Hey GMBN Tech Fans! As a lot of you may have caught onto, Doddy hasn’t been featured on the channel for a while. We are stoked to announce that Doddy will be returning to your screens in the near future. We apologise for the radio silence on this matter and hope it hasn’t caused any upset or confusion. Stay tuned for upcoming videos from Anna & Doddy! All the best and safe riding! The GMBN Tech Team
Long time bike shop mechanic here that now does mountain bike coaching among other things. I have been running the CC Viscoset for 2 years now and I have loved it since day one. I think steering dampers are for sure going to be standard equipment going forward. Stop and think about every major MTB innovation in the last 20 years. ALL of them produce improved stability. Wide bars, slack head angles, 29” wheels, slow rebound rubber, stiffer tire casing, long wheelbases, better dampers, short fork offsets, the more recent move to avoid overly stiff wheels and frames, etc. Steering dampers offer the same benefits as these but without any of the downsides like more weight, tight turning limitations, clipping knuckles on trees, more rolling resistance, etc. I don’t think we need sophisticated fluid dampers either. Continued refinement of basic Viscoset tech is likely all we need. So, the solution is already here. People just need to try it to see how good it can be.
There was a question in parliament today that asked the Prime Minister if he knew of the whereabouts of erstwhile GMBN tech presenter, Doddy. Mr Sunak declined to comment.
Lots of Doddy remarks! Hopefully Doddy is just heading to the Sea Otter in Monterey, California. And maybe making a few videos on the way...Maybe Mt. Tam !
* Police Notice * WANTED - Suspiciously tall man for the theft of Fido Dido's haircut. Last seen on this channel several weeks ago. Any leads, please apply DCI Ashton. No reward.
For bikepacking I could see steerer damping being good. When you're on the bike for 12+ hours a day I really don't want the steering input being so sensitive.
It was one of the best modifications on motorbikes I’ve had a couple one on a r1 ohlins I had made it feel a lot more planted no headshakes. On Dirtbike had a couple Scott’s and a rock stomper in chunk and sand they really shine if you haven’t ridden with one try it I think you will be quicker with it than without.
I purchased a steering dampener for my motorbike back in the late 80's early 90's....well around then, anyway once i used it i couldn't imagine not using it, made such a difference at high speed & better handling all round, will be interesting to see or rather feel how they perform on an mtb,
Struggling to find 165's! No way! I just got a set of 165 5Dev's on-sale! Being an old(er) person they work just great on my Revel Rascal, much better than the stock 175's.
I’ve done timed testing and my 27.5 Santa Cruz Nomad gets me down the local DH trails just as fast as my 29er high pivot Trek Session. Nomad is quicker around tight sections and the Session excels in the fast sections.
I went to canyon site last week wanting to buy a new MTB. I saw the steerer damping thing in the spec. I was so embarrassed I did not order the bike. I just wanna ride a normal bike. With only suss as an "Assyst" 😢
While pushing hard over rough terrains I am often "kicked" off my position affecting the balance of the bike. It feels as if i cannot lock in position between the handle bars and pedals and i am loosing precision in steering. I wonder why this happens, if this is a matter of upper body strength and if this system of steering damper would solve it / help. What are your thoughts?? Thanks
My experience putting damping headsets on my kids' bikes is emphatically yes. The little bit of resistance makes a difference in not getting knocked off line.
a rough pondering but do (spring-based) steering centering systems, which are different from outright steerer damping, affect the inherent self-balancing effect of bicycles due to steering geometry?
Is it faster or safer. I think bike companies are catering to making bikes over their heads or listening to riders who are the same. The 2017 stumpy fattie modified with 29 is in the sweet spot for a trail bike. 63 head angle for a trail center bike makes me scratch my head. Plus I’m used to it.
@gmbntech #gmbnmtech can the elephant in the room be addressed! the absence of Doddy is now becoming a hashtag trend #wheresdoddy i assume that you value your viewers as it is them that keep the channel going so why is this not being addressed if for some reason there is dispute/contract negotiation etc then just say. I think from the comments that it is clear people are missing the Dodds on the channel, not saying that Anna and The Don are not doing a good job as they are, but i think we all agree when it come to MTB Tech then it is a Doddy thing.
I think you would be mad if you said you wouldn't want to try a bike with a steering damper - just to see if it does anything. But not so sure it is really making a wider comeback quite yet.
Do mountain bikes get tank slappers? I wonder if it reduces vibrations saving the wrists. Maybe they are only useful for those at the top end and the average rider unable to gain a benefit.
