Anyone have anything they'd like to rant about?

Man, UPS seems like they're on a mission to get shittier and shittier by the month. I ordered some ski bindings from Germany and a set of tires from SLC. Bindings shipped Weds Mar 1 via FedEx, arrived Fri Mar 3. Tires shipped Tues 2/28 via UPS, still MIA. UPS tracking showed it in Sparks NV 3/1, then in S. San Francisco 3/3, then back in Sparks later 3/3, then in San Pablo 3/4. A couple times there was a message that "weather may cause delay" but whenever that happened, I looked at the CalTrans webcams for I-80 and it was clear at the summit.

I’ve been using old spice deodorant since I was a stinky prepubescent teen. My father used as long as I can remember. My grandfather used it. First there was the bullshit move from Captain Ahab’s favorite tone of Ivory to some approximation of a freshly removed tampon. Then came the heresy of replacing the traditional cylinder form with some cookie cutter oblong abomination. Now there are about 1 zillion +n variations of Old Spice antiperspirant in every scent the millennial product monkeys can conjure but it’s almost impossible to find the one true original scent classic deodorant. WTAF is going on when the armpits of America that we can no longer savor the one true king for fresh pits?!?!

Dropper post levers. It doesn't matter what post I have or what lever I have, if I want to change one or the other, the cable will inevitably be backwards. The industry needs to get their shit together and decide whether the pinch is at the lever end or the post end. Or at least start making levers that can accept either.

Also, companies charging $70 for a shitty little dropper lever? That's ridiculous. That's like half the price of some of the cheaper dropper posts, which are 1000% more complicated.

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Originally Posted by toast2266

Dropper post levers. It doesn't matter what post I have or what lever I have, if I want to change one or the other, the cable will inevitably be backwards. The industry needs to get their shit together and decide whether the pinch is at the lever end or the post end. Or at least start making levers that can accept either.

Also, companies charging $70 for a shitty little dropper lever? That's ridiculous. That's like half the price of some of the cheaper dropper posts, which are 1000% more complicated.

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Any post that doesn't put the cable head at the seatpost end can fuck off. Routing it the opposite direction is so much more annoying.

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Originally Posted by HAB

Any post that doesn't put the cable head at the seatpost end can fuck off. Routing it the opposite direction is so much more annoying.

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Yup.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by toast2266

Dropper post levers. It doesn't matter what post I have or what lever I have, if I want to change one or the other, the cable will inevitably be backwards. The industry needs to get their shit together and decide whether the pinch is at the lever end or the post end. Or at least start making levers that can accept either.

Also, companies charging $70 for a shitty little dropper lever? That's ridiculous. That's like half the price of some of the cheaper dropper posts, which are 1000% more complicated.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by HAB

Any post that doesn't put the cable head at the seatpost end can fuck off. Routing it the opposite direction is so much more annoying.

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Both of those things.

While we're at it, how about we get ride of the shitty little M4 bolts for some M5 stuff? Perhaps even going into a threaded insert not made from soft cheese? Even trying to be careful with teh torquez I've managed to mank up some screws. Ended up drilling the holes out and tapping them to take the larger bolt anyhow.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by toast2266

Dropper post levers. It doesn't matter what post I have or what lever I have, if I want to change one or the other, the cable will inevitably be backwards. The industry needs to get their shit together and decide whether the pinch is at the lever end or the post end. Or at least start making levers that can accept either.

Also, companies charging $70 for a shitty little dropper lever? That's ridiculous. That's like half the price of some of the cheaper dropper posts, which are 1000% more complicated.

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Fully agree on the cable routing, post>Lever is the way. However, a Wolftooth, RF, Zitto, or other clones can handle whatever way it’s oriented.

I would get Shanghaied in the ski forum for this rant, but shit, it keeps snowing in town here! March is supposed to be hero dirt in town, fresh dumps in the mountains. Instead, we've got a couple inches of refrozen shit in town and unless you've got a fat bike, the trails aren't rideable. We've got an enduro coming up in three weeks.

or when you get a new lever to replace the shitty one that came on the bike and then realize you actually want the "easy action" longer paddle, and then later decide that you don't really like the texture/feel because it's kind of rough and has sharper edges compared to your shifter and now I'm thinking about buying a 3rd dropper lever from the same bike. Which is also on it's 3rd dropper post.

Also I would like to ride out side in warmer weather. high of like 30 today but it is sunny so i'm considering going out. for a road ride.

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Originally Posted by Falcon3

I would get Shanghaied in the ski forum for this rant, but shit, it keeps snowing in town here! March is supposed to be hero dirt in town, fresh dumps in the mountains. Instead, we've got a couple inches of refrozen shit in town and unless you've got a fat bike, the trails aren't rideable. We've got an enduro coming up in three weeks.

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Yeah, this winter has been so thoroughly mediocre over here that I'm just ready to ride bikes. I was actually thinking about heading over to beacon some time soon-ish, but it sounds like that's probably not quite on the menu yet.

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Originally Posted by Falcon3

I would get Shanghaied in the ski forum for this rant, but shit, it keeps snowing in town here! March is supposed to be hero dirt in town, fresh dumps in the mountains. Instead, we've got a couple inches of refrozen shit in town and unless you've got a fat bike, the trails aren't rideable. We've got an enduro coming up in three weeks.

