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We didn't sell the Minion SS in large quantities, unfortunately. More than anything it became an option for our athletes to use in highly specific disciplines (slalom) or conditions. I saw plenty of comments along the lines of "why would I buy a pre-worn out tire?" The sizing was also a little funky on that tread since it came out just before rims went super wide. The 2.30" had a good profile but obviously low volume, while the 2.50" was too squared off and more voluminous than most riders needed. I could see a place for a refreshed 2.40" version...

I wish there were more semi-slick options available nowadays. I feel like tire companies only stopped making them because they weren't selling, not because they don't perform well for their intended use case. To that point, what semi-slicks are even still in production?

I certainly imagined it that way too. I have found that I get in a really dark place emotionally during this process but riding my bike definitely brings me out of it. Sorry, not trying to bring the mood down.

As a side note: I always got on better with the Cura 2 than the Cura 4. I thought the 4 was too spongy/vague and hard to get good power from, whereas the Cura 2 really worked well for me (back in the day...).

Short term profits uber alles. Brought to you buy Harvard Business School and similar MBA bullshitters for the past few decades.

Sell it at peak COVID, buy it back for pennies on the dollar in peak tariffs. The only way to make money in the bike industry?

There is a lot of good information in what Shinook just wrote here. I'll chime in by saying that if continuous, significant lever force on long steep descents is what is causing the discomfort, go with the Mavens with a pair of big rotors. They are pretty much unmatched in terms of sheer power-to-lever force ratio IMO. Keep in mind that I am talking about the kind of steep where you need significant braking force for extended periods of time, in other words, once you are past the initial bite point and well into the powerful portion of the lever...

I have chronic hand problems, there are some complexities in what you need to think about because issues are unique to everyone. What aggravates his issues? Force at the lever? Lever too far out? Lack of power? My issues are related to cubital tunnel syndrome causing nerve damage that creates hand pain, my issues are aggravated when the lever blades are out too far (so I run them close), brakes have power issues or fade (I'm 220lbs so this is a thing), but not so much when the lever force is high unless there is major clenching to get power...

Some of you never rode when we had no clutches so the loose, flopping chain smashed against every part of your aluminum bike and the fork knocked in the 1 1/8th head tubes and then echoed through your monocoque frame and it shows. I can barely hear my current bike compared to the 3rd grade marching bands on wheels we used to ride pre-2012. I didn't even know you could hear what your tires were doing for the first 10 years I rode.

"Privateer" Booker wins on flats on an SC Bronson after taking the final stage. HH wins on belt driven gearbox alum monster of a bike. Fantastic and unbelievably close racing! We need a bike check on both of these bikes.

I want to know what was going on with that spot? Berm with a weird root in it. Sucks for both. Also the medics on the mountain must have been scratching their heads.

Might be worth spending some time getting the pistons nice and even and moving freely before wasting any money, IMO it makes a big difference to the spongy feeling and overall power. Bit of an older video but if you haven’t seen it ‘How to make your sram brakes not suck’ on YouTube has good tips and none of the fluff.