[Olly]

The little industry is pretty cool. The likes of Starling, BTR, Zerode, GG, Vorsprung, Dark Owl, Tantrum and even Chris Porter / Mojo. All trying new and interesting things which are too niche or high risk for big corporate to be bothered with. It's fun to watch, even if some of them are completely bananas.

 

[slyfink]

The little industry is pretty cool. The likes of Starling, BTR, Zerode, GG, Vorsprung, Dark Owl, Tantrum and even Chris Porter / Mojo. All trying new and interesting things which are too niche or high risk for big corporate to be bothered with. It's fun to watch, even if some of them are completely bananas.

I wonder if Stan's notubes fits into this category. They were the little players with a crazy idea and made it work. And despite mixed success, they're a pretty darn big player in the field nowadays. I can't say that I outride my Stans rims... they're pretty dang good.

 

[johnbryanpeters]

I wonder if Stan's notubes fits into this category. They were the little players with a crazy idea and made it work. And despite mixed success, they're a pretty darn big player in the field nowadays. I can't say that I outride my Stans rims... they're pretty dang good.

I second this motion.

 

[SylentK]

Roadtrips don't suck

 

[Nick]

Roadtrips don't suck

all depends ...

 

[Sandwich]

lift assisted downhill riding.

 

[FlipSide]

The little industry is pretty cool. The likes of Starling, BTR, Zerode, GG, Vorsprung, Dark Owl, Tantrum and even Chris Porter / Mojo. All trying new and interesting things which are too niche or high risk for big corporate to be bothered with. It's fun to watch, even if some of them are completely bananas.

So true! The little companies are the last and only chance we have to avoid total lizard domination and they are the incarnation of whatever soul remains in our sport! I try to encourage them as much as I can: PUSH, Gravity Dropper, Thomson, Balfa (RIP), Profile (BMX), Standard (BMX), etc. When I'll buy a new hardtail, it will quite probably be a Chromag.

I guess we could also add Chris King and Industry Nine to your list. I'm sure there are several others worth mentioning as well.

 

[jonKranked]

I wonder if Stan's notubes fits into this category. They were the little players with a crazy idea and made it work. And despite mixed success, they're a pretty darn big player in the field nowadays. I can't say that I outride my Stans rims... they're pretty dang good.

Idk if I necessarily agree. Bicycling was the outlier for still using tubes in pneumatic tires.

 

[William42]

Our lizard overlords dont suck

 

[toodles]

Our lizard overlords dont suck

 

[toodles]

Good dropper posts
DD casings
Proper tyre compounds
Modern bike geometry

 

[troy]

dis.

 

[StiHacka]

lift assisted downhill riding.

You just made me cry a little.

 

[cecil]

My ex wife

Wait, nevermind

 

[Jm_]

Seals

 

[intensified]

29 er dh bikes, ironic buyer direct companies

 

[Jm_]

29 er dh bikes, ironic buyer direct companies

Wrong thread.

 

[HAB]

The little industry is pretty cool. The likes of Starling, BTR, Zerode, GG, Vorsprung, Dark Owl, Tantrum and even Chris Porter / Mojo. All trying new and interesting things which are too niche or high risk for big corporate to be bothered with. It's fun to watch, even if some of them are completely bananas.

You mean like these?

Both mine

 

[tacubaya]

You mean like these?

Both mine

 

[Bike078]

You mean like these?

Both mine

How does the hardtail handle? This month I'll be getting a frame (dartmoor hornet) that is longer than I'm used to although certainly not as long as the nicolai. It has shortish 425 mm chainstays though.

 

[chris_f]

The fact that rekindling my love for DH was the missing piece that (in addition to rehab, twice) made me able to kick a lifelong drug habit.

27.5" wheels, because it let me pick up a pristine, barely used 26" V10.5 last summer, which was my unobtanium dream bike for some time.

The fact that this forum is still around.

 

[Nick]

The fact that rekindling my love for DH was the missing piece that (in addition to rehab, twice) made me able to kick a lifelong drug habit.

27.5" wheels, because it let me pick up a pristine, barely used 26" V10.5 last summer, which was my unobtanium dream bike for some time.

The fact that this forum is still around.

joined 2007 ... 23 posts?
chris, dude, speak up man!

 

[chris_f]

Working on it!

 

[HAB]

How does the hardtail handle? This month I'll be getting a frame (dartmoor hornet) that is longer than I'm used to although certainly not as long as the nicolai. It has shortish 425 mm chainstays though.

Awesome. The BTR actually has 420mm chainstays, so it's fairly short on that front too. 480mm reach, 56mm BB drop, 62 degree head angle, 120mm fork.

The things that really make a trail bike hardtail work, IMO, are making it really low, really slack, and not putting too long a fork on it. There's no rear suspension obviously, so the bike only gets steeper as it goes through the travel. So starting from a very slack point, and not having a huge amount of travel to make that effect more extreme really helps. It's a hardtail, it's never going to be cushy.

 

[Bike078]

Awesome. The BTR actually has 420mm chainstays, so it's fairly short on that front too. 480mm reach, 56mm BB drop, 62 degree head angle, 120mm fork.

The things that really make a trail bike hardtail work, IMO, are making it really low, really slack, and not putting too long a fork on it. There's no rear suspension obviously, so the bike only gets steeper as it goes through the travel. So starting from a very slack point, and not having a huge amount of travel to make that effect more extreme really helps. It's a hardtail, it's never going to be cushy.

