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An elastomer is not a steering damper. That's a centering spring. A steering damper makes slow (steering) movements of the bars relatively easy to do (not noticeable it's even there), but in case of a jack knife where there is a sudden big steering "input" it should prevent that. Having an elastomer will just oppose bit changes in steering angle at all steering speeds and do mostly nothing in the middle when going straight. A elastomer and the KISS is like having a spring and no shock, you want the shock more than the spring.

If it ain't broke why fix it! They have been in moto x for years and missy and a few others were using them back in the late 90's in DH. They are not designed to go back to centre they are designed to stiffen up the steering to the riders liking so they can still corner and still steer the bike but in rock gardens and other parts of tracks where the wheel gets a bit squirly it wont let it happen as much.

Padmelon steering damper too

How I see it is that DH is always been the favourite among younger people, kids like to jump and wreck their bikes and bones. All the kids want to ride bike park DH bikes, you really need to enjoy suffering just to decide that "I'm an enduro guy and start with this sport that makes my body feel like shit" (like myself), rather than "hey let's go ride bike park and enjoy some smooth jumps with big ass bike". As for the e-bike side, it will grow to a point but never get close/surpass regular, just because those bikes...

Why is there no option about notifying the race commissioner in your poll? Assuming it's a small regional race? Contact the race officials with you info, let them confront the racer.

Sam’s new Foes for e-edr

So exactly what tyre wiz does?

Is it time for a “lockouts and such” thread

Hey, at least we have mismatched gold forks....

If they want to go to 20 absolutely ZERO protected riders. Make a in semi your fucked. Have a mechanical in semi your fucked.

MW also chimed in and said that Neko was currently flying home to get spare frames and other stuff. Full comment: "Neko is on a flight home now to get more frames and put together what we need. We weren't comfortable asking for public financial suppoirt when we have insurance and great sponsors rallying for us. The time before race 2 makes it more complicated for sure. My other big concern is our mechanics who had their personal tool boxes stolen, which as we know is a real kick to the balls for these guys that work so hard for...

And don't forget the placebo effect. If you take 4 out of the top 10 riders and give them Mike's Secret Stuff they're gonna go out and destroy the Monstars... I mean, do well in the race. Not saying the electronics didn't work at Fort William, just trying to stay realistic with a sample size of only n=6. I think this is Loic's fourth season* on Mike's Secret Stuff... I mean electronic suspension, and I don't think his win rate is so different from 2016-2020 vs. 2020-2024. *I think his first race on the Ohlin's handlebar lockout was Lousa 2020...

I'm not persuaded that lockouts make as big a difference as many think. Tire choice is far more influential. Of course the top riders will be on the top technology by their sponsors. But I just think the correlation is the other way around- 4 of the top 5 riders were on electronic suspension because they are the top riders, its not making them meaningfully faster.

going to sound like an old guy with no vision, but i just think that downhill mountain biking (or any competitive mountain biking) will always have a limited audience because of what it is. i prob feel that way b/c i've seen the audience size stay relatively similar over the last 25 years (i have no hard data on this, just personal observations from then till now). DH is inherently niche because it's difficult to access (as a participant or a live spectator), expensive and risky. add in today's challenge of social media networks/phones dominating eyeballs and time compared to...

My prediction for 2025 is UCI intensifying their efforts to shut privateers out.

worst. idea. ever. hope it's not true. just more risk for some riders. DH is not moto, it's not F1, they're not racing against competitors on the same track at the same time. if 20 finalists is "the best tv show" for the numbers to make sense, then just leave it at that. we'll all be upset for a year or two about how it's not like the old days, lick our wounds and riders will either try to compete for top 20 or regional/national series will become more populated. i can't even imagine the cost to put on a...

I would guess he never had controlling interest in the company to begin with. I could see an established Asian component factory forming a spin-off company where they stake the development and manufacturing cost then bring in a popular rider as a minority owner to give the new brand legitimacy. There can be a lot of risk in these situations when your personal "brand" is on the line and you don't have controlling direction of the company. The manufacturer could have said, "great we have legitimacy among core mtb riders, let's parlay that into the mass market, all the Walmart...