davechopoptions

If you run the rise of your bars in line with HTA, then there is no difference between the effects of additional spacers or taller bar. If you roll your bars forward somewhere between HTA and vertical, then a taller bar will give a more room horizontally than if you added spacers, but by increasing the effective stem length rather than maintaining reach.

@nnowak: You sure? I’d hope that to be the case, but it’s not what a couple of dealers have found through trying to replace Advent cassettes with a Shimano 10 speed cassettes.

@Inclag: a 10 speed cassette for an 8 speed drivetrain?

Advent X ties you into Advent X for mech shifter and cassette. Not ideal.

KT have come a long way. Their 90s/00s entry hubs specced on low/mid end Treks were affectionately known as Kun Ting hubs in the shop I worked in. Nice stuff now.

£105K is a little steep…

@Zozordan: Me too!

Not sure that Rocky Mountain know what a growler is over here?

Best news is Kathy returning to the WC scene.

@FuzzyL: Covid was a triple kick in the balls - they didn't have sufficient stock in the boom, then like everyone else ordered loads to satisfy the demand that was apparent - supply chain couldn't cope with the sudden massive upturn in demand and lead times became horrific with some parts lead times from major parts suppliers going to 900 days. When the bikes were finally ready, the freight companies massively inflated their costs, and when the bikes arrived, they were too late for the demand as it had been satisfied by the big brands with the most leverage over their vendors, and Orange (and others) are left with way too much unwanted stock at hugely inflated prices that they had no option but to pay. Sure - the FS stuff is built in the UK, but needs the same parts as the Far Eastern stuff to build, so same story, and the bulk of their line is 100% sourced from Asia. Brexit has had other issues relating to export for them, but the Covid boom/bust is likely the biggest factor along with the fact that the big brands over-ordered horrifically at that time and destroyed the market value of bicycles by slashing their prices to clear stocks. They're still doing it now. Small brands like Orange over-ordered to a far lesser degree, but pay the price of the big brands more unrealistic order volumes. 100% right about the range lacking focus though.