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Yep. Exactly this (like I mentioned in my marketing spiel above). Sam Hill is no more or less valid of a brand ambassador than a German Youtuber who puts out a high volume of stuff. They speak to different audiences and carry different intentions. Both have their places and can be utilized by brands to speak to specific sorts of audiences. Matt Jones isn't selling many Marin Quakes to 55-year-old gravel guys just like Christopher Blevins isn't going to sell Tailwind high carb fuel to 17-year-olds riding Whistler on clapped out downhill bikes. Know your audience. Figure out how to...

What’s weird is this tiny little corner of the internet sort of proves its own argument regarding Sam Hill. He may be, results wise, past it; but there’s still plenty of fans who love him and are interested in who is (or isn’t) sponsoring him even if that is limited to 2 races a year and a few instagram photos. Trading on past performance rather than current social media savvy, yes, but a right he has imo 100% earned. There is going to be a point where the support tapers off and he gets forgotten but he’s not there yet...

Its micro marketing and not meant to be a global marketing campaign i would guess. Clearly doesnt move the needle as much as lets say sponsoring an athlete like vali, but will probably also just cost a fraction. I have no clue, but could be that trp doesnt sell as good in germany, hence give a guy from germany a couple of the brakes and he might help sales there. This guy is well known around here, but not only because he does youtube. I have seen him doing comunity stuff like shaping dirtjumps in free acces areas with local...

Anyone on a 32er?

I have noticed that a lot of bike genres are being defined by the suspension categories- frame makers want to make something that aligns with the Fox 36 SL, for example. So I think they'll continue to aim for that 120-130 rear travel section of the market with the Tallboy. The modular frame approach is going to continue. It means less molds and tooling, fewer SKUs and easier warranty repairs. I think in a few years it will be uncommon to see "bespoke" frame designs for different bike categories. Basically, what Trek did with the latest Fuel lineup will be...

Obviously everyone has riders they watch and are interested in. Out of curiosity, who and what piques your interest? For me, the Norco revamp brought some fun into things. The portraits were ridiculous (and reminded me of the Royal Tennenbaums, which I love). Just... different. Regarding Brage, I'm about as opposite from a viking as you can get (full mennonite heritage over here. Pacifism and peace and farming and all that jazz). Not into the whole black metal thing, but his riding is so head and shoulder above anyone else in the free ride space, he's absolutely one of my...

Here for any Tippie/ Brage collabs.

Those are the betting odds, for sure. What's interesting is that there are at least 6 WC Elite men winners in that start list. Asa, a junior World Cup and World Champion--and on a course, he apparently loves, and barely lost to Jackson last year. Yeah, it's not a deep World Cup field, and yeah, it's been a minute since Aaron has won a big race, and even longer for Gee...but... I would never count ANYONE out of a win, who actually knows how to win. I am really eager to see how Luca does on this kind of course...

current speculation on MTBR is that the Mega and Nomad will be merged into one model with a flip chip to convert between mullet and 29. Makes me kinda sad to see the Megatower nameplate die as an owner of gen 1 and 2. I want to add to the Transition quality discussion: they have some of the worst paint I have ever seen on any bicycle, ever (worked in a shop for 6 years). Absolutely terrible. I like a lot of what their brand does but dang, get better paint please.

Eliminate the loam shelf under the shock and make internal cable guides. Seat tube angle 1* steeper, but that’s just preference, not actually better. I wouldn’t mind the HA being a tad steeper too, but the industry disagrees. Want more travel? Get a smuggler. Want it racier? Go pick from a hundred different choices. Drop weight and it loses its party. Add weight and it’s a Smuggler. Slacken it out and it’s a smuggler. Ditch the flex stay and it’s a Smuggler. Lengthen the rear end and you lose playfulness and technical prowess. Can’t even conceive of a way to...

Brage on Norco!!

All fair points, I'll just take my too-short-for-32"-anyway ass back to my corner...

It’s not a no? Tell me lies, transition ai!

Gillie has to be up there as best all around bike rider dude. Man of many talents.

Don't understand why Spesh didn't publicize that you can run the bike off just the range extender. That setup is really attractive to me since I live close enough to the trails where pedaling is possible, but it's about 30 minutes each way. It'd be amazing to knock out the pavement in turbo and then have a normal analog ride. Nothing like riding mountain bikes out from your house.

Figured I'd share my new Levo SL since I got it built up in time for my up coming trips. Longggg back story: I rode an alloy Stumpjumper 15 the past year that weighed between 37.5-40.5 lbs depending on parts. It definitely made me stronger haha but overall I loved how hard I could ride the bike and still pedal it without blowing myself up. This fall, I kept showing up to group rides being the only one not on an e-bike. It was exhausting to keep up, and I realized I really needed an e-bike. But I love the...

Remy is on Vorsprung suspension. He will pretty much be the R&D rider behind developing a Vorsprung fork. Awesome stuff I reckon'. Also that rig is a absolute stunner.

Something 5Dev shared with me last week that I thought was neat—steel spindles that add around 500g low and central on the bike. They developed them last year with Neko/Frameworks as a clean/simple way to add weight to bikes instead of just slapping a chunk of lead to the bb. Only two options which limits compatibility, but a neat idea nonetheless. Deets - https://www.5dev.com/products/heavy-metal-downhill-spindles?variant=464… - 139mm = 616g - 145mm = 649g - Made from 17-4 stainless steel in San Diego - $199.99, or $100 up-charge with any 5Dev crankset order

Soooooo, anyone got any rumors or should we rename the thread to "Hot takes and arguing"...?