ZeYetiBastard

" I think part of this reasoning comes from the fact the we subconsciously want newcomers to suffer the same way we did, to go through the same painful rites of passage in order to become a 'real' mountain biker. " Damn right... that's just the way it always was... to become a Navy Seal you have to complete training camp and earn your Spot! Anything other is just pretending and "sporting" medals not earned yourself in a bloody battle! ;) *Irony off* As for this "You'll need a Hardtail to learn..." type of thing... I'll tell you one thing! Nowadays noone has to accomplish driving school on a Ford T Model or has to buy a Honda RN73 just to become a "real-true-sweat-blood-and-this-stuff" Motocross-Dude! Guess what? That's all bulls**t - let's make it clear: Nobody can call himself some kind of a "true" Mountainbiker - if he hasn't survived the "MTB Bootcamp" on a Klunker. Going down the Tracks of the DH WC Circuit for not less that 12 months... everyone else is just a plain sissy! R. Lee Ermey would tell you that!

@nik-h: Can't agree more! I've used and killed some MTB-specific gloves over the years - BUT I've a pair of Thor S9 ACs in red! Used and abused on downhill tracks - as a bike messenger - even while kayaking i used them! They're still in pretty good shape - leather grippy as new - only the color has a bit of fading from the sun. Gut a small hole during a crash - the hole never was getting bigger. I simply love these gloves! Together with the TLD XC gloves a benchmark item! Goodlooking - best quality - fair priced! Even James May, Richard Hammond and Jeremy Clarkson would love them...

This "multiple impact"-thingy is quite a big game right now. I read the same ideas about testing, researching and some new ideas and all of this not only in the biking world but with Hockey and American Football too. Think in Moto are similar discussions going on... don't know as i only play hockey and go biking at the moment. As i play a lot of hockey i wonder why there's no collaboration between the Corporations in different sports - as the helmets in hockey DO actually hit the ice - boards - whatever A LOT per game. So they should be "multiple-impact" designs... don't they? But compared to MTB helmets i don't see a single marketing campaign running only on the thesis "Multiple-Impact"... so every time i read an article in some way or another bikerelatet - I'm left behind with a taste of "that's only another bloody marketing phrase"... I don't know man... many players in hockey or American Football have suffered from multiple-concussions a lot. What makes me wonder is the following: There are some sports which are in an drastic need of some really safe-multiple-impact-helmets... all sports which rally a monsterous amount of money-loaded leagues, corporations, brands, investment-groups, whatever. Isn't it impossible to create a special departement to research this issue? To come up with a solution that really works? With some sience-backed-up datas and testing precedures (or call them "standards")?! Why is every sport working on his own - as it seems?

Hill joining the YT Mob next year...

Technically it has a lot to offer!! Finest parts - phantastic colored - great one! BUT... i really can't see if it is trying to sport the Star Sprangled or the Union Jack... first thought was: Bloody hell - Palmer is joining the World Champs!!

The Kiwi Paintjob is only inferior to the Speatfire V10...

No qualifier - just one run for everyone and that's count! The guy with the best and most creative line or run wins! Just as simple as that!

Sad enough, that so many companys aren't able to work out their "own" design for a proper helmet. The only ones which are different from scratch are TLD and urge helmets - any other helmets are either crappy lookin like a hollywood model on crack or beeing copied even worser as the saying goes only the chinese could do... Even the visor is the same as of the parachute...

Really have to thank you for this article - that's what I#m sayin'for a long time: "On a Hardtail you learn riding well, get a feeling for the terrain you're in and pick your line carefully!" I own a lot of bikes for different terrains - beneath some trackbikes and fixed roadbikes i got a Freeride Bike, a BMX for my Pumptrack, a CXFR for fun and a Hardtail MTB for some jumping, trailsurfin and whatever comes to my mind. I my area you didn't really need a DH rig for the majority of the trails - and i see a lot of youngsters wigglin' their DH rigs down the trail - not realising that a huge percentage of the run is getting done by the bike itself. So it's just like a MX as a beginner or even a horse - if you want to learn to ride it - it's really necessary to train on a bike which supports your skill level! None gets his first drive in a car on a Maserati - in driving school you'll stick with something smaller and less powerful - same goes for flightschool as someone is training on a chopper or plane. So for the start get yourself a proper Hardtail which is versatile and with time comes skills and a better knowing of what type or rider you are and what terrain or kind of riding you'll prefer. Buit most people seem to choose a "krasses" or "derbes" Bike over a clever decision to master the bike itself. Takes patience and most people didn't seem to have to confidence so start on a "low" bike.