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I am also so sick of all this rain. I know it's good for the snow (and the drought) but I am so sick of washing crud off my bike. This is the wettest winter we've had since I moved to the coast 7 years ago, just insane. We did good preventative maintenance on a lot of the local trails but there are a few parts that drains wouldn't fix, and they're basically just fucked until these storms stop rolling through and it dries out.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by toast2266

Yeah, this winter has been so thoroughly mediocre over here that I'm just ready to ride bikes. I was actually thinking about heading over to beacon some time soon-ish, but it sounds like that's probably not quite on the menu yet.

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I was thinking this as well...

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Originally Posted by toast2266

Yeah, this winter has been so thoroughly mediocre over here that I'm just ready to ride bikes. I was actually thinking about heading over to beacon some time soon-ish, but it sounds like that's probably not quite on the menu yet.

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I think by early next week a lot of Beacon will go, looking at the forecast. Highs in the mid-40s and some rain most of the next few days, then next week hopefully no freeze-thaw. Hero dirt could come around Tuesday or Wednesday.

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Originally Posted by Andeh

I am also so sick of all this rain. I know it's good for the snow (and the drought) but I am so sick of washing crud off my bike. This is the wettest winter we've had since I moved to the coast 7 years ago, just insane. We did good preventative maintenance on a lot of the local trails but there are a few parts that drains wouldn't fix, and they're basically just fucked until these storms stop rolling through and it dries out.

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https://media.tenor.com/YxGsoypAdpAA...-nicholson.gif

Those of us on the other side, we hear you.
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Originally Posted by toast2266

Also, companies charging $70 for a shitty little dropper lever? That's ridiculous. That's like half the price of some of the cheaper dropper posts, which are 1000% more complicated.

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Ali Express levers for the win

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Originally Posted by Lvovsky

Ali Express levers for the win

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That's all good until you break one mid road trip and can't wait for shipping. I'd never broken one before in 12+ yrs using a dropper, then broke two in one trip last summer. The only option in town was a $60 specialized lever.

Remember during the dawn of dropper posts when we would retrofit a front shift lever to do the job? I continue to scratch my head over why neither Shimano nor Sram have made a shifter style dropper lever. It would match the cockpit, it would work with whatever brake lever integration you're using, and it would likely be cheaper and more refined than whatever else is out there. Just completely baffling.
edit: I guess I understand why Sram doesn't have one, because they're inexplicably frozen in time with the hydraulic lever of the worlds most unreliable dropper post. All the more reason for Shimano to have made one years ago.

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Originally Posted by jm2e

Remember during the dawn of dropper posts when we would retrofit a front shift lever to do the job? I continue to scratch my head over why neither Shimano nor Sram have made a shifter style dropper lever. It would match the cockpit, it would work with whatever brake lever integration you're using, and it would likely be cheaper and more refined than whatever else is out there. Just completely baffling.
edit: I guess I understand why Sram doesn't have one, because they're inexplicably frozen in time with the hydraulic lever of the worlds most unreliable dropper post. All the more reason for Shimano to have made one years ago.

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Shimano does make one, but don't seem to be trying very hard to market it for some reason.

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Originally Posted by HAB

Shimano does make one, but don't seem to be trying very hard to market it for some reason.

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I have one. Thought it would make a nice match for my shifter, and for some reason they made the dropper lever just a little different in shape and position?

Works totally fine, but since it doesn’t match anyways, I wouldn’t hesitate to look elsewhere if I need to replace it in the future.

I have a Shimano dropper lever too, came on my Salsa along with a Tranz X dropper post (manufacturer of the Brand X posts sold at CRC). Works fine, no complaints, but I agree that it isn't something that I'd seek out.

I have been schooled.


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Forecast today was for heavy rain all afternoon and evening so I drove to the office. Hasn't rained a drop and the fucking sun is out, fuck!

Well, you know exactly what would have happened if you had biked to work instead. :)

Sedona MTB Festival

I keep hearing, "Well, you can't control the weather."
Yes you can, it's called scheduling.

I've attended this event for the last three years. Each year has had at least one day negatively affected by weather. Others have told me it's been like this for 5 years now.
For those who don't know, this year, snow basically shut down the entire event. No riding, no parking. no camping options. (Was really looking forward to riding with Remy and Wade Simmons :fm:)

By now, you would think it has to be apparent to the event planners that, global warming or not, early March weather is a crap-shoot in Sedona.
You would be wrong.

If it's obvious you have a problem, yet do nothing to fix it, there are really only two possible reasons:
1) You are really bad at learning.
2) You don't care. Screw the attendees. Screw the vendors. Screw the sponsors. Screw your volunteers.

Well, you know what? Screw you. Even a dumb-ass like me eventually smartens up. I've made my last trip to Sedona in early March. If they insist on keeping this schedule, I'll drive right past on my way to Tucson.
And save the $250/person.
Most attendees I spoke to agree.
Maybe lower attendance will get their attention.
Probably not.

^^^ it seems like that "festival" is more driven by bike companies that want to get first crack at putting a bunch of dentists on their brand new demo fleet. They want it timed at the beginning of bike buying season so everyone goes home from Sedona and buys the new$8,000 wonder rig. If they push the event further into the spring, those dentists will have already bought a Specialized and/or Santa Cruz.