Within the Mountain Bike there are four basic bicycle modalities depending on the type of use for which they are recommended:
cross country, trail, enduro and descent. But lately there is more and more talk of a new type of mountain bicycle, as if it came to be a fifth emerging modality: the Down Country, which has its own route profiles and geometry of its own bicycle. What is this of Down Country? What does it consist of?
The Down Country is a hybrid modality, located between the XC and the Trail, which has emerged fruit of the need to adapt the Cross country bicycles to more demanding tours on the technical level. But Down Country goes beyond the concept of light and aggressive XC bike. It is positioned, for many brands, such as the total mountain bike. The most versatile ever created. We tell you everything you should know about this new modality of Mountain Bike.
What exactly is Down Country?
The term Down Country is the result of the evolution of classic MTB bicycles or cross country in recent years. The adoption of the 29 ”wheel diameter, wider wheels and axes (Boost) and the inclusion of telescopic scams in the competition led to, especially in Anglo -Saxon brands, this hybrid term between 'Downhill' (descent) and Cross country.
Thus, a Down Country bicycle is an XC with variations in picture and assembly to be more effective in descents and technical sections. But it does not lose the main attributes of an XC: lightness, speed of reactions and climbing character.
How does Down Country arise? A little history
The Down Country - in some sites it is called radical country cross - emerges directly from the world of competition, specifically from the XC World Cup. The ICU and organizers began to bet on circuits with more declines and obstacles around 2014 and 2015, approximately. The objective was to create visually more attractive and entertaining races than the previous years, more for rollers or climbers.
There would be two other factors that significantly influenced the emergence of this type of bicycles: on the one hand the retransmissions on television of the XC World Cup with new formats that encouraged more technical circuits and with more descents to favor the show. On the other, the technological advance in pictures and components. The brands began to create more complete and versatile bicycles with solutions from more low modalities such as trail or enduro.
The Down Country emerged following the evolution of XC racing circuits, betting on more technical paths
Thus bicycles designed to compete in XC circuits with oversized axes, wider tires, larger covers and, finally, increased the suspension routes appeared. All this containing the weight rise that implies the inclusion of these technologies.
The result is the arrival at the Mercad of Bicycles of XC increasingly versatile. They are bicycle models that serve both to climb quickly and lower at full speed with a management and control currently improved the main market manufacturers have at least a Down Country model in their catalog.
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(Image: Manuel Gopar - UNSPLASH)[/caption]
Down Country and Cross Country bicycles: What are different?
A Down Country bicycle adopts elements that already existed in the trail or enduro combined with a Cross country base. The latter is still especially light, although its geometry changes to a more low character. The angle of the address is launched from 69º or 70º to 66º or 67º. In addition,
THE REACH OR SCOPE The painting is lengthened between 1 cm and 1.5 cm in some cases. This results in a more stable front triangle and with greater poise for drops, rocks of rocks, etc.
Next we list some of the most prominent aspects that differentiate the bicycles of Down Country of traditional country cross.
A Down Country bicycle is generally double suspension and between 600 and 700 grams heavier than one of XC
The suspension: broader routes
The suspension of a Down Country bicycle has more travel, climbing the 100 mm standard at the XC at 110 mm or 120 mm on both axes. In general, a Down Country will always be double suspension, although many new generation rigids have 110 mm forks and more launched geometry.
At this point the main suspension brands,
Fox and Rockshox, they have evolved their fork models of XC, Fox 32 and Rockshox Sid, respectively. They have increased the length and diameter of the bars and reinforced their chassis at the same time the weight.
On a Down Country bike the brakes are more powerful, betting on many assemblies for the 4 pistons
The assembly: wheels, brakes and peripherals
In addition to these basic changes that define a Down Country, a third aspect that differentiates them from a conventional XC is its assembly. The wheels have a wider, 30 mm or higher tire, which provides greater rigidity and can better assume the assembly of 2.3 ”or 2.4" ball. Host this ball increased with guarantees The passage of fork wheel and pods has also increased.