From watching my kids experience with them, average riders with lower upper body strength would benefit even more than pro riders. Less effort to keep the bike pointed where you want it means less fatigue and resistance to small bumps that might otherwise knock you off line mean fewer crashes.
As with most things body-related, there's a limit to how much you can handle and still ride safely. For some people their arms are going to give out faster than their legs - in which case a steering damper may be a good way to get in longer rides with less fatigue.
@@timtuckercom I’m still not a believer. I do have an expensive one on my KTM dirtbike (Scott’s) but on a bicycle you point your chest where you want to go and by keeping light pressure on the grips and loose arms you absorb things that deflect your steering. If you feel it will help with arm fatigue you are likely doing something sub-optimally. 🙂
@@marktechsci Ebikes and bike packing are the most common use cases they're marketed towards. People also seem to really like them on fat bikes. I've found that they've been great for my kids. The common thread among all those: higher bike to rider weight ratio. The heavier the bike is vs. the rider, the more effort it's going to take to keep it under control. "Suboptimal" can be anything from "can't afford a lighter bike" to younger / elderly / beginner riders with lower upper body strength.
Will stop watching this channel if Anna remains the primary anchor. Doddy may be gone and that's just what happens, but she not a replacement. Please hire someone with actual mechanical chops, the q&a's have been dreadful, she didn't even know what a shifter/derailleur pull ratio is, and if she does, she failed to mention it when the question required it.
OK... I like Anna as a presenter, but trying to get down with the (incorrect) kids by saying 'x-up' when the term is actually 'CROSS-up' and in text that is shortened to the letter x... In the same way 'moto-x' is moto CROSS, not moto x!!! It's just ignorance from yoooff who didn't know the x means 'cross'. I am x-ing my arms in dispair🙄😄
Steering dampers is another BS. It adds on to the cost of bike, maintainence cost or even repair or replacement cost. For decades riders ride our bikes w/o any issues where this BS doesn’t even existed. Is bike companies running out of ideas or pushing out tech products & marketing gimmicks to brainwash the community their inventions are superb & we really need to spend our hard earn $$$ on their BS?
I wasn't sure about damping headsets till I tried them out and put them on my kids bikes. They made a huge difference for my kids, especially as they were learning to ride. For adults I look at them the same way I see more complaint bars or bigger brake rotors - tools to postpone fatigue so that you can spent more time enjoying your rides.
Imagine if you had only one arm or couldn’t grip with one of your hands. Maybe it isn’t right for you, but for someone out there might mean being able to ride at all.
Where the hell is Doddy?
We want Doddy to make a comeback!! 😉😉
Yeah, is Doddy OK?
@@TheMHohSoma no one knows apparently. Hopefully he’s just on vacation
@@kofalin seen him around Bath, hope he returns to the channel soon.
Hey GMBN Tech Fans! As a lot of you may have caught onto, Doddy hasn’t been featured on the channel for a while. We are stoked to announce that Doddy will be returning to your screens in the near future. We apologise for the radio silence on this matter and hope it hasn’t caused any upset or confusion. Stay tuned for upcoming videos from Anna & Doddy! All the best and safe riding! The GMBN Tech Team
@@gmbntech Great, you all do a great job, it’s only that for many of Us Doody has got to the bottom of our hearts. Cheers
Long time bike shop mechanic here that now does mountain bike coaching among other things. I have been running the CC Viscoset for 2 years now and I have loved it since day one. I think steering dampers are for sure going to be standard equipment going forward. Stop and think about every major MTB innovation in the last 20 years. ALL of them produce improved stability. Wide bars, slack head angles, 29” wheels, slow rebound rubber, stiffer tire casing, long wheelbases, better dampers, short fork offsets, the more recent move to avoid overly stiff wheels and frames, etc. Steering dampers offer the same benefits as these but without any of the downsides like more weight, tight turning limitations, clipping knuckles on trees, more rolling resistance, etc. I don’t think we need sophisticated fluid dampers either. Continued refinement of basic Viscoset tech is likely all we need. So, the solution is already here. People just need to try it to see how good it can be.
It's hilarious.... I wonder if #wheresdoddy could get to global top trending tag by Friday 😂
Yeah where is he?! There's not really a channel without him
#whereisDoddy?
There was a question in parliament today that asked the Prime Minister if he knew of the whereabouts of erstwhile GMBN tech presenter, Doddy. Mr Sunak declined to comment.
Forget steering dampers, is Doddy making a comeback?!
