Tech Randoms: EWS Tweed Valley 2022

 Can't bro, it's forbidden.

 @KeithShred: Cue MC Hammer music...

 ..."I wanna show it to the Lakers Girls"..

..KR

 @mr-fabio: Imo, Ibis makes even uglier bikes

 True but you're ignoring the cost to travel and participate in these races over the course of a season. What does it cost if you can't finish a race because your cage break? How much did you spend to DNF?

Assuming this is a legit failure point, it's $320 well spent.

 And people can now think your rear mech doubles as a Ferris wheel

 We just need shorter derailleurs. Not hitting them on stuff in the first place is a great way to achieve durability.

 @haen:
That view depend on how often it happen too.
If everyone else run the course with standard component and it's fine. But I'm the one guy that run the course and hit the derailleur and broke it. I'd gladly take that DNF as a result of my lack of focus, practice and skills. It tells me to practice and focus better to not DNF next time.

However, if it happen a lot/often then yeah, more durable component should be considered.

 It won’t. Cut out, oversize wheels are prone to ingesting grass and mud and pretty quickly fail to pass chain. It’s why you don’t see them on most off road bikes.

 @gravitybass: what we need is no derailleurs at all (fully convinced Zerode owner here). Derailleurs are a bad system (at least for off-road, gravity oriented use) that have been made to work exceptionally well if they are mid to high end and set up well while gearboxes are a very sensible system that work perfectly well even if there is still room for improvement.
That's my 2 cents on the matter.
As a side note most of the people I know who race Enduro and a decent level who don't have drivetrain sponsors still run 11 speed with a slightly larger than stock cassette like E*13 9-46. Myself included till last year

 @heinous: yeah I don't see how it could possibly be more durable than a standard cage

 @Hexsense: 100%

 @haen: when was the last time your pully cage failed? I've had one in 20 plus years of riding lol

 @mhoshal: Never. I ended my original comment with "Assuming this is a legit failure point, it's $320 well spent."

My initial comment was to highlight that DNFs are expensive.

 @haen: my point is they don't fail so it's a waste of money lol

 @mhoshal: they don't often fail, but can be bent pretty easily, causing bad shifting, which could ruin a long race stage. These not only look stiffer, but the front of the cage covers the front facing teeth on the lower jockey wheel, reducing the chance of it ingesting undergrowth. If they did one of these with a normal size pulley, I'd be all over it

 Also running the cheap GX cassette... obviously no money left after buying that cage

 @Louisd2000: Confirmation bias (B. PARK, 2022)

 Octane One bikes have been around for a while.

 @seraph: Zircus frames are cheap and just work. Save on the frame and put that money towards a nice fork and wheels and it's mint

 @seraph: The Octane One hardtail trail bikes are not bad either. Have the 27.5 prone. Solid bike built from the parts of an old Trek remedy.

 I just wish more manufacturers would sell them as aftermarket. They’ve clearly already done the work to design them, so crank a few out and sell them.

 @Rickos: I've been looking at both the GT Force and Cannondale Jekyll as my next bike, but I've been making some thinking on how I could fit a 27,5 wheel on the back. This would easily solve my problem and make me buy one in no time. Makes no sense to force 29ers on small riders (or anyone who doesn't want them, honestly).

 @sadfusde: dont want 29? Why are you looking at those bikes from the plethora of bikes to pick from??

 @pen9-wy: Because the plethora of bikes to pick from, mainly from local bike stores, is reduced to a few models, from a few brands. Nothing is in stock, so I'll have to go with what is available...

 Mine saved me yesterday. Wrist and elbow scuffed up from hitting the tree after the pinky protector did its job and saved my knuckle, but a scrape definitely beats another broken knuckle.

 I need to add this to my shopping list.

 The Loam Lab Counter Punch is an awesome addition to my bike. Saved my hands a few times with trees and leaning into it on corners just helps pushing into the outer edge of the bars. Honestly, I won't run a bike without them now.

 Especially when they end up in your belly or chest?

 @JohSch: lol, I get that it's an issue with those oldschool bar end horns, but stabbing yourself with these to the same extent is just impossible. If you're bickering about that, you should be scared of brake levers in your thighs and saddles up your anus.

 @JohSch: They face forward and are tiny. If they somehow hit your belly or chest I think you're gonna have bigger things to worry about than a slight bruise.

