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My Evil Insurgent is set up with a dual crown. Was my primary ride for a long time. I’m a bigger dude (240 lbs geared up) and there were two main benefits. First the direct mount stem is just more confidence inspiring. Second you get more travel with out slackening your bike way out. The fork I have is an MRP Bartlett. Other than a slight weight penalty and having to set up properly for really tight switch back (which you should anyway) there are no draw backs. My bike still has a wide range cassette and dropper, I know...

as someone with a Stumpy Evo and the desire for a bigger 2nd bike for both lift-assisted and winch/plummet riding, I like that these DH builds exist. not because I'll buy one, but because it indirectly gives me the option to get e.g. a Status 170 frame and swap between a 180mm single-crown fork and a 190mm dual-crown. I don't ride enough park to justify owning a big bike I can't also pedal (slowly) up the hill, so this seems like a good middle ground to still experience some of that dual-crown magic you guys all rave about.

You know, before "enduro" we used have these things called "freeride" bikes, so it's not a new concept.

I've "park-specced" a few enduro bikes (Pivot Firebirds, Fezzari La Sals) with dual-crown forks and dedicated wheelsets, and it definitely "ups" their capability and enjoyment for lift-assisted riding. But I personally wouldn't make it my everyday ride. In fact, I usually go the other way any try to make my "enduro" bikes more "trail-bikey."

Pretty sure these builds exist to outfit bike parks with their rental fleet for the year.

Even the most talented riders will have their parents paying a lot of money to get to races to develop the skills and get the results that get them noticed. I would guess mpst of the top level juniors didn't have to buy a ride. But, for others, some upfront money to a team to make sure you have some support at the races isn't a bad deal. I'm guessing with the new WBD rules for teams, some bigger teams might find a spot for a person for the right amount of money as some of the smaller teams might...

Luca won national champs just last year and wore the sleeve this past season. Podium threat, potential winner, super nice guy. I could see why brands would want to work with him.

Luca having his best season in years, his Stonks are high. I get the impression that him and troy get along good too.

Huh? He had a bad preseason injury a few years back I witnessed that was gnarly that cost home most of the 2022 season. Vital has the video. Last 2 years 13 World Cups Made every semi & final 2 Podiums 8 Top 10 Finishes Finished outside top 20 twice (Loudenvielle & Les Gets cluster Fokk this year) Hasn’t been outside Top 30 a single time. And that’s with switching from every single component of Santa Cruz/Shimano/Fox to Canyon/Sram/RockShox.

Nah, dude gets solid results, good coverage from media because he is universally well liked. Good racer to sponsor Edit this was suppose to respond to the Luca comment

Steve’s pension scheme

Reece Wilson creating his own team apparently being gamux bikes and getting heaps of funding from somewhere out of industry Seems loris and Benoit to commencal with a huge commencal team being formed with all muc off riders too Ellie Hulsebosch has signed with syndicate for next year, Felix Griffiths also signed Stevens mcnabb to trek Anna Newkirk to frameworks Also unior sinter apparently loosing trek and riders just riding their own bikes

Can finally talk about it publicly Asa on Red Bull 🙌🏽

looks like a bear

Please buy my DH fork that's been ridden super hard and never serviced. The oil seals don't leak because there's not enough oil left in the lowers to properly lubricate the bushings. If you can deflect a 35mm Boxxer to the point it's truly an issue, I'll be the first one to cheer for you on the WC circuit or at Rampage.

Fox. Creates larger air chamber. Fills it with grease. Benefits negated.

Crab-country bikes Edit: looks like the flex is built into the chain stay, which looks to slim out right where the pivot on the current one is. I think most of the rest flex in the seat stay, no?

The biggest problem with hexloc was consumers complete inability to understand how to remove their axle despite being demonstrated live and in front of their face several times. I can't see a company like Fox adopting it because even though it provides superior stiffness at the same weight, customers are too stupid to make it work. Source: the utter misery of selling bikes that came stock with hexloc axles.

Saracen

There is a huge amount of CNC machine work in Taiwan/China. It's also possible to have complex items as part of larger orders. Not everything has to be done in the USA. I don't have a full steerer, it's similar to the intend fork with a nub sitting into the bearing and a bolt through to preload