With everyone making the same tires and there being so many competitors, why haven't we seen the cost of tires come down to a reasonable amount for what the product actually is? Have tire companies formed like an OPEC like organization to keep prices high?

Yes, Rampage is the sitcom of the freeride world. It provides the drama and mass appeal. It rewards test dummys so they keep doing ridiculous feats for the enjoyment of others. The modern day coliseum as they say.

The issue as I see it is that "freeride" just isn't synonymous with competition. Making it into one takes away from the entire ethos of the sport. The fest series is really onto something and taps into what the sport is all about at its core (riding with your buds and pushing your limits... for YOU not anybody else). Rampage's only purpose is to commercialize the sport and give these guys a platform that companies will pay them for. It's an obligatory means to a paycheck, a way for these guys to live the dream, a necessary evil.

"We are not asking for special treatment, but rather for an equal playing field"... special treatment is EXACTLY what you are asking for numb nut.

Is this a joke? everyone I knew who had them broke at least one stay.

All that talk and no mention of durability and maintenance? Sure, brand new air shocks feel great out of the box, but beat on them for 6 months and then run your comparisons. Air shocks always have this slow degradation of their performance, sorry rockshox, there's nothing your new fancy technology can ever do about this. Coil springs run more consistent for their whole life; no degradation of the spring performance... ever. No friction, no air leaks, no maintainance, no problems. I'll take a 200g weight penalty for that peace of mind and consistent performance any day. My preference has absolutely dick to do with their performance out of the box and more about me wanting to grab my bike and just ride.

Nobody with any power here actually cares about the sanctity of racing. They care about the show. Shows need drama... and here you go.

YOU CAN JUST BUY A D@MN AIR COMPRESSOR FOR THAT PRICE. Ok, so it's useless for at home... maybe good for on the road? Why not integrate it directly into the pump? Do you really want to carry two pumps around? Is specialized just afraid to copy Trek / admit that they have a better design? Instead, Specialized developed a portable pump that doesn't pump. Brilliant. Great work guys.

Looks more like a "European" cup than a "World" cup.

Until you realize that years from now, the only thing Danny will care about and miss was that time he gotta sit down and chat with his pops.