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I'm not a fan of the size and weight of the T-Type mechanical offerings. I fall pretty deep into the weight-weenie category though, so perhaps a minority here. They just seem so unnecessarily massive. I would have been totally fine if they just kept making the same old X01 and XX1 gear.

Am I the only one thinking why SRAM bothered with this release at all? It's only for old frames that don't have a UDH, if you do have a UDH you can use a T-Type mechanical. Why bother release a new AXS non T-Type derailleur? Seems like a huge waste of time no? Just continue making the old one until you retire the platform completely.

Cannondale Bad Habit is live! - 155mm of rear wheel travel // 160mm fork - Mixed wheels only - Full carbon frame - Proportional Response size-specific kinematics & geometry - Coil or air compatible - StashPort frame storage - 64° head tube angle - Compatible with a 170mm single crown and 180mm dual-crown forks - Sizes: S, M, L, XL - Weight: ~ 15.6 kg / 34.4l b - MSRP: Bad Habit 1 - $7,999 USD // Bad Habit 2 - $5,999 USD // Bad Habit Frameset - $3,499 USD I just had a test bike show up yesterday. Haven't...

The remaining RockShox forks and shocks are finally officially live: Zeb - https://www.vitalmtb.com/forums/hub/2027-rockshox-zeb-fork-tech-info-im… Lyrik and Super Deluxe - https://www.vitalmtb.com/features/first-look-my27-rockshox-lyrik-fork-a… Vivid - https://www.vitalmtb.com/product/guide/rear-shocks/rockshox/vivid-ultim… There is a lot of trickle down tech that was first released with Boxxer and Vivid Coil. My time has been most spent on the new Zeb, and it's been really really impressive. So much grip, really light off the top and easy on the hands, new ABO adjustment is really useful and impactful, and the fork has felt the same day in and day out. It's definitely linear, so has a different feel. More muted and calm...

Arc’teryx is in a very different position to most brands entering MTB, and the current numbers make it clear why they can afford to treat it as a fringe category without pressure. They sit inside the Technical Apparel segment of Amer Sports, which also owns Salomon, Wilson Sporting Goods and Atomic. That group context matters because it brings scale, shared sourcing, and a long track record of operating across multiple technical categories. Looking at FY25, the business is moving fast. Total revenue hit $6.57B, up 27%. Technical Apparel alone grew 30% to $2.86B, with 19% omni-comp growth. That tells you...

So this happened. While I can't afford a Reya or Spur, a second hand Optic frameset will do nicely. All the parts off my beloved N+1 hardtail. I'm still tossing up what shock to get between a Float and Float SL (RS shock is not mine) if anyone has any advice? 13.4kg as it sits in these photos and a bucket load of fun!

https://www.cannondale.com/en-us/bikes/mountain/trail-bikes/bad-habit

I've always viewed the niche offerings by these premium brands as essential marketing to continue selling the jackets to normal people that make up 80% of their revenue. North Face still manufacture elite level gear for Antarctica (it's what my friend wears when he's deployed on the RSVP Nuyina) but it's brand awareness so they can sell thousands of jackets to people walking to a cafe. If it's a loss leader, so be it. As long as the company makes profit overall.

Arc has done these types of project before; capsules that reach a new or niche audience. Often they are there to capitalize on emerging markets or test existing markets they don't participate in. I know quite a few of the Arc design and PLM staff and the drivers were that the team believed in the program, so the product is designed to a very high level, and that there was enough interest to do some relatively small production runs without too much exposure.

@sethimus @Evil96 @CascadeComponents I love, like love-love, that someone with an engineering background (and seemingly a degree) and a wealth of manufacturing experience provided factual mathematical evidence, and it has been refuted by "I believe the manufacturer of this shiny new thing I bought", like conformation bias doesnt exist or something.... There's a quote about facts and opinions that I'm trying to remember here...... it'll come to me....

worked at Arc'teryx for 17 years (and then onto 7mesh for 6) and can say that it doesn't cost $18 to make the shorts. Their margins aren't much different then any other technical apparel brand so not 10x. At least this time they've actually made product. Back in the day they brought on Richie Schley as an ambassador to help with an mtb program without allocating ant design resources etc and killed the program before getting started.

I am finding that the products from outdoor gear companies branching out into bike is often better than that from traditional bike brands. I'm a big fan of my OR jerseys and gloves, and I have some Patagonia bike shorts that are ~6 years old and still awesome (plus a couple pairs of their pants that are only like a year old but my favorites). My theory is they actually employ actual garment designers that do the sport, rather than contract it out to a garment contract factory in Asia where the designer's never actually biked but will happily slap...

I feel like a lot of April fools jokes are like satire sites writing about the current regime in the US....you can make up something completely unhinged and at this point I'm like yeah....I'd believe that.....keep scrolling.... I think iFixit did a good job this year when they said Apple was recalling Macbook Neo's because they made it "Too repairable"....You could do the same to a lot of bike parts companies!

Consolidation of ownership has been an issue in the ski industry since the 90’s. Vail and Alterra will both eventually start cracking up, and new broligarchs will pick up the pieces and re-shuffle them into new roll-ups. What we are seeing on the east coast is one hedge- funded family slowly buying up formerly independent resorts that have avoided mergers but have been desperately seeking operating capital. In the k-shaped economy the future of the ski industry, like the future of the bikepark industry is wealth management schemes. Keeping your resorts private and managing them for losses is just about...

European retailer just leaked new Marin downcountry bike. Marin TAM XR - 2026 – Simple Bike Store Not the prettiest frame I've ever seen but with the rumored death of the Chisel I'd say there is space for an aluminum DC rig. 130mm front, 65 degree HTA. Release date looks like 4/17 according to the Marin website.

My PhD advisor's brother was a professional motocross rider until he ended up in a wheelchair after his visor got stuck in terrain in a low-speed crash. That was 30-something years ago with a motorcycle helmet, but there's something to be said for breakaway items that might create leverage on your neck. I'll take a facial injury before I give up the use of my limbs.

Somehow, the orange looks even worse on the Podium

Unfortunately not sorry