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Thats what I thought, it seemed more like a rant at the other article rather then properly thought out counter argument.

Personally, this argument is always going to continue, mainly because the people who don't agree with it, don't understand it.

Riding a downhill bike will make you a better rider in terms of it gives you more confidence and is better at hiding the various mistakes your making. It doesn't actually make you a better rider in terms of skill and technical ability.

I know that the 4 years I spent riding hardtails have meant I am a far better rider now on my full sus, I pick lines much better, am much smoother and look ahead on trails rather thank watching my front wheel.

While this is my opinion, I can't believe how people will disagree with this.

I think...

riding a DH rig will make you better at riding a DH rig
riding a HT will make you better at riding a HT
riding a XC bike will make you better at riding a XC bike

the terrain you ride will make you better at riding the terrain you ride, no matter what bike your on

riding in the dark will make you better at riding in the dark

I doubt many would disagree...in fact jumping straight on a DH is prob 'cheating' to an extent or at least taking a shortcut, having said that there are deff some tracks where whilst they arn't a neccasity they do (IMO) up the fun and possibly safety factor, especially runs that are full of braking bumps.

Andy

you've hit the nail on the head jon simple

i certainly found that riding my girl made me better at riding !

Tooo many jokes........

Practice makes perfect

Is she a full suss or hardtail!?

Think its a case of horses for courses

Yep, and you learn on a pony

These articles are great way of getting MOOOAAAAARrrrr page impressions. They are designed to stir a wee bit so PB get their hits.

The views on this are obviously a very personal thing but In my mind riding the big bike has help me progress as much as my hardtail.

Big bikes bring benefits........ but in many situations can be........ harder to move around, harder to jump, harder to accelerate, harder to manual... I think the view that they are cheating or make stuff easier is one dimensional.

On the Verbier video this year you can hear me say at one point “6 inch bike please”. The DH bikes were cumbersome and hard to manhandle on that section of trail. I was having to think further ahead and commit more in order to get the DH bike through the terrain. I also remember Tranny and Cheshmat absolutely rinsing me on a steep narrow trail a while back........mainly because they were riding better than me, but also because the big bike I was on was flippin hard work to move about. They were both on single crown 6 inchers, I was on my arse.

For me being a better rider is about improving your strength, balance, body position, and speed management, through training the brain and the body to process the information needed to make those adjustments, faster and more accurately. That can be done on any travel bike and will help you whatever you ride.

Andys right braking bumps are no fun on a hardtail ,last bit of the downhill section in the downs for example, doing it on my old diamondback x10 full suss was so smooth

Braking bumps at chicksands dual are problematic for me on my hardtail as its set up for xc really!
really looking forward to getting some help with a bit of suss in new year!

get loose man they are tiny tiny bumps compared to DH trails etc