vinay

Completely missed that there is a 12sp Di2 Shimano Deore XT rear mech. Has it been out there for years or is it indeed something new? As for the gearbox/motor combo, I get that it might be a good idea but it hasn't been out there for long. Many of the bikes that are now being released have probably been under development since well before the Pinion unit has been released. Seems like quite a plunge to design an entire frame around a unit you haven't been able to test. As for belt vs chain, I'm not too sure about belts in mud, rocks etc. Not sure whether it is as much of an issue in practice, but it seems to me like it is much easier for mud to evacuate with a regular chain and sprocket compared to these more solid belts and matching teeth.

From what I understand, it is written by Echo S Communications. Read it out loud in a cave with a lot of echo (or with a digital delay effect of course) and it all makes sense. I'm sure they communicated it in their echo chamber and got the thumbs up.

Those Pro Impact bumpers are rebranded DeanEasy bumpers, aren't they? I think it is an interesting concept and would love it if Pinkbike would test them someday. They're different to Formula NeoPOS as NeoPOS uses closed cell foam whereas ProImpact/DeanEasy is open cell foam. So yeah, would love to see a test someday.

@j-t-g: Pretty sure they'd happily claim it regardless. Whoever is unhappy about said performance is invited to their shop to file and defend their complaint in turn for a partial refund. I suppose they consider the entertainment to be worth it.

Just lace the rear wheel radially. Should also grind some folks' gears.

Not sure when you got into it, but even two decades ago more than a few bikes were marketed as laterally compliant for better performance in flat or off-camber corners. The popular Cannondale Prophet comes to mind but there sure must be others. Of during that same era, they also came with their Scalpel XC full suspension bike whose chainstays were designed to flex more vertically than horizontally but I don't recall any marketing for high lateral stiffness. Then again, of course marketing also goes through some filter so we all remember different snippets I suppose.

Thanks for the bit about Alutech. I always loved what they were doing and felt they deserved a bit more attention than they were getting.

You don't really have to bleed the brakes again after you've guided that hose past the gusset and reconnected it to the brake master, do you? Or are there brakes where you do have to do that?

What Tesa tape are they using for rim tape? With so many specialist rim tapes on the market, there sure must be something special about these.

I think he does have his own custom brake lever blades though but I don't think anything else is off-standard.