2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker

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HexonJuan
Posts
395
Joined
6/10/2015
Location
WI US
1 day ago
iceman2058 wrote:
I've posted this in the racing and team threads too, but I figure it goes here as well. Full Honda DH team vibes from back in...

I've posted this in the racing and team threads too, but I figure it goes here as well. Full Honda DH team vibes from back in the day, here's a first taste of what Antidote Solutions is set to bring to the downhill racing table (link below). We will also have more info including the technical details to reveal at the Loudenvielle World Cup. Fun times ahead!

First team news release: https://www.vitalmtb.com/news/press-release/antidote-solutions-enters-world-cup-dh-racing-as05-sports-prototype.

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Putting on my flame-retardant suit for this one but here goes: This and many other bikes strike me as rolling Rube Goldberg devices.

6
1 day ago
iceman2058 wrote:
I've posted this in the racing and team threads too, but I figure it goes here as well. Full Honda DH team vibes from back in...

I've posted this in the racing and team threads too, but I figure it goes here as well. Full Honda DH team vibes from back in the day, here's a first taste of what Antidote Solutions is set to bring to the downhill racing table (link below). We will also have more info including the technical details to reveal at the Loudenvielle World Cup. Fun times ahead!

First team news release: https://www.vitalmtb.com/news/press-release/antidote-solutions-enters-world-cup-dh-racing-as05-sports-prototype.

cover 3

Their own press release calls it a fairing. I can't find the source right now but I thought aerodynamic fairings were illegal in uci sanctioned events? image 742

2
owl-x
Posts
904
Joined
3/23/2016
Location
Shell Beach, CA US
1 day ago

I think aerodynamic fairings are banned but this one’s “to facilitate maintenance during race operations.” 

7
Eae903
Posts
389
Joined
10/20/2023
Location
Laramie, WY US
Fantasy
1 day ago

I remember being really excited about the Vyro system, and then it went 100% nowhere 

2
29
Posts
233
Joined
3/9/2020
Location
AT
1 day ago
New canyon strive ????

New canyon strive ????IMG 6910.jpeg?VersionId=YkFiuMe4cJMv6Y3

she was on a canyon ebike when I saw her in finale 2 days ago

2
AJW1
Posts
77
Joined
5/11/2023
Location
Bracknell GB
23 hours ago
Same here, my 5010 will be pried from my cold dead hands. I’ve even done a 40mi 7k ft XCM race on it 3 times (with...

Same here, my 5010 will be pried from my cold dead hands. I’ve even done a 40mi 7k ft XCM race on it 3 times (with XC tires) In all 3 of those giant rides I was never wishing my bike weighed just .66 lbs less or had 10mm more dropper insertion. (I’m 6ft and can run a 210 🤷‍♂️)

It’d be a shame from a branding perspective if they killed the 5010 model name too. It’s iconic in its own right and there’s still a ton of people out there who think 50to01 is the same thing lol.

I’ll be the 4th person to join in and say I love my 5010 v4. 

But… my only controversial opinion is that the 50to1 crew did it more harm than good. Many people in real life and online have enquired about how my bike (or rather me, sat on it) holds up to trail riding or extended pedalling sessions because Rat, Loose and friends rode them 2 sizes too small with bmx saddles and so everyone thinks it’s a ‘jib bike’ or ‘dirt jumper’s mountain bike’.

It’s a superb trail machine. I’ve ridden bike parks, I’ve done xc races, I’ve done all day mountain epics. I love the small wheels but see the attraction of the mx set up on the current model too. 

2
22 hours ago

I rode hammershcmidt 

I love tech and the idea of a gearbox, 

But seriously, did anyone even try the last Shimano front derailer that was essentially a bombproof idiotproof chainguide? It was so good, just about two years too late. 
These things can’t touch that for weight and simplicity 

Someone told me a while back that while the rear deraillier shouldn’t have lasted, it’s now been refined so far that it’s actually is the best way to shift a human powered gear cluster 

Personally I’d like to se pinion refine that set up a couple more times, and a high pivot specific output drive….. but man 2x was so close to not dying ….. 

7
1
veg wizard
Posts
27
Joined
3/18/2024
Location
NorCal, CA US
21 hours ago

I did! My memory of anything more than three years ago is hazy but I still recall my XT 2x10 being the best shifting group I've ever ridden. Although I mostly used it on a commuter/bikepacking rig. I haven't used a front derailleur on a mountain bike since 2010ish, but I bet that stuff was sick on an XC hardtail.

