I'm not one to totally embrace new goods simply for them being new goods. At one point I thought tapered steerers were dumb because 1.5 existed, and I still feel 142 was a bodge when the industry could've gone 150/157 and negated a bunch of the incremental gains boost provided. I do have a smidge of hope as the industry is seemingly embracing the UDH (talk about a game changer for yer gear changer) and the all too (painfully) slooooow adoption of T47. And honestly, 34.9 makes a lot more sense on dropper posts for the same reason we want larger stanchions. As one who owns and rides a 26" fs bike, I haven't bumped into the new tire dilemma yet, but new rims are another story. I may miss out on the latest n greatest rear shock whizbang with the embrace of metric standard rear shocks, but the one I have works well enough, has a ton of adjustments, and I can still source seal kits. Having played with the idea of getting a new one, I found enough of em online to negate any of that concern. Couple years down the road I anticipate that to change, but I also anticipate needing a new frame since everything has a fatigue life cycle, which is especially important to keep in mind when things get ridden hard. Key reason I don't buy used sus forks right there.
My take is new standards blow on the first outing because of the past, but for moving forward new standards with proper design merit lead to better rigs. It wasn't long ago we rode around on 30+lbs 26" bikes but now (mostly) ride on 29" 30+lb and _under_ bikes with same if not better capabilities and strengths.
Aug. 25, 2021, 6:34 a.m. - JT
I'm not one to totally embrace new goods simply for them being new goods. At one point I thought tapered steerers were dumb because 1.5 existed, and I still feel 142 was a bodge when the industry could've gone 150/157 and negated a bunch of the incremental gains boost provided. I do have a smidge of hope as the industry is seemingly embracing the UDH (talk about a game changer for yer gear changer) and the all too (painfully) slooooow adoption of T47. And honestly, 34.9 makes a lot more sense on dropper posts for the same reason we want larger stanchions. As one who owns and rides a 26" fs bike, I haven't bumped into the new tire dilemma yet, but new rims are another story. I may miss out on the latest n greatest rear shock whizbang with the embrace of metric standard rear shocks, but the one I have works well enough, has a ton of adjustments, and I can still source seal kits. Having played with the idea of getting a new one, I found enough of em online to negate any of that concern. Couple years down the road I anticipate that to change, but I also anticipate needing a new frame since everything has a fatigue life cycle, which is especially important to keep in mind when things get ridden hard. Key reason I don't buy used sus forks right there. My take is new standards blow on the first outing because of the past, but for moving forward new standards with proper design merit lead to better rigs. It wasn't long ago we rode around on 30+lbs 26" bikes but now (mostly) ride on 29" 30+lb and _under_ bikes with same if not better capabilities and strengths.