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Wonder if McDownhill “Kirk” will still be with the team in the pits as the engineer ?

With the arrival of 2025 and big changes underway, here's a quick look back at how team and rider numbers have evolved over the years. All data pulled from the UCI website (https://www.uci.org/riders/mountain-bike-riders-teams/1V5hGPnEvXzbIqkjU…). The number of teams peaked in 2023 with a total of 184 (128 standard, 56 elite). 2024 saw the second highest number of teams on record with 163 (112 standard, 51 elite). The bike bubble bursting was already beginning to have an effect going into the 2024 season, even with the upcoming Olympic games. The growth in teams from 2021 (119 teams) to 2023 (184 teams) likely...

Benoît trolling us..

Well it's 8.25am January 1 in Sydney, I have a belting hangover. Expecting to see 300 post with new signings, rumours confirmed, ratboy to ride a 3 shocked cannondale. Instead we get Sam Hill riding for his local shop. back to bed

Looks like I'm late to the party since I've been on vacation. Brakes are definitely not easy. Between custom seals, custom tools, and some necessary knowledge that isn't widespread, good brakes take a lot. I would say they are either third or fourth most difficult thing on a bike behind the frame itself, the fork/shock, and, depending on specific design, the dropper. Some droppers are pretty simple, though. Frames are only on that list because doing a full blown production run requires tons of testing and the tooling is more complex. Brakes definitely are not something that anyone with a...

Ah, yes, I’ve been concerned there aren’t enough choices in the stem category.

” And the most important - is it over after 15 years? Not even close as the people behind the name are still very much involved in both racing and developing local communities and are even going to do mountain bike racing things on a bigger scale (for a hint take a look at the rumors sites and look for the UK-Switzerland connection…). The legacy of the team continues to live, especially strong with riders that used Unior’s factory team to either jump to the very top or quite simply conquer it!” Translation: The Gamux team will merge with Unior-Sinter...

The Spirit of Enduro doesn't produce shareholder value.

Minnaar/Norco just posted this on Insta, about 15 min ago. Let's start the analyzing boys. 3rd one from the left HAS to be Hart, no?

Hunches, yeah! That’s why we come here. Heresay, conjecture, whispers, water cooler rabble, that sort of thing. Not battery manufacturer chit chat.

Two of a kind actually

Mille Johnset is off Canyon https://www.instagram.com/p/DEE2X6YOxs2/?igsh=ZzV2YXExa2o4Z3di

For those w/out Insta, broken hip socket ( acetabulum) from a freak moto crash (he didn't provide deets), surgery, no weight-bearing/walking for 3 months.

Surely Spesh would be thinking about adding a female racer, and Erice is probably the up and coming Female with the most hype - so this makes sense in theory… if not Erice then who? Its a pretty bad look at this point for the most prestige team in the comp to not be putting enough stock in female racing to think it worthy of having one on their team..

Anne-Caro herself confirms Vergier on Commençal in "En roue libre" podcast (french)

Just leaving this one here for you guys Edit 23.12.2024 - I do not allow Pinkbike or any other outlet to use this picture. Vital Team Rumors exclusive!

There was an interview with Sacki sometime around the release of the latest n greatest Reverb where he related Sram asking him for a post and he mistakenly thought there was the potential for a licensing arrangement. Turns out it was for reverse engineering purposes to find a way to circumvent his patents. Sure it happens and woe for assuming, but not even paying for the thing is a poor showing.

BY burned by Sram? What does this relate to? FWIW, when we were discussing how simple it is to make a wirless conversion, it's not THAT easy. Easy in principle as you need some kind of motor/actuator pushing the interface of the post, some electronics to do the communication, a remote and some way for the two to communicate. What that means is you need to handle the mechanics of the actuator. A motor, some geartrain, something to press the thing in the post. You need a battery and some way to charge it. Some control electronics to talk to...