So many things about bike performance and perception of performance parameters are in our heads. Sometimes we put them there because we spent too much money on something or we’re looking for an excuse or confirmation. Other times our riding partners or marketers put that that in our heads. The rider with a bolt upright position and full sticky tires on a super enduro 38 pound bike talking climbing efficiency. Really? You’re worried about an extra pulley bearing and chain wrap when you’re walking some beast uphill?
An old friend who works at Norco told me about stems they had made in the 90s. Their wholesale was about $5 so it retailed for $10. Didn’t sell that well. Next year the stem was changed slightly but they increased the wholesale to $25, retailed at $50 and they sold a ton of them. Perception was that a $10 stem was a POS whereas a $50 stem, even though it was pretty much the same, was good.
High pivot bikes are sold because of their downhill performance. No one really seeks out a high pivot bike to set KOMs on climbs. I mean, move those extra pulleys with your fingers. Can you really feel much drag? Can you really feel the difference with your hands turning pedals? Or riding a bike with 2 kg of tire, insert and sealant? Full max grip? We’re talking minutiae.
That MRP guide looks killer. A brilliant way to tension a single speed.
Oct. 16, 2023, 9:14 a.m. - Andy Eunson
So many things about bike performance and perception of performance parameters are in our heads. Sometimes we put them there because we spent too much money on something or we’re looking for an excuse or confirmation. Other times our riding partners or marketers put that that in our heads. The rider with a bolt upright position and full sticky tires on a super enduro 38 pound bike talking climbing efficiency. Really? You’re worried about an extra pulley bearing and chain wrap when you’re walking some beast uphill? An old friend who works at Norco told me about stems they had made in the 90s. Their wholesale was about $5 so it retailed for $10. Didn’t sell that well. Next year the stem was changed slightly but they increased the wholesale to $25, retailed at $50 and they sold a ton of them. Perception was that a $10 stem was a POS whereas a $50 stem, even though it was pretty much the same, was good. High pivot bikes are sold because of their downhill performance. No one really seeks out a high pivot bike to set KOMs on climbs. I mean, move those extra pulleys with your fingers. Can you really feel much drag? Can you really feel the difference with your hands turning pedals? Or riding a bike with 2 kg of tire, insert and sealant? Full max grip? We’re talking minutiae. That MRP guide looks killer. A brilliant way to tension a single speed.