#!markdown
Change that doesn't significantly improve my riding experience is just
marketing b.s. I rode through all the major mountain bike revolutions: front
suspension, full suspension, fat rubber, and disc brakes, all which instantly
and obviously changed what we could do on a bike. Dropper posts and carbon
frames aren't quite in the same league, but at least I noticed the benefit. In
contrast, I've extensively demoed these past few pseudo innovations: 29″
wheels, 27.5″ wheels, 1x drive-trains, long and slack geometry, new hub
standards etc. which all feel worse than my trusted 26″ Carbon Nomad. We all
know there's something fundamentally wrong with all these companies
continually hyping the newest and greatest, which are no more fun to ride than
what we were paying a third less for only a few years ago. These changes are
just a technological fetish, for the bikes are good enough. Meaningful
innovation from here should make them cheaper, and produce them in a more
socially and environmentally responsible manner.
April 25, 2015, 6:43 p.m. - Stewart Spooner
#!markdown Change that doesn't significantly improve my riding experience is just marketing b.s. I rode through all the major mountain bike revolutions: front suspension, full suspension, fat rubber, and disc brakes, all which instantly and obviously changed what we could do on a bike. Dropper posts and carbon frames aren't quite in the same league, but at least I noticed the benefit. In contrast, I've extensively demoed these past few pseudo innovations: 29″ wheels, 27.5″ wheels, 1x drive-trains, long and slack geometry, new hub standards etc. which all feel worse than my trusted 26″ Carbon Nomad. We all know there's something fundamentally wrong with all these companies continually hyping the newest and greatest, which are no more fun to ride than what we were paying a third less for only a few years ago. These changes are just a technological fetish, for the bikes are good enough. Meaningful innovation from here should make them cheaper, and produce them in a more socially and environmentally responsible manner.