TomvdP

Same unusual banjo position, same writing style. I agree with you, good eyes!

Courses are getting tougher, and rider conditioning is on a whole different level. Strength, core, and skill are all being actively trained to allow them to race the downhills as well, rather than just use it as recovery. It's been interesting to watch the evolution of XC bikes - the current Epic has the same head angle as the "game changing" Spez Enduro 29 from not long ago (numbers don't tell the whole story of how a bike rides but it is an interesting metric of progression). Another metric: Nino is now racing on a 35mm stanchion fork & 2.4" tyres. Every season is more exciting than the last.

Unless the Titan site is wrong, the Drone has a 69° head angle (vs 67.5° on Stride), and slightly longer seattubes. Chainstays are shorter on the Drone. Both are internal dropper compatible.

Fairly recently I convinced a friend who was getting into riding that a Slade would be a better overall ride than most of the racey hardtails he was looking at, and a general no-fuss bike to own. He loving it and joins for trail rides, longer rides etc. And I got these messages recently where he'd taken it on a long multi-day gravel tour. I think he put gravel tyres on the standard wheels, but that was the only change. I guess if you're racing to win, the specialist bike is king. But I reckon you can get 90% of the performance, and be more comfortable. (Neither of us have any experience with road bikes)

Yup, the official lines not long ago were either: a) Not achieving full extension was how it was supposed to be. It's indicative of how plush it is (nevermind that it never went to full extension even when lifted off the ground, with the weight of the wheel). b) Your equalisation dimple must be clogged with grease - maybe you serviced it wrong. Try again and get back to us. Pretty unimpressed that they've corrected this problem under the guise of "it rides higher in its travel". My Lyrik 150 only had between 143-145mm showing on a given day. Add to that that it rode deep into its travel and no amount of pressure allowed for less than 25% sag (80kg rider, testing the max pressure in the fork). The solution for me was to go to 160mm (possible with all modern Pikes by the way, despite what RS says) to get a dynamic ride height I was happy with. I will grudgingly buy this fix.

The Slade is very much in stock! Don't expect the shops to know about it though as it's not a marathon bike

The Surface rims on the Stratos bikes are 545g per rim. I don't know wheelset weight, but there are definite weight savings to be had on the rims.

Dan has also said on another thread that he can rent out 2 pods and watches to run "events" like this.

I can't - that was personally measured from a stripped rim. As for the AC rims, I can't make the decision for you, but weight on the rims counts for more, as it also has rotational inertia (so you will feel 200g off the rims a lot more than 200g off the frame). Just remember that bike is boost, so the AC hubs would need to be as well.

Those rims are 545g. A narrower handlebar will "speed up" the steering and make it a bit more twitchy, if you're going to cut your bars I would recommend cutting 5mm from each side at a time, and then testing. Definitely do not just cut to the width you were riding previously (especially if it is very narrow), people are riding wider bars these days for a reason (that's not to say 780mm+ is for everyone), and modern bikes are designed with this in mind.

AXS aint cheap. Maybe one day we'll all have paddles but for now I'm still happy with my mechanical levers. Pedals were taken off becuase they are my old SPDs that I have hit against most of the rocks on table mountain and are now just a black/silver mush. Would not have done a fresh bike justice with those dangling

XL Silverback Slider 2020 - Busy testing the prototype! Adjustable rear travel 140-160 with different shock strokes (same i2i), currently 140mm 150-170mm fork travel, currently 150mm

My XL Silverback Slade with 29x2.6" tyres and 140mm travel.

+1 for the Marvel set (in boost) please! What is the warranty though?

Not saying it is a scam, but this is exactly how I was scammed. Too far away to drive He'll call back (you can't call to whatever number he's calling from) Be careful, I have already reported as a possible scam https://www.gumtree.co.za/a-bicycles-cycling/knysna/rockshox-pike/1002173396990911304702109 Edit, Google reverse image search shows the image has been taken off an eBay post https://www.google.com/search?tbs=sbi:AMhZZiu6yM91RdgONIoFupZ2VrYfhPaICyWZhbhYkWtX1mayhVETCvT2tCClZESDtfPx1zzTRAoQNgVu9IBWgSXoPBTpyNj1BshxbwDTXW2z_1rYUL9Od2vnn7WHsJp5VfgW1GWkkliKm3s5nfiUne_1OClKsa1bZ51UALRQ5u5Lie4u71JLkF7ujzZCpHshR4dKlJCy0EehGT9K0IMwDWao7Jj762rrKbU42Z8KpAL_1B4oZloauHxpyTKKDLiWCDgXacNE0JIS3uf7k2OXm01SQd_1QhdDqldS0v_1MT1MDRNG6IiDQ_166CWcivuTOO1pdMLuQTytfEh2X9aHUUzSQXLw4HmD_176L9IVA