tashi profile

NSMB is a small digitally biased slice of a geographically skewed demographic with a particular riding style and terrain. 

I personally wouldn’t make much connection between a lack of uptake here and potential for success in the market.

It's a wild learning curve eh?  

I've been working on it all year this year and am constantly surprised that I'm not washing out and stopping dead and endoing when I'm putting all this pressure on the front end, particularly on rough and slippery stuff.  Would have been endoing everywhere on my 90's bikes if I tried to ride like this.

I'm a cynical old mountain biker who loves things serviceable, stock and simple and hate proprietary parts and I LOVE this bike.

I think having the shock integrated into the structure in an interesting concept with some serious advantages, and if it's being made mostly from off the shelf parts than I think that could really mitigate or eliminate the serviceability/support compromise required.  If I could afford this price point I'd be all over it and I'm really curious if this can inspire a growth of similar designs.  

If nothing else kudos for making something that's actually interesting, this is the first really interesting new bike I've seen in a while!

I’ve come across a version with a super long adjustment slot combined with the QR - I think it was a SR?

Goddam I'm loving the "passion" on display around this little product. :)

I'd be pretty interested in trying it, I've used lots of steering dampners on urban bikes and wondered how they'd be on the mountain bike if they worked just a little differently...just like how they happen to be describing it actually.  Would be pretty cool if this evolves into an aftermarket or easily/cheaply added or removed OEM frame feature a la chain guide mounts.

Edit: it seems like it could be very easy to design as an ad-on product - special headset spacey plus a anchor box that mounts to the top tube with metal bands or something. Even better if there’s a little threaded boss on the top of the top tube.

The south of France is really quite nice.  Big recommend from me.

Whenever I start think i “need” this or that upgrade on the mountain bike I catch a glimpse of my Cross-Check and I’m back to reality. It may never be the BEST bike for any particular purpose but whenever I choose it it’s the RIGHT bike for the job. It’s been a great third-world tourer, CX racer, winter road bike, groad bike, child hauler, MacRide trail bike, SS high-speed commuter and for every role it’s opened up an awesome time on the bike where the bike was in no way holding me back.

Turns out the quiver killer is basically a hybrid with good tire clearance. 🤷🏼‍♂️

Cool bike and story but I’m really here to brag that I HAVE jumped a 2002, on dirt. 

Highly recommended bad idea but check your rear shock towers condition first.

Hey Mr. F, thanks for taking the time to learn to write well.  I really appreciate that someone has the ability the articulate my feelings better than I can!

100% in agreement with everything you've written here.

Holy heck that’s a nice P-Clamp, thanks for introducing me to those. 👍🏼

Bolted on over to their site after I read your post, basically no normal sizes available anymore.

Some XL and XXL’s at nice prices though.

Edit: 7mesh Glidepath pants are on sale at the Mountain Equipment Company in all sizes, took a gamble on some of those.

How’s the spring tension compare on those vs XT’s and XTR’s? 

I have it in my head that you couldn’t set em as tight.

Ya I get 2-3 years out of XT Trails then chuck em as axles never seem to be available when I need em and I just can’t be bothered to faff around with those tiny bearings any more. 

Practical rebuildability might have me considering the Chromags next time, but pedals are one of those products that I’m pretty wary about experimenting with so I dunno…

I have it in my head that XT & XTR have higher spring tension than the lower models, does anyone know if that's still true?

I kinda want these Chromag pedals (non-BA) as an colourful, cooler alternative to the XT Trails that I always run, but it seems like they JUST missed the mark on this one.

Yeah for custom with no plans of playing with height, this makes sense. 

When comparing stock frames this sounds just like like sizing up in order to achieve a desired handlebar height and not lose reach.

Why would one prefer a long head tube to a short head tube/long steerer tube combo?

Seems a short head tube would allow for more sizing options, while a long one limits them.

Well I’m sure this thread sorted him right out.

Oh fuck that’s a cool bike. 

If it’s a 19” and you ever want to sell it…

I run that bar on my Longtail with a 7/8 BMX threadless stem and it really works well with that bike - wide, upright swept back and very stiff is great on a massive motorized bike with moped tires and two children aboard. 

I also have one on my 80’s mountain bike and it’s great but the weight is noticeable (but doesn’t matter as much as riding position and style) as it’s actually a pretty light bike.  7/8” super wide split clamp quill stem on that bike so it works out perfectly, most bike handlebars aren’t compatible.

7/8” to 31.8 shims are pretty cheap and easy to come by but I probably would choose something lighter for high-performance riding of any sort.

When I get cranky about things other people do I try and remember that you can’t control what other people do, but you have full control of how you feel about it. Saves me a lot of stress and anger.