I think its a bit dangerous thinking that racers will only race on what will win. I mean, wheres the studies? How many racer types ave gone out there with 10 bikes, set up identically, not looked at them so there's no psycological preconceptions, done some laps, timed them, averaged them, gone "Thats the fastest bike, I'll ride that"??? How many sponsored Pros' companies have that many bikes to choose from anyway??
As for riders riding rebadged bikes, whats the evidence that they're faster? Annectotal. Some guy who's ahead of them rides an M1, so I'll ride an M1. Did it occur to you that their sponsor maybe considering badge engineering that bike, similar to what Haro, K2 have done etc? Its almost like your saying racers somehow have this amazing, uncanny ability to 'know' whats faster, without any decisive studies, research or anything!, not to mention power over their sponsors. Let me know how many sponsored riders have said "Sorry, I can't ride any of your bikes, they're not 'fast enough'. Guess I won't be sponsored by you."
And crashing_sux, if you think that me calling most racers a bunch of genetic freaks somehow denegrates your efforts, you better grow a thicker skin mate, because you're not gonna last long out here in the real world, and if you think you're going to become a world class athlete through sheer work, you better go look up genetics and do some research. Its not going to happen, so sorry to burst your bubble. Sure, you'll do well on the level that you're competing, you may even have some fun somewhere somehow. Thats not the issue. Sure, I was generalising in my description of XC racers, like I said, but I don't think I'm that far off the mark.
As for riders riding rebadged bikes, whats the evidence that they're faster? Annectotal. Some guy who's ahead of them rides an M1, so I'll ride an M1. Did it occur to you that their sponsor maybe considering badge engineering that bike, similar to what Haro, K2 have done etc? Its almost like your saying racers somehow have this amazing, uncanny ability to 'know' whats faster, without any decisive studies, research or anything!, not to mention power over their sponsors. Let me know how many sponsored riders have said "Sorry, I can't ride any of your bikes, they're not 'fast enough'. Guess I won't be sponsored by you."
And crashing_sux, if you think that me calling most racers a bunch of genetic freaks somehow denegrates your efforts, you better grow a thicker skin mate, because you're not gonna last long out here in the real world, and if you think you're going to become a world class athlete through sheer work, you better go look up genetics and do some research. Its not going to happen, so sorry to burst your bubble. Sure, you'll do well on the level that you're competing, you may even have some fun somewhere somehow. Thats not the issue. Sure, I was generalising in my description of XC racers, like I said, but I don't think I'm that far off the mark.