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On a total side note, and at the risk of derailing things for a few pages to discuss the engineering justification, Ari’s seatstays are the most offensive aesthetic things in mtb. Can’t change my mind.

The new 38 is ditching the current 38 air spring to go to a normal one where the piston runs directly on the inner stanchion instead of the current tube inside the stanchion setup. It will also be a glide core air spring. Should see some decent weight savings from that change alone.

Tough scenario all round, the 3 riders that sound like they've already got something lined up will be good but it sounds like the staff have been screwed over as well . Not sure if anyone has mentioned Jack Moir yet ? On paper a great signing for any brand but it doesn't seem like there is too many options floating around Enduro at the moment.

Rumor has it Kolb has been riding around on a Scott..

The rumour I've heard is that YT is dead-dead, not just the race team. I did not view it as from a credible source which is why I did not post it here when I heard.

Rocky Mountain (creditor protection in late 2024 new investors early 2025)

YT liquidation?

Because this forum thread opened on October 3, 2023, Spomer, Brines, and myself are planning to record a podcast recapping the last 24 months in the bike industry and looking forward to what's coming in the next few years. Two requests from the rest of you in the peanut gallery: 1. Let us know what questions you want to hear discussed by Spomer, Brines, and myself on the "Will more companies be shutting down in the next 12-24 months?" podcast. 2. Take a look at "THE LIST" I've included below and let me know what comments, corrections, or additional info...

I recently got the new Dissector v2 (MaxTerra EXO 2.4WT) aka baby Assegai and it is exactly something I always dreamt of for a short travel trail bike (140/130). I use my small bike for XC type riding in the rockies. Conditions are usually very dry, loose dirt and loose rock on top of hardpack. The side knobs are wide yet not too tall. This makes them very stable and gives you that DHF level locked in feeling during hard cornering. Lack of side knob stability was my main complaint with Forekaster v2 and this solves that. The center tread...

Not technically a mountain bike tech rumor, but it's very funny to listen to gravel riders insist they aren't just reinventing 1990s mountain bikes and then see product releases like this... https://www.bikeradar.com/news/rockshoxs-rudy-xl-gravel-fork 60mm of travel and clearance for 2.25" tires. This thing would have crushed the NORBA XC circuit. All it's missing is some stanchion boots.

you can see all his YT bikes for sale already. Doubt he's sticking around with YT

All this talk of going off script reminds me of the greatest DH track of all time, Mt Snow 2000. In the woods 80% of the way. Cut the width of a road. 3-4 line options across the width of it. Driest summer on record for Mt. Snow. Loam, duff & moss powder floating everywhere. Palmer. Tomac. Fire pit jumps at Haystack. Monk Dawg. Naked Crit & that one piercing. I can smell it to this day. That track got shut down by F.S. 🙃

More info about WC DH in that one article than in a month’s worth of MTB media. Nice find! I love that one of the environmental terrors is named Walden. Get your permits! “So we’re dealing with our (alleged) history of being lax with the rules and a motivated environmental group…should we make sure it’s all on the up and up? Signed in triplicate? Nahhhhh dude pile up some doubles and I’ll start working on these berms in the trees!” Non-zero chance this gets canceled?

It's not uncommon for the summit of Whiteface to be 10-15°F cooler than the base. The race course starts well under half the way up the mountain, so it shouldn't be affected too much, but it means there might be some cool shots with frost or dustings of snow at the top, and fall foliage at the bottom.

Yeah definitely agree with you there. I have to interface with DEC occasionally as part of my job and advanced notification goes a long way in terms of maintaining a good relationship. Makes it much easier to get permits/plans approved.

Really all it takes is a detailed plan and early communication of what you are doing with state reviewers. You just cant go off into the woods with a excavator and tell people "I'm gonna build you something rad". Unfortunately I think ORDA has a history of this kinda infraction and now the local enviro advocates keep a really close eye on what they do.

"Under a three-year contract, ORDA agreed to pay Warner Brothers Discovery Sports Events Limited, partnering with Union Cycliste Internationale, $420,000 per year for the rights to host the cycling competitions." Guess it costs about 420k to host a XC and DH world cup now.... https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/community-news/government/orda-viola…

Just came across this article, local environmental group is pissed that Whiteface didn't get permits approved by DEC for the world cup track. Goes to show how tough it can be to build trails in the area, working in the Adirondacks is highly regulated. https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/community-news/government/orda-viola…

Sounds like we won't be getting a white face bike park or the opportunity to ride this track.

For anyone interested: Wyn Masters said on IG he'll be doing a track walk vid at the US Open DH in Killington. Track walk is today (Thursday), no idea when he'll put up the video. Wyn's registered for the race.