What do you think about downcountry bikes and components?

Not everyone is a fan of the term "downcountry," but more riders seem to have embraced the concept over the past several seasons.

By Jeff Barber
November 10, 2024

23 comments

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A vibrant yellow Santa Cruz Tallboy mountain bike partially obscured by green foliage, set against a natural backdrop of grass and trees. The bike features a sturdy frame, thick tires, and well-defined handlebars, suggesting it is designed for off-road use. — File photo: Matt Miller

The term “downcountry” has been used to describe a certain class of short-travel trail bikes since at least 2018, when Ibis released their DV9 hardtail. By the following year, Santa Cruz was calling their fourth generation Tallboy a “downhiller’s XC bike,” or “downcountry” for short. As we found, downcountry bikes aren’t just long-travel XC bikes; they should also feature progressive geometry that leans more toward descending, with components to match.

Now that the bikes and the term “downcountry” have been around for a while now, we want to know what you think about the category.

Tell us why you love (or hate) downcountry bikes in the comments below. Aside from travel, what do you look at to separate downcountry bikes from long travel-XC and short-travel trail bikes? Is there a difference?

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23 Comments

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Ryan White Colorado // 2021
Nov 12, 2024

After riding a more modern trail bike (150/135) for two seasons I downsized to a "downcountry" bike (130/110) and it's a total blast to ride on the trails I'm so familiar with it became less challenging. I definitely notice it on the more rugged trails I formerly plowed through, but I think for the right trails and rides I'm super happy to have something like this back in my quiver.

Modern trail bikes are a bit too heavy and sluggish, being a smaller rider I'm loving that snappy, quick-handling feel again.

2 reply

Gary Sanchez Colorado // 2022
Nov 11, 2024

I don’t mind the term and love the bikes. For most people most of the time, these are the best bikes. Lightweight enough to ride all day, capable enough to tackle all but the gnarliest trails. I have an enduro bike (160/150) and my down country (140/120) and the DC bike gets 90% of my rides.

sscottt Vermont // 2024
Nov 10, 2024

I think the term is dieing as xc bikes are becoming more capable and 120mm bikes are becoming 130mm bikes. "Trail" is becoming more prevalent.

evolutioncounsellingandwellness India // 2024
Nov 11, 2024

In my mind, you have Downhill, Enduro, Trail and XC. Down country is a trail bike.

bryan.nuckols Georgia // 2017
Nov 11, 2024

It seems like what was “downcountry” a few years ago is just xc now. Not sure the term means anything now.

ndonawa Trinidad and Tobago // 2023
Nov 11, 2024

From my prospective Downcountry bikes are just trail bikes. Downcountry is just a marketing ploy.

1 reply

sorsini Florida // 2024
Nov 11, 2024

I agree with the comments below about there being less of a distinction between xc, down country and trail bikes as time goes on. My new Epic Evo is “down country” with a 130mm fork but if I throw on the 120mm fork I have laying around my garage and go do a 6 hr race, it’s an xc bike. Down country bikes are to Mtn biking as Mid length surfboards were to surfing, just another way to have fun.

BikerNick New Mexico // 2023
Nov 12, 2024

I love downcountry bikes and am stoked them growing in popularity but the name does feel a little gross. Trail-country is more of a fitting name in my opinion.

I have been buying XC bikes and putting on burly wheels, knobbier tires, shorter stems and wider bars since around the time the first Giant Anthem came out. I love the good pedaling fast steering poppy feel that has the durability to able to launch off roots and blast through rock gardens. It is super cool to see that type of bike has gained popularity.

Enduro bikes are fun, but they feel dead on anything besides super gnarly terrain. Pretty much every obstacle on your typical blue/black trails can be solved by go fast, lean back and let the bike soak it all up.

Matt Dunn Colorado // 2022
Nov 11, 2024

Originally downcountry bikes had an edge over bigger travel bikes on the climbs, but I don't necessarily think that is true anymore... There are so many great climbing bikes now that it makes me wonder if sales in this category are declining in certain markets.

Sam James British Columbia // 2018
Nov 12, 2024

I think it's absolutely true. All mountain bikes climb better than they used to, but so do XC/downcountry bikes, and they descend better too.

