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Bronson and the BMB are awesome. His willingness to come in from a completely different direction and follow through with a project like that in todays world is way cool. I am excited to see how Reece does with the implementation of these ideas at the highest level of DH racing. The Mule is a wild looking bike! This type of thing takes me back to the mid 90's when Tattoo Lou Deangelis showed up with a DH bike that had a KX60 front fork, hub, and disk brake on a custom made DH frame. This was before the Boxxer came along and changed everything. I don't remember how much the bike weighed, but it was almost certainly more than 50 pounds and the tracks back then often had a lot of pedaling in them. Anything and everything was being tried out.
We're you able to get a good look at the linkage? It kind of looks like the chainstay is connected to that rocker, instead of a pull link that was on the proto. Is that the case? And is the crank spindle just exposed in there?
Hii. This is great! I don't know how you guys were everywhere at once!
Don't want to step on anyones toes or steal anyones thunder but it seems like the coverage is starting to slow down so I thought I would jump in. Here's a couple things I cool things I saw this year that I haven't seen covered.
Unreleased Wolf Tooth Hubs
It does seem to use a ratchet system, doesn't appear to have any drivetrain feedback mitigation system, will be available in straight pull or j bend and offered in the common gravel and mtb standards. And in true Wolf Tooth fashion available in every color under the sun.
Microshift Advent MX Groupset
One thing to note: Microshift only sells Cassette, Der and Shifter so chain and cranks and chainring will have to be found yourself.
Some close ups on the new E*thirteen Components Sidekick
Cool how low drag their hubs are.
*HUGE* Crankbrothers Stamp EVO Pedals
Not to much to say here other than they are huge come in two sizes and are made for people with really really big feet.
I’m dying to see the Zink bikes booth hope it makes the cut for tomorrows post.
EXT Vecta
EXTs more budget friendly coil shock based off the Stoira.
Not brand new for 2026 (came out last year) but I like what EXT does and the craftsmanship is always incredible!
Stinner Frameworks Romero LT
Uses the licensed 3VO suspension system from Ministry Cycles
New EVO lineup from Hope
The new GR4 below was released late last year from Hope. Lots of options, 3 pads and lever blades and 2 different rotors (fixed or floating)
3D Map at Shimano
It's 140mm I was told. Custom made air spring from Fox.
From what I heard/ my own experience setting up the podium for 32, Neko's fork is only about 115-120mm travel and has the axle to crown height of a 140mm fork. He's most likely done this to keep the bb height and head angle in check, especially with the 29er rear wheel adding height as well.
Ohh ok. My mistake and misunderstanding maybe it was 140mm fork sizing not actually travel. For my own sake I was always under the impression the podium ATC was similar to a conventional fork? That’s not the case?
The podium has equivalent axle to crown to most other 29er fork. Just looking at Neko's podium I would assume the 140mm number is referring to the height of the fork being equivalent to 140mm 29er fork which would mean he only has room for 110-120mm of travel before the tire would hit the top of the fork.
Niner is owned by United Wheels Inc. which also owns Huffy, Vaast and other brands.
Well yeah, but they've been owned by United wheels for years now and this is the first new platform since they released the new WFO and the last E bikes, so it's been at least five years. What have they been doing and why isn't it an update for the Rip 9 or any of their other bikes that badly need one.
These bars are older than him...
This both was one of the most interesting at otter for me. We need some more detail on whats going on here. Chated with Tom for a few, and it sounds like these folks are making stuff quick. Their compents were sick too.
Did i miss other major tire companies announcing radial tires or it is not happening?
E.13 and specialized showed radials at sea otter
Neko Mulally won the DH on his freak bike with 32" front wheel w/ XC racing slick. - https://results.raceroster.com/v3/events/ajsmbwfa6za9y9np - chatting with him at dinner the other night (before the race), all he cared about was rolling speed. cornering knobs were "good enough" and if he could manage the off-camber after the uphill on the course, the rest was basically going straight and fast. seems like his strategy paid off.
That is nuts! Is 32" coming to DH? Looks like it already has. Neko continues to amaze.
But Sea Otter DH isn't a WC course..
Am I a moron, or is all of the drive provided on the Demo by that ultra tiny chainring at the crank? Clearly it works but I wonder what the reasoning is?
...uh - what 'Geometry' is being this pitted against? Any production version of this is going to be a hazard on most bike racks and further aggravate motorists and those in charge of traffic law. Its a symptom of a unfocused segment of the industry. If Mountain Bike needs to take itself anywhere near this level - these people should instead take up Hiking. Or, take a walk. Given the excess amount of bikes already in existence, there's no making sense of this unless just something being different.
My 2c - bring back a Mountain Bike which has its 'Geometry' sorted out-of-the-box and then, you ride it. No setting out on a pensive lollygag between the trees -learn to ride. I just love (hate) how the Mountain Bike market presents itself as literally 'nothing'.
I think the explanation given by one of the Cannondale guys put it best.. the front chain ring size affects the kinematics, so they can change gearing between the crank and the drive but leave the drive ring alone..
I'm curious.. How does the staff feel about doing the coverage like this?
I've personally liked it. Plus, the fact that others have been able to contribute what they saw and liked at the otter is pretty cool...
it's freaking rad that so many are contributing to this! we could only do so much while we're there. keep it coming!
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