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A yoke 🤮

@jeff.brines has a great round-up here: https://jeffbrines.substack.com/p/q2-outdoor-industry-roundup Snip (worth reading the whole thing) "Trek has access to capital and is very large, but if I were to pick one company that doesn’t survive this era, its Trek. At a point, the market can no longer support this many big companies that are offering things people just aren’t buying."

I've been waiting on Session frame for warranty replacement since December 2025. Word is that the Session frames were embroiled in this whole forced labour dispute and are therefore stuck sitting in a shipping container in port somewhere. First, Trek said they'd deliver the replacement session in February Then that was delayed to May. Then that was delayed to November. Then that was delayed until "Sometime in 2027".... Needless to say, this was pretty ridiculous, so they ended up giving me a Marlin+ e-bike instead of the Session frame. And I'm now in the market for a new DH frame.

Looks pretty solid but I already have Rocky Mountain Element with Float X/grip X at home.

Sometimes you have to go too far to know that you’ve gone too far enough.

I'm glad you mentioned that product! I've been moonlighting as a copywriter in my free time, and working on that stem project has been some of my proudest work so far: "Imagine starting your ride, rolling into the terrain on large 32″ wheels, and immediately feeling it: the handling is on point. Every steering input feels controlled, stable, and precise. That’s exactly why we developed this MTB stem specifically for bikes with 32″ wheels – tailored to the unique demands of a modern 32" setup." Just imagine it.

arguing about gearbox shifting sucks. Take it to a new thread please.

I do not disagree that income inequality, housing costs, weak local economies, and the erosion of discretionary spending make it harder to sell expensive recreational products. I have been making that argument for a while, and it fits directly into the “barbell hypothesis.” That said, invoking homelessness, smartphone addiction, Strava, cul-de-sacs, and the broader failures of capitalism does not demonstrate that independent bike shops are unbankable or that cycling culture is broadly collapsing. This conversation has taken a relatively narrow discussion about dealer economics and expanded it into a sweeping cultural diagnosis that is difficult to respond to directly, though...

Ah, got it. So shops were opening entirely new brand accounts to gain access to Avinox inventory and capitalize on the hype. That is materially different from an established dealer in good standing being required to fund inventory before taking delivery. Most of my finance work is one step upstream from the retailer, but every outdoor company I have worked with offers qualified dealers terms. Cash up front is generally reserved for new accounts, weak credits, or unusual demand situations. The Pivot example sounds less like a failure of dealer financing and more like shops making a speculative inventory bet...

Spotted an interesting DH bike in Verbier today, gearbox, high pivot and the rider was wearing what looks a Whyte Bikes t-shirt

So many bones to pick with that vid. The outgoing Zerode Katipo is very capable and aside from the seat tube angle I have very few complaints. It's a pleasure to ride. Much more satisfying ride quality than my SB Yetis. It is an enduro bike and they all climb tolerably at best in general race trim with the ethos of get it to the top, make it ride really fast on the way down. I have only washed the belt and lubed the idler in my season and a half of riding. No issues... With a cable grip shift...

How often is shifting under load a result of shifting too late? With a gearbox you’re able to shift at any other time. It may open more shifting windows than it closes

It's a single linkage. The purpose is to put more strain on the downtube and introduce extra welds that take the full shock loads so they'll fatigue over time.

Am I the only one that thinks using a bike diaper to hide pretty basic suspension is kinda lame. I guess it gets the people talking though.

I hope Trek calls this the Super Duper Fly

Horst Link Knucklebox

Newmen's latest road wheels called, they'd like a word with you.

Seeing these Trek abominations its funny how it goes exactly in the opposite direction of what we see with high rise bars and reverse stem combo in gravity. Once these realities will meet in the near future we will end up somewhere in the middle with straight 50mm stems… oh wait.