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I think the external climb switch is actually used to set the preload amount for the live valve lockout. I’m interested to see if these require a bar mounted switch unlike FA. Seems like most EDR bikes have had one. Seems complicated.
I still bring an extra Deore 11sp derailleur on long rides because I’ve needed it more than once and at $30-$45 each I have a pile of extras laying around. Sadly they do break before a beefy UDH would ever bend but you can have 3 whole derailleurs as backups for the same price as replacement parts for a transmission one. (although I do commend SRAM for making an expensive part with such cheap alternatives rebuildable) Extra in the shuttle truck, extra in my bag of gear/pads. Basically an extra derailleur within arms reach at all times lol.
Extra derailleur strapped to my pack is sprung weight at least.
The thing I've learned from all this broken derailleur talk is that I don't ride hard enough.
I think it might be related to choice of derailleur too. I sold my X01 Eagle derailleur to a friend of mine who mounted it to his kid's bike where he says it shifts much better than the one year old GX it replaced. And I'm talking about an X01 that started life on a bike in 2019 and was used up to mid 2023, did over 400k meters of descending, multiple races and was, if nothing else, the only supporting point when I parked my bike sideways straight on the derailleur onto some soil fixating logs on the trail. Only had to straighten the hanger and all was good.
2025 demo is on the US site. Some different specs for 25.
Demo Race (specialized.com)
Hold up… You carry a spare derailleur when you ride?!? Are your trails on Mount Doom or something?
I think it's more about the terrain you ride in and how well you do to miss hitting things.
agreed. the first 2 years i rode DH i went through probably 6 derailleurs a season, then i learned to pick better lines and not smash the hell of out things.
This also on the Fox website. Should be any day now that these get released.
Live Valve Neo Kit
Default Title
I'm just here to say that I love transmission.
Shimano derailleurs, no matter the group set, are very brittle in my experience. I don’t break them often, probably one every 2 years, but I’d rather strap one to my pack than have my day ruined. Tons of people strap a tube to their bike that they don’t use for years.
Just received the following email from Motion Instruments this morning...
Hello,
Just got an email from Motion Instruments founders saying they were laid off. Excerpt:
"We are currently working to get a contract negotiated to figure out what's next for MI with the controlling company. Unfortunately, until we secure an agreement, there is no way for us to refund your System2 order or give you support for your existing system."
I posted the full email here: https://www.vitalmtb.com/forums/hub/will-more-companies-be-shutting-dow…
It's not just you, they really just don't break. I swapped out the 15 gram UDH that I carry on both of my bikes on the trail (don't even carry the bolt, but just the plastic) and this 11 speed just continues to shift lovely.
Also, 11 speed X01 weighs about .6# less than GX Transmission. I've had both, maybe it's in my head but it feels like the rear suspension just works better on the 11 speed. It also has better clearance, has all steel cassette & is quite affordable.
2025 Hightower V4 dropping tomorrow.
Santa Cruz Hightower - Are we there yet? (youtube.com)
This just seems like a generic overview of the different racing disciplines. Where are you guys seeing that they changed the rules?
Hard to tell if the rules are being changed, or just the courses.
tin foil hat time:
Manufacturers conspire to eliminate a class of bike to pare down sku bloat. Chaz is proving the concept, why do brands want to make an overbike and a trail bike and an all mountain bike? Cutting out this awkward 170 bike (that everyone claims is overbiking) would save companies millions?!?
My interpretation is the idea of returning EDR to what it was in the beginning. An intent to design courses that better suit a 160mm bike with a 36/Lyrik on it vs a bike that is basically a single crown DH bike.
What round was it that had a boat load of pedalling and complaining of it being too long and tight transitions? More of that.
That was finale this year and people were suffering from heat stroke. Everyone from privateers to seasoned pros were complaining about that race and the way too tight liaisons.
0-100mm of travel for XC... meanwhile, among current XC bikes, the Scott Spark, Specialized Epic, and Cannondale Scalpel are all 120mm rear travel. WBD/UCI apparently don't even know what people are currently riding in the disciplines they're trying to standardize.
Racing Talk 🙏🏽
Tech rumors left the chat
Me too. So bummed and I really hope Rob and Mike will find a way to get the product to market. "Fortunately" I have already "forgotten" about the money I paid for the System 2...
If you used a credit card, and it's within the last 6 months, go hit the "dispute" button with your bank.
Going by the email it won't be Rob and Mike getting hit with the reversed charges, it'll be the company that took over MI and fired them which gets to involuntarily refund you.
And at least a handful of fox sponsored riders are opting for a step cast 34 over the 32
Nothing super revolutionary, but looks like Sean Fincham raced the upcoming Rocky Mountain Element at Chequamegon.
Hard to tell what other changes there might be, but looks like they’ve gone with flex stays.
Appears to work with a 100mm stepcast fork without a spacer.
They are some thin chainstays. The transition between them and the chainstay yolk will be interesting.