xy9ine profile

it terms of new explorations in chassis balance, i like the idea of maintaining the same foot to hand length, but just rotating that line a bit more vertically - ie, shorter reach (to keep the front tire weighted) with higher stack / bar height. keep the r/c around the same, perhaps a tad steeper h/a. looking at a fun / dynamic weight distribution that relies a bit more on weight through the feet & upright positioning for stability, than length & slackness.

for sure! i shaved back in my xc racing days; certainly developed empathy for those who do - hard work maintaining silky smooth gams. and to think many people do it for purely aesthetic reasons (yes, i recall pulling out the "practical justifications" on a regular basis to enlighten non-cyclists).

yeah those slingshots are awesome.

i haven't had a flat in years (modern tires are amazing), so aggressively tempt fate by stating the fact out loud, and being completely unprepared for such an event. i'm down to an edc in my steerer & a small wb in the frame for local laps.

wow. evidently i am the anti-andrew (from a packing / preparedness perspective). minimalist: it me.

jaded me questions the net benefit of hp's (for the average consumer); leading me to surmise that it's more driven by marketing (as the hot new thing) than raw performance. (side-eye glance at trek slash).

in my fantasy alternate reality, SC would revive the super-8 as a modern, metal, no frills, bang-for-the-buck single pivot all round thrasher. probably with beer can swingarm integration.

yeah, it's a fabulous combination of well sorted geometry, that steel je ne sais quoi (compliance, i guess), and a healthy dose of anachronism (which really pushes my buttons). 

if i had any criticism, i generally prefer more progression (ie, afforded by linkages), though somewhat tunable using an air shock stuffed with volume reducers. i imagine it's a bit of a balancing act with a coil (suppleness / grip vs support). 

really neat bikes, regardless.

that's an interesting take. you mean a 170mm hp w/ 63* h/a & ~1300mm wb isn't optimized for crinkum switchbacks? criticizing the bike because it doesn't match what HE thinks the design intent should be is novel. that said, well presented, entertaining review. 

i kinda / sorta like the idea of this bike. cheap(ish) & canadian made. wondering if it could be built into a viable long-legged all-rounder (ie, pedal friendly, lighter build). i imagine you could ditch the lower pulley; anyone have a frame weight?

*gazes longingly at header image* - dank shore is the best shore.

^looks like your druid frame up for sale on PB? that's a pretty decent price...

i'm curious about the repairability of these things. obviously no pulling / filling / painting going on so they're looking at panel replacement. bolt on stuff like doors are easy enough, but (i assume) replacing that rear quarter is going to be beyond the expertise of most shops, and i'm sure the SS panels are impressively spendy. probably not going to take much damage to write one of these off.

the SG's i've tried (a MM / BB combo) are more like a maxxis dh casing in terms of stiffness / support. and similar weight; they burly. more tire than i need, tbh.

pon holdings has stakes in oneup (not clear if they own them outright, but they're under the umbrella):

https://pon.com/en/activities/bikes/performance-bikes/oneup-components/

i guess i'm intrinsically a cheap bastard, but i get great satisfaction in repairing / re-using / re-contextualizing / modifying stuff - that often eclipses buying new. anyone can swipe a credit card; the use of creativity / ingenuity / craft interests me. i also tend to find patina and the accumulation of modifications over time fascinating - ie, inanimate objects developing character (of sorts) & telling personal stories. perhaps it's a coping mechanism to keep me happy with what i have rather than always pining for the next new shiny thing, but hey, it works for me?

^i'd like my next bike to have a bit shorter reach / longer cs / higher stack & those numbers look pretty much spot on. i do think there's something to that geometry (more upright to offset a shorter FC, with a more balanced weight distribution between wheels). great looking, well sorted bike (tho would like a mullet).

the thought that $350 for a cassette is a great deal is wild (to me). 

forbidden druid is 30% off ($3150) currently (assuming clearing inventory for a v2).

^that thing is cool! i love aggressive "what if" experiments in geometry. certainly challenges the antiquated notion that you need short cs for climbing.

huh. interestingly enough, there's a new dodge ram coming out with the aforementioned gas powered (v6!) generator hybrid configuration. fascinating:

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a45758306/2025-ram-1500-ramcharger-towing/

Posted by: syncro

Maybe they can bring this tech to e-bikes?

a little chainsaw 2 stroke motor powered generator would be sick!  braaaaaaaap