2025: Things you loved this year

Funny timing to see this thread pop up. I was reminiscing about this past season while walking my dog in the freezing cold while it snowed. Man I miss playing bikes.

1) Vorsprung Smashpot 2.0 kit: full coil suspension is sick. Run the 180mm setup in a Zeb on a Norco Range and the front end finally feels as good as the rear. Is this what a trophy truck feels like?

2) Renthal Ultra Tacky wire on/slip on grips: converted to this setup 2 season ago and I’ll never run anything else. 

3) ‘23 Norco Optic (gen before the HP design): Got a sweet deal on an AXS spec complete before the season started and best purchase I made all year. Can’t justify riding a big bike around the local trails, and this bike saw tons of use. Smiles per miles ratio was through the roof, can’t beat a simple trail bike.

4) Maxxis Forekaster/Recon Race tires: Everything you need from a trail bike tire setup and nothing you don’t. Just enough grip in the front w the Forekaster and the rear RR keeps things fast.. and honest. 

5) Akta Knee Pads: Not like I’ve tried every knee pad known to man, but by far and above the comfiest knee pads I’ve ever owned. Great fit, don’t slide or bunch up, plenty breathable while pedalling in the dead heat of summer and did their protective duties when I ran out of talent. 

6) Riding bikes down hills with friends. No better feeling.

Vital’s B Practice Podcast

Getting down a hill as fast as I can without falling. Doing it with friends.

Watching the pros get down a hill as fast as they can. (Thanks Vital for all the amazing RAWs). 

Finally almost having everything and not spending a ton of dough on parts and tools. 

1, Fuel Ex gen 7. - unbelievably good and cheaper than the gen 6.

2, Frameworks, not sure why something about this project I just love.

3, Maven brakes, once I figured out the process last year they got Promoted to all my bikes this year(all but 1 are bases an they are kick-ass)

4, Oneup clips with Shimano's new cleats, First SPD pedal that doesn't feel like you're ice skating in the mech.

5, RF wheels - Their turbine alloys and ERA carbon wheels are seriously good, backed by arguably the best no stress warranty - theyll send a complete wheel.

Only 5? i have some more

Special mention, Ebikes - They are getting better and even better and Anti kick devices and/or low engagement/dtswiss hubs

Things i hated? sure - Commencal, fox podium and fox NZ, Shimano di2 Wireless, headset routing still appearing ruining great bikes like the genius/ransom, TRP E23 calipers still leak. New Rotor trueness is still a problem or should we be hating hub quality? IS52 headsets need to go - just use is41 ffs.
Internal storage is still dumb and adds weight/cost.(yes conflicting to my next point, dont shoot)
Going to get hated for this but, Light Bikes - They ping off everything, crack easily blah blah AND they cost alot.

 

For me it's simply that I've learned more of what I dislike so I'm getting closer to find the parts I actually want and need. I'm swapping tires(+ valves),  pedals, saddle, handlebar and grips for the coming season. 

So for me it's rather 5 areas of the bike I've learned more of my likes and dislikes, so it is mostly the same thing. It's not like it was all bad, I'm just trying to dial in the bike to a place where I can just keep using a setup I'm familiar with which I obviously need confidence in.

I'll just add the parts I'm upgrading to that I have more faith in.

1: Conti Kryptotal Fr Enduro Super Soft for both front and rear. I've only felt these tires with my hands so far, but I have faith in them to give me that balance between grip and rolling resistance I'm looking for,

2: Deity Flat Trak pedals are on their way. Very quiet about these particular pedals so far and I'm feeling they are going under the radar for a lot of people. They are simply a slightly less aggressive pedal than Supervillain that may be better suited for people who like the ability to shift the foot around with more ease. I'm also getting them primarily because I dislike the symmetric design on the Race Face Atlas. A symmetric design forces you to be more precise, and I would like the opposite primarily because I choose flat pedals because I would like not to be precise. If I land a foot slighty off I would like that to feel better than it does on symmetric designs. A symmetric design also feels smaller because it actually is smaller. I've taken the measurements down below myself on my personal pedals and the numbers speak for themself. You only got the 110mm claimed length in a 60mm wide window, and you only got the 108mm claimed width at one tiny spot. You also have to squeeze your foot into the bulge to have all of it. To me this is just nonsense marketing and is why these pedals feel smaller to me than what they should be. 

