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Tyre diameter is dependent on tyre size so it makes no sense to call wheelsize anything other than rim diameter, i.e. there's no such thing as 29er wheels.
Well, for a few glorious moments all high end bicycles had a 622 bead diameter over all disciplines.
I know road bikes are hardly pioneers of innovation these days, but they've been settled on 622 (700c) for over 100 years. Gotta be something in that, surely?
i recently learned that a 2x2 lumber is not in fact 2" in size. americans are just completely crazy when it comes to sizing stuff.
Epic 9 Pro version:
https://www.redrockbicycle.com/products/2027-specialized-epic-9-pro-bike-gloss-carbon-chaos-glitter-pearl-chrome-m?id=1d8cef68a27fc34030a0cd4aee548206792cf3c9cbb8944bffe6675d96a3f8e0&from=Showing%20results%20for&fromSlug=search&fromQuery=2027%20specialized%20epic%209%20pro%20bike%20gloss%20carbon%20chaos%20glitter%20pearl%20chrome%20m
Epi 9 S-Works 2027
https://www.redrockbicycle.com/products/2027-specialized-epic-9-s-works-bike-gloss-red-tint-over-red-reflex-pearl-edge-fade-metallic-white-silver-m?id=c071f5dc30df01aced8bcad102552b975c6a95ab8295ff0568a9a18906252931&from=Showing%20results%20for&fromSlug=search&fromQuery=2027%20specialized%20epic%209%20pro%20bike%20gloss%20carbon%20chaos%20glitter%20pearl%20chrome%20m
Epic 9 looks about like I expected. I’ll bet it’s a better XC race bike than the E8. Having said that, I’m glad I bought a E8 Evo as its probably a better all around bike for what I do and I like the in frame storage.
I've been trying to buy a used Epic 8 Evo for years, maybe this will help
Uh oh, looks like headset cable routing :D
Headset 'adjacent'
I hope you can find one but this could also make it harder if Spesh doesn’t offer some kind of Evo replacement (new Camber maybe?). I know I’m really glad I got my Evo while I could.
An entry hole near the headset, where, when the bars are turned far enough, the brake-line will be sheared off? :D
Sounds like a perfect feature/improvement for the folks who ripped their rear brake hoses back when Spesh routed them loosely below the down tube. (MAN I am OLD)
(just making fun here, don´t sue me)
New Camber would be excellent
Would love to see a Camber but from what specialized is telling dealers the non-evo epic saw way better sell through. Surprising to me, but I guess xc is hot right now.
So they got rid of the swat box to save weight and then slapped flight attendant on it?🤣
You can buy the bike without Flight Attendant
Go out of their way to have a swing link and still put a shock extender on the thing
2 possible reasons for this: the longer i2i allows the rate curve for that suspension design to be more linear, or they made room for a 210 shock for the EVO version. My guess is the first given that both the SIDLuxe and Float SL shocks have very progressive air cans.
If you're not from the US and you haven't seen this yet, I can't recommend it enough. It explains a lot:
I think that checks out.
Just eyeballing the pivot placement of the new Epic 9 swing link, it looks like the pivots on the link are going to pass the point of being perpendicular to the shock shaft, which means it will go from being progressive (decreasing leverage rate) to flat to regressive (increasing leverage rate).
On it's own that leverage curve would feel terrible, so you'd never want to pair it with a linear spring rate coil shock, but it would make sense if they're trying to flatten the effects a tiny aircan with a super progressive spring rate. And of course, this is all eyeball math, and the other pivots will have an effect on the leverage rate on the shock, but the link is by far the biggest player on leverage rate for a simple horst link bike.
That skit was the first thing that popped into my mind after reading that..
Also, once upon a time, a 2x4 actually was 2in x 4in..
True a 2x4 is actually a 1.5x3.5”, but we did pretty much invent dimensional lumber, (lumber was basically custom milled to whatever the builder wanted up till then) which resulted in affordable housing…..We also have made several attempts at switching to the metric system starting with the Metric act of 1866, The Mendenhall order of 1893, Metric Cinversion act of 1975, and finally George W Executive Order 12770 in 1991 ordering federal agencies to use the metric system.
Your progressive and regressive zones are backwards. In general, and I mean very general because millimeters can have large effects on the outcome, link-shock angle 90 degrees or more produce a rising progressive rate, and any portion less than 90 degrees will produce a regressive rate. So just eyeballing that image and assuming 40mm stroke, the kinematic would be regressive all the way through.
Orbea OIZ for example:
You still can buy a "true cut" 2x4", provided you're working on an old home and you're willing to spend a lot of money!
Imma need to think on this one. I'll bump this conversation over to another thread.
2x4s are all 2” by 4” off of the rough saw. They become 1.5” x 3.5” after finish milling.
Road bikes are stuck in the stone age due to UCI restrictions and nothing more. Without them they would look completely different. They probably have bigger wheels for sure.
There indeed is something to that. Namely the fact that 29"/700c is simply the best possible compromise between factors like handling, rolling resistance, roll-over capability, self-stabilizing forces, frame geometry, fitment, aerodynamics, etc. - all with regard to the fact that the bike still has to ergonomically fit an average-sized cyclist.
I really don't understand why the cycling industry is so hell-bent on trying to re-invent the wheel, when this particular optimization problem has been solved for literally over 100 years.
I agree, we have seen the limits of rear wheel diameter settling in downhill and I think it's difficult to package the big 32" front wheel on most types of bike for an average size human. Feels a lot like we found the ideal size/s already.
My dad and his buddies built the house I grew up in and he bought rough-cut lumber to frame it out because of this (gloves required for handling unless you REALLY like splinters).
I trust that after this you’ll go ahead and switch back to a 26 inch bike. The reason people keep reinventing the wheel is because we keep finding better ways to make bikes.
I took some measurements off the epic 9 picture, scaling the seatpost to 150mm the geo looks...the same as epic 8. It's not a very high resolution photo so... I was kind of hoping for cannondale scalpel style slightly longer chainstay on the large (442 on scalpel L). But I understand that's maybe controversial among people more flexible than me who run quite negative stems.
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