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Bikes that now have heavier, more expensive wireless shifting, that not everyone wants.

I think the big news is Downamics is the official UK agent for countershox. Oh and the brake setup is a carbon tube and a crf hose guide. I asked 😅

Not a gear box. You can see the derailleur in the shadow. Sad. I dont care what anyone says, the gearbox hype is like drivetrains moving to 1 by 10/11/12. Sure at first it was janky 1x10 One Up conversion kits. But now we have transmission. Which is cool. But what would be cool is better gearboxes.

is the mechanic wearing a paper bag!?

Surprised I'm not seeing anyone mention SRAM's post regarding Commencal/Muc-off's full roster. Nice to see Maples still on there and the Alran's. Commencal saying PomPom, Maury and Loris are on fresh 3 year deals. Stacked team

for 2025 pidcock is racing scott road bikes for the q.36.5 team, but will be racing pinarello bikes from mtb (xco/xcc). edit to add some context - in this particular instance, the owner of the q36.5 team also has a controlling stake in pinarello.

Gwin will absolutely get a race entry if he wants one. He has a safe domestic race scene, a good relationship with WB appearing behind the mic for them, and is the closest thing we have to the GOAT in an active racer now that Greg retired. Don't think he's sweating about assembling a team to get into races. Especially if he misses a few rounds like he has the last few seasons.

I do have an actual team rumor for a change: Mona Mitterwallner who reportedly signed to a women's road raceteam has stated in an interview in an austrian bike mag that she will not only keep racing xc wc (that has been revealed already) but actually is going to race for a dedicated mtb team as well. I find this really interesting as I can't remember that any biking athlete rode for 2 teams at the same time competitively. She also made bold claims regarding the tour the femes and Vuelta I think, so she really means business. I'm more...

This week on team rumors: IS AMAURY CHEATING ON MAX WITH THE BIG "S"? SHOULD PIVOT HR TALK TO BK? IS KATE COURTNEY'S NEW TRUCK RELIABLE? Now that I have your attention, do we think the other teams would even bother with the belt drive if they knew Rach was possibly returning aboard that Atherton belt drive prototype this season? I know the elite women's field has changed a lot since she was last in the mix. That said, I honestly think Rachel could win pushing a '99 Uzzi this season if that was her ride.

How so? He owns an amazing bike park, has a path to own a third of a bike company, is on a route to recovery (12th last year at MSA), and most definitely can race DH world cups if he wants to this year. Or are you trying telling me between the 5 season long team wildcards, 8 per race team wildcards, and 3 per race US cycling federation names, that there is no place for a 20 time DH World Cup winner that is still in form?

Two hard pills to swallow. Gwin really played all the wrong hands as it seems. I hope he leave whatever he's been up to and find a spot where he can finish on his own terms. He's one of the true greats and he deserves so much more. Ratboy. It's over before it even started.

Fearon back on the tools in Aus as a tradey (electrician I think) at a guess I'm thinking still with Forbidden but just doing hardline/crankworks/whatever he wants. It's a sweet gig I reckon. Been a sparky in Aus can make you Loic dollars for a 40hour week.

A bit of shameless promotion, but hopefully it's relevant. I just put out a podcast episode where me and Alan Milway chat through all the 2025 team moves (confirmed and rumoured). Hopefully it's an interesting watch/listen. https://youtu.be/Mu0JAhGceB8 or https://www.downtimepodcast.com/team-moves-2025/ Clearly this forum gets a mention! Thanks to everyone here who keeps the rumour fire burning, I personally love it!

Might be wrong but there does not seem to be a blacked out derallieur hanger…

Jenna won as many races as Jake Jewett last year. ...and she won the Women's Elite New Zealand Continental Series race this last weekend beating Sascha Earnest who by many accounts is a podium threat for this upcoming women's World Cup season. It's fun to pretend she's only around because her and BK are together, but I think a tough couple seasons for injuries made us forget that she's actually pretty fast and was a Junior World Champ.

re: link checker - loris embargo was for today. b/c someone leaked the unlisted video 4 days ago, the news was blown and they made it private. the video being public today isn't "old news" really, it's just official.

Congrats to Bailey Goldstone on 3rd this weekend at NZ DH national series round 2. From what I understand from the new rules, because this race was part of the UCI continental series and in the top 5, she gets a entry into a WC race. Does she get to pick which race she enters or does the UCI assign her a race? If she gets to pick, which venue does she pick? Good to see the CDN on the podium 😎

Kaos riding new Orbea? Dont look like e.

I always considered this a "heard it on the bush telegraph" thread rather than a "make some shit up for my own entertainment" thread.

FWIW I bumped into Jordi on a flight this summer and asked about Dialed; he was not optimistic to say the least.