2
TEAMROBOT
Posts
1422
Joined
9/2/2009
Location
Los Angeles, CA US
Fantasy
21 hours ago
AgrAde wrote:
99.5% of people looking for a GT or SC would have absolutely no fucking clue what Pon is lol.GT disappeared because all they had was their...

99.5% of people looking for a GT or SC would have absolutely no fucking clue what Pon is lol.

GT disappeared because all they had was their heritage, and that's not enough to carry a brand indefinitely as they pumped out mostly unappealing bikes year after year. I personally don't know anyone that considered buying one in recent memory. I had a GT bmx in 2006 and really liked it, so when I got properly into mountain biking I always looked at GT. Other options were always better. I stopped looking at them years ago.

If GT was successful then Pon would be very happy owning both even if they sold similar products. It's all about owning a larger section of the market and appealing to more customers by having brands with different images. SC and GT were at different places in the market and they were selling, for the most part, to slightly different customers. Pon couldn't give a shit if the products they were selling were similar.

I can't speak for other countries, but I think distribution was the reason nobody bought GT bikes in the US, not the product. Everyone I knew who had a GT bike for the last six or so years seemed pretty stoked with it, but IIRC the only place you could buy one in most metro areas was through Dicks Sporting Goods, which is a great place to get an exercise ball but not a great place to buy a $5000+ mountain bike.

13
ballz
Posts
489
Joined
7/30/2024
Location
Ouagadougou EH
20 hours ago

My memories of 2x are different - 10x the PITA to setup than 3x drivetrains and dropped chains galore, truly the worst of all worlds in my experience.

4
ahleic09
Posts
79
Joined
7/25/2018
Location
Bend, OR US
19 hours ago
ballz wrote:
My memories of 2x are different - 10x the PITA to setup than 3x drivetrains and dropped chains galore, truly the worst of all worlds in...

My memories of 2x are different - 10x the PITA to setup than 3x drivetrains and dropped chains galore, truly the worst of all worlds in my experience.

xt/xtr DI2 2x10 was weird, expensive, but also impressively good. You could set it to only use one shifter and it would go through the range (front and rear as needed). I have never installed one, and never want to, but man shimano was a touch late to the party 

1
nskerb
Posts
346
Joined
3/3/2020
Location
Kelso, WA US
19 hours ago

I’ve never ever heard 5010 hype like the last 2 days of this thread. It actually makes me want to try one bad. 

I ride a previous gen sight 27.5. Bought it when the 27/29 wars were happening, and before mullet, and I ended up on the wrong side of history lol. I really wish I folded to the hype and bought a 29” sight. I’ve recently been riding several (slightly) shorter travel 29 bikes and always feel so so much easier on the climbs. Do mid travel mullets climb like a 27 or a 29? Or somewhere in the middle?

3
19 hours ago
I rode hammershcmidt I love tech and the idea of a gearbox, But seriously, did anyone even try the last Shimano front derailer that was essentially a bombproof...

I rode hammershcmidt 

I love tech and the idea of a gearbox, 

But seriously, did anyone even try the last Shimano front derailer that was essentially a bombproof idiotproof chainguide? It was so good, just about two years too late. 
These things can’t touch that for weight and simplicity 

Someone told me a while back that while the rear deraillier shouldn’t have lasted, it’s now been refined so far that it’s actually is the best way to shift a human powered gear cluster 

Personally I’d like to se pinion refine that set up a couple more times, and a high pivot specific output drive….. but man 2x was so close to not dying ….. 

Di2 2x11 was peak drive train. 

2
TEAMROBOT
Posts
1422
Joined
9/2/2009
Location
Los Angeles, CA US
Fantasy
18 hours ago Edited Date/Time 18 hours ago
nskerb wrote:
I’ve never ever heard 5010 hype like the last 2 days of this thread. It actually makes me want to try one bad. I ride a previous...

I’ve never ever heard 5010 hype like the last 2 days of this thread. It actually makes me want to try one bad. 

I ride a previous gen sight 27.5. Bought it when the 27/29 wars were happening, and before mullet, and I ended up on the wrong side of history lol. I really wish I folded to the hype and bought a 29” sight. I’ve recently been riding several (slightly) shorter travel 29 bikes and always feel so so much easier on the climbs. Do mid travel mullets climb like a 27 or a 29? Or somewhere in the middle?

