JBV profile

cool. too bad WAO rims weren't in the test. a German guy i met said anything Syntace makes is no compromise, no cost concerns best of everything. that seems to bear out whenever i read reviews or tests of their stuff.

i also found that Newman review interesting. they sound unique. i did a search and found a purchase review from a German guy on one of the German sites (bike24?) and he had a bad experience.

i'd like to hear the same. i've read a tonne on the subject including a great comprehensive test from some euro mag and their conclusion was. yes there's a slight difference, which plays a almost imperceptible role relative to all the other things going on.

he even makes the climbs look fun.

no doubt. looking at a WAO rim in the flesh is impressive. especially compared to oh, anything else. they look like an image of a carbon rim. like they were spontaneously formed in a vapourizing machine, you know, from carbon vapour. it's hard to detect nary a seam or strand. it's freaky. i don't lust over carbon frames at all, dunno why, but i do these rims.

i see WAO composites is releasing new rims and wheelsets. i'm not sure how the heck they are going to improve on what they've got out there. this must be coming very soon.

to be fair, i mostly see it in videos, not real life riding at least not on purpose. braiding is epidemic though and a well covered rant by me and others in this space. it's due to Strava and enduro racing mentality. that amazing and soft spoken rider 'the privateer' was highly entertaining, probably a great all around guy and the number 1 trail slaying villain i've ever seen on my computer screen. 

another reason IMO- the rise of moto. most pro riders (xc included) ride dirtbikes for fun and training. more and more mature mtbr's ride and own motorbikes. DH is essentially moto on bicycles in one direction. our mtb clothing is moto inspired and moto companies are now full on into mtb.  the moto mentality (and an effective way to ride up steep hills) is endless roost. i dove in myself. had a powerful dirt bike. it was cool, it was dangerous and i broke bones. it was also noisy, destructive and i didn't fit in with other dirtbikers. at all. trails to dirtbikers are a mad max wasteland, there is no interest or concern about anything other than fun or competition. many mtbr's have the same attitude, which is why hikers hate us. we're a community divided.

videos uploaded from our phone that we can watch on another phone, hahaha!  captures the zeitgeist of the day just about right eh.

i don't buy the whole bikes made here are for here thing.  look at pro racing.  RM sponsors guys riding Instinct BC edition bikes with fairly tame geometries all over the globe to great effect along with everyone else. bumps are bumps are bumps. great bikes are great bikes, great suspension is great suspension in coastal BC, the Rockies, Colorado or Ohio.

by way of comparison, i'd like to know what pro race teams use to ensure accurate tire pressure.

love Bonty tires. the SE5 2.6 is a killer tire.

3 minutes into that video and it's about all i need to hear.  homo sapiens basically earth cancer eh.

i'm surprised there's not more Michelin tire fans out there.  the LBS has a wall of Max, a subsection of Mish, a bunch of new Contis and the latest WTB's and E13's. it's a tire fan boy shangri la.

thanks for that thread link. i'm going to try and keep razors sharp on my carhartts.

what is the right answer.

your health.

the love of a good woman. 

strange tail from time to time?

status. without it life is misery. with it life is grand. apparently.

ha!  van life indeed.

hell yes it's dry. like dry the marrow right outta your bones dry. like Australia outback dry.

i just googled Hope vs Magura brakes. interesting forum threads!  ranters and ravers. this is what scares me about boutique brakes. i know if i buy my Zee's from the LBS, they've got my back covered for shizzle. i bought one pair unused of PB and with brakes, i wouldn't even do that again. they either work perfectly or they're fucked from the get go, no matter the brand.