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As a taller guy who runs too many headset spacers with a 50mm rise bar and high COG, I'm really interested in these. I'm not sure they'll hold up, I'm an axle bender and thin pedal axles have never survived long. The standard bearings should be an easy swap when they inevitably toast themselves. But I'm dubious that they'll hold up given the amount of leverage on those bearings. I'll try them if I can buy a spare left axle from day 1. Say it's a 15mm drop from my existing Scarabs. That's 15mm less rise on the bars/spacers, 15mm...

Same lol. I've always wished for a flat pedal with angled pins so that when your heels are dropped, the pins are perpendicular to the ground. Don't know if that even contributes to better grip but I really wish somebody would test that theory.

Poorly Made in China is a good read that touches on that as far as manufacturers making what is asked of them, wild variability among manufacturers, cultural influences on that, etc. People, mostly in the US it seems, like to yell about China but made in China doesn't automatically mean 'bad' or 'garbage' any more than made here in the US automatically means 'good' or 'quality'. There is definitely a range there then between rip-off, homage (if you feel have a more charitable mood), a riff, innovative thing with quality revolving around on who is making it, who actually designed...

Not that I have to tell the crowed on this form anything, but once again I get irked with people who try to pass off cheeper "knock offs" as just as good as the real thing because "they are all made in the same factory." I mean, they probably are, but by paying for the actual product instead of the knock off you're also paying for the engineering (and marketing) that goes into the product, and at least the engineering portion of it is worth paying for. Granted, if you genuinely can't afford it and its your only option then...

I guess the ink is still wet on those.

I know negativity is cool and all in 2024/5, but this rule change or whatever you call it, is because previously, under UCI organisation teams were not allowed to sell merch from their pits. I think it was so the local organisers could make more money selling expo space to vendors etc... So it's basically a positive change... but ya.

" A World Series Team will be allowed to sell Official World Series Team Merchandise & host hospitality with guests/sponsors from their paddock space" Lol. Is that an exclusive statement or inclusive? As in they can sell WC Team merch or can only sell WC Team merch. Why do I feel like every time I read these updates they are speaking directly towards Mr Kerr and his team?

Side point here, those who continue to frame China as a "large threat to the West", I'd encourage you to spend some time digging into demographic shifts. In short, the population of China has begun to fall and a number of institutions have modeled their population plummeting over the next 50-100 years. The effect this will have on manufacturing and their economy is dire. When you combine this with some of their questionable monetary policy decisions the last few years you end up with a situation where the "threat of china" is more bark than it is bite. I'm not...

Speculative point to make today, but an important one. With CPI coming in slightly hotter than expected, and inflation being one of the biggest reasons "Trump won", I feel there is a very strong chance the tariff thing is all bark and no bite. He might have floated the idea to get elected, because it sounds good to a certain audience (trying to be nice here), but when push comes to shove, he knows tariffs are likely to be inflationary (or at least people around him do) and that'll prohibit him from actually evoking these policies, especially in the near...

Not trying to sell anything here but RMB makes SM and XS bikes with smaller wheels, lower standover heights, and lightweight kinematics to favour lighter riders. Some brands do offer these bikes. 2021 Instinct SM in 27.5 size for ex (we offer a SM in 29 as well; it's own, distinct frame design).

Great post, Ryan. Made me think about my bike, not to quantify its goodness but just to appreciate it. Seems like the ovalized chainstays would reduce wag but increase roll. Interesting!

Pretty interesting results. When it comes to suspension- determining what is right or wrong comes with a whole bottle of salt. One thing I have noticed in the MTB suspension industry vs. moto- Many MTB riders will ask for more travel from us to get "comfy". Many times, our answer is "let's optimise what you have" or set it up for you before we burn through cash at a perceived issue. I would say around 60% of the time, no extra travel needed and the rider is very pleased. With the OEM bike engineers designing better linkage and suspenion kinematics-...

So I run the SB115 here as our shorter travel tester. Once I set it up- I love it. Corners with confidence and climbs very well. I am in my 50's and was never an awesome jump guy- always made my time on the ground LOL. I did extend the fork by 10mm with no issues. I have taken this bike to our lift assist trails (Sunrise Ski Park), and any fast stuff I was able to hit without being scared. Like I said not a jumper, and if I really pushed my limits I could get hurt there- but...

My guess is unofficial financial incentive.

Listening to a few Minnaar interviews lately, strong hints that Norco is pickup up Vergier.