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We had a request for clarification pop up on the post, here's the answer from Öhlins with some more details around the changes being discussed in the press release above: The new surface treatment has reduced friction, and the compression damping base tune has been backed off a little. As a result, the fork feels softer. To compensate, the spring curve has been made a little bit more progressive, through the addition of spacers in the ramp-up chamber (yes, it's still the same, 3-chambner design). The "booster" they mention is some kind of insert or spacer that reduces the volume...

We FINALLY got another B Practice recorded. Talked a lot about Dak's return to riding and racing next month. Plus all the usual drama around the first World Cup - https://www.vitalmtb.com/features/all-drama-poland-daks-triumphant-retu… To listen - https://www.buzzsprout.com/78237/episodes/17228329-dakotah-norton-s-tri… To watch - https://youtu.be/nKQo845FEcQ

Few details about new Fox USD fork

A slightly stiffer version of the compression tune Fluid Focus recommended was run, which was the 2nd from softest. I added an .8 x .006 shim to the C6 tune. Rebound started with the tune recommended for a 450-500# spring (using a 475#). It was topping out a bit so it was swapped to the 525-575# tune. Still tops out slightly, but it's more annoying than anything else. Similar to an Ohlins coil. The FF kit comes with a new mid valve piston and shims, a jet to change the size of the bleed through the piston bolt, and a...

3 test sessions, 18 runs, 9 hours, 1 roasted rear tire, and a few more dings in the rim. The results are finally in with the Fluid Focus tuned Marzocchi Bomber CR coming out on top in every session. All three shocks were ridden extensively prior to the timed runs, including multiple bracketing sessions to get the settings in a good place. The bracketing sessions were done purely based on feel, no timing or other analytics. Avalanche Racing Bomber CR (tuned by Avalanche) This shock felt good right away. It has a magic carpet type ride where chatter and trail...

I think that's one of the Infinity Stones. If she gets all five, she can make half her competitors vanish with a snap of her fingers. But actually... perhaps it's a suspension setting indicator, a la Loic's much-debated handlebar LEDs? The notches around the circumference resemble the Shimano BB/Centerlock pattern. Not sure if that's just cosmetic, or if it's an actual tool fitting.

Apologies for the radio silence, the winter/spring transition was a tough one for the test track. There were some changes made to the testing protocol; the number of test shocks has been reduced from 5 to 3. I want the data to be as accurate as possible, and as such the shocks are all run on the same day back to back. Given that it is a self shuttle situation, it was just not possible to do 11+ runs/day without fatigue being a factor in the times. The pedal back to the start of the track is a steep 15...

I agree. That sentence is bizarre. I'm weirded out by the implication that choosing a longer or shorter chainstay length would be a compromise, but somehow choosing a 438mm chainstay length isn't a compromise? Every geometry decision you make on a bike represents a compromise. They're all trade-offs. Either that, or Canyon and friends have stumbled upon the Platonic ideal of the form "chainstay length." We're all in the cave over here, but at Canyon they've unshackled and transcended bodily existence to discovered the one true form of bike geometry. So meta of them.

Fantastic review, I respect Schroeder's component choices more than any other reviewer out there even though his local terrain in Socal is completely different than what we have here in the damp slimey Northeast. Personal thoughts, I like the Tacky Chan (especially the new Super Ground Ultrasoft version) up front for pedally trail riding, usually with a Nobby Nic in the back, as it's faster rolling than a Magic Mary without losing too much cornering confidence. Obviously nowhere near as locked-in on steep chutes and under heavy braking but I don't do too much of that on a light trail...

I dunno anything about these brakes, but the automotive reference I think of when I hear DB8 isn't Toyota, it's Aston Martin.

Here are my thoughts after 7 months on SRAM’s DB8 brake: https://www.vitalmtb.com/product/guide/hydraulic-disc-brakes/sram/db8-5… Okay brake nerds, tell me why I’m wrong.

This is not mtb but its one of the more interesting ideas lately, has it been already mentioned here?

my feeling is that where we are loading the bike makes all the difference. CoG might be lower with lower stack and longer reach, but if you have to weight the bars you are loading a part of the bike that is very high relative to the pedals. With longer RC numbers we can push into the pedals, which is loading a much lower part of the bike. I guess it is about leverage, but I think tht pushing into the pedals is the same as loading more weight into the BB area, where pushing into the bars is the...

Silca is not releasing it;s newest product (mini-inflator) in the US due to tariffs: https://escapecollective.com/silca-elettrico-pumps/ Lots of good insight, and I thought this breakdown was really helpful "Ideal world: COGS: $42 Shipping: ~$2 Import Duties/Paperwork fees ~13%: $5.46 'Landed COGS': $49.46 Price to bike shop: $90/ Silca Gross Profit: $40.54 / 45% Retail: $149 / Bike Shop Gross Profit: $59 / 40% With Trump 45 Tariff on Chinese-made goods (2018): COGS: $42 Shipping: ~$2 Import Duties/Paperwork fees ~13%: $5.46 25% Trump 45 Tariff: $10.50 'Landed COGS': $59.96 Price to bike shop: $98/ Silca Gross Profit: $40.05 / 38.8% (42-45% is...

My bike has a 460mm reach, 718mm stack, 525mm chainstays, 1334mm wheelbase, ~1.55 front center/rear center ratio. AMA https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/codahale/mistress

Baseball card holder tab on my seat stay so I can have a good sounding motorbicycle thing. Thats a industry standard we need.