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New Fox X2... nerd kerrrrs vlog
wonder if it'd be worth renting a car from jan to march and just living at TOTW parking lot to snag shots of stuff being tested?
kinda comical people still resort to lapping that "track" for dh testing and training.
i think it's a fantastic track for testing (kinda has everything including some decent speed and riders probably know it well and can feel product tweaks easily), just bonkers so much stuff is out in the open at such a popular locale.
I don't think Laguna has much training value... but it is a good place for suspension setup/testing, especially if you're someone like Bernard who is going to get one setup dialed, and then adapt his riding to it from location to location. the high speed chunk/chatter makes for exposing how crap your setup is for compression/rebound. If you can get a comfortable setup for laguna off menu stuff at 10/10ths, then my experience is that setup is g2g as grip gets better and only in mud are you left slowing things down.
As long as you don't wear a team uniform and draw attention to yourself almost nobody notices, especially on work days. I rode Digit prototypes around Laguna for years and nobody noticed. That all changed when I added stickers, started telling the story, and wearing a logo jersey.
I'm not saying the trail itself isn't worthy. It could use more maintenance and trimming but it does the job.
Its more the bizarre nature of top level professional athletes on prototype gear blitzing a trail in public open space that's crowded with hikers, dog walkers, jerrys etc. Like why hasn't MTB in the US/CA progressed to a point where these companies have private tracks? Seems pretty advantageous for R&D and added benefit for athletes that visit.
He's passing through SoCal for a few days, visiting sponsors (Crank Brothers is in Laguna) and meeting up with Fox and Pinkerton (who lives around the corner).
You lads may be overthinking this.
There aren't many, if any jerry's on the off the menu stuff. Telonics is fairly isolated other the the fire road transfer and cross over. If you know of a shuttle-able trail close to the socal mtb industry, that can push a dh bike and has ocean views to enjoy, then I think those people would be stoked to hear about it.
While there are plenty of things that I do/don't love about living in socal... Ripping trails before/after work with ocean views that are world class difficult and looking at the sunrise/sunset, definitely gets filed in the love side of the equation. Doing that is notable/memorable to those that visit, and the trail conditions and grip are absolute trash so it makes for a good way to push the limits of the hardware/gray matter.
Regarding test tracks... that mostly has to do with land access issues and real estate cost here in California. Some brands have some trails/areas that they use (Specialized = aurburn, There was a trail just above lake elsinore that gwin used, there is stuff in aptos and ucsc that other brands use).
He's ridden there at least once before too, w/ Richie Schley and some absolute hero on a 120mm bike who nearly dropped him...
Edit: "there" == Laguna, don't remember which trails...
If recognizable athletes are "testing" gear out in the open at popular spots, theyre doing it to get noticed. especially rolling in with an entourage......
Not really a surprise since TRP will also provide the Bosch Autoshift System

https://trpcycling.com/pages/e-a-s-i-a12
Definitely trying to get a slice of that "i need a full power full suspension bike path basher but can't be trusted to brake or shift on my own" pie.
Would look sweet on the new Rail.
This same frame was in a deleted post on Unno's ig page that was submitted on 818 page by 3ullit
I could never do secret product testing, the urge to nerd out would overpower any NDA I was made to sign. xD
There are the other ones that get used all the time out by Lake Elsinore trail, east and north of it.
Saw this leaked in another forum. Thought I would post here too. Looks like it’s using a Bosch motor. And looks to basically being an electrified sentinel. Name appears to be regulator SX.
transition should have named that jpeg (and project) internally "WarrenG". ok, I'll show myself out.
nah but seriously, that's an interesting bike. I'm going to assume, becuase what's the worst that could happen. Hopefully, that's got a bosch SX and is a light weight ebike. I'm surprised how few bikes are on the market using that drivetrain. The norco fluid vlt is a pretty sweet bike that I feel like is under appreciated... I've taken a spin on that bike and the bosch sx has a really natural feeling that benefits from spinning it up with a high cadance.
AP running mass damper, ochain and brake arm again
I just got a Transition Relay. I'm a bit nervous reading about all the reliability issues of the Fazua motor. havent rode it yet as its still snow and wet on the trails. I think more and more will be going to the Bosch SX for light weight ebikes.
New TQ will be coming on updated Fuel EXE - Run out sales happening, slash+ To get more models when new TQ comes.
I was talking to a trek rep who knows me and said "just wait, You're fussy and youll like whats coming"
I buy Far to many bikes.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGlXfYzMdDA/?igsh=MWFlZ2JvN3E4M2cybA%3D%3D
Sorry, I'm old, don't know how to embed that thing into my post.
Kinda surprised that thing wasn't already here. On another note, a new non-Saint DH drivetrain is a coming!
I’m bummed to see they’re possibly going SX. The full power gen 5 is marginally lighter and far more capable (can be tuned down if you want it to ride like the SX and doesn’t weight much more). There’s a few examples already of some Gen5 bikes on the market that are lighter than SX bikes which I feel defeats the whole purpose of the SX system.
I’ve heard the new motor is called the HPR 60, going to be 60NM instead of 50
When a brand works with Bosch ,it's usually not with only one of the motors ...
More like short cage opt on for transmission crap derailleurs.
More floating brake arms on Horst link bikes....
I think the V5 is a 6 bar bike?
Aussie makes his own 2chainz bike
This makes me want to buy a High Pivot frame and a lathe.
Yes, but it still has a Horst link.