All

Props for the trip down memory lane. I have fond memories of ghetto tubeless'ing many a wheel back around 2004 or a bit later. Stan's rubber strips were a thing back then but retailed for $50, or $25 (cad) cost. It was much cheaper to use a 20" tube, but also more effective with the extra sealing at the bead. It also meant we could run better rim options at the time that weren't tubeless compatible. Mavic 729s were the rims back then, and wouldn't hold a tubeless seal unless you went ghetto.

I've rarely had problems with inserts. As long as you use proper technique. Last shop that I worked at, other mechanics would bring me Cushcores to install for them.

Looks like it. It's heavy but works great against burping and if you dent the rim.

Looks like Pinkerton is on the ghetto tubeless wagon (from USDH pit bits). I remember seeing another WC rider with a similar setup some years ago but I forgot who it was.

not having a delicate expensive low hanging derailleur in the back?

I realize that every situation and rider is different. You learn how a tire reacts and you ride accordingly. I’ve used a DHF for over 20 years as a front tire. Maybe longer. Many other designs have come and gone, but the DHF has persevered. I’ve tried other offerings, specifically the Assegai… This might sound weird, but I thought it was possibly too good. It made steering the bike boring. I couldn’t get a front wheel slide to happen. I actually enjoy that, and use it as a cornering method. You can actually feel what the tire is doing on...

Magnus Manson appears to also be on a Forbidden DH test bike

Dont forget to add in the Sticker on the bar saying "insta360" or "DJI ACTION" and put the Brand watermark in.

when the main argument against it happening is “no way, that’d be illegal,” it’s ridiculous to think that it’s not… the real gnarly thing isn’t that there are ads lining up with what you just talked about though, it’s that they got you to talk about the thing in the first place. They do know us so well they can make us think a certain way.

I love that you think gearboxes will become ubiquitous on ebikes and will entirely replace mechanical derailleurs and electronic battery-powered derailleurs and electronic hard-wired derailleurs and autoshift derailleurs and internally geared hubs, instead of becoming one more option among a confusing sea of options and pricepoints, like everything else in the bike industry. If only it were that simple.

It may get people wanting gearboxes on their non e-bikes though, once they experience losing the weight off the rear wheel. No secret the ecvt (and traditions gearbox to a lesser extent) are less efficient. But adoption in gearbox’s is clearly on an uptrend right now in the racing scene… clear indicator of where the market may be headed. And I’m sure there’s still room for improvement given they’ve been very niche.

So, if we consider: Transmission drivetrains on super sale New XD slim driver released that fits low range cassettes Everyone on your local trails is riding (or seeking to ride) a 1300-1500W eMTB and chewing up their drivetrain in a few hours Do we conclude that SRAM has a new, e-bike specific, low range drivetrain on the horizon?

Oooooh I love word puzzles

Those 28-spoke aluminum Easton wheels on Steve's bike had a very, very, very hard and very short life.

Not rumor or top secret tech (or is it?!), but all this SS talk got me excited... Fellow Luddites rejoice. $5 in hardware and proper reuse of a destroyed derailleur: Keeping it about tech, though, this little contraption really made me want to try the Lal Supre Drive. I hope the Supre Drive or similar concept shows back up in the future.

It's all over for Big Derailleur once someone wins an XC race with a gearbox

What makes you say this? Listen to the latest podcast with Lief and Matt Beer... he talks about how he and Evan tested the Vanth before signing on and they love it. For Enduro racing the gearbox can clearly work. Lief and Hattie have proved it IMO. Its regular trail rides where the weekend warriors get all fussy about 97% efficiency and "at home repair".

This. The industry hates leaks because they’re still trying to sell the old shit to you while they’re making the shops book preorders. I think snow is different in that they probably sell through by summer and so leaks don’t impact sales as much. But leaks are good for riders because we don’t have all the money and deserve to know when we should hold off on ordering a new bike or when we should consider selling the one that’s about to become outdated…