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Just a hunch, but I doubt Santa Cruz is letting YouTubers/Instagramers test out new stuff... especially with Specialized tires. Willing to put money that's just a XO RSV Bullit with a wrap on it.

Yet another DJI / Avinox / Amflow update (and correction) live from Sea Otter. When I asked about the relationship between DJI, Avinox, and Amflow, I was told they are entirely separate from one another. DJI incubated the motor program and then spun it off, branding it as Avinox. Amflow started as a proof of concept and was also spun off completely from both Avinox and DJI. They were firm in their independence from one and other. When I pointed out to the Avinox employee that we were standing in a shared tent (Amflow and Avinox were sharing Sea Otter...

@jeff.brines In terms of a higher level industry question, I'd love to know if (off the record), US and European bike brands view themselves as under threat by Chinese brands like Amflow and that other company whose name slips me showing off proto frames, suspension, and brakes. The vertical integration threat seems real in this thread but I wonder if the brands see it yet.

I've heard about that. It's Enduro that's willing to give up its right to vote in order to disappear and be protected from the horrors happening to other racing genres. Right?

Something for all you heel draggin', seat dropped climbing, e-bike rippers.

UNCOOL #flatbed

Intense prototype gear box DH bike On display at HUNT with some one-off custom wheels.

Zoceli Naosm steel enduro bike Beautiful hand-made bike sitting out front of HUNT that I’ve never seen in person. You can get all the details on the Naosm here

Crankbrothers was doing some wheel-related math, and had rumors that Bruni is racing flats at select World Cups this year.

This is not radial. "Low Bias" maybe, radial tires have ply oriented perpendicular to the rolling direction, and thats it. No one in this modern "radial" tire fad has made a radial tire yet. All just low bias.

The tire choice tho...Makes sense and also hurts my brain.

The humanoid AI Sea Otter booth assistant is almost here.

Marin Marin and Misspent Summers teamed up for a custom Quake wrapped with images and art from their books. The Val di Sole video guy is a standout. Marin also unveiled the Tam lineup today. Starting at just $2,399 and topping out at $5,499, the alloy 120mm bikes look primed for stacking up some miles.

Intradrive Gearbox Powertrain Tucked away in a tiny little booth on a side row was Intradrive. Turns out they're a small Scottish company that's been developing an 8-speed gearbox-equipped motor for eMTB brands dubbed the GD8. Shifting is wireless electronic, there's a 480% range, and the motor can output up to 700w. The founder said that the motors are built and wound in Scotland and that vast majority of the parts and materials are sourced from Europe if not made in-house. There's an emphasis on serviceability, and the unit fits a Shimano EP8 mount pattern. The one on display used...

Definitely bringing back memories of stuffing Speed Springs into Judys...

Looks like my HR III after its second ride 😂

Who we truly need to get into the MTB tire game is BF Goodrich so people can match their truck and bikes tire.

Not poor at all! I appreciate your willingness to raise your hand and contribute, and I'll most certainly keep this in mind as I visit with brands and I totally hear where you're coming from. Side point, but I just learned a bit of history I found fitting with respect to where things might be headed. Back at the turn of the 20th century, automaking was essentially split in two. One company built the "rolling chassis" while another built the "coach" (the rest of the car). It didn't take long for those two things to converge. Remind you of anything...

I put in a deposit on the Cane Creek. They are local to me and it'd be interesting to compare them to the Intend, I'll report in when it shows up.

Only a couple of weeks until UCI Downhill World Cup kicks off. I'm stoked for it, especially considering the ultra-talented riders who are graduating to Elite from Juniors. Let's go.