One nuance I think, is if someone is comparing a HT vs FS that cost the same, or if budget doesn’t come into it. Comparing MSRP, I’d buy a $3k hardtail over a $3k FS.
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I’d agree with that. If you were trying to buy / build a fast Leadville bike at the lower end of the price spectrum, you’ll get more for your $$$ in a HT.
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As a 50+ dude with middling MTB skills, there is no way I’d ride a hardtail at leadville. My spark RC is probably pushing 24lbs dressed for race day, but it’s just too long of a day to ignore comfort. Comfortable is fast. Also, you can burn a bunch of time on descents if riding too cautiously and the FS is so much more forgiving at speed (especially as you get tired and sloppy late in the day). In addition to descending speed, I’d give the FS a big edge in safety as well as I get fatigued. Wrecking isn’t fast, so I guess speed/safety go hand in hand.
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My understanding is that Leadville isn’t technical at all so it seems to be perfect for a hardtail or even a gravel bike with front suspension. Keegan won last year on a hardtail and Sophia won using 47mm gravel tires (Specialized Tracer). I’m sure Sophia would have used a hardtail too but she is sponsored by Specialized and they are pushing their athletes to use their full suspension bikes as it is more profitable to sell those to the masses. If I were doing it I would run my 2021 Epic hardtail with either 2.1 Thunderburts or 2.2 Race Kings.
Slightly long answer here, but I would say your understanding is for the most part incorrect. The issue with Leadville is that the technical and downhill sections, and the chunky uphill sections are somewhat defining even though a smaller part of the course. Here’s one Video - watch this descent from here, with a focus on the first 3-4 minutes, and remember on race day you need to stay right as there are people coming up where you go down. Think about how much time you lose here, and the groups you’re now behind and can’t catch when you’re pace lining across the flats at the bottom. (Remember, these are pros too, you have a 20-25 minute descent here where you’re losing time on the wrong bike)
Then repeat that for Powerline and Sugarloaf, where all of them dump into flatter sections where having a group can help. That’s the reason pretty much NOBODY runs a gravel bike, including the pros. It’s slower. I can’t remember where, but heard a discussion about how bad Sophia’s tire choice was, even if she did make it through.
If you are a good descender, strong MTB skills, and in good bike shape to keep you from fatiguing too much over the day, (e.g. people at the pointy end of the field) then the HT may be a good choice. And, the whole drop bar HT may have legs for people with really good descending skills.
For me, I’ll be significantly faster in the descents, giving up nothing in pedaling efficiency, better rested in better control as the day wears on, and I don’t think the weight difference (3# ish max?) is going to get me back that time.
Me: 46 y/o, I was right at 9 hours last year right at 4w/kg, and am already below race weight now and am up 10W FTP before really going into the bulk of my training for this year’s race.
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Your understanding is wrong. Most of the course isn’t technical and the technical parts aren’t crazy, but they are there for significant stretches and they are critical points on the course. Leadville could be done on a gravel bike just like most xco courses could be as well, it’s just going to be slower. It’s been tried many times on gravel bikes and I’ve never seen anyone report that it’s a good approach. I guess with the line between gravel bikes and xc bikes blurring a bit recently, that might change as tires get bigger and suspension increases, time will tell.
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There’s no right or wrong answer in the HT vs FS debate. It isn’t about which is better, it is which is better FOR YOU. I’ve only done the race once and it was on a HT. When I go back, I’m going to try it on my FS. I think the biggest determinant is what kind of mountain biker you are. The perfect bike is probably an epic wc or supercaliber, but you can do it and do it fast on whatever you are comfortable on.
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