3: I just got the SQlab 6OX Ergowave Active 2.2 saddle I ordered and I'm positively surprised that it both feels and looks narrower than press photos you see online. For me personally a 280mm long saddle just did not work when I've also got my saddle shifted forward with that Drop Best offset saddle clamp. 3,2cm shorter may not sound a lot, but just sitting down on it you really feel that difference. I swapped out the Sqlab 611 saddle which is a good saddle in itself, it just was too long sadly. 

4: PNW The Loam Handlebar 50mm rise. They offered a 10 degree backsweep which is just a touch more than most, so I just thought I'd try it(The primary reason for change is more rise up from a 35mm riser bar). I've also got a stack of different heights of stem washers now so I can fine tune the final height of where I want the grips to land at. 

5: DMR Deathgrip 2 Flangeless Thin. As I will not be as over the bar now with a taller posture through the handlebars, I thought I at least would try thin grips just to see if I can be able to deal with a slightly less damped grip. I'd like more feel through my hands, but it will just be an experiment for the time being just to see if I can live with it or not. I just feel thicker grips just a bit dead to be honest. With a thinner profile you're also more able to have a looser grip so you can just float instead of hanging on for dear life soaking up absolutely every hit. We'll see how they stack up once the snow clears though...

I like when things just work and I don't have to think about them or replace them so here are some things that just seem to work for where and how I ride my trail bike and some other things too.

1. Finish Line chainlube, I reckon I'll keep using it until I die or Finish Line dies.

2. XT mechanical 12-speed. It just keeps going, replace the chain now and then and it'll just work (for me).

3. One UP dropper, replaced my old V1 from 7(?) years ago this year with a V3. Not because it was broken, it still works but I wanted more drop. If it keeps fitting the bikes I'll have until then I'll probably still be running the v3 in 7 years too.

4. Race Face warranty, had a hassle free warranty replacement from them this year which lead me to also buy a RF front wheel.

5. Unite chainrings, lasts better than any other non-steel chainring from my experience and comes in fun colors too.

6. Magic Mary radial, my favorite tire is even better now. 

7. WC DH, it's been more exciting this year with the Q1 Q2 change imo.

8. Grit and Glory, sure it has its flaws but I enjoyed watching it and I've never actively followed WC enduro racing really.

9. Inserts, still run them. They have saved my rims on several occasions this year.

10. DT swiss 350 rear hub. Keeps on rolling with basically no maintenance.

Things I didn't like.

1. Burgtec ratboy grips. I forgot the actual name of them but it's the ones with a cutout to make them softer. I mean they were good while they lasted but the problem was they lasted about two months. 

2. DWR treating my kit. It all sucks, every DWR treatment I've tried is shit full stop.

3. Flip chips, they keep falling out whenever I take my shock off for service and are an absolute ball ache to put back in unless you have four hands.

I think that's it.   

Bronson V5, Cascade Components links for the Bronson, Intend Essential, Outlier Pendulums, Push SV8, Hope T4V4s, Onyx Vespers and STFU.

Bonus: my beloved DW-link Turner DHR, now with mini-mullet wheels. Still the best looking frame on any mountain.

Things I loved this year: I'm not a gearhead, so my biking loves are pretty much about experiences:

1) YT and the YT Mill Bentonville crew: it was great until it wasn't. We had a lot of fun hanging out there, and it really felt like something special was happening all the time around the place. It wsa a pretty big bummer once rumors started flying of things going south.

2) The Monster Pro Downhill Series: being from Arkansas, I never thought we'd be traipsing coast to coast for DH races, but here we are... it was a great time. Clay and the Crew are amazing, and this series is just going to keep getting better.

3) The Southeast Downhill scene: we've always focused the majority of our traveling for riding out West. I never thought I would get to know I40 Eastbound so well... but it's been epic make these trips to Windrock/TTC/RRC/etc.. Just great experiences all the way around this year. 

4) Angelfire: we make several trips a year, and it continues to be a place that draws our friends and family together for weekends of riding.

5) Oaxaca: we finally took our trip to Oaxaca for riding this year. It was epic as advertised, and we want to get back.

