Don’t disagree at all re. weight weenieism holding back bikes. Actually, I think bikes are fine but more it holds back riders. Especially rubber, which really holds back what folks can ride. Who doesn’t love bigger brakes on any bike too?!
It’s interesting, I’ve followed up with lots of folks about HP+I before writing this and actually two people who I thought had ditched their Druids ended up just ditching the lower chain guide (which adds the most noise/drag) and they just stay on top of replacing their N/W rings more often. No issues with derailment as long as they stay on top of maintenance. But yes, the love for HP+I is not as universal as one would believe reading the webternet.
I think that’s the biggest barrier to mass HP+I adoption, or perhaps that plus weight since non-Gucci builds on many of these machines will be well over 40lbs with inserts before a water bottle is in the cage. It’s certainly not a matter of being unexcited about HP+I bikes - I’m a f***ing nerd, I love every new bike and especially the ones that don’t look like a session, but I think working in shops I’m highly cognizant to the massive trench between the % of folks who will use and maintain these bikes to their potential and the average rider.
HP+I isn’t a niche design anymore where the curious pick up a Forbidden and either totally love it or don’t find themselves agreeing to the hype (and even then the Druid being relatively short travel and very adaptable). Now there are a lot of dollars riding on the growth of the long travel, Enduro race machine market (can we call them Freeride bikes yet?) with an HP+I configuration.
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And yeah, don’t ever weigh your bike. I could probably guess what my single speed weighs - with CushCore installed - but it’s not worth knowing.
July 5, 2021, 7:02 a.m. - Andrew Major
Don’t disagree at all re. weight weenieism holding back bikes. Actually, I think bikes are fine but more it holds back riders. Especially rubber, which really holds back what folks can ride. Who doesn’t love bigger brakes on any bike too?! It’s interesting, I’ve followed up with lots of folks about HP+I before writing this and actually two people who I thought had ditched their Druids ended up just ditching the lower chain guide (which adds the most noise/drag) and they just stay on top of replacing their N/W rings more often. No issues with derailment as long as they stay on top of maintenance. But yes, the love for HP+I is not as universal as one would believe reading the webternet. I think that’s the biggest barrier to mass HP+I adoption, or perhaps that plus weight since non-Gucci builds on many of these machines will be well over 40lbs with inserts before a water bottle is in the cage. It’s certainly not a matter of being unexcited about HP+I bikes - I’m a f***ing nerd, I love every new bike and especially the ones that don’t look like a session, but I think working in shops I’m highly cognizant to the massive trench between the % of folks who will use and maintain these bikes to their potential and the average rider. HP+I isn’t a niche design anymore where the curious pick up a Forbidden and either totally love it or don’t find themselves agreeing to the hype (and even then the Druid being relatively short travel and very adaptable). Now there are a lot of dollars riding on the growth of the long travel, Enduro race machine market (can we call them Freeride bikes yet?) with an HP+I configuration. - And yeah, don’t ever weigh your bike. I could probably guess what my single speed weighs - with CushCore installed - but it’s not worth knowing.