Does Racing Still Improve The Breed?

Big MTB Firms Pour Money Into The Factory Racing Programmes But Should We Care If The Bikes We Ride Felt The Heat Of Battle?

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The hangover cappuccinos were still sliding down when the van rolled in. It was the morning after the UCI World Championships in Val di Sole and bleary-eyed riders were beginning to emerge from what slumber they’d managed. The van, a rental, was manned by two engineers in civvies and was full of tyres from a large French manufacturer, complete with testing and fitting equipment on which the company’s logos were blacked out. The 2016 season was finished, yet already the wheels were about to start turning again thanks to the never ending quest for the Next Big Thing and consumers’ unquenchable thirst to buy it. The equation on display was a familiar and time-honoured one – race on Sunday, sell on Monday. This mountain bike manufacturer was seeking to develop a product alongside a suitably high-profile team in order to shift units to Joe Punter.

Average Joe