6) Flyfishing: I've always loved fishing. This was the year that my son also began loving it. Since he had a shoulder injury mid season that kept him off the bike, we got to spend a lot of time on the water fishing. 

7) Independence and Agency: seeing my son and his friends start taking trips on their own, racing on their own, camping on their own, etc.. I have mixed feelings on this one. I'm proud of how. much they've grown up and how capable they all are... but it's kind of sad knowing that our kids don't really need us for these trips any more, so races and bike weekends don't really force all the families to get together like they used to. 

Looking forward to 2026.

Possible unpopular opinion:

my XO AXS transmission. came on my Hightower I bought at the end of the summer last year, had every intention of ditching it for mechanical then I rode it. rode it hard. the only tie ive touched it since is to put a battery in it. perfect shifting every single time. I can tell ive smacked it off things too as it's all marked up. im extremely impressed with it honestly. 

Like - fresh tires. New high roller is pretty good. 
Dislike - cost of tires, replacing tires, how quickly I go through tires. 

Like - EXT Storia coil - so good. 

Like - king hubs, rolling smooth after four years and multiple wheels. 

Like - nobl warranty and customer service. 

Like - my local bike community and the people who visit my little town and enjoy what we have to offer. 

I tend to buy stuff on sale, so no idea about the stuff that actually came out in 2025 lol.

Highlight of my year is probably getting my first coil shock. Found a good deal on a Fast Ride E (might as well ride stuff from brands that are within an XC ride of home if it cost the same as a DHX2/Deluxe Ulti) after a while on low/mid range air shocks, and holy sh*t it's so good !

Had a pretty good riding trip this summer, motivated me to move to the mountains to ride that stuff all the time.

1. Fresh do it all bike the ____________.. Finally got a modern bike after a few years of good enough and for now bikes.

2. Racing DH on fresh do it all bike.

3.Riding more xc / trail than last year.

4. Concept2 Row Erg

5. Dry weather

1 - the new maxxis high roller 

2 - the new maxxis forecaster

3 - short travel bikes, picked up a Norco fluid, sure its heavy for its class but its a hell of a lot of fun, simple, reliable and constantly exceeding my expectations

4 - rockshox vivid coil

5 - good customer service - I’ve had interactions with two key brands this year that when I’ve asked them a question that was something they could have easily shut down they chose not to and gave me a “choose your own adventure” type of response, I appreciated the vagueness, we all knew i was going against official company recommendations but the responses left room for interpretation.

1. Hydration vests. Between the USWE Rush 8L and the San Util Saguaro, being able to comfortably cary a bunch of water and food on long, hot rides was a big change this year.

2. Maurten gels. They’re pricey, but being able to eat 80-100g of carbs an hour made a huge difference in my ability to tack on laps and recover from rides in time to be a good parent, husband, etc. They don’t taste like anything, which is great after hour two when going full bonk and dying in a trailside bush seems like a favorable alternative to eating another mouthful of athletic cake icing.

3. Lake shoes. After years of random foot pain and discomfort, I finally bit the bullet and got a pair of wide Lake MX239s and went back to my old trusty Shimano XT trail pedals. In addition to the obvious comfort benefits, having the cleats a little farther forward was also a huge improvement. I know the received wisdom is to slam your cleats all the way back, but having mine more forward made it way easier to drop my heels and use my posterior chain for posture. End result: comfy feet, secure on-bike feeling, no more burning quads after long descents.

4. Freedom Coast levers. I picked up a pair for my Mavens on a whim and was immediately flabbergasted by how much they improved the lever feel. The more pronounced hook fits my hands perfectly, and the additional stiffness makes the monster power available that much more controllable.

5. Assegai/DHR2. Having spent the last couple of years trying out a bunch of different tires, slapping an Assegai and DHR2 on my bike was like coming home. They’re not fancy anymore, but having a set of tires which just work pretty much everywhere I ride and which I can replace with a trip to the nearest bike store felt amazing. RETVRN

In no particular order.

Loved: Trails builders and the people that maintain the trails in the areas where we ride bikes. These legends will never get enough credit.

Loved: Bikes are sooooo damn good at the moment. Whether Im riding my smuggler trail bike or riding my heavy alloy patrol enduro/park bike, the smiles these things give you and the confidence to try new things and ride harder knowing its always going to be ok.