0 reply

Basicwrc Illinois // 2021
Nov 12, 2024

Too many people start to worry about what they ride myself included. Just ride what you have and enjoy the journey. Especially these days when nice bike cost crazy money

Hap Proctor Florida // 2014
Nov 12, 2024

Agreed, I’ve managed to collect a 10 year old hardtail, a 7 year old trail bike and a 3 year old XC bike. After the first quarter of mile I hardly notice a difference…..except maybe the landing if I go off a drop on the hardtail.

landonarkens Wisconsin // 2019
Nov 14, 2024

"Downcountry" is easier/more fun to say than "short travel trail bike" ;)

I would recommend to anybody to swing your leg over a downcountry bike next time you find yourself at a bike demo event.

Jack65 Poland // 2024
Nov 11, 2024

Few years ago some my middle-aged buddies rode enduro bikes. They were bloody heavy and useless in faster group rides. There is only one guy left. All the rest either moved to lighweight downcountry bikes or e-bikes.

Vincent_e Arkansas // 2023
Nov 11, 2024

I do think you can split trail and XC each into subcategories.

Case in point: XC includes the 120mm Epic and the 80mm Supercaliber.
Trail includes the 120mm travel Tallboy and the 150mm travel Stumpjumper.

Now with new rules for Enduro, that category spans 145-170mm bikes.

__

I live in NW Arkansas and my primary bike is an Epic Evo… I prefer pushing that bike beyond its limits more than I enjoy riding my Ripmo on technical XC trails. When descents get longer than 1000ft, or just really steep and technical, then I grab the Ripmo.

I think the important difference between what we are calling downcountry from trail bikes is weight and suspension tuning. ‘Downcountry’ should be close to XC weight… probably built around an XC frame with very efficient suspension tune.
Short travel trail bikes can add several pounds in frame / tire weight to feel more secure. They will favor comfort and traction a bit more. Having owned both a Tallboy V4 and the Epic Evo, I find these two bikes to be distinctly different in terms of feel on the trail so don’t think these categories should be combined.

Mick-e 2017
Nov 11, 2024

I have a proper downcountry bike. I built it specifically to compete in BCBR 2023. The people that win that race are on full XC bikes with flex stay rear ends. Tried riding one of those. I hated it, and felt like I was bouncing off of everything. So I built the lightest linkage bike I could with the exception that I went with a 130mm Grip2 34. If I race this bike again I might swap it for A stepcast and shave a pound. So I have a revel ranger with a good fork, and solid brakes that pedals really well. It’s so much faster than my wife’s Following or my Ripmo at everything except all out descending. But if I could only have 1 bike it would be the Ripmo.

[email protected] Florida // 2024
Nov 11, 2024

I wasn't sure about down country until I bought one. I didn't go out looking for one but testing and reading up on the components and specs convinced me. Now, after two and a half years I'm convinced that it was a great decision.

Dr Sweets Georgia // 2016
Nov 14, 2024

It's all just semantics. The lines have become blurry. My primary bike has 130mm of rear travel yet it's geo numbers are that of a enduro bike. I like to call it a "trailduro" or even better an "entrail". Ride whatever you like and call them whatever turns you on.

2hip in CO Colorado // 2020
Nov 14, 2024

That’s why I’m “not sure yet” - are they “short travel trail” or “long travel XC” bikes, as you noted…??

Bloggsley Western Australia // 2024
2 weeks ago

They are just trail bikes I reckon. I put a 1.5 degree angle set in my tallboy 4, reversed, and stretched it from 120 to 130mm up front - took it from 65.5 to 66.4 degrees head angle. Now it steers on point - it is no longer an under steering flip flop barge on the kind of blue trails I ride. Perfect.

Those that have read some of my work probably know how much I love a good downcountry bike. For me they sit somewhere in between XC and Trail - a trail bike to me is 130mm travel or more. Obviously it's a grey area, but under-biking generally is just a ton of fun.

Rockpicker Missouri // 2022
Nov 11, 2024

When this term emerged, I thought it was great and what I wanted. A cross between xc and trail. I prefer the feel of an xc bike but wanted more travel and to stay light. Bought a Ripley V4S. It still seems heavy. I like the down country concept but when I consider a new bike it will be a longer travel xc. Downcountry is not really it's own category any more. If it ever was.

Ihappydirt Wisconsin // 2018
Nov 15, 2024

XC is trying to catch up to downcountry, because downcountry makes more sense unless you're only racing flat stuff. Downcountry hits the sweet spot for what a lot of people are riding - can climb well, but still quite capable on the downs.

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