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Curious what y'all know about the new Specialized tires with tire dampening technology. Is that like a mud conditions tire for wet terrain? Or is it a dry tire, but it dampens the dirt so it becomes wet and tacky?

This is page 666 of the thread

I have sent him €100 deposit to his Nigerian bank account but he is not returning my messages.

New manufacturer entering the brake market from the south west UK - Hel. Think they usually specialise in racing brakes/brake parts for cars and motorbikes.

sounds like it might be driven by regional allocations

The braided hose make no difference, and this staitement is coming from Hope themself : https://www.hopetech.com/_repository/1/documents/BRAKE_Tech_Book.pdf page 13 : "the braided hose will be less prone to be damage when the bike is transported or handled. The overall brake performance will be the same using either hose. Burst pressure of braided hose is superior than the black hose but far beyond anything achievable by pulling the brake lever by hand".

I'm not anti innovation, but I am pro choice. Having choices removed is a step backwards IMO.

How much do you know about capitalism?

I consider this a win, a statement from the Propain man himself on the other site regarding cable routing

A few years back I switched to an open-source alternative to the Microsoft Office suite of products (Excel, Word, etc). Microsoft was moving to a subscription-only model, adding complexity and network connection requirements that didn't improve the actual user experience. Now, the more I hear about bullshit AI integration in future versions of Windows, the more I consider abandoning Microsoft altogether and taking the leap to a Linux-powered computer that does what I need and no more. I bring this up because I think there's a possible parallel to the mountain bike industry. We're seeing the major companies push features...

The lack of cable ports on future carbon frames is bumming me out. Wireless-only sucks for people who like to optimize for on-trail performance. I prefer carbon frames due to better alignment, fatigue life, and saving 2 lbs without decrease in durability, so going to alum isn't the right compromise. Our cohort has always prioritized spending $$ on top tier suspension, brakes, and wheels, while almost universally selecting "good enough" drivetrain at the XT/GX level. I realize that showroom shopping squids prefer fancy looking gadgets to performance. This sucks and bums me out. I'm counting on the mid-sized brands to...

The whole wireless only thing is really representative of what bothers me about the bike industry. Changing things for the sole reason to sell us something more expensive. Why would they not put a small hole in the head tube and in the chain stay, can fit little plugs in it if they arent needed. Its different than say 1x drivetrains or dropper posts where there is a clear and undeniable benefit. What is better about a wireless drivetrain vs a properly tuned cable one? We get rid of a $3 cable and cable housing and add a battery?

Like the last Status, the front triangle is very different between the two travel options. You can't convert one to the other (unless you want to replace front triangle, shock, and yoke.)

Needs more skulls and cobwebs