Another star component of a Down Country bicycle, both competition and series for fans, is the
Telescopic Riper. The bike is radicalized to lower very technical descents in some cases. Therefore, this component helps to lower the center of gravity of the biker and descend with more security and control. The manufacturers have also worked at this point, launching short -haul models and simplified mechanism, such as the new Fox Transfer SL. A somewhat lighter ber than trail or enduro options.
As for the brakes, Down Country bicycles are equipped with more powerful braking systems, because they require more abrupt speed, acceleration and deceleration changes to deal with the obstacles and technical difficulties of the paths of this modality. Therefore, it is not strange that they get to mount brakes of 4 pistons, which are usually common in more aggressive disciplines in descent such as enduro and descent.
Finally, in the Down Country the handlebar widens up to 760 mm standard, a more typical measure of the trail and enduro. The power is also shortened (45-50 mm) and widens to provide the biker for greater maneuverability. In addition, in high -end Down Country, the assembly of integrated carbon handlebars is being generalized, which literate weight and maintain optimal levels of stiffness and management.
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Image: Maio Graziano - UNSPLASH[/caption]
Why buy a Down Country bicycle
Who is Down Country for? Is it worth buying a bicycle of these characteristics? The Down Country is more a modality within another modality of Mountain Bike, such as XC, although its bicycles have their own identity and space defined in the offer of brands. It is the fashionable mountain bike, very suitable for the biker who wants to have the latest in painting and components and leaves or even competes, either in a rally circuit or in XC marathon tests in stages. In other words: if you usually compete on marches and routes a Down Country bicycle can be an option to value for you.
It is also an option to assess for those who seek a very versatile bicycle, which raises well and falls better but without the level of specialization that a trail or an enduro may have. At the level of benefits (average speed, lightness, agility) are a point below an XC of 100 mm. But as a whole it is a less limited bicycle in terms of land. You can roll with her fast and also get with her on the high mountain, lower trialeras, overcome cut, etc.
Most outstanding Down Country bicycles
The proliferation of Down Country bicycles has been unstoppable in the last two seasons. It is the MTB of fashion currently and the great bet of many brands. These are the reference models that we currently like the 2022 catalog of the main manufacturers.
Scott Spark RC
https://youtu.be/PhLbdO9WW-8
The new 2022 generation of the
Scott Spark It evolves to a double of 120 mm on both axes, with the completely integrated and accessible shock absorber. An advanced design that gives the rear train more rigidity to fly in the descents. In addition, its geometry and suspension tours are adjustable in three different positions through the practical remote control of three Twinloc levers lodged in the handlebar.
Canyon Lux Trail
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Image: Canyon[/caption]
Another great novelty, developed and proven by runners of the XC World Cup, is the Canyon Lux Trail. It is a model inspired by the 100 mm Canyon Lux for Cross country. But this bicycle with carbon box has been created from zero with a geometry different from the XC model, more aggressive, the wider wheel step for 2.40 ”covers and series telescopic typical in all assemblies. One of the most complete mountain bicycles today.
Cannondale scalpel se
https://youtu.be/QIoGYvceeaI
This is the 120 mm version of the popular double XC of
Cannondale, appeared for the first time in 2020. The scalpel increases the suspension route of 100 to 120 mm, both in the Lefty 8 Carbon fork, as in the rear suspension scheme. It also experiences small changes in geometry. Although the design of the painting remains intact with respect to the original scalpel. You can house tires of up to 2.40 ”.
Orbea oiz tr
Orbea It was one of the first brands that saw the potential of this type of bicycles launching its first specific Down Country model called Orbea Oiz Tr around 2018. Lanked address (68º), series telescopic tiper, 2.35 ”tires and assembly of the Fox 34 SC fork of 120 mm are some of the most prominent elements.
Specialized Epic Evo
https://youtu.be/YgBXqr-ftFY
Finally, review the Down Country variant of another mass of mass such as
Specialized Epic. The EVO model presents 120 mm suspension tours in front and 110 mm behind. Also modifications of geometry in pods and direction, as well as series telescopic. In addition, it dispenses with the Brain of Smart Management System of the EPIC suspension of 100 mm to trust adjustments to conventional dials.