Loved: Supporting the Local Bike shops. Things arent great for these stores but still going out of their way to help out however they can. Maybe we are spoilt where I live but these shops keep me running and save my bikes from my mechanically sterile bike mechanic skills.

Loved: Local grass roots DH and enduro races. The people and the vibes are always high. 10/10 great time only limited by my very average fitness and skill level.....

Loathed: People dumbing down trails that havnt been built by them and stravalords making the wildest cut lines to chase that illusive KOM to brag about over a crafty IPA.

Three things that still stand out to me in 2025:

1. WAO carbon rims. Absolutely 100% sold on the premium of burly, well designed carbon for the durability.

2. Working with and trusting a knowledgeable tuner to deal with your suspension. The difference is worth it.

3. Maven brakes. Convinced me to ditch Shimano on my enduro bike.

This is a great idea! I figure I'd give it a go.

1.) TransBC 6 Day enduro. What an amazing event and personal accomplishment for me. This is a race I've wanted to do ever since I watched it roll through Revelstoke in 2017, and getting the chance to be a part of it was a truly special experience. I could go on and on about just how cool it is to get to spend 6 days with no other responsibilities besides trying to ride your bike blind as fast as you can across some of the rowdiest trails. I cannot recommend it enough. 

2.) Queenstown, and New Zealand in general. Everyone I met was fantastic, the trails were fantastic, and the views were fantastic. If you have the chance, go!

3.) Sea To Sky corridor. Squamish is great, Whistler is great. But even more than both of those things, the riding community in the Sea to Sky has a lot going for it. It's no small wonder why so many great riders come from that area, and its not just the trails but also the people. There is this powerful combo of not only great athletic coaching and resources, but a communal passion for racing and riding that is also extremely supportive. I'm sure other people have some negative opinions on the organizations as well, but from an outsiders prospective both SORCA and WORCA do amazing work. 

4.) My Van. Yeah I have a van, and its awesome. Being able to travel with a dog, another human and 4 bikes and not have shit hanging off the back of the car exposed to the elements is worth all the hate.

5.) Vorsprung Telum. This is my 2nd season on it and it just works so damn well. I'm a huge Vorsprung fan, and their candor around separating fact from fiction is so pleasant. Unlike some other suspension companies who think everything that isn't directly touched by their wizardy is shit, Vorsprung is willing to admit when competitors are doing good things and that speaks volumes. 

6.) Forbidden. Bikes so nice I'd buy them twice. They just are damn good bikes, and they stand behind them. 

7.) Fox 36 glidecore air spring. It's amazing just how much more settled it makes my 36 feel. Air spring stiction due to binding is something you for sure notice when it's no longer there. 

8.) RockShox rear shocks. While I honestly haven't been on a RockShox fork in nearly 10 years (mainly since I ended up with all sorts of fox tools for service), I replaced my partners x2 with a Vivid and have a superdeelux on a bike and I have to admit that they are fantastic. HBO is great, but the ability to do reshims and full services in the comfort of my garage is huge. 

9.) Maven Brakes. Powerful, and you can get spare parts anywhere. 

10.) Vital. Between amazing reviews, a robust and informed forum community, and great podcasts. The green site has crushed it this year. Thanks again for everyone at Vital for all the work you guys have done. 

2025 was an all time year. Some stand-outs:

1. RAAW Madonna - what a bike. Fast, composed, jumps fantastic and reliable.  

2. Vorsprung Telum - expensive, but so good. I'm 260lbs and have been hitting bigger drops and jumps than ever and it's stayed calm and composed without asking questions. Having a custom tune from the start helps, but having the support from Vorsprung with any questions is also stellar. 

3. Profile Elite Hubs - this was my second season on them. They might be some of the loudest hubs out there (which is why I got them). They're expensive and a pain to get parts for in Canada, but they're also super smooth and make me smile every time my wheel spins. 

4. Travel - had the chance to go on a two week trip to France with friends and it didn't disappoint. Morzine, Avoriaz, Chatel and Les Gets. Super fun trails, amazing food (bread, cheese and pastries all day...), beautiful scenery. Got to watch Nico Vink and crew ride some crazy stuff for the Tour des Niares in Chatel and wander around the pits in Les Gets leading up to the world cup. Only regret was not being able to stick around for the practice and races in Les Gets. Also managed to get to Legacy Bike Park in Montana (twice - would recommend), Kamloops and a last minute trip to Whistler (for the first time) for closing weekend. 

