I think the hulabaloo, hubbub, and b&m'ing is more about the rate of change rather than the change itself. Compare the amount of time between 26-27.5 change and the time from 27.5-29\. One was around for 20 odd years, the other for 5(ish)? Design wise, it's logical. An evolutionary change yielding competitive advantage will be exploited, and part of that entails taking the concepts of the initial change and applying them in other areas/ideas at a faster rate. If 27.5 was THIS much better, then 29 must be THAT much better. Great for racers, fun for engineers, but not so much for the privateers and fun havers who just laid out solid coin for what is now essentially old tech. And that may be a bummer for someone who's looking to be the next DH idol. Design evolution can easily be chastised as planned/forced obsolescence, and as forums show there are many folks who will voice that call.
June 9, 2017, 7:55 a.m. - JT
I think the hulabaloo, hubbub, and b&m'ing is more about the rate of change rather than the change itself. Compare the amount of time between 26-27.5 change and the time from 27.5-29\. One was around for 20 odd years, the other for 5(ish)? Design wise, it's logical. An evolutionary change yielding competitive advantage will be exploited, and part of that entails taking the concepts of the initial change and applying them in other areas/ideas at a faster rate. If 27.5 was THIS much better, then 29 must be THAT much better. Great for racers, fun for engineers, but not so much for the privateers and fun havers who just laid out solid coin for what is now essentially old tech. And that may be a bummer for someone who's looking to be the next DH idol. Design evolution can easily be chastised as planned/forced obsolescence, and as forums show there are many folks who will voice that call.