 Guaranteed to save you a couple falls a year. I love mine.

 Won't they hook to plants and send you OTB? Isnt it better to enclose the whole hand?

 I have a bad history of broken fingers. I have been running Counterpunch(es?) for a few months now and I'm really happy with them. They have helped me rebuild confidence on tight descents, and have already saved my pinkies a few times.

 @donpinpon29:
They are designed to run your pinky pushed right into the pocket on the inside, so the only thing that ever gets caught is little ferns leaves because your finger fills the void. If you ride with your hands really inboard with the CPs hanging out, vines could be a problem, but in that case you'd be best to trim your bars to bring them right up against your hand.

You can check out what happens when you hit a tree with very chunky bark here youtu.be/f3mAFCntzvU and the opening frame of the video shows how you position your hand. It allows you to hang over the end of the bar if you want to, without any concern about clipping and wrecking yourself.

 @JohSch: You could say this exact thing regarding any part of your bike in a crash.
Love my Loam Lab Counter Punch for saving my knuckles and for the extra cornering leverage.

 @JohSch: I've ended up with a brake lever through my pallet

 @donpinpon29: yesterday I didn't see a loop of thick greenbriar in shadows - caught hold of my 3rd knuckle and gave me a proper "WTF was that!?" OTB thrashing. Suddenly I had sentimental feelings for '90s bar ends with the long inward sweep. I wonder if Sam Hill style hand guards would help shrug vine/branch off better too

 @bigfatpompom: I remember when Cedric Garcia was airlifted out of La Réunion after opening his femoral artery with the brake lever, actually I‘m pretty scared of impaling myself with one of those in a crash and run them rather loosely on the bars.

 @wilmaismybike: well handlebars without endplugs in the grips are said to be pretty dangerous as well, this looks similar to me.

 @FuzzyL: as far as I know he ruptured his artery with a broken femur and not brake lever

 I could be wrong though

 @bashhard: it was the brake lever or the handlebar, not a broken femur.

 @bashhard: youtu.be/gsHz1IlLVyg

 @bashhard: no it was the brake lever. He broke his femur in a different crash

 @LoamLab: pls make one compatible with Rev Grips! Love to try the CounterPunch!

 @WoodenCrow: I run those Sam Hill guards primarily to fend off foliage and can confirm they work excellently for that. You can just charge through overgrown stuff without worrying about suddenly having your bars yanked, shredding your hands up and so on. They also do a good job deflecting tree clips, and have saved my levers in crashes a bunch. Ludicrously overpriced for what they are but I've been glad to have them on my bike on almost every ride.

 @CleanZine: thanks for feedback, I'll have to get a pair. Some very tight trees here too. I got real lucky with the last one I clipped - it was so rotten that it just exploded and made me look like Ironman... If only they all turned out like that

 Better forks are lighter, lighter forks make lighter bikes, lighter bikes are easier for kids to ride.

If you weigh 60kg, and ride a 12kg bike, what’s an extra 500 or 1000g, if you weight 30kg and your bike is 10kg, it’s a much bigger difference.

Also, most kids forks are equivalent to a pogo stick, they’re a detriment to performance, I always encourage parents to buy the bike with a rigid fork and air down tires. However if your kid is serious and riding competitive, why not give them the same advantage you’d expect to enjoy.

 @BikesBoatsNJeeps: It's not great to see almost all kids' bikes coming with a shitty suspension fork as a feature. A rigid fork would be better on probs 90% of kids' bikes.

 @jaame: rigid fork. Replace with cheap old reba. Done.

 One of the selling points is all the parts can be transferred to subsequent bikes. Pay once, cry once.

 @BikesBoatsNJeeps: Because for the three weeks they fit on it they don't need the fork.

 @jaame: Agreed, dropper posts are a way better feature for young riders

 @BikesBoatsNJeeps: your username has explained your comment well

 @BikesBoatsNJeeps: all those downvoting your comments have obviously never ridden a 30kg bike as a 90kg adult. If they had, they'd get better bikes for their kids.

The idea of shelling out big money once, then swapping components to a new frame every few years is a good one.

Added benefits are they get used to 1x drivetrains, decent brakes ,quality suspension and light bikes early on.

As another bonus they are compatible with your bike when you upgrade/break stuff.

