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For me, mallets are the worst by oodles and oodles... The most vague in & out, cleats wear out instantly, need quite a bit of servicing. They were so bad that they were essentially unrideable for me. It's mingboggling how many top dogs use them. I don't understand what I'm missing (or perhaps what they're getting paid?). I'm not sure about this duck footed issue but whatever it is I can't fathom that it's worth putting up with the awfulness of mallets HT's are ok-ish, but also sorta awful. Kind of bear traps & constantly require service. Like always. Never...

Shimano seems driven by engineers, SRAM seems driven by product people.

I think Shimano is missing the point- noise is the biggest issue by far. If my bike is loud, it's bad. I don't care if the suspension is actually working 1% better.

Really hope this works out, but as a miserable old curmudgeon I can’t help feel its got a touch of monorail construction about it

I know you're not going to want to hear this, but: On these SPD test rides, have you tried thinking about something other than your feet? If you focus on your feet while you're in clips, they're going to feel weird if you're used to flats, and weird is likely going to progress to bad and then terrible the more you think about it. I remember my first few rides on clips, coming from flat pedals. Those first few rides were on Shimano SPD pedals that felt icy exactly like you describe. But then, over next few weeks, I did...

After a long and illustrious career that includes national and regional titles, multiple World Cup podium appearances and one World Cup win in 2024, Eleonora Farina is calling it a career. Congrats, enjoy the next chapter!

Just watched Ben Cathros round up of the race and he twice mentions MAIDEN wins, not DEBUT wins as Rick keeps saying on the commentary but apart from that error I have to really take my hat off to him and Beaumont for their commentary yesterday.. they real did increase their hype for the last 10 and helped build some excitement. Beaumont has really steadied the ship in my opinion. And Rick deserves a lot of credit for not letting the criticism destroy his confidence

Val di Sole 2021 junior world champs Jackson Jordan Lachie Val di Sole 2026 elite world champs Jackson Lachie Jordan

Including when she raced as a Junior, Vali Höll has raced in 9 UCI World Champs races. She had one DNS in the finals (I believe it was due to an injury) and finished 12th in another (I think she had a wreck). She won the other 7.

After the rain, the rainbows: https://www.vitalmtb.com/news/news/results-val-di-sole-world-championsh….

My Italian is a little rusty, but it seems this was made using a servo from the RC world, connected to some kind of stroke measuring device on the brake lever blade. The idea being to change the compression settings of the shock under different types of braking events.

Cannot get over the Rory Kirk scrub clips. Insanity.

Really liking the Michelin DH22 so far, but it lost the fight with one on the many volcanic rocks of the bike park Thankfully happened not long before the end of the last day. Might try an insert next time. Starting to understand some people here, the wear is only 3 days worth of riding, at home I can get 2000km out of an enduro tire ! (longer than any bearing...)

E-xc just wrapped up. Wyn was 11th, good for him.

A lot to unpack for me after attending the race. I'm glad I went for sure... My wife did not want to go to the race after almost getting very hurt by a crazy person sliding down the hill through a crowd with a chainsaw flailing on a leash. No photos from me, since I was solo I just roamed the track and took the experience in... And what an experience it was. Part of me loves the unhinged nature of the French fans... But another part of me is grown enough to see that many (easily 30%) towards the...