MTBrent profile

I may not ever buy this bike, but I always enjoy and get something out of your teardown pieces, Andrew.  So, I'm letting you know!

I love the subtle shade thrown on said friend's reason for abandoning CC.

I like the cut of Cotic's jib.

When my current and spare Zee drivetrains (ever?) die, LinkGlide will be going in the shopping cart.  I'm basing that decision solely on your comments and reviews!

I recently took a quick ride on a friend's new GX Transmission-equipped Stumpy and admittedly thought is was well executed.

Then I got back on my Zee 10-spd-equipped Orange and all was right with the world.

We rode the same trails having the same laughs, but with vastly different wallet weights.

Andrew... On the drag/efficiency topic, over your SS years, have you tried similar ratios with different size rings/cogs?

I put on my min-max hat recently using existing spare parts to replace worn parts, and went from 30/18 to 36/22. I would wager my worn out chainring that the bigger ring/cog combo was a lot more efficient than the smaller combo (when both are fresh), and that the difference is even more apparent as things wear in/out. I'm now fully in the "largest chainring possible" SS camp, ground clearance be damned.

And on a general note, confidence in your equipment will always yield a better ride, regardless of how that confidence is conceived. If that means removing that lower guide to reduce drag, then do it! If that also means reinstalling said guide because you then taco'd a chainring and/or dropped a chain, then enjoy that plate of crow and go ride worry-free!... with some added drag :)

I'm going to go hug my singlespeed Orange Stage 6 with a lever-under-the-seat dropper.  One speed, one pivot, two brake levers on the bars.  Blissful simplicity.

I would buy a short(er) travel DC fork for all my bikes if only to satisfy stem/bar alignment OCD, let alone have greater stem/bar setup options.

I'm gonna mark some territory later on my Orange.

The only reason I see not to wear a FF is if you're concerned about the occasional funny looks and comments from other half-shell riders.

Except for when my kids are on the Shotgun seat, I wear my Stage on every ride, XC to DH.  Light, ventilated, comfy, Fidlock.  Perfect.