’s the difference between a Downcountry to an All-Mountain or to an Trail bike? Marketing?

[@Sixbillion1]

you mean a downcountry isnt just a full sus cross country bike? honestly sometimes it just all feels like marketing stuff. add another sub genre of bikes to sell. ill probably get crucified for that comment lol

[@myfrequencies1912]

I've got a hardtail downcountry bike.

[@senorh1272]

Honestly I don't see a "game changed" features on a downcountry vs xc. Even if you buy a xc bike and put 120mm, 130m new tires, you can have a "super duper downcountry" .

[@mchereja]

Downcountry bile = Trail bike. Easy.

[@doubleL_S]

No there is not. A normal person will get on both bikes and be like oh its a just a bike. These marketing things are ridiculous. Any bike for a 1000 quid will be a good one so guys go out there and get the best frame for you. Doesn't matter about componates you won't tell the diff between a 500 quid one and a 50 quid one. Don't let them sell you stuff you don't need

[@TheyForcedMyHandLE]

Get on a legit XC bike and oh there's a difference. I've had some short travel 120mm trail bikes and they were no XC bike. A lot of that can likely be attributed to tires and weight though.

[@joshuaallswang8016]

@@TheyForcedMyHandLE he said the average person or “Non mountain biker” which is like 98% of the population. To the Non mountain Biker the only difference they will see is the pretty colors and fancy looking parts on the more expensive bikes. Only the experienced mountain biker could tell the miner differences in components with a $1000+ difference in price tag, It’s all one BIG scam. Still.. the sport itself is badass💯

[@vladimirmikusik4786]

@@joshuaallswang8016 Is not true. I'm now searching for new bike in this travel category. So I was on bike test event and tested three bikes in similar price point and you I can feel differences based on geometry and suspension design. I don't care if bike is Deore or XT components, if it is half kilo heavier, but bike must fit me and I must feel good on it.

[@doubleL_S]

@TheyForcedMyHandLE she was talking xc vs down country. Basically people who call xc riding down country is an absolute loser 🤣

[@doubleL_S]

@joshuaallswang8016 for a scam. Sport is still amazing of course. Just don't buy anything at ridiculous prices is what I say. Don't line other people pockets.

[@thephoenixcycle8854]

XC bikes have have big, voluminous tires these days. Those ancient 1.9-2.1 tires are long gone. Only weigh weenie turkeys want those narrowass tires.

[@skylarjohnson212]

This is just more unnecessary marketing. Just buy a bike that fits you and the terrain you like to ride. Don’t get so caught up in the marketing labels. A trail bike is more than capable of handling descending and climbing, just lock out your suspension. Same with xc bikes, if you can’t handle going downhill on one it’s a skill issue, not a bike issue. You don’t need to change your bike every couple years. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it (or in this case replace it).

[@dvxShoeN]

Buy a xc Bike, Change fork travel fromm 100 too120mm, buy slightly bigger tyres and u got a down country Bike in under one hour

[@KPOPIVESTEVE]

Downcountry

[@TRUONGSPORT]

It went together easily in less than an hour. kzbin.infoUgkxHL1v1R3NE5x4KiYfyt8dnQmyNYz7qi5L Make sure the front fork is forward or the pedals will hit the front tire. Tires are both a little soft so it needs air before I ride it. The rear wheel didn't come with a clamp regular bolts hold it on. The front had the clamp. No scratches out of box. Rims are a little off with a slight wobble. They could have spent more time with the spoke tool fixing the run out. So far out of the box I'm happy with it. I did replace the pedals with a nice aftermarket set. After riding it a bit my A$$ is a bit sore so I ordered another seat. Overall I'm nearly 60 and didn't ride a bike in 30 years. I like my new 29" Schwinn. It will be used for casual rides with my friend.

[@akhilmathew3639]

Im just country

[@brianrainey2739]

Did Anna just describe 1000 pounds as a BIT of savings? Where I am from $1600 is a LOT of savings! 😄

[@michaelb9664]

I always thought I was XC - but it turns out I’m actually gravel. I’m sorry but DC is just marketing twaddle for a trail bike.

[@Blunt33bdx]

and gravel isn't a marketing thing ?!

[@michaelb9664]

no it isn’t.

[@saxon1376]

Yea you pay more for a name ?

[@hslayrex]

She got the head angles swapped. 68-70 on the DC is the slacker option.

[@SteveSUX2BU]

Trail bike. It's just a rebranded trail bike.

[@fredclements5474]

you're too short for 29" luv

[@shawnpritchard366]

All too much faff. I'll stick a rigid single speed. Thank you.

[@jonm7272]

Single speed? What a faff, I'm going to stick to scooting along on my balance bike with solid tyres 😅

[@Bianchiboy]

Hey manufacturers, I’ve invented a new term for a type of bike... get in touch and we can discuss £££ and you can start floggin’ the same old bikes but with a brand new name