#whereisDoddy #FreeDoddy
This is not a complaint about any of the hosts or co-hosts but where is Doddy? Is he ok?
Haven’t seen Doddy in a while - is he the opening we’ve been seeing on social media?
Lots of Doddy remarks! Hopefully Doddy is just heading to the Sea Otter in Monterey, California. And maybe making a few videos on the way...Maybe Mt. Tam !
Doddy is not going to So.... He said so in his insta in reply... He is not joining the gmbn crew there...
#WhereisDoddy
Another great show thanks guy’s. Btw… where’s Doddy? 🤔
* Police Notice * WANTED - Suspiciously tall man for the theft of Fido Dido's haircut. Last seen on this channel several weeks ago. Any leads, please apply DCI Ashton. No reward.
Doddy?
For bikepacking I could see steerer damping being good. When you're on the bike for 12+ hours a day I really don't want the steering input being so sensitive.
Imagine having a comments section of the show but not picking one of the 50% of comments that asked the same thing
Doddy was here...
WAS
It was one of the best modifications on motorbikes
I’ve had a couple one on a r1 ohlins
I had made it feel a lot more planted no headshakes.
On Dirtbike had a couple Scott’s and a rock stomper in chunk and sand they really shine if you haven’t ridden with one try it I think you will be quicker with it than without.
The "KISS" saying here is "Keep It Stupid Simple"...LOL
Where in the world is Doddy.
I purchased a steering dampener for my motorbike back in the late 80's early 90's....well around then, anyway once i used it i couldn't imagine not using it, made such a difference at high speed & better handling all round, will be interesting to see or rather feel how they perform on an mtb,
#whereisDoddy #FreeDoddy
Yes, explore both old and new tech... always explore, create, and innovate !
I appreciate everyone in the comments for asking where is Doddy? I was wondering, too, and thinking maybe I was a kook for not knowing.
#whereisdoddy
Struggling to find 165's! No way! I just got a set of 165 5Dev's on-sale! Being an old(er) person they work just great on my Revel Rascal, much better than the stock 175's.
There on sale for a reason 😅. Alot of people having problems with them breaking 😢. Good luck
When you tell us the price in dollars, euros and pounds I get confused! 😂
I’ve done timed testing and my 27.5 Santa Cruz Nomad gets me down the local DH trails just as fast as my 29er high pivot Trek Session.
Nomad is quicker around tight sections and the Session excels in the fast sections.
The steering dampers would be great on kid bicycles
That Nukeproof DH/coil makes me more excited than a bike probably should.
Where is DODDY???
Just like forks, will start as springs, will go to compressed air with stanchions.
Can add tokens to make more progressive ;)
Hook a bungy cord to each grip and the seatpost... Job done😜
I don't remember anyone using a steering damper back in the 90's. I think it was mainly the "all the gear no idea" brigade.
Where is DODDY
If you guys don't address what's going on with doddy soon it will harm your channel
I doubt it... Some have never even heard of/seen him.
Anna ia a great tech lead to
I went to canyon site last week wanting to buy a new MTB. I saw the steerer damping thing in the spec. I was so embarrassed I did not order the bike. I just wanna ride a normal bike. With only suss as an "Assyst" 😢
D o d d y
isnt it what canyon is doing on the spectral with the kis
The steering damper system needs to be serviceable, even if it's not going to look as nice as the Canyon system.
I feel your pain, Anna, on trying to find 165m cranks.
I’d be willing to try steering dampers. As long as it was stiction free. Maybe that stability is what I’m missing for more speed, who knows. 😂
On A DH RaceBike Sure 😎
While pushing hard over rough terrains I am often "kicked" off my position affecting the balance of the bike. It feels as if i cannot lock in position between the handle bars and pedals and i am loosing precision in steering. I wonder why this happens, if this is a matter of upper body strength and if this system of steering damper would solve it / help. What are your thoughts?? Thanks
My experience putting damping headsets on my kids' bikes is emphatically yes. The little bit of resistance makes a difference in not getting knocked off line.
a rough pondering but do (spring-based) steering centering systems, which are different from outright steerer damping, affect the inherent self-balancing effect of bicycles due to steering geometry?
I wonder about that too. I know if I over-tighten the headset and make steering stiff, it is harder to stay in balance.
Been waiting on 165 XT cranks for months ☹️
Is it faster or safer. I think bike companies are catering to making bikes over their heads or listening to riders who are the same. The 2017 stumpy fattie modified with 29 is in the sweet spot for a trail bike. 63 head angle for a trail center bike makes me scratch my head. Plus I’m used to it.
