CCtimber

Hell yeah, it's good to see prices of chains finally in the sub $300 range.

@sollie: right, agreed, in your example different sized chainstays will have a very different feel. that's true regardless of the rider. but now take a taller rider than you, on those same two bikes, with the same length chainstays, just on a size larger frame. you'll never know the balance they feel on those two bikes in comparison to you on the smaller size - and vise versa. and with the weight percentage thing - assuming same body build, yes, a taller person has more weight on the pedals/BB but they also have more weight on the front end too. so doesn't this sorta balance out and scale accordingly?

(serious question) I understand the knee jerk reaction and logic of "if the front grows, the chainstays need to grow with it" to keep a balanced ride throughout sizes...but me, a tall person, will never know what "balance" a smaller rider on a smaller frame has because I will never ride it. Nor will a short person know what "balance" a taller person on a larger fame has. Like when reviewers say "I'd like to see chainstays grow with each size to keep the balance the same"...uh? are you riding all sizes? how do you know what balance a smaller person has on the smaller sizes? because body size and center of mass have a major role in this. or are you testing one size and making some conclusion on the feel of another size that you'll never ride? Also, short or tall, we are all anchored to the bike at the same point - the BB. The front grows to accommodate taller torso, arms, etc. But all of our feet are planted in the same spot across all sizes. I understand it's complicated, but it's interesting to ponder this topic.

also the bladder compresses as the shock compresses and moves through the travel, it doesn't "expand"

you turfin' bro?

@appltn: no, pun intended.

So is this a four bar suspension platform or a linkage driven single pivot? Technically the pivot is located on the seatstay (linkage driven single pivot). But its also apart of the chainstay (four bar)...