Remember the early nineties. Back then, Rock Shox presented its first suspension fork, laying the foundations for one of the biggest milestones in the development of mountain bikes. Initially, the racing world didn't want to know anything about it: Suspension forks were unnecessary, too sluggish, too heavy and not stiff enough. Back then, riders like Thomas Frischknecht preferred suspension soft ride stems to suspension forks. Today we might smile about it.

Racing is generally seen as something like the vanguard of a new technology. What can withstand the downhill slopes and cross-country courses will later be suitable for the mass market, according to the conventional wisdom. Racing can indeed help a new technology to succeed. However, the exact opposite is often the case: after suspension forks came disc brakes. Nobody has held on to conventional rim stoppers as long as the international cross-country stars. Disc brakes were not necessary, too slow and too heavy. Today, they all have disc brakes.

Then came rear suspension, possibly the most important evolution in mountain biking. The verdict of most cross-country riders at the time was that full-suspension bikes were not necessary, too sluggish, too heavy and not stiff enough. The verdict seems somehow familiar.

Downhill sport, on the other hand, was long regarded as a hotbed of innovation: Suspension and braking technologies were adopted early on and many a technology was tried out. In the meantime, however, downhillers are also singing the conservative psalm of woe. This can be heard particularly loudly with 29er technology. Their verdict: not necessary, too sluggish, too heavy and not stiff enough. Since last Sunday, these voices have become quieter.

Another example: dropper seat posts. These have already become an integral part of everyday life for many amateur mountain bikers. The verdict from racing: not necessary, too sluggish, too heavy and not stiff enough. You can bet that in a few years' time, dropper seat posts will be as commonplace among World Cup riders as suspension forks, disc brakes or 29-inch wheels?