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You are correct, thanks for making mention before I could catch up in this thread. On longer climbs I would take the chain off but most times I just wouldn't care to. The bigger problem was the chain length in my largest rear cog when using the lower guide, only a problem during climbing though. The system was great while descending. But I just run the ochain now instead of the lower guide because it's manages the chain whipping and is less faff.

I just started listening to a whole podcast season that is about how outdoor gear, including camping, hiking, hunting, and even biking gear can trace a lot of its roots to the military. The Berry Amendment is a big reason why there is any domestic outdoor gear manufacturing industry at all. I've only started episode 2, but it's very interesting and I think a lot of people who are interested in this forum thread would think so too. https://articlesofinterest.substack.com/p/gear-chapter-1 It also goes into some of the sociology of how fashion developed for different outdoorsmen over the past few centuries and...

The "multiplier effect" is an economic fallacy. "Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed."

The point about defence spending having a positive affect on the rest of the economy- in my lectures this was talked about using the concept of the multiplier effect. This is the idea that if someone, ie the state, spends £1 on something then it increases national GDP by some amount because that’s been spent at a local supplier, who then pays wages, their employees go to the local butcher, who buys from the local farmer, etc etc. The issue with defence spending is it has a comparatively poor multiplier effect vs other forms of government spending. If I spend...

It's obvious Trump & co are doing oodles of gross stuff. But unless this is just a money grab that will go nowhere, they are still trying to solve a problem. And it is a problem. Recently (tariff wars) we were unable to buy magnets for our products because the Chinese government had to confirm the release of them for every customer. You can imagine the burecrautic gridlock that caused. But buying complete rotors or complete motors? Not a problem. Just to ensure more margin stayed in China. The situation has since gotten better and you can again buy raw...

It’s a vertical shock alignment similar to the old Diamondback Knucklebox design (mentioned above) or a Propain. Nothing to patent. It’s just a Utah County based company thinking it needs overdo marketing as they’re prone to do. Utah is the land of perceived aesthetics.

Ok, but like Jeff said, they're a lifestyle brand masquerading as a tech company. You should have seen what brands like Burton and Oakley were willing splash out on dealer/industry events in the heyday.

I think there's a business case to be made for lower-cost park bikes now that many peoples' primary bikes are eMTBs. Back in the day, my cohort of friends had a trail bike and a DH bike. Later, I feel like it became an enduro bike and a lighter trail bike (aka downcountry). Now, I imagine a lot of mountain bikers' pairings will either be a park bike and an eMTB, or a XC bike and an eMTB.

Man… this forum is screwed. Everything is turning crab, each new product launch is 1.25% better than the shitty unusable last generation, and now we are discussing solar capabilities on an ai bike that will more than likely be a kickstarter scam. The future looks great! 😃

Pretty sure that is a 29er. I would be surprised to see Rock Shox release a Pike 32" fork before a Sid 32"

Those 6 bar yeti bikes had reviewers gushing. I’ve had absolutely zero desire to try a switch infinity bike. If they follow through with 6bar non e-bikes I’ll be really trying to give them a shot.

The Pope reads Vitalmtb forums confirmed

Vittoria is pushing hard with new tread patterns, casings and rubber compounds. I’ve been a tire tester for them since helping with the development on the Mazza. Ken Avery was part of the Minion program with Maxxis and he’s doing some great stuff at Vittoria now.

Maverick did it on their DUC fork 20 years ago.

Some brands thrive on camaradery instead of rivalry.

https://www.gw-mfg.com/products/udh/UDH-DM

I bet there's a link between the GoPro's decline and the soul crushing boredom of all the videos that our buddies made us watch.

When everyone knows new bikes are to be tested in Transition's parking lot

Quad 214 is the change on the air piston for gen 1 Mezzer. Makes the fork better at small bump, I have had it for several years on my Mezzer forks and like it. I do replace the 214 with a new one at each service, have experimented with a more resilient material on that ring (same size) than straight Buna rubber which seems to hold up better as far as replacing it less often. https://www.theoringstore.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&pr… these guys. Have been using this one as well - https://www.theoringstore.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cP…