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I always disliked the condescending views about "influencers" and think don't hate the player, hate the game - you can't knock people for having a go at making money from something that they were led to believe could be successful. At the end of the day they wouldn't even get started if there wasn't people watching them, or at least an algorithm serving those videos to everybody. I would argue huge chunks of the bike industry is unsustainable - in its current state I struggle to think of many players who are completely rock solid. Shimano? World Cup racing is...

I respectfully disagree with your observation that influencers aren't effective. While it's true there are some cringy/hacky influencers that make me want to stab my eyeballs out, there's an enormous audience for outdoor content that isn't quite journalism. People love a good yarn, and at their core, that's what influencers are selling. It can be done poorly, but it can also be done well. For instance, Seth pouring Johnson's baby oil in his brakes and testing them for a year. It's not journalism, I know it's a paid ad for Diamondback, but still... I'd buy that for a dollar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63VIuPiX3CA&t=234s...

Agree on the UX comment. The simplicity of the RBTV app is so good. I'd disagree on the timing comment as effective, accurate and consistent timing is a fundamental for DH racing. My point is that what we got from RBTV at Crankwork Rotorua is basically what we always got at world cups. No full top to bottom runs, less women and glitches on screen. Even though everyone keeps barking on about how RB was so much better. My point being RBTV offered an inferior WC broadcast but the attraction was it was free

Judging by the downvotes, as long as the coverage is free, showing only half the course, half of the women and the timing cutting out is all fine. Sweet

I also thought the track was a big step up from previous editions. Always sick to get a new course and much needed in this case. I watched the full replay back and loved it too, but was surprised to only see six women (of 15 qualifiers) and missing that top 90 sec of track for every racer reminded me of how things were with RBTV for world cups. Between missing half the course and some timing issues on screen, RBTV still struggling to deliver the quality WBD do. But I suppose that's the difference between $$$ and not?

how exactly does that "legacy" makes better today bikes?

Spotted on Insta;

not defending one way or another, but here's a bike in the middle of the muddy race from last year (loudenvielle). not much in the way of grime on the front of the fork.

I can totally envision OneUp's April 1st advert for their new wireless dropper. 'Tired of losing all of that stack height with the other guys' wireless droppers? We at OneUp have the ideal solution... commercial pans to a rider inserting a battery in his anus and looking very uncomfortable, then giving a thumbs up. Then they show a wire going down to the dropper from his riding pants. We have packaged the battery in a simple and environmentally green manner that improves stack height, and also prevents theft! And for the ladies you can now bring a spare battery, 2...

This will not end well...

Any top gear fans? We need a Stig

Sick. Sounds like my brakes. I was worried this was somehow my fault. I just purchased a Maven/DB8 compatible bleed cup from Pinner Machine Shop in Pemberton and I'm excited to be able to do simple lever bleeds without needing to pull a vacuum. Between this and the old "zip tie the lever overnight" trick, I'm, hoping I should be able to get these things feeling good.

Hurricane Helene has me grateful to be alive & thankful to ride my bike. But then my local trail club posted narcissistic pics of themselves mopeding in Pisgah to "do trail work" So yeah....I'm back to Wound Up status.

Santa Cruz Bullit 4 rumours. Bike would be revealed early April, Gloss Black & Matte Teal Sparkle colors. New SRAM Eagle 70 & 90 drivetrains (mechanical) on lower end builds. SC are now showing pictures of an unknown color (looks like Gloss Black) on their Vala page. Santa Cruz are tagging bike models in the name of the photos on their website and they tagged in the Bullit (VA-BU as in Vala-Bullit) on all of the pictures below.

They are Freedom Coast levers. https://freedomcoast.net/products/freedom-coast-brake-levers