dave99

Hardcore MTB population is shrinking like most first-world countries. Just look how few people responded to 2024 total mileage poll. Out-of-this-world bike prices are killing new rider up-take (i.e. rider birth-rate). E-bikes are an attempt to extend veteran rider purchasing targeting their greater disposable income. This piss-poor strategy isn't good enough to sustain MTB rider base. Charging more to grow margins that outstrip inflation in a time when spending budgets are dwindling is killing MTB. The big three component brands keep cranking up the costs for bike makers. Bike makers keep cranking up the costs pushing everything CF. Statistically I'm supposed to feel wealthy but I don't so I'll continue to ride my seven year old bike into the ground.

Frame stiffness has never been more critical - designers have to re-optimize for the essential in-frame storage hole.

6-bolt because I hate proprietary gimmicks that only exist to lock your investment into a specific brand.

@HelterSeltzer: More Seb Stott!

Weight is not a good reason to rationalize a spendy carbon wheelset. The only way a 1500 g enduro wheelset makes any sense is combined with a burly insert like Cushcore - inflating the rotating mass at least a few hundred g. Suspect this is the kind of thinking that underpins shockingly light marketing specs but leaves that sour taste in your mouth after the first cracked wheel. I would like to know how many people spend $1400 - $2500 on a carbon wheel set but run without a tire insert as insurance for their investment? Because $2500 USD carbon wheelsets aren't disposable like $100 USD Al rims. Lifetime warranties sound great on paper but the downtime and hidden costs like re-build materials (spokes and nipples), potentially labour, and expedited shipping, and then more sealant to re-install tires really add up.

Appreciate the progress and innovations but I can't rationalize what seems to be opportunistic pricing for profit since the pandemic's shipping and supply problems. MTB remains my number 1 passion but 125 euros for a tail light? And $90 USD for a bum-pack? My salary is not rising fast enough to keep pace with the gouge. I'll have to opt-out.

Sam Hill will always be the man! Best wishes recovering for 2023!

Congrats Jesse - especially because you're Canadian!!! Represent!

Keep up the great work Jack! Amazing to see the new field of world-class Canadian riders in the top 20 and a few dominating podiums! Stevie would be proud!

Jesse's riding is on a whole other plane of existence. It defies physics as I understood. Jesse - keep up the great fight! You're amazing!