62 degree head angle! The hornet is not as slack with only 65. It's a 27.5 frame that was built around a 160 fork but can take 180 and even a dual crown according to the website. However, I'll be using a 26" wheels and fork. Do you think I should raise the travel to 180 to compensate or leave it at 160?

 

[Electric_City]

Kuat racks

Hadley hubs

Hope brakes

Devinci frames

Avalanche racing

KS droppers

 

[TrumbullHucker]

The fact that rekindling my love for DH was the missing piece that (in addition to rehab, twice) made me able to kick a lifelong drug habit.

27.5" wheels, because it let me pick up a pristine, barely used 26" V10.5 last summer, which was my unobtanium dream bike for some time.

The fact that this forum is still around.

 

[manhattanprjkt83]

160 bikes, NOT 170
Push eleven 6
any video george ryan puts out
NE bike parks in the fall
e.13 tires
shimano everything
not flow trails
gform pads
mission workshop hauser
porsche 997 911's w/ roof racks
Technical trails which 'flow' - no berms just rocks and drops that work out.
NEIPA's
BC made chromags
POC tectal for trail
That 'thudping' sound your bike makes when it's just a silent tire/rim slam
burgtec pedals and stem
EVIL
forums, would be cool if we had real discussion back.

 

[Westy]

I wonder if Stan's notubes fits into this category. They were the little players with a crazy idea and made it work. And despite mixed success, they're a pretty darn big player in the field nowadays. I can't say that I outride my Stans rims... they're pretty dang good.

I met Stan several times as I passed through his little hometown on occasion. I'd call ahead and swing by to buy stuff rather than having it shipped. He ran a carwash and go-kart track and started all the bike stuff in a small and very crowded garage from the kart track. Very enthusiastic dude. He showed me prototype rim designs well before he put anything on the market.

 

[toodles]

Those near crashes that you somehow ride out of unbelievably.

 

[troy]

shimano everything

 

[Jim Mac]

Things that don't suck in my neck o' the woods:

*Having 2 places to ride trail bikes close to home - 5 min and 20 min drives, respectively.
*Having two evil demon childlings, both places are "kid friendly": playground close by at local place, downhill dirt for littlest one to coast down; 20 min drive place also has pump track and dirt jumps.
*As I spend more time with kids and bikes, I am happy to have a multitude of BMX tracks close by - 20 minutes for the closest and three in 1 hours drives. BMX is ever more retro grouch that this lizard lot will eva be!!
*Maxxis tires, still.
*narrow/wide rings - race face

 

[Fool]

When a portable pumptrack velodrome thing appears from out of fucking nowhere in an asphalt playground 5 minutes away from where you live. That does not suck. Even in 20 deg F weather.

 

[slyfink]

When a portable pumptrack velodrome thing appears from out of fucking nowhere in an asphalt playground 5 minutes away from where you live. That does not suck. Even in 20 deg F weather.



View attachment 127824

fucking awesome. All of a sudden, that has me wondering if I could make a version of that... for my kids, and all the other kids in my court (we're up to about 28 kids now I think). It would have to be modular so we can put it out/put it away, and I have no where to store it, but those are questions that have answers... I just need to figure them out. hmmm

 

[kidwoo]

View attachment 127822

*humming to self*

Yep, right click save. Prolly gonna home in handy that one.

 

[maxyedor]

Rocks, rocks are awesome.

On that note, i9 wheels, I hit a lot of rocks, but have not trued a wheel since I forget when.

Also thru-axles on everything. I don't love the idea behind 15x100, but still, having a fork that goes generally in the direction you turn the handlebars is pretty sweet.

Lastly, being able to see my local trail network from my front door, and those trails going on seemingly forever despite being in the greater LA area. My sick-as-fuck dakine tailgate pad goes mostly un-used because it's only a 5 minute spin to go ride my bike on rocks.

 

[Gary]

fucking awesome. All of a sudden, that has me wondering if I could make a version of that... for my kids, and all the other kids in my court (we're up to about 28 kids now I think). It would have to be modular so we can put it out/put it away, and I have no where to store it, but those are questions that have answers... I just need to figure them out. hmmm

These guys are local to me.
http://www.biketrackpeople.com/
Have a look at their site/FB page for ideas. They build, sell and hire out pumptracks and modular bike tracks. They started off building modular tracks from wood but now use composites. My work has one of their old modular wooden tracks. Construction is not difficult or even hugly expensive if you have a garage and basic woodworking tools. you'll need a fair bit of free time though.

 

[6thElement]

When a portable pumptrack velodrome thing appears from out of fucking nowhere in an asphalt playground 5 minutes away from where you live. That does not suck. Even in 20 deg F weather.

I would like to subscribe to their newsletter, as that looks easier than stopping my moondust dirt from blowing away when I get around to building one.

 

[Da Peach]

Riding without glasses... soon. (At least the climbs)

Friends with gear hookups

Motivated trail organizers/builders

Living near their product.

James Bond movies

BC beers (most, Blue Buck sucks)

Ergon grips

Magic Mary tires

Realizing Monday is a day off

 

[FarkinRyan]

Motivated trail organizers/builders
Living near their product.
BC beers (most, Blue Buck sucks)
Realizing Monday is a day off

British Columbia in general does not suck.