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It's arguably needed a lot more with 12 speed drivetrains than it was with 9 speed... Hanger alignment and accuracy is much more important now than it was back then. And no, it's not the steps between gears that's the reason for it, it's the offset pulley that affects things if the hanger (and derailleur) is twisted around the vertical axis.
It's a question how much it helps with preventing twisting around the vertical axis though.
Looks like Madrone's Stiffener for the Jab which works pretty well for me.
My 2006 Bighit had one of those. 😂
I refused to try the new radials on my druid. Hell, the 2.4 eliminator and whatever rocks, dirt, and sticks already did a number on the inside of my stays. Peeled off the ridewrap on both, which also made an annoying ticking until I could force it off with a stick mid-ride.
I did notice that The current Epic 8s are on sale, with some colors and sizes limited. Is this ahead of new colors and spec, or a new frame coming out later this year? Seems a little short for the Epic8 '24 redesign. But many people have felt that the current EpicEvo was not exactly on the mark.
if we go back and look at the relationship between the stumpy and stumpy evo we can see specialized giving riders a radically different frame with the leap to the Evo badge. The current epic evo is different in build only, right? So it tracks to me that there is an opportunity for an epic evo that really earns its Evo designator.
I suppose they could do a Stumpy R or some other lightweight version of that bike (see: new ripley) but the Epic Evo name is more valuable in that space.
My source alluded to the idea that people at Speci felt that there were always compromises with the flex stay platform. I was thrown off by all the talk of a new trail bike but i could see the Epic Evo fitting into this category...
My Specialized contact says no new Epic any time soon. And why would they. It's widely considered to be the benchmark of its class.
Return of the Camber?
Man I've got some terrible news for you about mountain bikers and the word "loam:"
We're 14 years in already. What makes you think the new Saint is going to be released?
Jackson's brakes?
(I'm not actually convinced the rest of the groupset needs an update, but I think there is fairly collective agreement that the updated Shimano brakes are not competitive with the best on the market right now)
There's a lot of Shimano sponsored riders who are reducing their drivetrains down to 7 speed from 10, it would be smart of Shimano to make a dedicated 7 speed Saint for that reason, 7 speed linkglide saint would be rad
You're going to get Maven power with a lever that feels more like Shimano in 3 days. Could be the answer to your prayers.
Woooo! I've always wanted Maven power with the lever ambiguity of Shimano's wandering bite point! Count me in!
Wandering bite point + wandering pistons = a broken clock is right twice a day
Jokes aside, I have had no problems with my Mavens, and would be really happy to see a Shimano equivalent for those that prefer Shimano.
Normal Mavens, but with the option to get the linear swing-link in the Base model, for all the models. The Base is more on/off like Shimano. But without the wandering bite point (if you bleed well and massage pistons)
Respectfully, I disagree with your characterization of the Base brake's lever feel. I don't think there has ever been a brake in the history of the universe with a more on/off lever feel than the Maven Ultimate, and the thing I like most about the Base is that it keeps 90% of the power but makes the lever feel mushier in a good way. Lots more room to fine tune brake power using your finger on the Base, whereas the window to do that with the Ultimate feels like it occurs in roughly 0.04mm of lever movement.
Don't worry, I used to date a geologist.
Our soil here is actual loam, not mtber loam
some interesting brake talk from schroeder in our bikes unaffiliated podcast that just went up - scrub over to like 1h10m - https://www.vitalmtb.com/features/vital-staffers-heaven-queenstown-and-…
Organic or incorrect rotor size for application I'd agree but I think the sintered has a large degree of modulation.
No I don’t think so. Brought it up but they reminded me of the helmet…
Damn this is a bummer. Was this on a 29 or mx? i just ordered an mx Druid and ive pretty strictly been running 2.5 Albert radials front and rear since they came out.
I think the opposite, maven ultimates with metal are so aggressive it’s almost bad when grip is lacking
Organics have so much more modulation
Guessing 29, with flexy wheels? I have had an albert on my druidv2 29 for the better part of a season , it'll buzz once in a while but I doubled the wrap where it rubbed and it's been fine.
Mine was a full 29, since I wanted that for the trial bike. I have friends with them running the radials on the 29 and haven't really complained. I have them on my DH bike, but didn't feel like spending more for something that looked even too close for comfort. Probably would have caused the same amount of damage in the end.
Triad to hope pro 5s, so not that flexy. And it isn't side to side flex. It is on the actual bridges that are getting scuffed up from shit getting in the tread then scraping through the very tight space.
I'm as excited for new saint as anyone, but lately this is how I feel waiting for them at this point:
I have a helmet for them...
Berd spoked Reserve 29" wheels.
Fortunately (?) I cracked my seatstay and had to replace it anyway.
The lack clearance was a bit of a surprise. I had no rub with TC and KrypRe which I prefer over the Albert anyway, it' an oddly tall tire.
I loved the Schwalbe radials, they were great.
Alternating between Forekaster and DHRII 2.4s now.
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