Core Bike Show is nestled a stone's throw away from the Silverstone F1 circuit which is steeped in speed and technology, this transcends into the show too - although the offerings on display over the past few days are better suited to dirt rather than the racetrack but are no less drool-worthy...
to anyone attaching a bag to a post like this. Do NOT overload that bag. It'll bend the bejeezis outta that post. One bent Thompson to prove it (not a dropper thankfully)
@stefanfresh: I was doing a fat bike race with one-hour laps. We used hot water, and Polar bottles, and I made it through each lap without them freezing.
@nojzilla: yeah it looks like it might. My guess is the showroom version wouldn't pass a proper adventure rider's scrutiny. Not that I am one but those guys normally think pretty long and hard about gear and set up. Nobody wants a serious problem at kilometer 150 of a long trip, or whatever.
@conv3rt: Really,how much did you put in that bag.I've been running a command post with a seatbag like on the Kona for 3 seasons zero problem.I weigh 220lbs.
@rideonjon: hey there, it actually wasn't my bag but it was a post I leant to a friend for his adventure. Not too sure the exact weight but he made no attempt to deny or shy away from making it up to me. Point being, there is a limit and it might be lower than you think. Good to double check. It bent at the bottom of the carrier clamp and the post deformed to the shape of the clamp. luckily it stayed bent and didn't break, so he could finish his trip.
@conv3rt: Wow i'm very surprised,he must be a big guy.I can't imagine one of these bags being able to carry more than 25lbs and riders weight can vary considerably more than that.
@rideonjon: looking closer at this bag design it looks like the seat post connection is Velcro which should let go before it overweight's it. My buddy, a light guy, had a seat bag that clamped onto the seattube only. Overweighting it would have a much worse outcome.
@the-dean: maybe. I think the seat strap might stop you before letting you get too low. I'm no expert on these by the way. My rides almost never go more that a few hours.
@stefanfresh: A fatbike could also be a good choice for someone traveling through very loose sand, gravel etc. But for all riding where a fatbike is ideal, I'd use a bottle with a cap if I'd have to mount it that low. If freezing is a concern, a waterbladder in the backpack might be a better choice.
@vinay: what if the water in the backpack froze and then ur stuck with a lump of ice on your back? ; ) It was just a thought when I saw it, nothing else
@stefanfresh: This never happened to me so I'm not sure if this is likely in more extreme conditions. Probably also depends on the type of bag. Some are designed to fit under your shirt, some are designed to fit further away to promote ventilation. Your back radiates quite some heat so it takes quite some ambient cold to freeze the pack from the other side. I don't know. At 0degC I ride in a T-shirt. If I'm riding the commuter with a one of my kids on the back seat, she often puts her hands under my shirt to warm her hands. So I suppose the heat radiated is significant. The thing most likely to freeze is the hose and the bite valve. You've got to make it a habit under these conditions to either sip regularly and/or blow some air in there so that it is not all water.
@vinay: dude I was just being silly. I mean I guess it could happen... but yeah. I took a back pack snobaording once and the issue was with the hose as you said
@conv3rt: That makes more sence,i noticed all the new ones like that have an extra stay ataching to the frame to help support the rack,obviously there were some failures.Those racks seem prone to overloading.
My big gripe with pivot has been all of their added swoopy unnecessary graphics all over the frames. This one seems to have done away with that a bit thankfully.
@FLATLlNE: Sounds like you stumbled upon an honest conversation that wasn't intended for your ears. Consider yourself lucky. The truth behind retail is often obscured under the guise of "you are all special snowflakes". If you were in their shoes, would you really prefer help a customer who only wants the best deal on a name brand and a free tune-up, or an informed shopper who wants a high quality bike and is willing to pay near full price for the latest and greatest? I think there's a reason we are looking at fancy bikes on Pinkbike instead of reading Consumer Reports
Santa Cruz guy should help the guy looking for the Trek. So 3 years down the line when he's looking to upgrade from the Trek, maybe he will consider Santa Cruz.
@MmmBones: in other words, store owners only care about people with money to spend. That kind of attitude could bite them in the ass: what if the customer's other bike is a $10,000 superbike, or customer is a billionaire just starting out.
@blackthorne: I got grief from a LBS cause I shop around. I think they expect everyone to just pay for their overpriced gear without asking why they charge 10-20% more than the shop across town. I do t go there anymore. They don't care
@warehouse: Funny. What some shops fail to get, is you value your dollars as much as they value your dollars. Most of us only have so many to go around, so keeping them in your pocket is sorta important. If a shop can't stay competitive on price, or service to offset price differential, then inevitably they will fail - that's business. The Lbs is not entitled to jack just because they are an lbs. Create value or die.
@FLATLlNE: Absolutely. I understand how that could sound prejudicial coming from the customers point of view, and I'm not excusing them in any way. I was pointing out that they were just saying what most shops that sell high end merchandise are thinking... "why can't it alls be ENVE wheelsets and carbon Santa Cruz's?"