By "so much easier on the climbs," are you referring to fireroad climbs or bumpy technical singletrack climbs? Curious because I'm testing the Nomad and it's my first extended time on a mullet and I'm curious specifically about other people's impressions of climbing and technical flat terrain on the 27.5" vs. 29" rear wheel.

2
18 hours ago
TEAMROBOT wrote:
I can't speak for other countries, but I think distribution was the reason nobody bought GT bikes in the US, not the product. Everyone I knew...

I can't speak for other countries, but I think distribution was the reason nobody bought GT bikes in the US, not the product. Everyone I knew who had a GT bike for the last six or so years seemed pretty stoked with it, but IIRC the only place you could buy one in most metro areas was through Dicks Sporting Goods, which is a great place to get an exercise ball but not a great place to buy a $5000+ mountain bike.

To my knowledge, the majority of bikes sold through Dick's were entry level hardtails..At least that's all I ever saw.. Their bike department used to send customers our way for service.. 

IMO, the value wasn't the best and they didn't do much to build much hype behind the brand. But, the bikes generally got good reviews and there were a few i would have considered buying when we were selling them at the last shop I was at..

1
sweaman22
Posts
81
Joined
1/6/2025
Location
Calgary , AB CA
17 hours ago
TEAMROBOT wrote:
By "so much easier on the climbs," are you referring to fireroad climbs or bumpy technical singletrack climbs? Curious because I'm testing the Nomad and it's...

By "so much easier on the climbs," are you referring to fireroad climbs or bumpy technical singletrack climbs? Curious because I'm testing the Nomad and it's my first extended time on a mullet and I'm curious specifically about other people's impressions of climbing and technical flat terrain on the 27.5" vs. 29" rear wheel.

I'm sure you'll get lots of opinions on this. I switched last year from 29er to mullet. Initially there were some moves on local tech climbs I struggled to make on the mullet but then I think I adapted... On the one hand rollover is worse but on the other hand if you do get hung up it's less effort to get things rolling again. 

4
FullSendy
Posts
22
Joined
4/3/2026
Location
High St, IL US
15 hours ago
ebruner wrote:
I test rode a tallboy 6 over the weekend (5mi / 600' vert).  It is really, really good.  I have a ht4 that I love and...

I test rode a tallboy 6 over the weekend (5mi / 600' vert).  It is really, really good.  I have a ht4 that I love and I love vpp for longer travel bikes.  I don't miss it on the new tallboy in the slightest.  It goes uphill as well as the previous version with more traction when climbing square ledges and loose over hard... and goes downhill easily 30% better then the previous version.  It is half way in between the tallboy 5 and my hightower 4 with regards to descending.  Honestly, it's so good and so well rounded that it's damn near boring.   I didn't get a chance to ride a tb5 and a tb6 back to back... I'd love to because I feel like frame flex (increased compliance over tb5 and ht4) is contributing nearly as much as the change in suspension design.  There are a handful of bikes that punch above their weight/design going downhill... this one seems to smash itself into the next category up the chain.  

I don't know, man. It seems like the consensus is the PE overlords were just trying to make the bike cheaper, not better. You must be riding it wrong. 

2
Outlawed
Posts
56
Joined
3/29/2023
Location
Vancouver Island, BC CA
Fantasy
14 hours ago Edited Date/Time 14 hours ago
iceman2058 wrote:
I've posted this in the racing and team threads too, but I figure it goes here as well. Full Honda DH team vibes from back in...

I've posted this in the racing and team threads too, but I figure it goes here as well. Full Honda DH team vibes from back in the day, here's a first taste of what Antidote Solutions is set to bring to the downhill racing table (link below). We will also have more info including the technical details to reveal at the Loudenvielle World Cup. Fun times ahead!

First team news release: https://www.vitalmtb.com/news/press-release/antidote-solutions-enters-world-cup-dh-racing-as05-sports-prototype.

cover 3

I'm just stoked that wild shit like this still being built.

Forbidden had Laurie out at Prevost, obviously nothing to see here
76454564 0.png?VersionId=yYnBcSIpocfMgm01Dj

9
13 hours ago

Anyone have any info on Canyons situation with the Strive. It’s not on the website anymore and some of their bikes aren’t in stock until September this year. Must be some new stuff in the works?

