You remember when we were going to ride toads a few years ago and your handlebars were creaking?
Why did you change them?
@jstuhlman , listen up
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- Thread starter jackalope
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You remember when we were going to ride toads a few years ago and your handlebars were creaking?
Why did you change them?
@jstuhlman , listen up
I can think of a better one.
I like it. Clever using different rear designs. Clean lines on the frame too.
There's plenty of reason to worry in general due to how carbon fails (not saying this is a GG issue) - https://www.outsideonline.com/2311816/carbon-fiber-bike-accidents-lawsuits
I don't have any personal reason to buy carbon. I've dented aluminum frames but have never had one unable to get me home, while I've seen people walking back broken carbon frames. Buying a replacement alloy chainstay for one I've dented is a lot cheaper than buying a carbon one. A warranty is great, but I'd rather not have to use it because time off the bike sucks. I could stand to loose a few lbs off myself before my bike, so weight isn't a thing for me. In general I prefer aluminum, and as long as I can find alloy frames with suspension and geometry that work for me I'll stick with those; although if I find a frame that works better for me that's only available in carbon I'll buy it and deal with it. Haven't had to do that yet though. Sounds like GG have a process and formula they have good oversight on which would make me more likely to give them a shot if their geo worked for me.
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Disinfecting wounds in combat zones?
Jeez, I barely remember that, and have no idea how you do.You remember when we were going to ride toads a few years ago and your handlebars were creaking?
Why did you change them?
But anyway, bars are different than frames. It's easier for me to understand why some people are scared of carbon bars as compared to frames. I still ride with carbon bars anyway, but regardless I don't keep a bar (aluminum or carbon) for more than a couple years.
I understand the theoretical concern about catastrophic failures of carbon vs. aluminum. I just don't see it enough in the real world to justify the worry. There was a time when I might have agreed but that time is long past.
My personal experience (and I don't know how accurate/true it is), is that pressing in new bearings in my Pivot carbon frame pretty much resets the feel of the bike. Even after 5 seasons, my carbon frame felt as nice and stiff as the first day I got it with fresh bearings. On the contrary, I always felt that aluminum frames tend to loose their original feel and stiffness after a couple of season, even with new bearings pressed in.
There's a clear possibility that the alu frames I got were not as well designed as the carbon frame that didn't seem to age at all...but I always wondered if it could be a matter of aluminum being softer and perhaps getting slightly looser around the bearings with time. I would be interested in hearing about people think about this... Is my observation accurate, or are alu and carbon equivalent in that regard and it's just a matter a frame better engineered than the other?
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this definitely touches on what i'm getting at (beyond more than anecdotal evidence). @OGRipper i definitely agree that modern carbon is light years better than what was being produced in the mid '00s, but i think there's a lack of understanding how carbon performs over its lifespan (and there's even some debate as to what constitutes that lifespan), especially given the difference in failure mode and fatigue to the material itself. I'd be curious to see how robust the FMEA (if any) done for a carbon component is.
RC to FC ratio still off. Just ask Steve 
I think I've only had 2 frames that I've kept for more than 2-3 seasons so I can't say I've ever noticed that. I had an 07 Reign X for 7 years that never felt any looser assuming good bearings but tolerances were pretty good on that bike and even when my weight creeps up I only hit 185lbs.
this is one of the things i talk about "lifespan", especially since i pretty much always have a frame for longer than 5 years. the length of time a given rider (original owner) still varies a lot, but i'd say more people now buy (new) more frequently. I'm not one of those people. The "youngest" bike i currently own is from 2013, and I am not the original owner.
Yeah, I definitely don't keep a mountain bike for more than a few years these days, so whether a frame will last longer than that is not much concern to me. Still, it's my uneducated understanding that aluminum frames have the shortest fatigue life as compared to other materials commonly used for bike frames. There are smarter people here who can compare and contrast in more detail.
