Hello Vital MTB Visitor,
We’re conducting a survey and would appreciate your input. Your answers will help Vital and the MTB industry better understand what riders like you want. Survey results will be used to recognize top brands. Make your voice heard!
Five lucky people will be selected at random to win a Vital MTB t-shirt.
Thanks in advance,
The Vital MTB Crew
my kryto fr dh was around 1350g
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005560254779.html
Just noticed that on Loris's bike, he's running the new Sram brakes with a 180mm rear rotor (Does he always run a 180 rear?). Or do we think that's a track specific change or possibly the new brakes so powerful that he can drop down in rotor size?
I remember when the original XT 4 pistons came out, they were so much more powerful than riders were used to that mechanics would sometimes put different substances on the rotors in an effort to make them have less "bite."
Interesting how many new tires are popping up right now and in the last year or so. Now the Schwalbe Tacky Chan and a new Michelin DH 16 as well:
i guess we're expecting a couple tyres from Schwalbe, the Hunting Holly and the Tacky Chan, about the first one the Schwalbe guys at the Bike Festival told me already 2 months ago "wait a couple weeks"
Same system that is run on their other bikes like the Switchblade and Firebird. Allows for adjustment of head angle/bb height
pit bits 1 gallery up. sorcery chips are back
https://www.vitalmtb.com/pit-bits-1-2023-leogang-world-cup-downhill
BY "new DH16" you may just see the exact same tire from 15 years ago...but with updated casing. That tire worked back when courses were getting cut for races. Pretty useless side knob profile for the modern race tracks.
I do not think that they would reintroduce high roller/old dh16 type patterns again. It looks kinda shit.

I can't believe this trend hasn't died out yet.
Some years ago during the first big covid lockdown here in Germany, I've put a bit of research into this and looked up all the various manufacturers claims and explanation as to why these should apparently make you faster. I did not find a single one of them convincing.
But back then I took it a little further and went through the the digital library of my University, which includes access to hundreds of scientific archives and databases, to look up the supposed "science" behind these products. In short, there seems to be basically no empirical research done to any sort of academic standard that documents any of the described effects outside the margin of error.
That being said, you'd be surprised how many people believe in these ridiculous claims. There's quite a few high-profile racers running these "magic pads", including Matthias Flückiger and I'm pretty sure I remember Loic Bruni having something like this on his bike at some point.
I’m glad you did a literature review to convince yourself, I wish more people did that kinda thing.
For me, none of those devices pass the sniff test. Red flag words for these scams include: Quantum, magnets, crystals, energy, etc.
If you think the stickers will make you faster, then you gotta check out the ENERGY POLARISER! Quite the bit of classic Australiana.
https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2020/02/how-a-box-of-magic-crystals-brought-…
"Sorcery chips" lol you need to copyright that asap
You’re insinuating that WC level racers are somehow smarter than the average person, not sure that’s the case.
most high level racers I know, know less about their bikes than the average person on the trail, they’re just fast af, not smart af. There are exceptions obviously, Melamed seems like he’s really into it, and his degree in engineering backs that up a bit.
from their site
https://axxios-tech.com/testimonials-2/?lang=en
The average person has probably taken fewer blows to the head...
I think it was Pierron rather than Bruni who had one of these sham products on his bike.
Pretty sure Blenki also ran the "vibration damping" stickers for a while...
Pay me enough money and I'll put them on my bike too.
This article goes pretty deep on debunking the product.
https://singletrackworld.com/2017/08/magic-stickers-mystically-allegedl…
Could it be purely psychological advantage? Ie everyone is looking for ways to lose a second or less, is Loic is quicker and he turns up at a race with one, could he simply be trying to psych out the competition? We all know that mental headspace will make or break a run. 🤷🏻♂️
new bosch performance sx motor, 2kg, max 55nm incoming
Placebo effect is a hell of a drug! There's an abundance of academic papers proving that.
Exactly if it does absolutely nothing but the rider thinks it does it's worth it. They asked Jordy a similar question about saying they made a change but didn't actually change anything. He said won't do it and fully respect the reason he gave but damn I bet there are time it would a useful tool. The mind is powerful and can be more powerful than something scientific. I know one weird one for me for a long time was I was faster and more comfortable riding with 3/4 or long sleeves than short sleeves. Having something on my elbow made me feel like they were protected. I know 100% they were not protected by a thin piece of fabric but in my mind while riding I felt protected and could push more.
quick question, because i'm always wondering when seeing pictures of pros in action:
are they really running their levers so close to the handlebar with minimal throw that it looks like their on the brakes?
pretty sure richie isn't braking on that part of the track.
I used to run my levers almost all the way out, no idea why. Now they’re much closer to the bar with a quick bite. The less you have to squeeze the better, in terms of fatigue/arm pump/finger pump etc. Kinda like cheater reps on a leg press, it’s much easier on the muscles to squeeze 2mm than 2 inches. On an after work trail ride? Not much difference. Pinned at 170bpm 6 times a day? Adds up.
Richie in particular has stated in the past that he likes a very touchy brake lever.
thx for the reply!
yeah, i get that regarding armpump, im running my levers 12 clicks in from the farthest position but not even close to what i can see on that pic of richie, i think i might be on full brakes then. how is he able to modulate? maybe it's a different story because he's a physical monster and fast AF.
There's a "jump" at Ride Kanuga that Richie did. If you see how fast you have to come into what was a non-existent berm...you'd understand he either has his brakes full on...or not at all. Got places to be...no need to modulate. heh
On a norco too

nice, that looks clean. only saw it on some commuter. u also got the embargo lift on the 19th?
“Really in simplest terms, it is a six bar DW6 bike, but one of the pivots is a flex stay.”
Great podcast on PB about the new Pivot DH proto bike.
https://m.pinkbike.com/news/the-pinkbike-podcast-a-deep-dive-on-pivots-…
What is the difference between a DW6 with the Pivot on the chainstay or seat-stay??
I don't have linkage software to model it