Let Us Know
Sea Otter Requests 2024
We always have some ideas about what we'd like to see at Sea Otter's enormous exhibition of all things cycling but, in the past, our readers have always had great suggestions about gear they'd like to see. It can be obscure, it can be mainstream, it can be kooky or it can be serious; whatever it is, we'll see if we can track it down.
We can't make any guarantees, and our time and resources will only stretch so far, but we'll do our best to drop in, shoot photos and collect info on whatever wacky shit you'd like us to.
Let 'er rip in the comments below.
Thanks!
Comments
dolface
1 week, 5 days ago
- Metal bikes, especially from small/niche brands.
- Suspension stuff that's not from the big 2
- Braking stuff that's not from the big 2
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Tim (aka DigitBikes/DirtBaggies)
1 week, 1 day ago
I had spare stand on my booth and let other small/niche guys display their bikes (Contra, Fat Chance, Ridebo, Ministry). It was cool to see them up close and shoot the poop with those builders.
Anyway, I bring this up because Evan from Contra had Shigura brakes on his bike. I think It's the only bike I've seen it on other than my own (I offer Shigura on my complete bikes).
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Ripbro
1 week, 5 days ago
Look for new continental casing and compound combos. I want super softs in enduro casing :)
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Kyle Dixon
1 week, 5 days ago
seconding this one!
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dolface
1 week, 5 days ago
I want soft and super soft in trail casing!
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dolface
1 week, 5 days ago
Ask and ye shall receive!
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rusm
1 week, 5 days ago
Isn't that an Enduro casing trail compound tire?
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Shoreboy
1 week, 5 days ago
It is a trail casing, soft compound tire which I believe is new to the lineup?
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dolface
1 week, 5 days ago
They first showed up at the Taipei show in '23 (over a year ago) but this is the first time I've seen a pic of one since then.
Deniz Merdano
1 week ago
There are no immediate plans to release the super soft compound in Enduro or Trail Casing...
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RG
1 week, 5 days ago
Kona, even if they are no longer there.
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Ryan
1 week, 5 days ago
One specific request is that I'd love to see what Ministry Cycles is up to with that CNC bonded bike and plans for production. A more general request is to share photos / articles about the weirdest/strangest/most interesting stuff there.
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Sean_D
1 week, 5 days ago
I got interested in this company too and found that Chris, the guy behind the company, regularly posts updates on Instagram. In addition to pursuing the CNC bonded frames (he's working on a structural redesign with a BC engineering school to pass consumer testing), he developed a swing arm kit for small frame builders, and sourcing titanium and aluminum tube front triangles as alternatives to the CNC front triangle to meet different price points. He's been very open about the hurdles that he's bumped up and how he plans to bring his frames to market.
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Ripbro
1 week, 5 days ago
I love the candid nature of his channel chronicling his journey. Great to see some engineering students help him out. I wish him the best on his project and hope he can carry the torch now that Pole is gone.
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pedalhound
1 week, 5 days ago
Yeah, Chris is very open with what is going on with Ministry, follow them on Insta...you won't regret it!
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Cam McRae
1 week, 4 days ago
Great call. We saw (and shot) a Ministry frame today and I was impressed. We'll be posting those when we have a chance.
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Vincent Edwards
1 week, 5 days ago
^ It’s always interesting to see the [unique] bikes people are riding around the show. And nice photos of good dogs.
I saw the Digit Ring was just released. I’d love to see a check in with those folks… and other [small] companies who are trying innovative things. How are these companies holding up?
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Lynx .
1 week, 5 days ago
Yeah, Tim and Digit sure interest me, was waiting for him to introduce the XC/Trail bike, but he lost me for an all day, lots of pedaling, covering the miles, flat, rolling, gentle to steep ups, mellow to gnarly DH, with that 76* STA, WTF :out:
Also, the lack of options for frame only or spec other than what "he" thinks is good - I fvcking HATE SRAM drivetrains, ergonomics suck and having a battery powered anything on a bike just don't sit with me.
