What's In / What's Out - Mountain Biking in 2024 - Mountain Bike Feature

After a two-year hiatus to let everyone's keyboards cool down, your favorite list of opinionated mountain bike hot takes has returned. Let's see what's in and what's out in mountain biking for 2024.

What’s In

Headset routed cables. We don't make the rules; we just exist within them. But bike brands will continue to force-feed us cables through our headset despite majority distaste.
Trail pants. Every brand makes stretchy pedal-ready pants (that are usually too tight), and despite being too hot for some, they're the hot ticket for fashion and function.
Electronic shifting. The electric takeover shifted up a notch after the launch of SRAM Transmission last year, and the hype is real. Everyone else has some catching up to do.
Frames without routing options for mechanical shifting.
Tires other than Maxxis. We love our trusty Assegai and DHR II combo, but everyone makes good rubber these days.
Shorter cranks. Some solid arguments exist around the topic, especially for shorter riders and e-bikers. gordo has been running 150mm Canfield cranks for about six months and is hyped with his stubby-ass legs. Report coming soon...
Modular e-bikes. Ditchable batteries, manageable weights, smaller motors, and the ability to match your bike to your ride. Game on.
Also, e-bikes in general. They've been all the fuss the past few years, and we don't see that changing anytime soon.
Women's categories in freeride events. It's about damn time!
Frame storage. You can't launch a new bike and not have a way to stuff crap in the frame. Hopefully, this also means we see the demise of fanny pack sales.
Discounts galore. Dark times for bike companies mean banging deals for riders. Now, there is no excuse not to have a whole fleet of bikes for every occasion.
Pump tracks. The Velosolution craze is real, and public tracks are sprouting up like weeds these days. Get to pumping.
Jackson Goldstone
Amaury Pierron. He's proven he can return to greatness before; we are sure he can do it again.
Junior Women downhill racers from New Zealand.
Asa Vermette
Gatekeeping. Relax, we don't like entitled, egotistical knuckleheads either. But our MTB community has grown a lot in the last few years, and without some guidance, how are people supposed to learn proper trail etiquette, know what gear to wear, or how to work up to hitting a jump? Everyone is allowed through the gates, but someone needs to lay down the rules as you enter. Step in when you can to help those who don't know, and we all benefit.
Bike geometry that works. After years of going to extremes, we may finally be settling on some consistent numbers.
Monster Energy Pro Downhill U.S. Series
Vital MTB Fantasy for World Cup D.H. But don't tell anyone yet; it's not supposed to be official. If you're a moto fan, Vital MX Fantasy is live now as A1 approaches.
Not being able to watch World Cup Downhill in the U.S. without a SWAT box full of subscriptions and add-ons.
27.5-inch wheels for those who like to play
High-pivot short travel bikes with an idler that are supposed to be pedaled
Elite racers not having a ride who deserve one. #toughtimes
Full-length bike videos that cost money to watch. They stand as time capsules capturing our sport during an era, highlighting the bikes, riders, and creativity of those involved. The energy devoted to their creation is worth a few bucks.

What’s Out

Headset routed cables. We can be optimistic.
Shorts. Unless we bring back #VitalMTBShortsBounty
Watching World Cup downhill racing for free. We didn't realize how good we had it with Red Bull...
Adjustable visors. We are not sure who asked for this, but it's hard to find newly released helmets with moveable peaks.
Resale value on your fancy used mountain bike. Cruise your local Craigslist for some laughs at 2018 bikes listed at $4,000.
Posting mediocre GoPro clips. Save your POV bangers for your friends and family, and leave the jaw-dropping clips for Gee Atherton.
Riding uncut bars. Unless you are seven feet tall, cut your damn bars.
Low stack heights on bigger frame sizes.
Bluetooth speakers on trail. Forever out, please invest in B.T. headphones.
Big-ass riding glasses. Our helmets shouldn't be resting on the top of windshield-sized lenses.
Freeride edits/social posts filmed on the same five jumps in Utah. It's time to venture outside the orange and red cliffs, people. (But that doesn't mean just going to Bellingham or that one spot in Oregon.)
Trail helmets without a spot to hold glasses while climbing.
Semi-finals. Again, we can be optimistic.
Riding a frame size that is too big. Don't fall into the longer-slacker-longer trap.
Sunglasses with full-face helmets. That is what goggles are for.
Enduro racing. If the rumors are true, this will be the last year that elite-level enduro racing takes place under the current directive that we've known for the past decade.
Vital's Bike of the Year. YOU can chime in on this healthy conversation HERE.
Acting like you can notice different spoke tensions. You aren't Loic Bruni.
180mm rear rotors on bikes with 65-degree or slacker headtube angles or 130mm of travel or more.
Starting a new gear or protection brand. Both product categories are more crowded than a Beijing train during rush hour, so if you are thinking about it, just don't do it. The same goes for wheels and bike frames.
Cuffing riding pants. They are long for a reason, so unless you have a high-paying sock sponsor, knock it off!
Mixed wheeled propaganda. There is a time and place for everything, but just because it exists doesn't mean you need it. If you've got a short inseam or love a slap-happy bike, toss a tiny wheel out back. But in our experience, the difference is marginal, and your current bike is still fine with dual-whatever-sized wheels.
Cheesy marketing videos surrounding product launches.
E-bike hate: both on the interwebs and on the trail. At this point, if you're still upset that there are bikes with motors and batteries, then you just don't get it. The good news is you can still ride your sweet mountain bike, and your life will be no different than it was 15 years ago. Save your hate; ride your bike.