On a 100kmhDH RaceBike😎
@gmbntech #gmbnmtech can the elephant in the room be addressed! the absence of Doddy is now becoming a hashtag trend #wheresdoddy i assume that you value your viewers as it is them that keep the channel going so why is this not being addressed if for some reason there is dispute/contract negotiation etc then just say. I think from the comments that it is clear people are missing the Dodds on the channel, not saying that Anna and The Don are not doing a good job as they are, but i think we all agree when it come to MTB Tech then it is a Doddy thing.
I think you would be mad if you said you wouldn't want to try a bike with a steering damper - just to see if it does anything. But not so sure it is really making a wider comeback quite yet.
It’s always good to explore and innovate but this just seems to solve a problem that the majority of us mtn bikers just don’t have.
Not interested without doddy
#wheresdoddy
Hope Tech sells 165mm cranks
Do mountain bikes get tank slappers? I wonder if it reduces vibrations saving the wrists. Maybe they are only useful for those at the top end and the average rider unable to gain a benefit.
From watching my kids experience with them, average riders with lower upper body strength would benefit even more than pro riders.
Less effort to keep the bike pointed where you want it means less fatigue and resistance to small bumps that might otherwise knock you off line mean fewer crashes.
#whereisdoddy?
Are any manufacturers making 26” versions of trail tyres anymore? Like trying to find unicorn poo.
I have a 26 inch bike with a Maxxis DHF and a Schwalbe Nobby Nic, you can still find if you look for them. I think Schwalbe has more 26 inch options.
do you reply ? love the content
Thanks for the support, Josh!
I already have sufficient steering dampening. Everybody has two of them. Yeah you're arms dampen quite well. But thanks anyway
Oh and do keepemcoming
Your chest is the steering damper. Your arms are the connectors. 😊
As with most things body-related, there's a limit to how much you can handle and still ride safely.
For some people their arms are going to give out faster than their legs - in which case a steering damper may be a good way to get in longer rides with less fatigue.
@@timtuckercom 😭😂😭🤣😭😂😭😆😅😂🤣😭
@@timtuckercom I’m still not a believer. I do have an expensive one on my KTM dirtbike (Scott’s) but on a bicycle you point your chest where you want to go and by keeping light pressure on the grips and loose arms you absorb things that deflect your steering.
If you feel it will help with arm fatigue you are likely doing something sub-optimally. 🙂
@@marktechsci Ebikes and bike packing are the most common use cases they're marketed towards.
People also seem to really like them on fat bikes.
I've found that they've been great for my kids.
The common thread among all those: higher bike to rider weight ratio.
The heavier the bike is vs. the rider, the more effort it's going to take to keep it under control.
"Suboptimal" can be anything from "can't afford a lighter bike" to younger / elderly / beginner riders with lower upper body strength.
Why Not?
Great vid great content
Thanks so much for the support!
No
Will stop watching this channel if Anna remains the primary anchor. Doddy may be gone and that's just what happens, but she not a replacement. Please hire someone with actual mechanical chops, the q&a's have been dreadful, she didn't even know what a shifter/derailleur pull ratio is, and if she does, she failed to mention it when the question required it.
Also she has no personality!
OK... I like Anna as a presenter, but trying to get down with the (incorrect) kids by saying 'x-up' when the term is actually 'CROSS-up' and in text that is shortened to the letter x... In the same way 'moto-x' is moto CROSS, not moto x!!!
It's just ignorance from yoooff who didn't know the x means 'cross'.
I am x-ing my arms in dispair🙄😄
To be honest, I have never heard Cross up in my life, and I care about bikes for 30years
😖
Steering dampers is another BS. It adds on to the cost of bike, maintainence cost or even repair or replacement cost. For decades riders ride our bikes w/o any issues where this BS doesn’t even existed. Is bike companies running out of ideas or pushing out tech products & marketing gimmicks to brainwash the community their inventions are superb & we really need to spend our hard earn $$$ on their BS?
I wasn't sure about damping headsets till I tried them out and put them on my kids bikes.
They made a huge difference for my kids, especially as they were learning to ride.
For adults I look at them the same way I see more complaint bars or bigger brake rotors - tools to postpone fatigue so that you can spent more time enjoying your rides.
Imagine if you had only one arm or couldn’t grip with one of your hands. Maybe it isn’t right for you, but for someone out there might mean being able to ride at all.
#whereisdoddy