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BHowell Added a comment about product review Spartan HP
11/30/2021 7:22pm
I wouldn't say you are missing something, just looking at it from the opposite side of the spectrum. The post is slammed in the frame (for me) to get it low enough for descending. To get it to the proper height for climbing, I would loosen the collar and pull it up. Of all the testers in this review, I have the shortest legs and would have loved a 170mm post. On nearly every bike I test and ride, I am able to run a 170mm or greater dropper post, with extra post exposed out of the frame.
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This product review has 1 comment.
BHowell Added a new video Racers Who Love to Ride - Alex and Lachy Crush the Pikes Peak Apex
11/30/2021 7:31am
We all know that Lachy and Alex are always down for fun…on bikes. The EF Education-Nippo teammate’s achievements are no secret. From Howes recently winning the 144-mile 2021 SBT GRVL, and Lachy’s self-supported Tour de France project ‘The Alt Tour’, these two know how crush on bikes but keep it “Pure Fun”. In that spirit, we followed Lachy and Alex around the Colorado backcountry (up to the build-up of Pikes Peak Apex) with a few Cannondale Scalpel HTs and documented moments of riding, ripping, racing, connecting, hanging, and simply enjoying the purity of the sport. This is Pure Fun. "If...
BHowell Added a comment about product review Spartan HP
11/30/2021 7:20am
Yup, we acknowledged and applauded Devinci for putting proper tires on the Spartan HP. It didn't keep us from smoking the rear rim before the test started though... Much of the Spartan HP's weight is in the frame, which we are pretty sure will outlive us all.
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This product review has 1 comment.
BHowell Added a comment about feature Vital's Favorite Mountain Bikes Headed into 2022
11/24/2021 11:30am
We didn't have the chance to properly test the Patrol, so we cannot speak to it. If it's a long-travel mullet you crave, double-check the first bike on the list for what we can officially endorse.
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This feature has 14 comments.
My time aboard the Patrol was somewhat limited but I would put these two rigs in different categories. The Patrol has more travel, more burly suspension, and is generally targeted for heavier terrain. It all goes back to what you like to ride and what you're looking for in a rig. The Patrol has a more descent-oriented quality to it versus the all-around nature of the Bronson. When the going gets gnarly and the pucker factor is high, that is where the Patrol will shine.
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This product review has 1 comment.
BHowell Added a new Feature Vital MTB Gear Club Unboxing Number 24
11/23/2021 7:40am
Is fall the best time to ride? Our internal survey points to a resounding "Yes!" As always, we have something to keep you riding more as the temperatures drop - cold weather gloves from 7iDP! Get...
BHowell Added a product review for 2022 Santa Cruz Bronson MX Carbon CC X01 AXS Bike
11/23/2021 - 5:11am
Long Term Review - Santa Cruz Bronson CC X01 AXS Reserve
Rating
Lockrings are an interesting topic/product. We've had test wheels come through that do include lockrings, so that was where the expectation was set. When a customer buys SRAM rotors they do not come with lockrings, as experienced by our tester here and in other test scenarios. At an average cost of $15 per wheel, it was an item our tester felt was worth noting.
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This product review has 1 comment.
BHowell Added a reply to vital mtb '22 calendars?
11/17/2021 7:34am Keep an eye on your inbox 
jonkranked Liked a forum topic vital mtb '22 calendars?
11/16/2021 12:57pm
I know historically these have been included as part of gear club, and any leftovers would be sold after the fact. i used to get my yearly calendar from that other site, but now that they've had a corporate takeover, i'd rather get one here. any plans to make it available as a standalone item for sale prior to the new year?
This forum topic has 6 replies.
BHowell Added a reply to vital mtb '22 calendars?
11/16/2021 12:57pm Ahoy! Yes, the 2022 calendar is being printed as we speak and we will definitely have them available as a stand-alone product. It is a 13-month calendar with a few handy MTB-specific "holidays" that we've included...
Ahhh, sorry, I read that to be broader than you had meant it. Going a couple of inches taller would have meant riders would need a large and going a couple of inches shorter would have meant going to a small. By using a group of testers in a tighter, and central, height range (but who vary in weight and dimensions) we can narrow in our focus on ride qualities. Test Sessions are meant as an intensive, multi-day series of tests where we hammer on the bikes and suss out the general qualities amongst a qualified group of riders. Hope...
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This product review has 1 comment.
You mean like 5'4" Tasha Thomas or 5'6" Amanda Wentz... or 6'4" Jonathan Simonetti... could use our 6-foot Tech Editor Jason Schroeder or Content Manager/Gear Guru Johan Hjord at 6-foot as well... There's more, but I think that should cover it for now.
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This product review has 1 comment.
BHowell Added a comment about video Lunch Hucks and Euro-Jank-Nose-Wheelie Turns
11/15/2021 7:53am
That was so nasty! Plus Eagles of Death Metal? Hellz yeah!
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This video has 3 comments.
BHowell Added a new Press Release Cannondale's New Sub 22-pound Scalpel HT
11/10/2021 12:24pm
The Purest Form of Racing. A whole new breed of XC Hardtail, purpose built to hurt ‘em on the ups, drop ‘em on the downs and propel you straight to the top step. Say hello to the new Cannondale...
In case you are not familiar, this is an excerpt from our Test Session series. Test Sessions tend to be more of an overview and not a deep-dive or long-term review. Additionally, the article (words) has a bit more detail and information on parts performance than the video does. This video is just a cut from our full feature. The words and video are meant to complement one another.
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This product review has 1 comment.
Losifer Liked a comment about Press Release Tom Van Steenbergen Melts Minds in ‘Wild West 2’
11/10/2021 7:22am
I think this entire video broke my brain. Wow, utterly astounding!
This press release has 3 comments.
BHowell Added a comment about press release Tom Van Steenbergen Melts Minds in ‘Wild West 2’
11/9/2021 9:48am
Sweet mother of mercy! I yelled at my computer no less than three times. Tom, you are an animal!!!!!!!
This press release has 3 comments.
SB14 Liked a comment about Press Release Tom Van Steenbergen Melts Minds in ‘Wild West 2’
11/9/2021 9:47am
W T F
This press release has 3 comments.
BHowell Added a new video Slopedurocross Returns! As Sketchy As it Gets with Cam McCaul and Friends
11/8/2021 7:38am
We did it again... As the kickoff to Proving Grounds weekend, we dusted the cobwebs off the ol' ninja timer and gathered the crew for the return of the chaotic backyard mountain bike race known as the Slopedurocross Challenge!