BN>> This is a great echo as while I was one of the missing nobody got
BN>> out of hand.
DW> no one posts so how can anyone get out of hand?  :)
:)    We are all too busy either riding or resting. 
DW> anyways, after being out of the scene for a year and a half, i just
DW> got back in the scene, man do my legs hurt...
Yes, but it is a good hurt, right. :)
DW> picked up a couple bike
DW> mags... these vbrakes look cool but do they work any better than
DW> regular cantis? they look like they do, but i've had no hands on
DW> experience with them... also do they set up as easy as regular cantis?
Del, 3 of my friends are riding V-brakes. 1 - LX, 1 - XT, 1 - XTR, and I have 
tried all three of their bikes. I am speaking mostly from what they have 
experienced with them, but I have tried them as well.
Ok, here it is. Plain and simple. V-brakes are AWESOME. They are in a 
different league than the cantis altogether. But make sure you get the 'real' 
McCoys though. That is to say, the ones with the parallel-push mechanisms (I 
think they are on the XT and XTR models, but not on the LX models)  The LX 
models are more like what I call "High-tower Cantis w/horizontal pull. " (my 
definition) They still have real nice stopping power though.
They (all of them) go though the thin (IMHO) cheesy pads like me through a 
six-pack of Sam Adams on a hot summer day. So be aware.
One-finger stopping IS possible. (one of my buddies, using the XTR models is 
approaching this level of comfort with them) He mentioned that as of now, he 
can indeed use only one finger on the back brake and still gain sufficient 
stopping power, but he is not at home with only one finger on the front wheel 
yet.
(Side note)   MY other friend just proved this weekend that the less 
experienced CAN AND WILL go over the bars if you grab the front brake in a 
dangerous / tricky situation. (he is the one using XT V brakes's)  We 
neglected to snap a picture because we were pretty worried about his well 
being, but it WAS pretty funny seeing all the vents in his helmet filled with 
dirt and leaves, and his pants around his ankles.  
DW> any other ground breaking developments?
Maybe not a new development, but on the same topic of brakes, I highly 
recommend the Magura Tomac Hydraulic brakes. Pulling the levers is as smooth 
as silk with zero friction, stopping power is great and these damn stock pads 
have lasted longer than 2 and 3 pairs of my buddies Vbrake pads (and I have 
still not replaced them!)  If anyone else is using the Maguras and has not 
spent the extra $'s on a brake booster I urge you to do so. Without the 
booster, by seat stays were flexing pretty good, and I was loosing some 
stopping power. Now, with the carbon-fiber booster seat stays are rock solid 
and braking power is where it should be. I also feel much better knowing that 
I am not causing undue stress on my aluminum frame any more.
DW> i see downhill has gotten ridiculous now...
I'll say! Last month's MOUNTAIN BIKER had an article on Rock ShoX's new DHO 
shock (Down Hill Only) with 100 millimeters of travel for a mere $1199.00
That is for the SHOCK alone! Don;t forget that you nee to match it to a 
FULL-Suspension bike with similar rear travel. >YOUCH!<  (Ka-Ching!)
DW> well at least biking is getting tv exposure (better
DW> than no exposure)...  though they should have an awareness part at the
DW> begining of every race, maybe actualy improve mtb access...  anyways,
DW> til next time...
While I agree that any exposure is better than none, I am not paprticularly 
impressed with seeing professional races on TV. I'd rather watch things like 
local biking clubs/groups/gangs  filmed doing what they love doing, 
demoing their favorite trails, interviews with the 'regular guy' etc. I think 
TV coverage of biking (mountain, road, BMX, trials) needs to be brought down 
the the average rider's frame of reference. I think that professional race 
coverage gives the sport some a of exclusive feel that is not representative 
of it in its true form. Seeing TV coverage of 100 semi-anonymous people 
starting a race in a mad rush, where the coverage then focuses on the 1st, 
2nd & 3rd riders
(whose names we all know) for the remainder of the event can get really very 
boring.
I say WAKE UP TV people! Show us riders what everyone else across our country 
(and the world) is REALLY doing on Saturday afternoon, or Tuesday nights 
after work to relieve stress. Lets see some cool trails or portions thereof 
that a few of the local guys worked thier butts off to make ridable etc...
Down with professional bike racing on TV. 
DW> ... Used to have a handle on life.  Then it broke...
        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
..."then I went over the bars..."   
Bill 'technical rock junkie' Arlofski
waa@megahits.com
Brought to you by the letters O, and S and by the number 2
... 1 + 1 = 3 (for very large instances of 1)
--- Sheesh! 1.11+
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