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Abies
1 week, 5 days ago
Tim has very thoughtfully responded to a lot of questions over on that other website and explained that full builds are more cost effective and offer better value for his extremely small production runs right now. And the seat angle is nothing out of the ordinary for a trail bike. Just a thought but maybe you could try reading those or emailing him instead of publicly complaining about his product that none of us has presumably ridden or even seen.
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Lynx .
1 week, 5 days ago
I saw the post on the other site, their comment section is a cesspool and I don't even bother to even try to comment there. Why should I not comment on a bike I haven't ridden and most likely never will because I don't live is the US, I know what works for me, I've had years turning cranks and figuring that out, anything over 74* and I feel it immediately in my knees, also, see the part of my comment below.
I got negged because I think that a 76* STA is stupid silly for an all day, pedal anywhere bike, really, did you get lost and wonder over from that other site? As for that's quite normal, I'm not a lemming, I don't follow trends, I use what works, for me and if you actually look at a lot of pros bike setups, you'll see them running their saddlers slammed all the way back on the rails trying to negate these stupid steep STAs.
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ackshunW
1 week, 5 days ago
I think there might be a “who’s on first” moment with your first comment. These days, seems like people complaining about 76 degree seat angles, are usually complaining it’s TOO SLACK!
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Cr4w
1 week, 5 days ago
Random one-off guys showing you stuff in briefcases. Pit bikes and beer runners. Very very specific niche and/or homemade products.
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Andreas Macke
1 week, 4 days ago
And dogs!
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mrbrett
1 week, 4 days ago
Not picking on you in particular but what’s with the dog pic requests? Can’t you go look at your dog if that’s what you’re after? Or go to the local park and stare them down?
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BarryW
1 week, 4 days ago
I don't really care about the dog pics, but even I know you're wrong.
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Cam McRae
1 week, 4 days ago
That's some funny shit right there.
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Kenneth Perras
1 week, 5 days ago
What will Rogemann's ratio of golf time to sea otter time be?
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Cooper Quinn
1 week, 5 days ago
Asking the important questions!
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RNAYEL
1 week, 5 days ago
Hi Cam, I have a few requests
1. Find Kelly B (AKA Dumpster Bear of socials), of Orange Sport Supply, and take a selfie with Kelly. He's an awesome dude. His partner and I work together, it would be funny to send her a picture of Kelly just working at Sea Otter.
2. Find what Specialized is up to and whether the actually release a new Enduro or a new Stumpjumper at the show. If they do, I'm sure that it'll be everywhere - even so.
3. Will Kent follow up their pull of Kona from the trade show with layoffs or a possible shut down of the brand, what's your sense after the show? News may come during the show - per Bicycle Retailer, they've called a town hall today to discuss something...
4. Count the number of Rolexes (or Pateks, AP etc.) that you see. Flash is a sign of people's optimism, it would be cool to get a vibe check for how the exhibitor staff feel about the short-term future of the industry.
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Jerry Willows
1 week, 5 days ago
@rnayel 2025 for the Enduro. They've had the Stumpy ready to go for awhile but my guess is late 2024.
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RNAYEL
1 week, 5 days ago
I figured, but maybe a spy shot is to be had???
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Jerry Willows
1 week, 5 days ago
If they are hiding bikes, I'm sure they won't be anywhere near Sea Otter. Take a look at the new Levo if you want to know what the Stumpy will look like.
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Offrhodes42
1 week, 5 days ago
It has been done before from other publications/websites, but I really like stuff not bike related from the bike companies. Stuff like their coffee setups.
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JSW07
1 week, 5 days ago
See if you can catch a glimpse of a new Ibis Ripmo.
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Znarf
1 week, 5 days ago
The old ones are discounted heavily right now. I snatched a carbon frame last fall and rode it a lot since.
I love that bike!
Not much I’d change - maybe a little more stack height. I am afraid they’ll go even lower for a new model, like the HD6 though.
