lepigpen

Then why is there some of the strongest and most competitive junior classes each year as we progress forward? I think what you mean to say is the way the economy is structured and how businesses handle themselves (see; company shutting down race team) makes it daunting if not impossible for great young riders to break into the sport. And as this continues to happen we see more and more trust fund/nepo babies in many sports and it makes you wonder what our capitalization rate is for successful athletes. Clearly the US and Canada could have more all stars in these sports... But they don't. And we're generally getting obliterated by EU teams who often have full on programs for MX, BMX, MTB, etc.

@scotteh: Not sure about lots (by market share) but the Marin Rift Zone is a REALLY well sorted bike and almost certainly the bike I would buy if I was gunning for a new one now. And although I'm super happy with my 2016 Kona Process, I am very aware of its shelf life particularly with Kona's new owners and the fact that it's basically one specific part break away from being wall art. Sadly the Trance went a lil too progressive geo wise, but I do appreciate the changes they made for the general market I think many will love that bike. Scout is also laughably slack for a short travel 275er. And the rest are too rare/expensive for me to source.

@souknaysh: Believe me I would if I could. I was giving a good long glance at the Shred Dogg (from GG) and then they up and went out of business. I don't mind buying bikes like this secondhand later on down the line but... Who knows what will even be available then. I've noticed the 275 becoming like a 'boutique' wheel with Yeti and Pivot and I suppose Ibis still running it. Each year I've been watching the models drop like flies. SC became no 275s, YT recently is no 275s aside from I guess DH? I'm wondering how long the Transition Scout will last. And Vitus may even be going out of business. Polygon is size specific wheel sizing. It's rough out here boiz lol

Barely want any of these... Give me a 650b bike (two wheels, please) with a lower standover but still clearance for a long dropper and I'm in. Sadly that seems to be nearly too much to ask for these days. And in terms of other I think moderate (I guess these days conservative) geometry is nice, staying between 65-66 and not making every trail bike 64 degrees with chainstays and reach that make it feel like a lowered winnebago. Also obligatory throw Microshift or Deore on any bike youw ere thinking of speccing SX. Leave SX to the cheapest of dirt cheap hardtails, fine, but leave the really good builds with nice suspension and other parts out of it. Or at the very least just do an NX derailleur, not SX. Or that new CUES Shimano set. Surely even that's better than SX...

@Cord1: wut the f*ck is going on in these comments lol... definition of keyboard rider moments. if you didnt see that kaos was going to quit racing for freeriding years ago just admit you dont pay attention and ur in no position to talk lol. also you can sell more DJs and enduro rigs as a freerider than tahnee can sell DH bikes, regardless of results. im like... my heads spinning from the amount of bad takes in this thread. who r u ppl lol. jesus fucking christ you are terrible people. im gonna kill myself for christmas.

@DustOnCrust: here ya go ill do it 'PB friendly" wut the fuck is going on in these comments lol... definition of keyboard rider moments RETURN SPACING if you didnt see that kaos was going to quit racing for freeriding years ago just admit you dont pay attention and ur in no position to talk lol RETURN SPACING also you can sell more DJs and enduro rigs as a freerider than tahnee can sell DH bikes, regardless of results. im like... my heads spinning from the amount of bad takes in this thread. who r u ppl lol

@DustOnCrust: ive just gone over that pinkbike mashes together any paragraph returns you do. i guess you couldnt see it because 5 peopel downvoted it lol. blame pinkbike. i had like 4 spaces between that entire post (where punctuation should be)

Performance of the year goes to Blewitt's collarbone (and rest of her body) trying to keep that savage in one piece.

Oh, wow. I was puzzling how you could ruin a metal edit it's fairly simple... Not using traditional metal definitely doesn't help. Silly how off the mark they were there. Slow, melodic metal... Long cuts... Just why? lol

Feel the need to go with Jackson, due to winning Hardline. It's one thing to dominate in the realm which you are kinda expected to dominate. It's another to outride a bunch of adults on the scariest course of the year. I can only assume Jackson hasn't quite hit jumps that big before then. Excited for next year for him (if I can afford to watch it...)