 @NWuntilirest: not sure what that means, because I own two very small, 25 year old sailboats (Laser and a Capri 16.5) and a 42 year old CJ5 (bought 22 years ago) I can afford decent bike parts? I guess, I mean I spend reasonably, have a decent job, save, and work part-time hours at a bike shop that allows me discounts and employee programs. Do I buy my kids nice bikes and parts? Yes. Do I get them at cost or below? Yes. Have I worked at a bike shop for over 30 years? Yes. Have I worked part time at my current shop for over 10? No, only 9. It’s almost like if you’re responsible and conservative with your spending in other aspects of your life, and work two jobs for decades, you can afford the nice things you want without being hand-to-mouth.

 @JiminOz: yeah and I’m not the only one in my area that wants nice kids bikes, high end kids bikes can always be sold for nearly what you paid for them.
When my friends kids ride my kids’ bikes you can see how much better they enjoy the ride. Every 20kg kid riding a 12kg huffy is being punished. Whenever I talk to a parent about buying a kids bike I tell them to find the lightest one possible, even at the shop, I discourage parents from buying the heavier models with multiple front gears and suspension forks, I suggest they get a lighter, often simpler and less expensive model. It also gets me a fair amount of return business, word of mouth, and positive Google reviews, since they appreciate not being upsold.

 My GF is riding a pretty nice Transition Patrol that was owned by a 10 year old. So, fancy parts on kids bikes can be handy for some adults

 @hubertje-ryu: I have two SIDS, a Reba and a bunch of very nice wheels in storage for when my kids are older. All 26ers. Couple that with my wife's XS and S frames and they'll be riding some really nice rigs.

 @BikesBoatsNJeeps: I have a couple of 26inch Dual Air rockshox forks in storage for when my kids grow up. They can be set up with very little air in them and still feels nice.

 @Phlippie: totally. Held onto my 06 turner and some crossmax sls, an old talas fork… now my 12yr old has a mint fully. Later this year i’ll move her to my old v1 Following and the 9 yr old will inherit the turner. Eventually should be able to sell that to someone else. Funny to see a bunch of spendy kids 26er bikes coming through now. Looks like I might actually have some resale value for that old turner!! I knew i was right to drag it around for the last decade…

 @BikesBoatsNJeeps: Absolutely. I brought a couple of Isla Bikes over here from the UK and got decent money for them when I sold them on. Her first one weighed six kilos!
There was nothing like it available here.

Like other posters, I too have a lightweight 26" dually sat on the wall, waiting for the day when she is tall enough for it, which won't hopefully won't be long.

People need to take out an E bike, turn off the motor and ride it uphill. It's the same as as a 45kg kid riding a 15kg bike. It sucks.

 no bro you need the stability bro ever since I moved to a 570mm reach it just gives me so much confidence

 Almost like the bike should match where you ride. Tweed valley is flat and pedal heavy compared to other venues. Still an interesting choice.

 do we have to read these comments every time a pros bike is not super long, low, or slack? But still way longer, lower, slacker than a few years ago?

 @Blablablup123: until they stop releasing 63 degree trail bikes, yeah.

 @pisgahgnar: preach

 @pisgahgnar:

PB Reviews

pros -great bike

cons -needs slacker head angle


wtf??

 @Blablablup123: To your second point, yeah I do ride a bike that is way longer lower and slacker than a few years ago. But not excessive. At 5'10" I ride a bike with 455 reach, 440 chain stays, and a 64.5 HTA. I downsized from a longer and slacker bike and I am noticeably faster on every single trail from smooth flowy XC stuff, to fast rocky stuff, to steep as hell off the map stuff. When I see manufacturers coming out with size charts that say I should be on a 480 bike with a degree slacker headtube it just seems silly. I ride with people who can't even have fun unless we are hitting the steepest stuff around because their bike is just too big and slack.

 Interesting how Pierron won the first WC round on a mullet and Fort Bill on full 29. Coincidence?

 @tremeer023: 29er was clear faster. There is no need for Mullets it's all in their heads

 I get what you are saying. But it's actually like 25 years ago!

 @JDFF: That just means I'm even older than I thought.

 @Genewich: yeah, me too.

 Waiting for Brahma bars to come back

 @mchartier3: Don't speak too loudly. I'm sure there is a 20 something gravel biker around, that might get an idea for an "innovation".

 looks like quite a short dropper post too. Maybe we're looking at a size small frame?

 It's the solid triangle sitting north of the seat tube. They do look shorter.