5. Progression - I turned 40 this year and something clicked and I feel like my confidence was unlocked. I've been progressing a bit the past few years, but this year was something different. Bigger drops and jumps than ever. Guinea pigging stuff I would needed a tow-in for and hitting doubles was all pretty new to me. Clearing (most) of A-Line my second ever lap at Whistler felt pretty great. 

6. Friends - few things brings people together like bikes. At least around here. Some of my closest friends are from riding. I definitely wouldn't have progressed like I have without them, nor would have I travelled as much. I might be 40, but haven't made it much past the childhood days of going to your friends house and asking "want to ride bikes?" 

1) bike demos. Honestly shout out to every brand going out of their way to do proper demo days IN DIRT. ya its cool to check sizing in a warehouse parking lot. but putting the resources into a proper demo day at a bike park or through a shop with a nearby trail system is worth its weight in gold. And it's the ONLY way I learned more about mountain bikes as somebody who can barely afford this hobby

2) mullet set up. Finally bought one this year. After trying a 29er, which was ok, and having a touch of bad taste left in my mouth... I'll still love small wheel bikes, such as my hardtail, and maybe some future projects but particularly for bike parks with crap surfaces/brake bumps and random annoying chatter... Mullet is the best way keep the rear end fun and poppy while the front end isn't punishing my aging overweight body

3) GF buying an ebike. I was super skeptical at first because of the bike's weight, I thought all it would do is give her more confidence and then just outright kill her on the way down (as she is still learning). And while that is still a valid concern, it's been SO nice to take her on group rides, take her to legit trail systems, and not have to 'split up' all the time so that I can actually get some laps in on our riding days. This one will sound obvious but... It definitely made me see ebikes in a different light. More than just a personal benefit, there is a SOCIAL benefit. She can actually enjoy group rides for once (thanks socal riders lol)

4) insta360 and DJI. finally some true competition for GoPro, that will push the market o be more interesting. When my 8 started failing I got a 12, which was ok, but was disappointed to see it barely performed different to the 8 and even had some lingering reliability issues. I steal my GFs insta360 ace for most rides because it never hiccups. and even DJI released a new tiny camera that looks better than the other brands iterations. FINALLY some innovation

5) rigid DJer (and buying a BMX again). not much to say here. we started going to the Inglewood pump track and the hardtails felt limiting. got a rigid steel DJer and it is a BLAST on pump tracks. Hoping to take it to more jumps and tracks next year

6) leveling up my protective equipment. being new to even wearing helmets, it's taken me a while to settle in on gear and where to spend money. this year I properly leveled up to an IXS trigger FF and an Ion Arcon chesty. As well as some nice hybrid Leatt knee pads with hard shells. Man. NIGHT and day difference on the feeling and confidence. And it is thanks to community resources such as Vital Forums that I feel confidence in putting down that kind of money on gear, which isn't always a linear correlation. Nothing worse than spending money on crap gear.

1) Maxxis High Roller 3.  Truly an excellent, year round tire for me in my local conditions.  Works better in deep summer dust and winter squish than a Kryptotal/Assegai

2) Santa Cruz Vala.  A 47 lb, full power ebike with dialed geometry and suspension.  It just works, and is incredibly intuitive.  The weight is a standout for me, at <160 lbs, trying to throw around a 52+ lb bike SUCKS.

3) Digging my own trail.  It's not done yet, but after years of looking at spots and helping maintain other trails, I finally decided to try cutting my own.  A lot of hard work, and way harder than I expected to make it flow nicely, but it's going to be uniquely mine.

1. Santa Ana Mountains and long days in the oc backcountry

2. Highroller 3

3. Maven Base

4. Riding bikes with my wife and watching her get fully immersed in the sport and getting out in nature turning cranks over.

5. My riding crew and those that are within a degree of separation of it

6. The Path Bike Shop

7. Ochains on all of the things (not quite all, but most of the things)

8. All Mountain bikes (my choice in particular was the hightower 4...) are so good right now

9. Vital forums

10. Mountain biking trips

1. Andor - this was supposed to be about bikes? don't care, its brilliant so will take any opportunity to recommend it - if you had someone hassling you to watch it, they are right! If not, you can watch it AND BE THAT PERSON

2. Return of downhill racing - when I opened I felt like I would work on 3 DH bikes a year, now I've worked on 4 in the last WEEK

3. Better parts availablity, especially from Rockshox - still have a long way to go but I'm going for positive reinforcement here. I remember when a worn shaft on a monarch or deluxe meant the whole shock go thrown in the bin! Now I can actually repair them again which is amazing

4. Women's freeride getting better very year - Stoked to see Robin Goomes win at Rampage again but also more and more women stepping up to challenge. Brands better step up and support this

5. Better bike journalism - I'm seeing more useful, real world reviews and information on places like Vital and Escape Collective. Even some other sites have flashes of excellent work that isn't tainted by advertising or giant servings of kool-aid

6. Push Nine-One - (bias disclaimer) it's awesome to see some new development in high-end coil sprung forks, and hopefully inspires others to follow

1. Raaw Madonna V3 — A bike about which I think, every time I get on it, "This bike is perfect."

2. Sram Maven Ultimates — I don't mind the progressive lever feel and the bases aren't silver. 

3. Randolph, VT — shh.

4. Building wheels — Found my groove this year. At about an hour from pile of parts to finished wheel and haven't had to true one yet.

5. Cable-actuated drivetrains — Call me a retro grouch, but pushing a button does nothing for the soul compared to actuating a lever.

When I stopped in at the Yeti headquarters last year in November, they had the Robin Goomes Barbie paint job Rampage bike in the shop front-and-center on proud display. I was hyped to see that.

Plus those cats bent over backwards to help me quickly demo and find out which size bike I should be on.

The Yeti crew seem to be a decent bunch of folks.

1). Trailbuilders. Every year gotta be grateful for the gnomes making the sport possible.

2). Mt creek bike park

3). First enjoyable job since the pandemic.  Been a bit of a rollercoaster to get here

4). My nephew.  Long and expensive road for my sister and her husband but they have their beautiful son now.  Who is getting a strider rocking horse for Christmas.  

5).  Mtb community,  vital, local friends, randos in the lift line.  Both on and off the bike y’all consistently put a smile on my face in an increasingly grimacing world.  I’m certainly a bit of a natural debbie downer and y’all brought some positivity to my life quite a lot this year.
 

A. Having multiple running bikes with 26” wheels, steep head angles, front brakes, knobby tires, a chainguide and gears.

Tiny bikes with tiny wheels make everything harder, when you get paid to make trails and make them easier this helps to soothe the soul.  Might as well take the trials line…

B.  Vermont.  Duh

C. East Coast XC racing showing signs of growth.

UCI xco in NC and VA, and a well-attended 10 round XCO series in New England… 66 degree head angles on 23 pound bikes is finally clawing back mindshare and marketshare from the Enduro fad…  now if only we could convince more venues to invest in XCO tracks that meet the test of modern technology.

D.  The “26” lifestyle bike boom”-

It’s fantastic seeing bikes i grew up with being saved from landfills and lusted over again.  71/73/12”/16.75”  might be obsolete AF on the race track-  but NORBA-era geometry is still perfect for all-around utility cyclists.  

Lending out frames that are older than the bike shop managers I lend them to, and watching them fall in love short, steep and light bikes, that’s probably the best thing i saw in 2025.

Your post reminded me just how much I love "athletic cake icing". 😀😀😀

Chasing your friends down your local trails as fast as you can and sharing the stoke at the bottom, continued progression in your 40’s, crashing but not getting hurt, tall bars, ripping a corner so good it makes you smile, building and riding my own frame.

 Zerode Katipo: Belt driven 12s Pinion Gearbox with 600% range and mechanical grip shifter, coil shock'd. Dead silent and compliant suspension while still having playful pop when needed. Drivetrain maintenance has literally been just washing the belt off. Never misshifts or acts unpredicably, never have to charge a battery, never have to check the rear shock pressure, never have to lube the chain, just air up the tires and go. Technically gas poor gearbox pedal pawl engagement angle but that just decouples the rear suspension from the pedals and makes it descend even better. I have to warn people following me on narrow, rocky trails because I'll take lines that would rip normal derailleurs off.  It's just so different and so good at the same time.