1
ShapeThings
Posts
120
Joined
8/19/2018
Location
Oakland, CA US
13 hours ago Edited Date/Time 13 hours ago
TEAMROBOT wrote:
By "so much easier on the climbs," are you referring to fireroad climbs or bumpy technical singletrack climbs? Curious because I'm testing the Nomad and it's...

By "so much easier on the climbs," are you referring to fireroad climbs or bumpy technical singletrack climbs? Curious because I'm testing the Nomad and it's my first extended time on a mullet and I'm curious specifically about other people's impressions of climbing and technical flat terrain on the 27.5" vs. 29" rear wheel.

I never bothered to do timed testing, but the full 29er always felt more efficient climbing both fire roads or technical trails. Whether it actually was, or I used less energy or whatever…

1
AgrAde
Posts
210
Joined
5/21/2015
Location
AL US
13 hours ago

I only ride mullet but would take a 29" rear wheel any day for technical climbing. 

1
12 hours ago

Madrone has released a DH version of their JAB derailleur, here are the highlights (you can also check our review of the regular version if you want):

---------------------------------------------------

Derailleurs That Deliver
The DH Jab is bomb proof, adjustable, and rebuildable. Dial the clutch in, rebuild it after a crash, and have full confidence in your drivetrain.

cover madrone.jpg?VersionId=BQb53b5QhWSXWDZA0ZXtaGaU8

Durable & Precise
The Jab is precision machined from high quality materials like 6061 and 7075 aluminum and stainless steel. We apply a little bit of extra material in critical areas so it is stiff and durable. If you really want to beef up the Jab, we also offer the stiffener plate mount (compatible with UDH frames & hangers).

IMG 7708

Rebuildable
Built to be rebuilt and maintained as a mechanism that supports you for years. Easily serviced and adjusted with common tools. Adjust it, rebuild it, replace damaged parts, or change the configuration for a new drivetrain. On top of that, you will have access to the latest updates too.

IMG 7714

Compatible
Flawless shifts with downhill drivetrains. If you have a UDH frame without an adjustable dropout, you can beef up the mount with the stiffener plate.

Features

  • MTB clutch - high friction, adjustable and rebuildable
  • Sealed ball bearing linkage pivots for precise, frictionless shifts
  • Beefy DH clutch cover doubles as bash guard
  • DH cage is compact and compatible with DH cassettes

More info here.

3
11 hours ago

I for one will welcome our new Crab link overlords!

Crablink

8
7 hours ago
TEAMROBOT wrote:
By "so much easier on the climbs," are you referring to fireroad climbs or bumpy technical singletrack climbs? Curious because I'm testing the Nomad and it's...

By "so much easier on the climbs," are you referring to fireroad climbs or bumpy technical singletrack climbs? Curious because I'm testing the Nomad and it's my first extended time on a mullet and I'm curious specifically about other people's impressions of climbing and technical flat terrain on the 27.5" vs. 29" rear wheel.

sweaman22 wrote:
I'm sure you'll get lots of opinions on this. I switched last year from 29er to mullet. Initially there were some moves on local tech climbs...

I'm sure you'll get lots of opinions on this. I switched last year from 29er to mullet. Initially there were some moves on local tech climbs I struggled to make on the mullet but then I think I adapted... On the one hand rollover is worse but on the other hand if you do get hung up it's less effort to get things rolling again. 

It's also quicker to change direction in tight sections, which makes getting on the right line easier. Tight switchbacks, which ironically are common on "all day backcountry missions", no question that the mullet is better. Recently was daily driving a full 29er XC bike after years of only mullet bikes and was struggling on certain sections of climbs compared to my 5010.

Marketing, instead of actual experience has convinced people that 27.5 is worse for climbing in every scenario and it's sad to see short travel mullet bikes going away.

3
5 hours ago
TEAMROBOT wrote:
By "so much easier on the climbs," are you referring to fireroad climbs or bumpy technical singletrack climbs? Curious because I'm testing the Nomad and it's...

By "so much easier on the climbs," are you referring to fireroad climbs or bumpy technical singletrack climbs? Curious because I'm testing the Nomad and it's my first extended time on a mullet and I'm curious specifically about other people's impressions of climbing and technical flat terrain on the 27.5" vs. 29" rear wheel.

My only directly comparable experience is on a turbo levo, but MX makes rear wheel placement a little simpler on climbs. The ability to slide and put the rear where you want it on the dh is extra awesome. I haven't had to think about rollover resistance. 

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