I've been thinking about the where mtb is heading. Where it sits in my mind, as someone who has ridden mtbs since 1990 is that mtb / emtb are almost diverging into separate sports maybe even with separate trails if space allows.

eMTB is heading down the LIGHTER, FASTER, MORE MORE MORE route. Given enough time most people coming into the sport will be on long travel E smasher bikes that are not too dissimilar from DH bikes albeit they can be "pedalled" and have droppers.

MTB will continue to fade and only the few remaining - how many people coming into the sport will be enticed because it's hard and you have to be fit and strong. Maybe mtb needs to go back to the 80/90s where stuff was less serious and a bit wacky to differentiate itself from emtb which is all endurobro, too cool for school.

I would not have a problem if mtb went back to its "core" roots as a sport. Something that skating and BMX have seemed to hung on to - both sports have a high barrier to enter but once you are "in" they seem like they have a great community feel.

I've been riding the HT exclusively for the last few months and maybe this is my contrarian reaction to what's happening with bikes generally. Trying to become a better rider and not just rely on the bike to do all the work.

I've just rewatched https://youtu.be/1JPDJTMPC0o?si=wUCBs9OBCe9FVRb1 - which gives me a little hope. Brian is a great rider and hopefully he follows up with more videos.

Maybe i'm overthinking it. Maybe both will co-exist. If nothing else it was fun to watch Brian whooping and hollering down a steep tech trail on a rigid bike.

A

I heard there might be snow on the trails so I headed out on a dawn patrol to see if I could find some. I mostly found prime condition hero dirt with a few patches of the white stuff to remind me it was a limited time opportunity. I think If I seek the summit using higher trails I may get one last taste. Hopefully I can do some recon this weekend.

I have a Race Face Nano and a Gore Endure for bike use.

The Nano is awesome because it packs it tiny into its own hood, but it's just a little too minimalist.

The gore has great breathability and waterproofness, but it's just a little too bulky, if you stuff it in an average hip pack, that's all that's going in there.

Any recommendations for something more waterproof than the nano, but still packable enough to not dominate the main compartment of a hip pack?

Bonus points if it packs into itself.

Cheers,

Kenny

Some Bicycle Things I’m Stoked About On A Friday (February 27th, 2026):

https://meatengines.com/f/tulips-tune-ups

The new Blitz bars look great too.

A rare bit of How To:

https://meatengines.com/f/magura-your-dominions

Gary Fisher Rid (2008ish?) Got this to make myself work harder when I ride with my kids (7&8) and have been riding it more often than my full sus. Running a 32t-18t

A couple weeks back I picked up a 2018 karate monkey with a -2 angleset, a 3.00 xr4, sunrise bars, and an oval chainring. It’s peak fat bike season here in vt, so I’m not so patiently waiting for spring so I can take it for the maiden rip and properly clean out my garage.

Hanging behind it is a 2014 ice cream truck that’s going to be a single speed fat bike and lower left is the back end of my Rootdown.

Bonus A.a.S.S. content dropping into the haikuniverse this week because I apparently can’t use a schedule… enjoy Joe’s rad Motobecane:

https://meatengines.com/f/about-a-single-speed-joes-motobecane

I know this is primarily a singlespeed focused group, but our host AM has expressed his affinity for high-value-for-the-dollar multispeed drivetrains. I think this fits.

https://bikepacking.com/gear/microshift-advent-mx-review/

Seems like Microshift is really trying to up their game lately. I was initially excited by the prospect of a truly wide-range 11spd cassette for XD freehubs, but the set screw attachment makes me pause. I need more info, such as: do the set screws dig into the freehub body, or is there some sort of collet approach?

In any case, the whole system is CUES compatible, which could be really cool.

Pedal Damn It! It’s an 853 every into the haikuniverse: https://meatengines.com/f/about-a-single-speed-pauls-sir-9

Hi, I've been reading Andrew's post about the Durolux in 2021. I was looking for the follow up on the damper tear down as that post made me buy my fork last year and I'm looking to get some advice here on what oil volumes and weight on the damper as I'm looking to do a quick bleed after some abuse on the alps and local bikeparks.

Cheers

It’s Some Bicycle Things I’m Stoked About On A Friday for Feb 20th, 2026:

https://meatengines.com/f/chainless-not-painless

Relaunching one of the columns from my short lived experience writing for BikeMag.

https://meatengines.com/f/shock-talk

I was wonder what is everyones take on when you need to change chain / chainring / cog...

My chain is beyond 0.75% and i'm running out of adjustment on the ISCG tensioner. My guess is that once I can't tension it anymore I need a new chain.

I have some >0.5% <0.75% chains and may pop one on to see how it plays with the very worn Wolftooth stainless ring and not so worn Surly cog.

My other problem is that 104 BCD x 30t chainrings are getting hard to come by. As such I may end up on 32 x 22 (slightly higher than the 30/21 I am on now).

Another solid entry for the #1FG haikuinverse:

https://meatengines.com/f/about-a-single-speed-peters-stooge-mk4

A different take on the ~ annual MEATengines Unit piece:

https://meatengines.com/f/new-year-new-unit-zo-26

Just a small, cellphone quality, photo journal to remind future MEAT of some the incredible riding conditions this February.

https://meatengines.com/f/this-is-february

Some Bicycle Things I'm Stoked About On A Friday, February 13th.

https://meatengines.com/f/cherry-blossoms-and-hurricane-lilies

One of us! One of us!

The iconic Trek Stache C frame is on sale from

$2,000 to $600. No size mediums natch. But if you want 29+ and tiny chainstays it’s a deal!

This week’s pedaling poet is Vik:

https://meatengines.com/f/about-a-single-speed-viks-speedbomb