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Bobs_is_better_than_A-line Added a reply to 2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker
5/7/2026 9:10am I am pretty sure I saw a whited out one the other day. I did not take a spy shot but trust me bro
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RAAW Mountain Bikes Liked a reply to forum topic The Bikeconomics (Mega)Thread
5/4/2026 2:39pm Thank you all for the interest in our bikes and in our distribution / sales model. To give you a bit of context, we’re currently a team of 9 people at RAAW, based in Germany, and we ship worldwide directly from here. The US has actually grown into our biggest market after Germany, which is pretty wild considering that every RAAW in the US has been shipped individually from Germany. Our goal is, of course, to make the ordering process and ownership experience as easy as possible. Having stock in the US would be ideal, but that comes with a...
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LePigPen Liked a reply to forum topic Should a New World Cup DH Track Be Bedded In or Left Raw for First Practice?
5/1/2026 11:42am What's the point of a new track if the goal is to burn it in like a well known track already... Now, gap jumps up top with nearly 90 degree corners before them and exposed to whatever wind or thick air is siting up top... That's another poll but you probly don't even need to make it.
This forum topic has 27 replies.
Bobs_is_better_than_A-line Added a reply to The Bikeconomics (Mega)Thread
5/1/2026 11:41am My point is even at that size they could likely make it worth their while expanding here as they are popular. Or at least that is my hypothesis and I want to hear what people familiar with distribution think.
TEAMROBOT Liked a reply to forum topic The Bikeconomics (Mega)Thread
4/30/2026 3:34pm It's a great question. My hunch is that the juice isn't worth the squeeze. Selling bikes in North America means supporting bikes after the sale in North America, and that's easier said than done. There have been a ton of cool European brands that have left terrible impressions for NA users because of the distributor they went through. If RAAW wants to guarantee a quality post-sale user experience for their customers, they need to partner with a quality distribution firm in NA, which isn't cheap. That distributor is going to eat into the margin quite a bit, and if RAAW...
This forum topic has 5337 replies.
Bobs_is_better_than_A-line Added a reply to The Bikeconomics (Mega)Thread
4/30/2026 3:31pm I would say they are pretty boutique. They don't even have an e bike. I'd bet they're bottom 15% of units moved by brands not invited to MADE.
Bobs_is_better_than_A-line Added a reply to The Bikeconomics (Mega)Thread
4/29/2026 4:34pm Sorry to be off topic in the DJI thread, but this new Raaw has me curious about their distribution. I see a few in North America and they are almost universally loved. I bet they could have an even bigger presence here if shipping them here wasn't such a pain in the ass. Is there a reason they don't have...
Bobs_is_better_than_A-line Added a reply to 2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker
4/29/2026 10:57am Am I wrong to think that the O chain is compatible with all bcd104 rings? Why wouldn't a wolf tooth ring work? If you're locked in to a $120 SRAM ring, I would take back any praise I've given the Ochain.
Bobs_is_better_than_A-line Added a reply to 2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker
4/28/2026 2:27pm Bombproof, I'll believe that one when I see it.
jeff.brines Liked a reply to forum topic The Bikeconomics (Mega)Thread
4/27/2026 4:36pm Any thoughts on creating a new thread with to sole focus being DJI/Avinox/Amflow + Future (which can be technology and business)? I know a number of you subscribe to this looking for a broader range of things to be talked about. I'm happy to start one if you guys want.
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Oli_C Liked a reply to forum topic The Bikeconomics (Mega)Thread
4/27/2026 3:04pm Any chance we can take this ebike power rules chat to a new thread? A few pages ago it was fascinating reading about Alta's struggle and DJI's structure vs old school German power.
This forum topic has 5337 replies.
owl-x Liked a reply to forum topic Dumb Bike Problems
4/24/2026 3:46pm A guy I know was on his first solo mountain bike ride when he started cramping up. Had that first bike / new hobby stoke and was trying out the route we’d shown him the week prior. He hadn’t done a ton of long cardio activities in a while, and ended up getting roasted on a hot day. Mega cramps had him walking the final trail back, with some sit downs and some groaning. Those really gnarly leg cramps that just debilitate you. Not particularly funny. Until a rider came by and helped by offering water and an energy packet...
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dolface Liked a reply to forum topic 2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker
4/24/2026 2:56pm That's why they are releasing this now: "Hey boss, can we start teasing the new goods? Not yet, gotta wait until thegromit orders the current version...."
This forum topic has 6722 replies.
FullSend Liked a reply to forum topic 2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker
4/24/2026 2:56pm Most of you probably won't like hearing this. I certainly didn't. Earlier this week I had a chat with a guy who works in a product management role for Ralf Bohle GmbH, which is the owner of the Schwalbe tire brand. Mainly I asked a bunch of XC racing related questions, about compounds, casings, radial ply, rolling resistance testing, wheter we'll ever see the speediest XC casing with a black sidewall and why they felt they needed to change their naming scheme for casings and compounds. The gist of it is that they are hard at work behind the scenes...
This forum topic has 6722 replies.
Itsme Liked a reply to forum topic 2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker
4/24/2026 2:55pm
This forum topic has 6722 replies.
Bobs_is_better_than_A-line Added a reply to 2026 Race Talk
4/24/2026 2:54pm Do we know a ballpark for the vert on the course? I can't watch the vid with sound at work and am curious if they're descending past the ski resort.
Bobs_is_better_than_A-line Added a reply to The Bikeconomics (Mega)Thread
4/23/2026 3:50pm Do we think that china could enter the gearbox market the same way they did with motors and finally make a viable gearbox while the endemic companies are playing with themselves? Humiliate the west a second time...
Jakowitz Liked a reply to forum topic The Bikeconomics (Mega)Thread
4/23/2026 3:36pm I half wrote an essay before realising it was more of a rant; essentially I think the power wars risk breaking the social contract of responsible land use, where I live we have very small woods and they’re intensively used for recreation. The tacit agreement is that you’re allowed to do you there under your own power, no dirt bikes, no quads etc. If this is perceived to be broken because you can razz around on fire road climbs at 20mph then I reckon land managers will just ban bikes altogether because it would be too difficult to only ban...
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PeteHaile Liked a reply to forum topic The Bikeconomics (Mega)Thread
4/23/2026 3:26pm @jeff.brines, heres a bit of feedback/ encouragement. I believe the story on the clash of an escalating e-bike power war, the rise of the e-moto, the battle for land access, and how governments might seek to regulate it all has the potential to reach well beyond the our small niche here and into the broader media landscape. I believe you're the perfect person to tell the story. I think the topic influences everyone. I believe it's a story that extends well beyond the interest of mountain bikers and would engage a large swath of the thinking public. Particularly the topic...
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jeff.brines Liked a reply to forum topic The Bikeconomics (Mega)Thread
4/23/2026 3:25pm I got ~30 minutes each with Avinox and Bosch and am still figuring out what to do with the content (podcast or writing). Unsurprisingly, Bosch is a bit "disappointed" (I'm paraphrasing) in the direction Avinox is pushing the industry. They leaned heavily into trail access and stewardship, and suggested the current crop of high-output motors doesn't jive with the effort they've put into balancing stakeholders and leading the powertrain side responsibly. For fun, I looked back to see if Bosch has ever pushed power or torque limits on their own accord, and from what I can tell the answer is...
This forum topic has 5337 replies.