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Cam McRae
1 week, 4 days ago
New Ripmos (if they exist!) are not at the show.
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Abies
1 week, 5 days ago
I don't know how to learn in advance who will be at the show, but I'll just echo other calls for a focus on smaller brands, especially smaller frame manufacturers. It will always be easy to find information on new models from bigger companies.
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Moritz Haager
1 week, 5 days ago
see if you can convince them to let you review the Project 321 gen 3 hubs. Be interested to see how the move to Canada, and redesign has worked out.
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Bogdan M
1 week, 5 days ago
Any news on the Bike Yoke Revive Wireless Dropper ... i emailed them and they said it's coming second half of the year.
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Kenny
1 week, 5 days ago
Hadn't heard about this - I bet it'll be expensive, but I have this feeling I'll be tempted. I'm not much for wireless drivetrains but droppers have an appeal.
A better dropper is the last piece of the puzzle I'm looking to upgrade on my latest build, I have almost bought a revive 213 a couple times but held off for whatever reason. Maybe it was the universe telling me to wait. Lol
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Bogdan M
1 week, 4 days ago
NSMB had an article last year ... looks very promising. Standard quality Revive post with electronic actuation. The price point was aimed at a couple hundred $ less than the Reverb AXS. If that's the case they will have a winner and with a much more reasonable stack height.
https://nsmb.com/articles/bikeyoke-teases-wireless-dropper/
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UMichael
1 week, 5 days ago
Please find me the most and least colourful bikes at the show.
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Morgan Heater
1 week, 5 days ago
Anything gearbox.
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DancingWithMyself
1 week, 4 days ago
Awesome to be asked and lots of good suggestions. I've got a few more.
Chase down Manitou and ask them wtf is going on with the Mezzer. If you blow out all of your flagship model at something like 35% off, it seems to me that either an updated version is imminent (but no rumors anywhere I've seen) or you are positively, absolutely desperate to get cash in the door ASAP.
More info on the new MRP dampers you can drop into fox and rockshox forks. If you can't get a quick spin, just more info on the aftermarket shim stacks they plan to offer to allow you to make further adjustments, some of the philosophy or key objectives re what they choose to optimize, etc. I'm very curious about the dampers, but not sure their fork history is that confidence inspiring. Beyond Sea Otter, it seems like this would be a softball of a first ride impressions review in a fox or rockshox fork. Keeping everything else the same, including the trails, I bet even I could articulate a few mostly accurate differences.
When are we going to get a new 36 from Ohlins that doesn't have an axle-to-crown that makes it equivalent to overforking your bike?
Whether Conti is planning to offer super soft in trail casings for xynotal, kryptotal, and argotal (I can't type all three in a row without shaking my head; who the hell named these things). If not, do they think market demand doesn't match up at all with comment and forum sections, are there supply chain issues, or do they just not like money?
From Maxxis, ETA on DHR 2.5 as well as the new front tire. If they'll talk, I'd also be curious about the rumored new sidewalls.
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Carlos Matutes
1 week, 4 days ago
1) Also very interested in whether there will be an updated Mezzer
2) This is an interesting product, wondering if they will be integrating it into their own forks
3) Yup
4) I kinda doubt they'd go super soft on anything lighter than enduro casings
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Shinook
1 week, 4 days ago
Two somewhat peculiar requests:
1. WAO is debuting a replacement to "Da Bar", it's lighter and can use any stem. Can you find out if they are going to pass the same testing standards as the original? Will compliance be impacted at all? ETA?
2. ODI announced some new D30 rubber grips. I'd be really curious how they feel and if they are as damped feeling when you squeeze them as they claim. Captain hand problems here, their claim of improved vibration damping is really interesting
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Deniz Merdano
1 week, 3 days ago
ODI grips felt nice but i think I'd like them thinner than they are. 31mm is just about perfect.
WAO stuff is cool and we'll have something on rhat!
