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jones007 Liked a reply to forum topic 2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker

7/4/2026 1:51pm
There are some pretty tough engineering challenges that need to be overcome before gearboxes can find their way into mainstream pedal MTBs. They pretty much have to be fully enclosed, as lubricated gears at BB height would never survive otherwise. That's a lot of material to form that enclosure. Perhaps some use of really tough fiber-filled thermo-plastics could offset some of this weight, but the GB is also the bash guard, and there are a lot of internal stresses that the shell has to handle. Due to material properties of even the most exotic metals, the gears really can't get...
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Eae903 Liked a reply to forum topic 2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker

7/3/2026 9:46pm
I don't think most people articulate why they dismiss gearboxes very well, or at all haha. For me, I'm not too interested in them for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I don't have the issues with derailleurs that others seem to have, I don't smash them or snag them on rocks, and I race DH and enduro in Utah and Colorado so there are plenty of opportunities for me to do so. Secondly, I like mechanical drivetrains and don't like grip shifts. Unless I have missed something, all mechanical Gear boxes have to use a grip shift to pull cables...
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jones007 Liked a reply to forum topic 2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker

7/3/2026 9:43pm
I think part of the problem is that "MTB" covers a really diverse range of riding styles, and for the different styles, a variety of engineering requirements and interests. It's easy for people (myself included) to only consider the style(s) of riding they do when they promote or bash posts. I agree that there might be interesting trickle-down technology from the latest "moped" innovations in MGUs for predominantly gravity-driven forms of pedal MTBs. While the idea of a gearbox that is comparable in weight in efficiency to a conventional 1X drive train is exciting, from the engineering side of things...
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sspomer Liked a reply to forum topic 2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker

7/1/2026 10:15pm
Yeti Sixfinity enduro bike from la thuile pits here - https://www.vitalmtb.com/forums/hub/yeti-sixfinity-enduro-bike-spotted-… (in its own thread as to not disturb efficiency discussions : )
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Zuestman Liked a reply to forum topic 2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker

7/1/2026 10:14pm
I am going to be completely transparent here in that I work for FSA, but I will say I worked really hard on making the 31.8 40mm Gradient alloy bar one of the most compliant on the market. and here is the proof: (chart from PB article)
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amaranth Liked a reply to forum topic 2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker

7/1/2026 10:11pm
Guys and gals, one less post ride beer will do what a $1k drivetrain can't do. Chill, and go ride your bikes (though maybe not today if you're in the heat zone)
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TheKaiser Liked a reply to forum topic 2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker

6/30/2026 11:00pm
Because they consume 2+ % more of your wattage, and that only gets worse the worse your chain maintenance gets! In addition, the idler produces more noise and potentially a rougher feel when pedaling, which can create a greater than 2% change in a subjective sense. Those losses are from chain link articulation on the highly tensioned top run of the chain: https://www.pinkbike.com/news/tested-how-much-slower-are-idler-bikes-wh… If you find evidence that electronic suspension will provide 2% gains, then it could offset the idler losses, when compared to a non idler/non electronic suspension bike, but you would still be 2% behind a non idler...
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In a regular bike you have one big bearing for the crank. Using an idler wheel means you have a second mounting point including additional bearings that have a certain resistance when spinning. So the resistance from bearings is roughly doubled compared to a non-idler-bike. I really don't see how an electronic suspension could improve this.

Big Bird Liked a reply to forum topic 2026 Red Bull Genova Cerro Abajo

6/30/2026 6:50am
"Nobody lifts a finger." is a bit of an overstatement. Plenty of people who were there did what they could, which wasn't much since they had other jobs to do and he wasn't gushing blood. They told him it sit down and called the ambulance. He kept standing and waited. Were they supposed to shut down practice and kiss it and make it better? He didn't seem to have any complaints about how it was handled.
This forum topic has 15 replies.

TEAMROBOT Liked a reply to forum topic 2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker

6/29/2026 2:26pm
Yes, but I think other people in this thread have clearly explained why those efficiencies don't offer any unique benefits to high pivot, gearbox, or idler-based designs. Yes, electronics would make high pivot, gearbox, and idler-based bikes more efficient, but at the same time they'd be making all the other bikes more efficient, too. If Dave has four apples and Lisa has six apples, and you give them both four apples, Lisa still has more apples than Dave. Now, I guess if you're saying that electronic lockouts give them both the equivalent of 100 additional apples, then I would concede...
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senorbanana Liked a reply to forum topic 2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker

6/29/2026 7:47am
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Rob25001 Liked a reply to forum topic Specialized Demo 11 - What do you want to know about it?

6/25/2026 12:33am
I’m going to buy a simple basic FW and then spend the price difference on riding lessons and fitness.
This forum topic has 56 replies.
Without looking at any numbers for it, I'd assume the link primarily gets used to control leverage curve and the dog bone primarily gets used to correct geo. You may very well have combos where the alterations to the link would produce undesirable geo on their own so a dog bone has to be used with it to get the geo right.
This forum topic has 56 replies.
MGU = motorgearboxunit meaning electric motor and gearbox in one housing without the need for a derailleur and a big cassette. Regenerative braking would be a cool feature but I don't see that in the near future due to the necessity to transport energy over the chain/belt the other way around than normal. And I think the effect wouldn't be...

TEAMROBOT Liked a reply to forum topic Specialized Demo 11 - What do you want to know about it?

6/23/2026 11:28pm
Hey @Jason_Schroeder wanted to say the video was great. Thanks for asking my question at 12:27!
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Jason_Schroeder Liked a reply to forum topic Specialized Demo 11 - What do you want to know about it?

6/23/2026 7:40am
Your questions answered! Thanks everyone who asked a question. We did our best to get them all answered, and Specialized was pretty transparent in their response. And oh yeah, the bike rips 🤤 Enjoy!
This forum topic has 56 replies.

iceman2058 Liked a reply to forum topic 2026 Race Talk

6/23/2026 6:12am
Amidst rumblings of the UCI potentially outlawing the 32-inch wheel for racing as of 2028, Canyon is clearly convinced of the potential of the bigger wheels and they are pushing the issue to a head, developing a radical new prototype which they may submit to the UCI for approval: CANYON DROPS ‘LUX ERA’ MOUNTAIN BIKE CONCEPT TO FIRE THE STARTING GUN FOR A NEW AGE OF CROSS COUNTRY RACING With its biplane cockpit, 32” wheels, upside-down fork and aero profile, could the Canyon Lux Era be the dawn of a faster era of XC racing? Monday 22 June 2026 -...
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Yoda Liked a reply to forum topic 2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker

6/23/2026 6:10am
New rumor. Canyon has a press release (which was revised afterwards removing MG) that at eurobike they'll have a long travel mtb with a prototype Avinox labled 'MG'. Might be a gearbox motor combo.
This forum topic has 5141 replies.