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Here's why I wouldn't want to strap my bike to a rally car:

Transition has the dank taco truck thing going on Everyone in Bellingham works for transition or evil or Kona Santa Cruz marketing was absolutely tempting transition to post that photo on purpose Becasue the embargo was like a week away and the bike was ready to ship We got them all looking for ways to sneak the obvious and make it look sneaky or obvious Nobody got fired and many Tallboys have been sold Smugglers still heavier and spur geo Is conservative compared to tb Tacos. It’s all about tacos.

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

Jesus, sorry I asked about a coil shock on the new Tallboy.

Some product launches go so much against the grain of what was preached by the same companies previously that they cause emotional distress and mental model revolts. I don't think this has anything to do with MTB but I have to admit that watching the world burn is my favorite hobby if the heat of the flames aligns with my own predictions.

Side point, but after talking to a number of brands and shops, one thing keeps standing out: e-MTB is no longer a side quest (even if you aren't amflow). I know this is a big "duh" to those in Europe, but for me (a long time analog bike guy) its a stark reminder things have changed. I have three brands telling me off the record e bikes drive over half the company's revenue. If you don’t have a real e-MTB story right now (like Niner), you’re making yourself harder for shops to justify carrying. From the shop’s perspective, they can...

Honest question: For those who are repacking their sealed bearings, how do y'all remove the seals from cartridge bearings without damaging the seal? Using a Park Tool awl, it's very very very hard for me to not permanently bend or crease a cartridge bearing seal while removing it. Which makes me wonder if I'm doing it wrong.

I think Raaw frames are exemplary when it comes to bearings: All bearings feature sealed caps on each side to keep dirt out They are easy to change There are no tiny bearings (smallest size is 28mm) They are interchangable between Raaw frames Raaw has an online web shop which makes it easy to source bearings, caps, replacement seals and a bearing press Anecdotally, I've had three Raaw frames and never had a single bearing issue.

I think bearing longevity and ease of replacement are worth caring about, and I wish it was something more manufacturers/brands emphasized. Alignment, tolerances, accessibility, etc. rarely show up in bike marketing or reviews. IMHO, that's unfortunate. I have to assume that most people are either not replacing their bearings or paying a shop to do it, and thus not taking it into account when making a purchase. Re: Santa Cruz: their angular contact bearings can run a long time if properly adjusted and maintained. But that's a big if, given how the average rider treats their bike. On the other...

Replaced the bearings on my Tyee earlier this week, which I think were the factory acros oned so 4-5 years-ish. Only two sizes which werent hard to find in aftermarket Max options. Two out of 8 had to be pressed out of the carbon frame, god it's so unnerving i hate it Currently looking at getting a new short travel bike and bearing longevity/ease of replacement is definitely a factor as I ride in mud half of the year and will be buying used, so most warranties are out of the window. Bikes like the Spur and the previous gen...

You mean chainstays?

This may not always be the case, but a lifetime bearing warranty often brings an incentive for the manufacturer not to have to supply 20 sets of bearings per frame, so they design and spec better. Frames with bearings in linkages are my preference provided they are quality - not much point having bearings in linkages if the pivot axle is wearing a groove in your frame. In my 4 years on an Arrival I have replaced one set of bearings and ridden a lot in loads of conditions. Bearing quality, bearing seat tolerance, and frame alignment are important. I...