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Shinook
1 week, 1 day ago
Thanks. I have bigger hands and major hand problems, the rubber compound they are using sounds interesting. Guess we'll find out in June :)
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Mike Ferrentino
1 week ago
I snagged a pair of the ODI D30 grips from Kevin Franks, and will have some thoughts on them once I get a few miles in. Also hope to get some time talking with one of the rubber engineers at D30 to take a deep dive on impact absorption/management, sort of following up on my hysteresis talk with Wolf at Specialized, but in a different direction...
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Shinook
1 week ago
Thanks, I'm anxious to hear. My issues may put me off the bike for good so anything new in this category gives me hope of continuing. I've had other rubber grips that promise this sort of thing, but I often found they don't fit my hands or they were sortof "wobbly" when riding and vague.
If you talk to them, it might be interesting to hear their take on hand size to grip diameter, as well. That's something I don't see discussed much. AMS claims you should take 18% of the length from the crease of your wrist to the tip of your middle finger, but I've not seen that backed up anywhere.
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Mike Wallace
1 week, 5 days ago
The latest in truck tires. I see at least two of the best are there - Toyo and Falken
My guess is that after mtb parts and coffee, like already mentioned, truck tires are one of the most heavily researched bit of kit for mountain bikers…
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Deniz Merdano
1 week, 4 days ago
I've definitely dove straight into the sea of truck tires since my newest purchase amd would love to do some testing!!
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rolly
1 week, 5 days ago
Wrists. I find it interesting to see what people have on their wrists and why. Everyone has a reason.
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rusm
1 week, 5 days ago
New eebs, especially anything using the Pinion MGU
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pedalhound
1 week, 5 days ago
This! So far only German brands using it. Hard to get a Simplon over here...but it looks like a solid bike!
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Sethimus
1 week, 3 days ago
fyi, they are an austrian brand
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Scott Jamieson
1 week, 5 days ago
Bring back Morgan!
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Lacy Kemp
1 week, 5 days ago
If they have a bunch of fancy rigs I want to see who has the best set up for storing bikes and managing to have the best amount of space. Also, how much the total package cost.
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ClydeRide
1 week, 5 days ago
Home storage or vehicle?
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Lacy Kemp
1 week, 5 days ago
Vehicle... like who has the most innovative ways to keep bikes out of the weather when traveling?
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Deniz Merdano
1 week, 4 days ago
Lacy I definitely looked into this today and will include them in my article next few days
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Lu Kz
1 week, 5 days ago
Find me evidence of grumpy eight-figure house residents who promise they totally don't want to shut down Laguna Seca and trade shows on the property.
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Cam McRae
1 week, 4 days ago
There is nimby subtext here that non-locals (like us) are unlikely to decipher.
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Lu Kz
1 week, 3 days ago
Sorry Cam! The subcontext is that there's a neighbourhood group called "Friends of Highway 86" or something that is working really, really hard to limit racing, noise and events at Laguna Seca. I was wondering if the had signs and stuff out because they've become mildly famous in the automotive space.
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Mike Ferrentino
1 week ago
Those kooks have been at that for years. Given that they decided to build/buy decades after the track was established, and right along a flight corridor to an airport a mile away, nobody locally really has much sympathy for them. They probably also have some brutal HOA covenants that prevent them from posting signs to declare their outrage. Not sure if that really is the case, but the irony would be fitting.
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Lu Kz
1 week, 5 days ago
A rolling counter of every different roof top tent.
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Deniz Merdano
1 week, 4 days ago
678
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Andy Eunson
1 week, 4 days ago
If KOM hubs have a booth I’d love your reaction to that rear hub.
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Deniz Merdano
1 week, 2 days ago
Looked for them but did not see.. it would have been cool to catch a glimpse.
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daithi
1 week, 2 days ago
ODI Vanquish Grips
Not sure if it's a Sea Otter thing but would be good to see Andrew compare them to the likes of the Rev Grips he championed previously.
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