 Its shorter like 80mm

 short is fast!

 Commencal have always designed their bikes with their racers wants in mind, so if they feel like a shorter, more nimble bike is better, they have this option. If they want a longer bike, they can go back a generation, or use the Clash. Regardless, it looks really good.

 @danielfloyd: which is weird because the clash should be the short one

 It's not just quite short, but also relatively steep. The head angle appears to be around 65°.

 If you look at the winning bikes in enduro the past few seasons it’s become pretty clear that shorter bikes are faster for the EWS tracks due to how nimble they are without sacrificing top end speed (under a skilled rider).

 I've always felt like my clash is a little too big and I'm smack in the middle of their sizing suggestions@NoahJ:

 Looks a tad like a an SB 130

 @tadabing: Agreed, doesn't have the infinity linkage though.

 That stiffness adjuster link is some next level s***. I hope we see more fine tuning option like this on bikes.

 bikeboard.at/_uploads/_fotos/46133_816290.jpg
GT had awesome paintjobs in the early 90's

 Really nice paint job - harking back to one of the mid-90s bikes. I'm thinking Avalanche or Karakoram.

 1992 Karakoram

 Looks like a 2022 Trek Slash paint job

 @ksilvey10: Looks like a session!

 Katy is a fav babe fo sho. Deserves the best.

 for sure, i cant get my head around this one, they alter the AM29 to become the SX - which they say was in works for 3 years. There is alot of AM29/SX in the wild so sales cant seem to be an issue... Are they looking for a Normies bike which is on trend (for all the PB users who need 63deg, longer reach etc)
and Then offer a Enduro "RACE" bike... being this one?

The last 18 months have been super weird, Brands releasing "super bikes(race bikes?)" Long, low and slack - big wheel bases... but at the same time the Ones they Hire to race their bikes, downsize because they are too big.

Are we at the serious point of Normie Avg joes get a big bike to make up for their lack of skill while If you want to race said bike.. you go out an buy a shorter, more agile one...?

But seriously, Someone who wants to pedal their locals, Hit the bike park laps tech or flow but be able to Race Enduro/DH -- Buy a Rocky mountain Altitude (i dont even own mine anymore and i regret it so much so looking for a frame ATM)

 Yeah I have to agree. Here in Australia they have lowend models available in October and a smattering of high end models that are in stock. What's interesting is the out of stock high end models don't even have a link to pre-order. So I'm guessing it's a model update sooner than later.

 @HeatedRotor: After looking for a new bike and seing those inflated price ; all the hype with full-29 or mullet ; aluminium frames becoming expensive ; geometry turn-around, I told myself it would be a smart move to turn my Altitude 2018 (27,5) into a Mullet.

Actually 335mm BB height, 64° in position 2 with a 170mm 27,5 fork -----> a 160mm 29 fork could be fine

 I feel the need...the need for tweed.

 They're a bandaid solution to Rock Shox not burnishing their bushings at the factory. But Butter Cups can be sold as a feature instead of fixing their quality control.

 The counterpunches slide on contact, mine have saved me on countless occasions already.

 They ship to the US

 @somebody-else: shipping is only $30?!?!? If bikes like this aren’t available when I upgrade from the 24” then I’ll certainly check back in with HUP.

 I think there are two claimed benefits of the larger pulley wheel.

1) Larger cogs lead to less chain articulation (how much does the link angle change as it wraps around the cog) which is a source of inefficiency. You can really notice this when you drop into the 10th tooth cog (or 9 on that E13 one) on your cassette so this is a real thing but not sure how much this has an effect with the sizes being used in the derailleur.

2) The larger cog will be rotating at a slower speed so there will be less losses in the bearings.

 @mtmc99: 3) Placebo effect. Which is real.

 @mtmc99: and even closer to the ground. Might as well put a miniminion for extra traction

 Really? I'm fairly sure he is on the new one in his latest vid posted yesterday.

 @IMeasureStuff: Look closer, and look at vital

 @Brasher: will check it out.

 You're right. Rewatched his latest video and at 4:05 you can clearly see this is the old Strive. Old paint job and spacer between the crown and the head tube.

 was dusty last weekend TBF

 @mtb-scotland: from the Primer article, two days ago: "Unlike last year, it looks like riders will be treated to dry and dusty Scottish trails."

 Forecast is pretty good for the weekend mind you. @mi-bike: