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Thanks for the detailed answer! Also worth mentioning that 26 degrees of float at the freehub sounds like a ton, but it translates to something like 11.5 degrees of float at the crank if you're in a 34:15 gear combo (34:15 is 2.26:1, pretty standard for the middle of a DH run). 11.5 degrees at the crank is pretty darn similar to the max degrees of float on a new Ochain, and that 12 degree Ochain setting bothered me not at all when I was riding bike park laps, shuttling, or doing winch and plummet riding.

The Sidekick uses a 45T ratchet ring that translates to an 8 degree "traditional" engagement. The degrees on the pusher are reflective of just the pusher movement itself. So, if we are talking the total possible degrees: the 12 degree Pusher setting would be 12-20 degrees, the 15 degree Pusher setting would be 15-23 degrees and the 18 degree pusher setting would be 18-26 degrees. It's important to remember that those are the numbers on paper, but in actual use there are constant suspension inputs, freewheeling that is resetting the pusher back to zero, and a few other intricacies. We...

Drop pedals don't make cranks longer, they make the BB effectively lower. There is no pedal that makes the crank longer or shorter looking at the whole revolution. Seat height does have to be adjusted based on Pedal thickness though. With drop pedals the drop is there both at bottom dead centre and top dead centre. It's all offset. Just as the pedal thickness with standard pedals comes into play all around the crank revolution. What drop pedals do though make the crank just a bit longer when it's mid power stroke and you drop your heel. Just slightly though...

Some our local rippers / engineers came up with a very unique "axle-less" pedal. Machined here in Calgary, Alberta and testing in the rocky mountains. They use a big ol 6902 bearing for spinny duties. The pendulum (drop pedal) is super interesting. Void pedals (traditional flat) Pendulum pedals (12mm drop) "Our platform sits 12mm below the center of the axle. Most pedals place the platform 5mm or more above the center of the axle. This effectively lowers the rider's center of mass 17mm or more offering a significant stability, and control. During sudden decelerations, the pedal acts as a pendulum...

unless buying their cheapest option, i still fail to see why people are buying Lewis copy paste brakes instead of higher quality Hope with their own engineering, for basically the same price!

I think it's more the fact that if just cemented Lewis as a copy cat brand. Their only 2 products are ripoffs of extremely expensive high end western designs made by small companies which just doesn't feel good. Like what's next, they release a bike that looks exactly like a V10?

Yup. And they were told to not be a copy cat again before release but apparently ignored it. Copying arguably the best brake on the market and even doing improvements AND then iterating on them with more improvements is one thing. Blindly copying the most well known CNC crank on the market that is not even the best design for. A crank is just pure laziness... I was in the give the benefit of doubt camp before this release, now there is no helping them.

"there are only so many ways you design a crank" says the average vital user. People will buy the bullshit that they are just "inspired by the best" and vote with their money. I hope 5dev trolls them in typical 5dev fashion. The Germans are too nice. What is next? CNC copy of Intend stems? Copy of Yoshimura pedals?🍿

That's not a review, it's a press release. There's no evidence that any actual riding took place, or that Blister even had a physical complete bike.

Exactly. Neko's whole MO was "let's show the entire process of bike development" where Zink's was "announce I'm starting a frame company, and it's all secret and exclusive". Zink's methods aren't exactly bad, exclusivity and mystery can drive interest really well, but Neko's openness really resonated with the bike community.

What Neko is doing is not comparable to what Zink is “doing”. Neko has been open from conception whereas Zink has just turned up with a frame. I’d wager most would buy a Frameworks if they could. A Zink, I’m not so sure… The dude can FreeSlope with the best, but “design” a bike…

I'm not sure why anyone would be chomping at the bit so much that they HAD to be first on the order books to pay full price for a frame from a brand new company who: 1. has no reason to be instilled with consumer confidence or trust other than marketing and a solid spokesperson/owner (i.e. limited info out there on the bike, no reviews, no history of other platforms, no history of customer relations, etc); and 2. has no real bespoke or novel tech, particularly progressive geometry, or other reason to try this before everyone else other than "Look...