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This is what's wrong with The Industry™

Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,681
5,613
UK
so a fit and in shape cyclist who has a healthy BMI ?

I'm pretty sure the industry makes hooded jackets for fat middle aged folk too
 
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Electric_City

Torture wrench
Apr 14, 2007
1,999
716
That's what "small" size is for. If you want to call it large, then make it fucking large.

My forearms must be the size of a "healthy" boys quads.
 

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
19,010
9,671
AK
Also, I find really loose winter clothing to be damn cold on a bike, unless it's a heavy shell that you don't want in the first place due to no breathing. If I go riding with a loose base layer or jacket, it feels damn cold to me.
 

Leafy

Monkey
Sep 13, 2019
552
361
Wait what? This new trend in bike geometry has been a godsend for the vertically challenged. I can finally buy a bike with a comfortablely long reach short enough seat tube to not need to have the damn seat slammed. Old geo I'm a size large, cut 6" off the seat tube and run it 2 inches above the collar, new stuff I'm on the boarder between medium and small and can use a dropper.
 

dexter

Turbo Monkey
Sep 23, 2001
3,053
99
Boise, Idaho
Also, I find really loose winter clothing to be damn cold on a bike, unless it's a heavy shell that you don't want in the first place due to no breathing. If I go riding with a loose base layer or jacket, it feels damn cold to me.
Baselayer and mid layer should ALWAYS be snug, outerlayer and insulation should have some room to trap warm air coming off the body and insulate, hence the name. Most folks dont get this and rock a baselayer like a tall t and dont get any of the benefits- warmth, moisture management, etc.
 

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
19,010
9,671
AK
Wait what? This new trend in bike geometry has been a godsend for the vertically challenged. I can finally buy a bike with a comfortablely long reach short enough seat tube to not need to have the damn seat slammed. Old geo I'm a size large, cut 6" off the seat tube and run it 2 inches above the collar, new stuff I'm on the boarder between medium and small and can use a dropper.
Yeah, large frames no long have those hightower top-tubes and 8" long headtubes. It's great.
 

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
19,010
9,671
AK
Baselayer and mid layer should ALWAYS be snug, outerlayer and insulation should have some room to trap warm air coming off the body and insulate, hence the name. Most folks dont get this and rock a baselayer like a tall t and dont get any of the benefits- warmth, moisture management, etc.
I find that big voids/room to trap air can result in being colder, unless we are talking a hard-shell that will trap heat and moisture (anything that claims to be waterproof is usually is not breathable and comfortable unless you got rain to cool you off). I do use loose hard-shells at times, but they have their limitations. For sustained riding, they just won't breathe well enough IME. In the cold, more breathable outer layers generally work better, and those should be worn closer to the skin for moisture transport. You "make" the space with insulation, like down, or the layer of fleece on the inside, etc. That's where the "space" is, not empty voids because your top layer is too loose, that usually leads to trapping moisture.

I agree though about the base-layer, it seems that when it's close/form fitting, it wicks moisture away almost instantly. When you create those voids and cool air hits your damp skin (loose base layer) you get much colder. I think you also get better moisture transport with all of those layers closer together, again keeping you warmer by not getting as wet.

Just my 2c. I think it greatly depends on what kind of outer-layer.
 
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Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
19,010
9,671
AK
Moar suspension fuckery. RS decides to cut down the oil volume to save weight.

"All-New Charger Race Day Damper: I was surprised to learn that the lion's share of the weight savings on both the SL and standard SID comes from an all-new Charger Race Day damper that weighs, get this, just 88-grams. That's with the oil in it, too, although there certainly isn't much of it.

The new damper is a whopping (in this world) 98-grams lighter than what was employed inside the previous SID, and it's obvious to see how they did it: Make it really fricken small. Everything has been shrunk down; the damper body and its internals, the damper rod, the expanding bladder, and especially the oil volume. There isn't even a knob to adjust the rebound anymore, with a clip-on hex key thingy doing the job instead."

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HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,581
2,009
Seattle
Look man, I'm the guy with a 40 on his trail bike. I'm pretty into forks that actually work.

It's a Sid. It's supposed to be light and only vaguely do suspension things.
 

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
19,010
9,671
AK
Well to be fair if the death flex of a sid doesn't irritate you, complete lack of damping of that sweet sweet 80mm of travel probably won't either.
This is 35mm. Get out from under your rock.
 

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
19,010
9,671
AK
What is wrong with this industry, people judging non downhill bike and parts like they are downhill bikes and parts.
That's fair...but it needs to be able to freaking suspend well first and foremost. Otherwise, I've found a rigid fork far better than a crappy suspension fork.
 

buckoW

Turbo Monkey
Mar 1, 2007
3,787
4,733
Champery, Switzerland
What is wrong with this industry, people judging non downhill bike and parts like they are downhill bikes and parts.
People judging anything based on pictures and theoretical expertise with indignant outrage is a pretty fun hobby. Way better than bong shedding or DH bike shredding.
 
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jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
86,043
24,571
media blackout
Moar suspension fuckery. RS decides to cut down the oil volume to save weight.

"All-New Charger Race Day Damper: I was surprised to learn that the lion's share of the weight savings on both the SL and standard SID comes from an all-new Charger Race Day damper that weighs, get this, just 88-grams. That's with the oil in it, too, although there certainly isn't much of it.

The new damper is a whopping (in this world) 98-grams lighter than what was employed inside the previous SID, and it's obvious to see how they did it: Make it really fricken small. Everything has been shrunk down; the damper body and its internals, the damper rod, the expanding bladder, and especially the oil volume. There isn't even a knob to adjust the rebound anymore, with a clip-on hex key thingy doing the job instead."

