Blenki Goes Full 29 and Uses Hub with Less Engagement on His Crestline

I'm not smart enough to argue his point properly... But I'm pretty sure a wheel spinning at whatever rotational speed is required for the rider be traveling at 35-40kmph would require a shit load of impact force at the tire contact point to cause the wheel to want to spin back harder and faster than the energy it has built up with the rotation in the forward detection it was already going in. Like would the ground have to like "push back" lol

But I'm a pleeb so I barely understand half the shit that comes Into my head.

Nice, as I've gotten older (more knowledgeable?) I've really come to appreciate bikes that let me experiment.  Reach or angle adjust headsets, offset shock hardware, links and multiple rear wheel diameters...all part of the fun.  Even handlebar width and backsweep.

All the best to Blenki this year.

Very interesting. I bet a lot of people are curious about the effect hub engagement on suspension feel. I've made my opinions pretty well known, but disagreeing with Sam Blenkinsop makes my opinion sound pretty questionable: https://www.vitalmtb.com/features/MTB-ADVICE-with-Team-Robot-ANSWERS-2,…

FWIW Blenki also ran those snake-oil rim stickers for a while...

High engagement hubs are pretty near useless for DH racing. You're not doing much ratcheting on a DH course. I could see freeride would benefit but not DH. Mullet vs full 29er is a different argument and I would imagine comes down to personal choice.

Going to downgrade all my hubs right now. Finally the answer to why I'm not faster. Glad thats cleared up. 

Pretty curious to see how the WRP center hub works out - as its kind of the ultimate solution to any kickback or chain related effects on suspension. 
https://www.williamsracingproducts.com/shop/p/centrehub-pre-order

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6egblCiRgYQ

Suggestion: Vital article where Robot tests WRP Centrehub vs Ochain vs Normal drivetrain - throw a motion instruments on and see if you can measure any suspension effects / feel anything / time any differences? 

Hasn’t the Syndicate been kicking ass on King hubs? Does Jackson Goldstone run something different? Does Minnaar run a custom ring drive? Hadn’t Commencal MucOff been running King hubs? I’m finding this “my hub engagement makes me slower” argument hard to believe, but maybe I’m just a squid.  
 

My V10 with Chris King hubs ate bumps until I locked up the wheel. The math says there’s no benefit from Ochain/low engagement hub while the wheel is rolling but really most bikes these days feel pretty good if you really get off the brakes and let it run.

When are riders most likely to be bothered by any unwanted rear suspension stiffness? Probably braking into corners when the wheel is slowing or locking on each bump. I think Neko has said a couple times that he’s pretty much on the brakes all the way down most WC tracks. Fort William and other motorway sections are obviously exceptions but the point is even WC guys are braking a lot, and the Ochain or low engagement hub should help in those situations. 

The best thing to do it try a low engagement hub back to back and feel the difference.  

For me at a bike park/DH there’s no advantage to high engagement. The low engagement or use of Ochain frees up the suspension a surprising amount. I feel that it allows me to actually stiffen up my shock a few clicks because I’m not fighting pedal kick and feedback to my feet.

I use motion instruments data on my bike. Some rear wheel hits are 5200 millimeters per second. That’s 16ft per second. Even if you are moving forward at speed that’s still an incredible rate the axle is moving. Then if you are skidding or on your rear brakes that is magnified.

just my 2 cents…

i went from 16t to 52T ratchets and immediately had to change back on my enduro bike, The Pedal kick i got through Rock gardens was quite scary when i ran flats. The suspension for sure felt "stiffer"  with the 52T. 

With my slow ass it was quite noticable, id hate to know what its like when going Dh WC speeds lol

Not sure how it helps when it comes to sprinting.  Seems like it would be a chainless run type feeling...turn the crank, hub hasn't engaged yet.  Wouldn't it be like being in too easy of a gear and just spin out, fall forward without resistance at the pedals?