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If I had to guess, that zip-tie on the linkage is so people don't try to cycle the linkage because the shock doesn't work. I find it much more likely that the rear shock isn't pressurized than someone went through all the effort to make that frame but it doesn't work. It's way easier to make a bike frame (especially with that lugs-and-tubes design) than a functioning rear shock that can contain the 200psi people will cram in it. I have doubts the company will survive coming into the market with such a wide range of offerings, historically it seems...

We spent so much time worrying about pedal kickback that we didn't stop to consider pedal kickforward

Good to see Jackson using those run bike skills.

Finals Stats: 13 of the Finalists were in the Vali di Sole top 30 in 2023 17 of the Finalists were in the Val di Sole top 30 in 2024 11 WC winners into Finals 9 of the top 15 are WC winners 8 of the top 10 are WC winners Top 5 are ALL WC winners 13 Countries Represented 6 French (4 WC Winners/Each w/ 2 or more wins) Bruni - 11/Vergier - 6/Daprela -2/Benoit - 2 5 British (2 WC Winners) Walker - 1/Williams - 1 4 Italians (0 Wins) 3 American (0 Wins) 3 Irish (2 WC...

https://www.gatescarbondrive.com/-/media/files/gcd/press-release-docs/u… its not that hard to find the rules you know?

I designed this so happy to answer any questions on it. Its actually as stiff as the stock countercycle mount (probably stiffer with the 4 points of contact at the fork) carbon reinforced plastics are pretty stiff with the right infill and wall thickness, also sometimes you have to use the tools at you disposal, if i owned a cnc Id probably do something different

Next up, everyone is wearing back protectors that happen to be teardrop shaped.

Thought: If they mount an empty can there they can shape the number plate to be a fairing while staying within the aerodynamic rules. The number plate has to be shaped that way to accommodate actual equipment?

Dude really said "I hate when things are colors"

Brembo brakes official

I'm just spitballing here, but one of the limiting dimensions that does not help gain wheel size or suspension travel is headtube length. What if for 32" bikes, the head tube was split, in which case it only needs to house a bearing on each end, and the stem attached in between? Scott does so much integration hell already that I'd bet they'd be into this.

I remember these exact arguments against 29, which has been said in this thread multiple times. Lol!

A lot of good thoughts here, but just to play devil's advocate, have we considered the possibility that he's right and we're all stupid and everyone in the bike industry has collectively been doing it wrong for 30-40 years and he alone can tell us the answer and it requires buying this expensive new product from his webstore? I mean at least consider it, is what I'm saying.

No, we haven’t been measuring sag wrong. Any method of measuring sag that is repeatable is an acceptable way to measure sag. As it is something that must be tuned as opposed to setting to a specific percentage, being able to repeatably measure sag is the most important thing. You can do this seated and measuring at the shock just fine. If someone wants to measure it with a whole bunch of kit that’s fine, but telling everyone they are wrong and do it wrong is silly. It is definitely worth noting that on more progressive bikes you shouldn’t be...

I think it speaks to just how complex the tracks across the world are & how truly diverse the skill set of World Cup racers really is. One week you are 59th in qualifying because the track, distance, sprints, elevation, terrain, soil type don't sync up to the exact combination of skills & health & bike a particular rider has. Next week, you rip 6 seconds out of the entire field like Hemstreet between a group of splits. The diversity & technicality of downhill is unmatched. It's not even a randomness. 60-80 guys and no such thing as the same...

Flip side is that Qualifiers rounds are getting more coverage than in the past. Lots more talk about Q1 and Q2. The competition level has gone up. From a pure racing perspective this is a much better system. Rides must perform in this new system. Maybe some of the riders consistently not making the cut just aren't worth the money.

on the topic of steep, tricky tech vs speedy motorway, it's almost that every is so good anymore that times are going to be tight no matter what the track. we've had enduros with 40-minute total times separated by a few seconds. the elite men top 5 from MSA last year were within 1.1 seconds of each other, the top 3, only .5 apart. i think it's just the sport now, and it'll be rare to see 8-second blow-outs anymore. msa 2024

I agree. They took a few turns out of the bottom woods and the speeds in there were much faster than last year. I'm glad no one had a big crash there, because your gonna tomahawk into a tree no matter what. Overall it seems like WB/UCI have done two things. Make tracks shorter and speed things up. Not sure what their goal is. Make a tighter, shorter race package? Maybe speed is more entertaining to watch? Dak put it best on the last B Practice meeting of the minds, "If you put a huge ass berm at the bottom...

What's with Josh's obsession with pockets? If it's not a "pocket" on the track it's a "pocket" that a rider has slipped into from a time point of view. If it's of any help to him I'm happy to send him my old pocket calculator that I no longer have need of, it became redundant once I'd worked out how many pockets I have, but maybe he can make use of it?