@FLATLlNE: that's a fair opinion if it's true. Was it the fact they understood a Trek or Kona buyer is probably not looking to drop the sort of cash necessary to get on a Pivot, or were they just stood around bad mouthing people?
They've always been a great company to deal with in my opinion.
@blackthorne: I was actually worried you were a communist, or that you had misconstrued me. Every good shop owner should only care about customers who have some money, that's basic business sense. Treat them all like gold and hopefully one day they will become billionaires instead of vapid margin reducers. What ifs are like farts in the wind to the conscientious business owner, sure they happen, but most often you smell shit when it's right next to you. Furthermore, it sounds like these guys were just shooting the shit and even though it came off as dick soup to dudes ears, they were probably just jerkin each other off. Spend some time around sales people and you will soon realize, that's their job, no matter how dirty it gets. They have to continually tell themselves "just keep suckin', something will come out"
@Bustacrimes: I think that's part of it, slamming people who look for the best value for their coin and buy one of the bigger brands. They were literally complaining that these people didn't deserve their service.
And as I said, it's likely the rep doesn't represent the overall views of pivot, but it was enough to turn me off.
@atrokz: Hilarious. Buckwallow, without pins in your pedals. I'm sure that was a great demo and whoever rode was dying to buy a Pivot after that!! Christ man. Brutal. Me, I didn't bother testing as I'm quite happy with my crap-tastic "waste of time" Kona Process 111.
@FLATLlNE: It was at the don, but same idea. and no, it wasn't fun for me at all. returned it, got some attitude from him ("what you can't ride without pins? haha."), and ignored him to continue talking to the owner who's a super rad guy at any rate. - also a process owner.
So. Since my original post about the conversation I overheard, I was contacted by Pivot International Rep, Ben, via PM. Ben expressed some real concern about the incident and the impression made on me at the demo, and asked for my phone number. Not long after work, Ben gave me a buzz; he let me know he was actually at the demo, and had no idea. The short of it, is that while the guy was on the Pivot demo tour and sporting the tee, he was more than likely one of the distributors and not someone working for Pivot directly - I get the sense Ben was the only one there employed directly. Regardless, it seems this has sent ripples though Pivot, and has been circulated internally. Ben expressed to me that the folks there (Owner Chris included) were pretty disappointed at seeing my post - and as I suspected, the one bad apple did not represent overall view of the bunch. Ben really hit it home by calling personally from Arizona, with what seemed to me to be very sincere apologies over what originally left a sour taste in my mouth - and heck, I'm not even riding one of their bikes. I really wanted to post this as an addendum to my original, and I hope it gets read, as it's completely changed my perception; I've had some pretty legitimate product issues in the past along with bad service, and I've never had someone call to apologize for a seriously bad experience. If this is any indication, I suspect Pivot ACTUALLY cares, and in such a case I am actually happy to eat my own words. In this case I wish I could retract my post completely, sorry guys.
@FLATLlNE: Some excellent customer service from Pivot, wouldn't you agree? Kudos to Ben at Pivot for taking the time to contact you. Says a lot about the company. Good to know that Pivot is listening. And, thanks for posting all of this. Its good that you took the time to expose some d-bag's behaviour and even better that Pivot took some steps to undo your bad experience.
@CapnSlow: As someone who considers himself a stickler for good service...I'm impressed. They took it very personally, and wanted to jump in to make it right, and I'm not even an owner. A+++ I will absolutely consider them in the future. I've owned an unhealthy number of bikes/worked the shop scene, and honestly, I can only count three frame makers (previously two) who care enough to get that personal.
@FLATLlNE: Ah man, that's so cool. I am really glad you've decided to post this here...they do seem like genuinely nice guys at Pivot and they always appear to care about their product.
@FLATLlNE: this goes to show that even though i would incline to agree on MmmBones, "employees" dont need to speak their mind and just do what their job description is supposed to serve
It does indeed. However, they could use to add some of that hydroforming to the rear triangle, it's still a little too industrial compared to the front end.
@mackster23: I actually like the industrial look...to me it looks tough. I admit I have a pre-formed positive opinion based on how people rave about the spitfire and rune as incredible do-everything bikes. I probably see them through badass colored glasses.
@b-wicked: It's for tire clearance. If the chainstay were straight, it would need to pass between the chainring and the tire. This way it goes below the chainring, giving more tire clearance or shorter chainstays or both.
