mhaager2 profile

Why a steel front triangle rather than aluminum? I guess aluminum is a little bit harder to work with but not crazy and it would offer significant weight savings. I guess steel offers better longevity but likey geometry trends would change before your aluminum wears out.

I really wish they would make glasses like these for prescription lens wearers. I can't stand contacts.

Granted they are in totally different classes but hypothetically, if you only got to keep one bike, your Druid or this Canfield,  which one would you pick and why?

Here in AB conditions are usually dry to very dry. I agree with your assessment of biodegrade lubes -- tried the whistler based stuff and found it really gums up your drivetrain unfortunately.  I've had good results with Muc Off Dry lube on both road and MTB. I do find you need to apply it more often than wet lubes but it does make for a cleaner drivetrain in dusty conditions. I used to ride costal BC more often before kids and when my friend lived on the island.  At that time in those condition wet lube was hands down the way to go.  I haven't seen any of the lubes you mentioned around here anywhere but you have made me curious.

Love the kids articles.  I set my kids up tubeless as well but the one bike with wire bead just kept losing air too quickly.  I'd love to see a more detailed description of how you built up the rim with gorilla tape

I'm surprised so many people like the mullet set up. I had a Banshee Scream in the early 2000s that came with a 26 / 24 mullet setup and I really didn't like the feel of how it cornered.  I thought it might have been that the different sized wheels have different turning radii. Also I know it's vain,  but i just don't like the look.

I wonder how much of an upgrade a grip2 damper would provide over my grip Fox34, and vs upgrading to a Fox 36 grip2.

Yeah I did see his points but again, there is always the latest and greatest coming down the pipe.  Spotting a prototype in the real world or online really does not give you any information as to when its coming.  It really also does not give you much info about how it actually rides or even if its better than the previous iteration.  I obviously don't know for sure, but I really doubt that (even without the current situation of increased demand and decreased supply) that a spy shot like this is going to have a measurable impact on sales of current models. If there is data to dispute that then I'm happy to stand corrected.

I'm going to take a different angle on this, by not commenting on whether taking the photo was wrong or not. Instead my thoughts are why do bike companies care if people see these or not in the first place? I know it's not just bike companies either.  Remember when that Apple employee left his prototype phone in a bar accidentally?Secrecy around consumer products is a bit over the top IMO. Most of the time what is coming has already been predicted with astounding accuracy, and most new products are evolutionary rather than revolutionary.  When was the last time a product release genuinely surprised or amazed you?  Also given the rapidity of product release cycles these days its hard to argue that your competitors could react in a timely and meaningful manner to spy shots of your product. I think these industries need to take a step back and reexamine the big picture before getting all bent out of shape.

Best. Movie. Quote. Ever.

I have a question.  How does heavy braking affect the feel of the rear suspension on the Druid? Is it a night and day difference between brakes on and off?  It's my one hesitation on this bike.