Heinous profile

If you’re interested in carbon repair, Raoul is one of the best in the game, he’s even done repairs for warranty on some super high end boutique carbon stuff. It helps having your F-16 carbon repair ticket from Boeing.

https://instagram.com/luescher_teknik?igshid=1svbaqse36bwn

Avoid one injury in the shop - paid for.

EVT stuff is expensive, then you use it and never regret it. Their hanger alignment tool is the best tool I've ever used and as cassette spacing has gotten tighter it's been even more valuable. Brett actually designed the Dura Ace hanger tool, which is why he couldn't bring out the EVT tool, until the the agreement expired. 

Even in World Championship pits, I've had mechanics come just to inspect my one, so they can get their own.

Why not make it 35 even, like modern bars?  One thing I do like about old road stuff is the consistency of dimensions. It’s just nice aesthetically

> Having two seat post sizes is a pain in the ass for everyone; bike shops need more stock, consumers often can't use their old seat post with a new bike, and manufacturers have to make more models, increasing cost for complete bikes and after market parts.

It's arguable that this is more of a positive for customer focussed outfits like BikeYoke than some of the larger OEM players, where obsolescence and incompatibility drive sales and the tolerances and accelerated wear ensure cheaper design elements aren't an issue as the posts don't last long enough.

I'm running BikeYoke posts on all my bikes and the quality and design is a step up from the rest.

That's a pretty thorough review, thanks! 

How is the Capra longevity and YT support now? I had one of the first Capra's and it was probably one of the few bikes worthy of the ubiquitous 'game changer' tag. It was awesome, except every time (3 consecutive frames over 12 months) it cracked and I had to wait for YT to mess me around, or the final time when the new warranty seat stay snapped clean through, hurt me badly in the process, and then it turned out to be a known issue at YT that they'd not recalled.

I've wanted to consider a YT a few times since giving up on that one, but just can't find it in me.

My Moots CX bike was stolen last year, and even though I didn't sell it it's probably the only bikeI've parted ways with that breaks my heart still. God knows it spent more time on mountainbike trails than lapping races.

After that, I feel the occasional twinge for my steel Voodoo Bakka circa 2001.

A lot of the new Pikes have been getting stuck down when new - probably some grease blocking  the equalisation port (and hey, most of the older Rockshox stuff came devoid of any lube at all!)  but definitely a hassle for a few people I know.

I've been on the new XTR for a while, with a Praxis crank / ring, which sadly means an Eagle chain. 

It's been flawless, I'd warrantied 2 Eagle rear derailleurs in the same period last year. My experience with the brakes mirrors yours - they're standout. Better than the 8050 4 pot, saints, and Saint to XTR XC lever combos I've run.

That bike is a super smart spec at a sharp price. Would ride. Most amazingly the SLX bike is cheaper than the GX bike. If other companies can replicate that, the end of Eagle has arrived.

I’d love to see more adjustable BB heights. Or just higher all round, 335mm is super low. 

Maybe someone needs to set up 140mm crank manufacturing.

I had a switchback. Nice bike but lime loads of the trail hardtails I reckon they’re overbuilt in the rear triangle so don’t feel really comfortable.

Riding a bike is inherently unsafe. Carrying a gun changes nothing. 

That’s the problem - people just end up still feeling unsafe, and confuse this with greater risk, not a perceived risk that their gun hasn’t eased, and now they have a firearm to react with. See the state of US armed police response for an illustration of that.

Instead of a firearm, these guys need to accept that life feels risky.

Posted by: JBV

having watched that test, i wonder if measured deflection=riding comfort or if there's more to it.

More deflection equals more rebound so the darling of the bar is important. That’s what I really rate the Spank vibrocore bars. I’ve found the Spike (dh) bar slightly more comfortable than the Oozy (trail) bar at the same width, same grips.

Rather than material, it’s really useful to prioritise stiffness/directness or comfort, cost, safety (if you travel or crash a bit).

Most lubes for that job are either too heavy and wax / cake over the time a post cable is in or migrate. Try a polished Jagwire - slick, and no coating to flake off.

I’ve been really digging my Spartan 29 of late. I’ve said it before in here but have found it so versatile recently it’s stuck me as a near perfect example of the breed. Coil front and rear, just does what it should. It’s taken a load of abuse too.

So many  of the 'trail' hardtails are so overbuilt they're like the DH / Dirtjumpers of old and the ride reflects it. There are a couple of steel options that  ride light and lively similar to Ti, and in my experience the way each frame is put together can mean it's hard to compare Ti and Steel from different builders.

I’d take a Zerode Katipo if I was going gearbox...

I have a Spartan - it’s awesome. Pedals really well, descends awesome. It’s overall really balanced. I’ve put a coil in it, and wouldn’t go back.

The DVO's feel great - the negative coil spring (OTT) gives a lot of the suppleness of a full coil fork. I hopped back on my big bike (Fox 36, Grip2) after riding my SS a lot with a Sapphire 34 and I honestly thought the 36 needed a warranty. It feels rubbish off the top compared, although the Grip2 damper is pretty refined. 

The new 170/80mm DVO Onyx SC 29" fork is available in a couple weeks, but with a big trip planned I decided not to wait and have a Smashpot for my 36.