View attachment 144462


anyone complaining about this needs to keep in mind this is mainly intended for (**coughcoughworldcupcoughcough**) racers, particularly at the level where it's going to be rebuilt frequently by somebody other than the person riding the bike. it'll also be so stiff that any lack of damping performance won't be noticeable.
 

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
19,010
9,671
AK
anyone complaining about this needs to keep in mind this is mainly intended for (**coughcoughworldcupcoughcough**) racers, particularly at the level where it's going to be rebuilt frequently by somebody other than the person riding the bike. it'll also be so stiff that any lack of damping performance won't be noticeable.
And if they were only going to distribute that cart to those riders, that would make sense, but they're going to try and spread the cost by convincing everyone that this is what they need. And it's not a bad idea to make a stiffer chassis and make it available, but then to bash in the knee-caps by putting that kind of damper in it is just ridiculous for 95% of riders that will use it. I understand making stuff light, but for suspension the damn shit has to work first, and WC XCers bash their stuff downhill harder far harder than many people on this board will, it just seems like a bad bad idea. I'd rather take adequate stiffness and decent damping, then better stiffness and fuck-all damping. I even went back to my 32 SC more than a few times because the 34 version was harsher, there were a few races where I appreciated the greater stiffness of the 34, but the better damping of the 32 usually won out.
 

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
86,043
24,571
media blackout
And if they were only going to distribute that cart to those riders, that would make sense, but they're going to try and spread the cost by convincing everyone that this is what they need. And it's not a bad idea to make a stiffer chassis and make it available, but then to bash in the knee-caps by putting that kind of damper in it is just ridiculous for 95% of riders that will use it. I understand making stuff light, but for suspension the damn shit has to work first, and WC XCers bash their stuff downhill harder far harder than many people on this board will, it just seems like a bad bad idea. I'd rather take adequate stiffness and decent damping, then better stiffness and fuck-all damping. I even went back to my 32 SC more than a few times because the 34 version was harsher, there were a few races where I appreciated the greater stiffness of the 34, but the better damping of the 32 usually won out.
UCI rulebook, Part 1 Chapter 3 Subsection 3 Commercialization

1.3.006 Equipment shall be of a type that is sold for use by anyone practicing cycling as a sport. Any equipment in development phase and not yet available for sale (prototype) must be subject of an authorisation request to the UCI Equipment Unit before its use. Authorisation will be granted only for equipment which is in the final stage of development and for which commercialisation will take place no later than 12 months after the first use in competition. The manufacturer may request a single prolongation of the prototype status if justified by the relevant reasons.
 

Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,681
5,613
UK
There isn't even a knob to adjust the rebound anymore, with a clip-on hex key thingy doing the job instead."
Makes sense to me

when did you last ride a super light XC bike? or a stiffly sprung short travel hardtail? (like a DJ bike not a stupid fatbike)
 

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
19,010
9,671
AK
Makes sense to me

when did you last ride a super light XC bike? or a stiffly sprung short travel hardtail? (like a DJ bike not a stupid fatbike)
Well, my racing fatbike IS 22lbs...but I last rode the sub 23lb XC FS race bike last fall.
 

Lelandjt

Turbo Monkey
Apr 4, 2008
2,522
850
Breckenridge, CO/Lahaina,HI
And if they were only going to distribute that cart to those riders, that would make sense, but they're going to try and spread the cost by convincing everyone that this is what they need. And it's not a bad idea to make a stiffer chassis and make it available, but then to bash in the knee-caps by putting that kind of damper in it is just ridiculous for 95% of riders that will use it. I understand making stuff light, but for suspension the damn shit has to work first, and WC XCers bash their stuff downhill harder far harder than many people on this board will, it just seems like a bad bad idea. I'd rather take adequate stiffness and decent damping, then better stiffness and fuck-all damping. I even went back to my 32 SC more than a few times because the 34 version was harsher, there were a few races where I appreciated the greater stiffness of the 34, but the better damping of the 32 usually won out.
Doesn't the 32sc use a downsized version of the older 32's damper with less oil?
 

Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,681
5,613
UK
but I last rode the sub 23lb XC FS race bike last fall.
And how is the suspension set up on that? Stiff right? with light fast rolling tyres?
ie. for efficiency rather than comfort/grip
 

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
19,010
9,671
AK
Doesn't the 32sc use a downsized version of the older 32's damper with less oil?
I don't think it does. The rod may be shorter because the lowers are effectively shorter, but the actual volume is the same I believe.
 

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
19,010
9,671
AK
And how is the suspension set up on that? Stiff right? with light fast rolling tyres?
ie. for efficiency rather than comfort/grip
You may be surprised at how the suspension can be and is set up. The more you have a lockout, the more you can run that and save the suspension for when you need it, and then that suspension can be softer. On endurance races, like more than 50 miles, stuff around 100 miles, I definitely like it to be softer. Really though, providing consistent damping doesn't have much to do with this.

If it was all about efficiency, I wouldn't even use an FS bike. I can put down the watts and not get all banged around with an FS bike (hardtail feels like it's trying to snap my wrists off). The idea that you "don't really need damping" for any off-road riding is ludicrous. It's a non-starter.
 
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Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,681
5,613
UK
Make your mind up what you're talking about please.
it's an XC fork.
WC XC isn't an endurance event is it? it's 90minuteds of laps round the same fairly tame route with a decent amount of climbing.
pretty much every domestic XC series copies this format.
comfort isn't too important for 90minutes