Skinsuits in DH racing - what do you guys reckon?
Skinsuits in DH racing - what do you guys reckon?
Author
Discussion

AbarthChris

Original Poster:

2,259 posts

238 months

Tuesday 21st October 2008
quotequote all
I've recently become aware of the arguments raging around the wearing of skinsuits in World Cup competitions. Now it seems the UCI have banned these in all but the World Champs which is what the majority of riders wanted apparently.

What do you lot think? Good performance advantage and the fashion police should shut up, or now its a level playing field and the sport looks cooler?

story here http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/uci-ban-skin...

vz-r_dave

3,469 posts

241 months

Tuesday 21st October 2008
quotequote all
This debate has been running for years now and IMO they are making the sport more presentable to olympic style standards. I would love to see DH racing in the Olympics as people just dont seem to realise just how good of sport it really is.


AbarthChris

Original Poster:

2,259 posts

238 months

Tuesday 21st October 2008
quotequote all
vz-r_dave said:
This debate has been running for years now and IMO they are making the sport more presentable to olympic style standards. I would love to see DH racing in the Olympics as people just dont seem to realise just how good of sport it really is.
What do you mean, skinsuits make the sport more presentable or the moto style clothing does?

I agree with the Olympic comments though

vz-r_dave

3,469 posts

241 months

Tuesday 21st October 2008
quotequote all
Aggressive sports athletes are normaly tarnished as unhealthy beer drinkers who have balls. The fox moto style clothing etc just adds to that image.

The skin suits are gay but I think that they are more proffesional and portray that image.

Thats what I meant by the Olympic style sport look lol

If I tell someone I do downhill especially inexperienced XC riders they instantly assume that its easy and that you dont have to be fit to take part.

Its a different type of fitness, like a sprint or a marathon. That said most guys who race DH and 4X completely destroy XC races.

mrmarkyb

34 posts

209 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
vz-r_dave said:
This debate has been running for years now and IMO they are making the sport more presentable to olympic style standards. I would love to see DH racing in the Olympics as people just dont seem to realise just how good of sport it really is.
Agreed... But should a sport become more expensive just to be competitive if it can avoid it?

It seems to me that almost without exception, any non track/field Olympic sport is VERY expensive to even get involved with in the first place, let alone the cost to be competitive... I'd love more than anybody to see DH become an Olympic sport (hell, GB would stand a good chance of getting Mens and Womens gold medals, and whilst you're at it, don't forget 4X), but When a competitive bike is already £5k's worth, I'd rather that you can be competitive wearing £100's worth of Moto Jersey and Trousers rather than a Skin Suit that has cost more than the bike!

Just my two penneth...

vz-r_dave

3,469 posts

241 months

Thursday 23rd October 2008
quotequote all
mrmarkyb said:
vz-r_dave said:
This debate has been running for years now and IMO they are making the sport more presentable to olympic style standards. I would love to see DH racing in the Olympics as people just dont seem to realise just how good of sport it really is.
Agreed... But should a sport become more expensive just to be competitive if it can avoid it?

It seems to me that almost without exception, any non track/field Olympic sport is VERY expensive to even get involved with in the first place, let alone the cost to be competitive... I'd love more than anybody to see DH become an Olympic sport (hell, GB would stand a good chance of getting Mens and Womens gold medals, and whilst you're at it, don't forget 4X), but When a competitive bike is already £5k's worth, I'd rather that you can be competitive wearing £100's worth of Moto Jersey and Trousers rather than a Skin Suit that has cost more than the bike!

Just my two penneth...
True but we are looking at top flight world cup racing rather then dragon down hill. I think skin suits appeal more to an olympic crowd rather then a MTB crowd. Can you imagine the amount of spectators at an Olympic DH event lol, it would be a massive piss up haha.

I myself prefer the moto style but as I have already said the olympics has to keep that proffesional image and you just couldnt enter wearing baggy shorts and a fox jersey smile

God I hope it gets to the olympics some day, its by far a more exciting sport then most of the offerings and it would really get some rider teamwork and rivalry going as well.

Moe_Szyslak

37 posts

209 months

Wednesday 29th October 2008
quotequote all
Look gay, BMX ruling body agreed (hence their banning from BMX a few years ago). Its not figure scating, you wouldn;t expect to see Liverpool turn out in skinsuits would you?

vz-r_dave

3,469 posts

241 months

Wednesday 29th October 2008
quotequote all
Moe_Szyslak said:
Look gay, BMX ruling body agreed (hence their banning from BMX a few years ago). Its not figure scating, you wouldn;t expect to see Liverpool turn out in skinsuits would you?
What has football and figure skating got to do with MTB

Every other MTB sport in the olympics use lycra so I dont see a problem using a skin suit if DH where to become an Olympic sport.