Anyway the fact that even GG is shifting to carbon should tell you something.
Anyway the fact that even GG is shifting to carbon should tell you something.
i just was hoping for the return of a dh sled, i'm in no need of a trailbike anytime soon...
I remember reading an ali/carbon handlebar test in a bike mag 2-3 years ago. They tested the stiffness of the handlebars and then ran the fatigue test. All the bars that survived were tested for their stiffness again and some of the carbon bars had lost some. I think I recall that a Ritchey bar got quite soft. None of the ali bars showed this behavior and only some carbon bars. BTW: Renthals broke before the end of the test, both carbon and ali.
For all these carbon tests, they need to scratch up the carbon with sharp rocks and THEN run their tests.
True, but that's just one aspect of a bike. One that matters, but still just one. I actually think this is some of the coolest stuff I've seen in a long time, the way they've gone about this project is brilliant. And since they already have the modular seatstay program going on, if they wanted to they could relatively easily make a long chainstay variant that'd alter the FC/RC ratio too. But more impact resistant carbon, more efficient manufacturing, US built AND super competitive on price? That's not just "impressive", that's fucking incredible.RC to FC ratio still off. Just ask Steve
I'd say it's likely these guys will be at least 3x their current size by the end of next year.
The one draw back to me was short chainstay.......but everything else they are doing makes up for it in spades. So hopefully they screw up a chainstay and make it 435 for me
Or ill do the CAD work and they can slap it in there haas .But again what they are doing is amazing. Stoked for you all.
The Megatrail has a 432 CS, which is pretty close. The Shred has a 423 which is getting short but would be fun to rideThe one draw back to me was short chainstay.......but everything else they are doing makes up for it in spades. So hopefully they screw up a chainstay and make it 435 for me
But again what they are doing is amazing. Stoked for you all.
We lengthened the chainstays on the Megatrail and The Smash for this year...The one draw back to me was short chainstay.......but everything else they are doing makes up for it in spades. So hopefully they screw up a chainstay and make it 435 for me
But again what they are doing is amazing. Stoked for you all.
First, congrats! So rad!
Second, why not keep the aluminum? Seems like the the fixed costs of jigs and whatnot are paid for...so for the Ali bike you just skip to step 3 = profit. Perhaps I over simplify here...
Oh and I have a spare unicorn, so if you need more farts, I'd be happy to contract out one of mine lol
Second, why not keep the aluminum? Seems like the the fixed costs of jigs and whatnot are paid for...so for the Ali bike you just skip to step 3 = profit. Perhaps I over simplify here...
Oh and I have a spare unicorn, so if you need more farts, I'd be happy to contract out one of mine lol
Manufacturing capacity. Today's order volume definitely confirms there would not be the capacity to make both lines of frames.
This was what I was thinking.
Also precludes the possibility of some custom geo.
Capacity is a always a bitch.
I’m not interested in carbon, but I am a fan of US manufacturing and figuring out how to do it at a competitive price, if only so as to continue that US manufacturing. Doing it all yourself from the ground up isn’t easy.
I’m pretty certain us Retromonkeys are not representative when it comes to plastic bikes, either. I don’t see how a company could survive long on aluminum only.
The new bikes are a bit prettier too.
Very cool. Congrats guys.
I’m pretty certain us Retromonkeys are not representative when it comes to plastic bikes, either. I don’t see how a company could survive long on aluminum only.
The new bikes are a bit prettier too.
Very cool. Congrats guys.
Have you heard about these guys? https://www.liteville.com/en/
Their frames are often in touch with carbon when it comes to weight but often have the better stiffness to weight ratio.
made for munich dentists
Do it like other companies in a far off land with people that may be of age working with a gun at their back for a bowl of rice a day.......
Give this man some props for the reference^
I fear the new dawn of shithead millennials who don't know the DKs because they're not on instagram.
I fear the new dawn of shithead millennials who don't know the DKs because they're not on instagram.