I have the calling to listen to some mettle while riding in the alpine air. Hopefully my Pulse will be racing while I'm searching for a Yeti, but it's ok because I'll have my bigwig of a mate Wozo looking down at me from his spitfire watching me on Patrol while I Rag the bike until the daylight has (poly)gon. If I get stuck I'll just summum the power of a switchblade to keep me safe..... I'll get my coat
Its calling out to me. Its pulsing through my veins. Its all because of the switchblade that I have, it pivots wrong and cut my spitfire ww2 plane. Its a polygon shape, which is a hard transition. Its evil really
Might be awesome to ride but really dislike Evil bikes. And for the UK weather and all the mud and gloop you get, it would worry me...same with Yeti's with IS!? The fat bike looks awesome but Banshee takes my vote.
The angles the chain makes when it's near the top of the cassette were startling to me visually (yeti photo). Still not used to these very large cassette cogs. I'm sure they're great, but they still look funny to me.
I would usually assume Europeans to have superior aesthetic design in all things, but I gotta say, these Euro brands are making some ugly bikes compared to the stateside crowd. :/
@gnralized: Saying the UK isn't part of Europe anymore at this point is like saying you've got a new bike because you saw a picture you liked on pinkbike. They haven't even triggered Article 50 yet.
@groghunter: Maybe I confused you a bit with my answers: I'm from France, working in Canada. You certainly know there is a long history of small griefs between Great Britain and France, and in a way or another, any French or English people will keep up the flame in a gentle way. I was just adding a little more to this heritage ;-) So all I wrote is purely 2nd degree.
Curious as to how much that alloy Patrol retails for with that build. Looks like a killer bike for what I would imagine is not an insane amount of money?
It may not be pretty but the switchblade is a Beast to rideover stuff down hill and at the same time flickable!!! Wait it still climbs like a pivot too wtf?
Does anyone know if EVIL will come out with a build for The Calling? Currently the only way to get one complete is a building one using fanatik or building it up yourself.
Dat Evil, Keeps Calling to me!!! I think Im losing my Ident Titi to Mondraker then Polygon Summoned me until I got lost on Patrol no thanks to giddy up, I should have had my Orange so I could have made that Transition instead getting all Ragely on the downhill, Once u go black u never go fat Kona, just have to tear a new Pivot and scream like a Banshee and Spitfire all over that Pulse until I release the secret Yeti hair care and creams for men products called SB5+ the plus is it has sunscreen enhancers as well as moisturising agents for going all roadie on the NS to the latte shop, opps Moms Calling, dam shes Evil!!!!
It's a slope bike. You don't need to be shifting through the gears during a run so it's better out of the way and where it's not going to restrict barspins/tailwhips.
It would be easy for these companies that offer frames with downtube shifter mounts, to also offer a custom downtube shifter. Just give it a replaceable indexing ring so it can adapt to different derailleurs.
@crs-one: i've always dreamed of a product like "Tr!xer" but that was not only for brakes but maybe had an inner sleeve as well for shifting. does this exist? or is in development? anyone?
Gotta agree. Overall the lines are a nice mix of "graceful" and "aggressive" but the head tube bulges are an excessive gesture, and dates from the early 2000's*. Would rather see a cool head badge!
*(a bike I designed in 2001 used this knuckle head tube detail)
Pretty sure they are on the Orange too. On the write up of the DMR yesterday there were pictures showing a bike looking the same shade of pink as Zoidberg from Futurama, turns out it's red.
maybe a little over the top looking, agreed. fairly uncomplicated relative to a lot of stuff out there. The bolting pattern for the "flip chip" and wishbones adds to the visual chaos, but doesnt really make the suspension complicated.
@Planetx888: it's a mix of swervy trek front end and angular bmc rear end. Just doesn't look right, like 2 different bikes bolted together, a cut and shut. It's wank.
@the-dean: maybe. I think the seat strap might stop you before letting you get too low. I'm no expert on these by the way. My rides almost never go more that a few hours.
I do t go there anymore. They don't care
They've always been a great company to deal with in my opinion.
But, in the real world, we have to make the most of what we have - that goes for both shop and customer.
And as I said, it's likely the rep doesn't represent the overall views of pivot, but it was enough to turn me off.
I will absolutely consider them in the future. I've owned an unhealthy number of bikes/worked the shop scene, and honestly, I can only count three frame makers (previously two) who care enough to get that personal.
www.pinkbike.com/photo/14345564
and Evils the Calling *drool*
Maybe I confused you a bit with my answers: I'm from France, working in Canada.
You certainly know there is a long history of small griefs between Great Britain and France, and in a way or another, any French or English people will keep up the flame in a gentle way. I was just adding a little more to this heritage ;-)
So all I wrote is purely 2nd degree.
www.evo.com/mountain/transition-patrol-3-complete-bike.aspx
www.evo.com/mountain-hidden/transition-patrol-4-complete-bike.aspx#image=99371/430635/transition-patrol-4-complete-mountain-bike-2016-highlighter-yellow-side.jpg
wait nvm
I like the Yeti SB6 and SB5, but the rear triangle of the SB5+ is just...freaky!
*(a bike I designed in 2001 used this knuckle head tube detail)