You seem to be forgetting that you don't _have to_ plow everything just because the bike can. A burlier bike can still pick lines, and you can still "be the one getting me and the bike down the most tech trails I can find", but the extra forgiveness of a "boring" bike means many people will actually be more likely to do it "with as little dabs/walking as possible and safely". You'll still know if you only made it because you "cheated" and plowed over something, and you can go back and ace it anytime. And sure, it might take a little more energy to finesse a burlier bike through certain sections, but that's only going to make you stronger anyway. And you also get stronger by being able to make it all the way down a tough section, even you had to let the bike save you halfway, instead of bailing out and walking.
I'm so tired of this "less capable bike is more exciting" mythology. I'm not exactly sure how a bike that can be ridden all over the trail, one that doesn't require you to pick exact lines, one that lets you experiment more easily and safely, is "boring". My bikes have been slowly getting burlier (XC Rigid w/ 26x1.9 tires, thru XC/Trail hardtails and Trail/AM duallies to AM/Enduro dually w/ 27.5x2.6 tires) over the past 27ish years, and I'm definitely not bored. Being able to just blast down a trail, even (especially) on first sight, and pick almost any line I choose, is so exciting! I still have, and sometimes choose, "perfect lines" that I can clean at Mach Stupid on a hardtail, but honestly, having to ride that same single perfect line every single time I'm on the trail would really be the boring option.
March 16, 2022, 8:29 a.m. - Justin White
You seem to be forgetting that you don't _have to_ plow everything just because the bike can. A burlier bike can still pick lines, and you can still "be the one getting me and the bike down the most tech trails I can find", but the extra forgiveness of a "boring" bike means many people will actually be more likely to do it "with as little dabs/walking as possible and safely". You'll still know if you only made it because you "cheated" and plowed over something, and you can go back and ace it anytime. And sure, it might take a little more energy to finesse a burlier bike through certain sections, but that's only going to make you stronger anyway. And you also get stronger by being able to make it all the way down a tough section, even you had to let the bike save you halfway, instead of bailing out and walking. I'm so tired of this "less capable bike is more exciting" mythology. I'm not exactly sure how a bike that can be ridden all over the trail, one that doesn't require you to pick exact lines, one that lets you experiment more easily and safely, is "boring". My bikes have been slowly getting burlier (XC Rigid w/ 26x1.9 tires, thru XC/Trail hardtails and Trail/AM duallies to AM/Enduro dually w/ 27.5x2.6 tires) over the past 27ish years, and I'm definitely not bored. Being able to just blast down a trail, even (especially) on first sight, and pick almost any line I choose, is so exciting! I still have, and sometimes choose, "perfect lines" that I can clean at Mach Stupid on a hardtail, but honestly, having to ride that same single perfect line every single time I'm on the trail would really be the boring option.