peterk profile

I figure you would find something similar when looking at the jump in price between bike builds with straight gauge vs butted spokes, basic rims vs Stans/DT, NX vs GX, resin-pad only rotors vs standard rotors, etc... where the low cost option is pretty much being given away.

The shim plates are almost necessary for CB's because otherwise the 'beater rails wear grooves into the shoes and the connection becomes sloppy with lots of vertical play even after cleat replacement. Nice to hear about the multiple shoe lifespan. This kind of wear isn't as much of an issue with SPD from my experience.

I'm interested in what kind of maintenance regime and lifespan Andrew gets out of his pedals. Every time they come out with a new version they are like "trust us, these ones are better than the last ones, we swear!" Do you have to buy more than the base model? When I was running CB's, I had to bin the set ($50) every year whereas I've had SPD's 520's (also $50) that I've used with 0 maintenance for 7 years now.

Products like this (and Shimano dual action shifting) are unfairly targeteted in "ReMEmbER tHEse 10 wOrST bIKe pArTS?" articles when there are real shit bike parts that still plague stock bikes to this day: stock tires that use hockey puck rubber, organic brake pads, non-tubeless rims, shit cable routing, disposable rear hubs, remote lockouts etc...

I too enjoy the articles. Imagine if bike companies read what he writes. We would have better bikes coming right out of the box!

Riding from somewhere else to the trails is also a great idea from a safety perspective. Not specific to the shore, but many places have trails that spill out or cross the access road. Less cars = less danger for our fellow riders.

Really think our distributors will pass on the savings of any potential export reimbursements?

Interesting concept and I've done it on a couple of bikes, but trying to stay on top of the standards really ruins finding hubs on sale and resale value. Thought about doing this to a fatbike, (26×4 and 29×3) but decided to build up a used 29er instead.

not to open up the can of worms, but I think Amanda was referring to the next step up: ambassadors who get bikes for free replacing racers who get bikes for free.

I think people riding 160mm bikes on Frisby Ridge could use a Man Specific Bike

And something that is not normally thought about, but climbing trails can get "blown out" too. Why not restrict these things to shuttle trails? They are built to handle the traffic, and more environmentally friendly than a bunch of bros driving up and down in one ton trucks.

just be glad you don't go through tires, rims, suspension bushings, and brake pads as often as shore riders.

Is the "but they have been accepted in Europe" argument even valid? You can't really compare riding doubletrack and alpine bike park through farmer's fields that are already serviced by paved roads and chairlifts where the wildlife have been scared away to what we have going on here. Look how sparse Austria is on Trailforks! They probably aren't even allowed to ride singletrack outside of a bike park there! Why did Rocky Mountain have to spec flat bars and semi slick Continentals in order to sell bikes in Germany? Because mountain biking is different over there.

what about flat-ish multiuse. Does anyone want 500W of pedal assisted braaap coming at them out of a blind corner? When did biking become all about mass consumption of trails rather than just enjoying the time outside? Why can't people wait for their slower partners? What if we get 20km/hr speed limits on multi-use pathways because old people (who drove to the trails) panic when they get passed?

People also need to realize that if you are chasing meaningful PR's or KOM's, you need perfect conditions. Trail conditions have to be just right, and more importantly, they can't be busy. You have to find a time of day when you won't encounter oncoming riders or hikers that will force you to slow down, move off line, or stop. You shouldn't be chasing a downhill strava PR when there are other people on the trail. And if you are shuttling, please pause your GPS so you don't steal KOM's on the road climb.

The forward thinking approach would be to just determine that there are trails where they are suitable (official trails shuttle trails, downhill specific trails, motocycle trails, multi-use trails that have been taken over by bikes), and unsuitable (climb trails, 2-way trails with poor sight lines, busy multi-use where user conflicts are already occurring, anything unsanctioned/illegal), and develop a policy and let the e-bikers form their own association and beg to the hikers, horse riders and mountain bikers for expanded access. Maybe the riders will get bored of the few options then buy a real bike?

The problem is these things are being marketed as a "playing field leveler" so you can keep up with those friends and family that are such jerks that they won't even spin a couple of chill laps around the local adaptive loop with you or wait for you on the climb.

Does anyone here ride 2-way trails? It is terrifying that inexperienced riders can be just a couple of pedal strokes from 30km/hr on sections with poor visiblity. Sure a strava hunter could do the same, but there are only a handful of them, and they only last for 30mins.