JSTootell

Planes and boats don't self center like a car or motorcycle. In a plane, after reaching a certain bank angle, you actually have to actively hold it back from banking more. Boats eventually, with enough time will, only because of water pressure (ships won't). So, guessing the whoever wrote the ad copy hasn't ridden a bicycle, driven a boat, or flown a plane.

Another suron rider, thinking they are on an MTB

I might still just be an outlier, but short cranks don't work for me. I end up with knee pain with short cranks. I'm currently riding my gravel bike (actually on a taco break) with 170mm and I am suffering with sore knees. I went to a professional, well regarded* bike fitter (he has worked with state and national champions) and just moving my saddle down a few inches screwed me up. On the other hand, I have never had discomfort on my road race bike with a way more aggressive position and 172.5mm cranks, and my Enduro with 175's are wonderful. I just ordered a new roadie, and specifically ordered 172.5mm or 175mm cranks. My first gravel bike was 165mm, and I couldn't even ride that bike, I didn't even know why until I looked into my other bike setups. So, I guess I'm an oddball once again. *Same bike fitter did wonders for my GF on her road bike, and she's looking forward to returning to fit her XC bike too. Not sure about her trail bike. I do want to get her the shortest cranks I can find though.

@TET1: I think that is called "trials". Would be fun to see that in group ride format.

I forgot the guys name, he does a lot of local racing in my area, but a retired pro basketball player who makes his XL XC bike look pretty tiny. And he is short for a basketball player.

I tried the gravel thing, I didn't like it. For me it is the worst of road riding and the worst of dirt riding. So I put skinny slicks on my gravel bike and use it for commuting (daily 2+ hours round trip). But, I get why people like it, just not for me. Same thing as CX racing, just not for me. I will probably be ordering a new roadie next week though, so that will make me happy. @TET1: The "World Champs" scene in SoCal is huge. I don't know about other place, but I know of a "Worlds" every Tuesday night, and two crit races in pedal range on Thursday night. A dude I know does one on in a rich neighborhood every Wednesday at lunch, and another guy I know does one Wednesday mornings. These are all treated as races, not fast group rides. And you will likely find some pretty fast people, as in actual national pros attending. I haven't gone in a long time since I haven't been interested in socializing (I'm very introverted).

@brianpark: Honestly, just saying "taking care of personal matters" probably would have prevented all the questions. Personal could be "he wants to sit on the couch for the next 6 months" or "his mom died", and just about everything in between. But no word just leaves people to fill in their own blanks. I honestly thought he was fired. Which is a turn off to using a publication as a resource for information that fires without reason. Extra edit: In the normal working world where I come from, you can't take time off like that. If I take anything outside of my allotted vacation time, then I have abandoned my job and will be fired. So the idea that someone can do such a thing is absolutely bizarre to me. Hell, my last two employers would fire me for taking vacation time during spring through fall, vacation (my whole one week) was only allowed during winter. Great that you guys allow for such a thing, but you can see why I just assumed he was fired. Back to fixing HVAC...

I know a dude who won a complete bike.

Personally, at 65 kg, I will still pick the bike built for a 130 kg rider.

N=1 My trail bike came with 165's. After destroying them my LBS accidentally ordered me 175mm replacement. I didn't know it either. I rode the bike for a few rides noticing how something was off, but assuming it was me. But what I did notice was how much better the bike felt. My LBS offered to correct the mistake, but I said hell no. I also took the opportunity to gear taller for a higher top speed. Not everyone agrees with shorter cranks, there are always outliers.