juliusT

I think I'm in love..

Spent a year in Graz, but didn't know they had such a rad riding scene! I need to get back there..

Just quit it man, you really can take the bad words and so can everybody else. It's not a big deal! And if you will, give it another go and concentrate on the rhythm rather than trying to understand the content. Suddenly you might just spot the absolute killer flow of JMT; much like the flow in the rad riding in this rad vid. Great stuff Commencal!

Much respect to this guy's determination and effort to bring his own product to the market. He's also a very good rider, which always gains my respect. But I have serious trouble understanding the design philosphy behind the company: to design the bike that's the easiest to ride. Since when did anything being easy make anything more fun? We've all been kids and perhaps most of us have done things like play video games on easy mode or play football with flooball goals etc. But ever since I've been ABLE to, I've always wanted things I do for fun to be as challenging as possible. Be it a sport, a craft, an art or any other. I belive the pleasure we get from learning new things and overcoming challenges/difficult things is universal: we all enjoy it one way or the other. However, this said design philosophy reflects a whole nother idea: it (i this case riding) is the better the easier your equipment make it. I call this "easy mode riding" and to me it's a bit pathetic. What happened to ripping your body to shreds with BMX as a teen, then slowly progressing to more advaned bikes once you've learned to ride better and started to trade some of that riding time for cash? Eventually one gets up to the amazing level our bikes are today, but not because it is easier, but because you can finally both afford it AND have the skillset to weild it. Of course this could all be part of my huge grudge against what the sport has become - I feel like the 30-something engineers coming fresh into the sport with the latest and greatest gear, barely having any awareness of their movements nor any natural instinct on the bike, are not able to fully appreciate the nuances. Growing up riding your bike, putting in the work and coming back from the inevidable injuries all force you to learn to appreciate the sport, your own and other people skills much more than any gear available. The gear changes constantly but the spirit should remain true.

Mixed feelings towards the Guides for me. I've had all 4 models at some point, and to be honest I didn't feel THAT big of a difference between them. My personal favourite is the RSC, but had just as much fun with R. Of 4 sets only the RS failed on me and were replaced under warranty. When working good they are the best brakes I've ridden, but if problems appear the situation starts to suck pretty quickly. My advise is not to go with the guides if you have only one bike. It hurts one's soul not be able to ride just because the brake is stuck.

To ride more persistently, to push through the pain and to keep up the momentum no matter what. Not to buy a 29er or any new bikes for that matter. To ride a back tire until it is worn slick. To never toke and ride, only to ride and toke.

They got a pretty good selection and decently competetive prices, but man does the customer service suck! Never got as bad and arrogant service as from this shop, especially by email. No matter how big they get or how fast they grow, a (bike) shop should never overlook the importance of good customer service.

Why would a direct sales bike be any worse than a one bought from LBS? Many of them put at least as much R&D in as the other competitor who sell thru your LBS. And why would the customer service line be any worse than your local bike shop? In fact, since you get direct contact with the company, there's a bigger chance to really get things dealt the proper way. For these companies their reputation is everything, so they'll go a long way to keep it intact. Don't get me wrong, I really like bike shops, I used to work in one. But not all of them are good and not all of them are gonna serve you right. No need to feel obligated towards them. If you're tight on cash but still want a bike with a decent enought specs for the price, why not go for the direct sales?

What a nice video! Was expecting something a bit different though, like many others before me. I myself prefer the sub zero winter riding much more than the murky and muddy counterpart. In the late autumn, when the mud gets really bad and cement-like, I always comfort myself with the thought that soon it will get cold and the trails will be faster than ever. Unfortunately the getting cold part seems to be further and further away year..

Got a fucking cold. Guess I hadn't been that nice dis year.