Looks to me like you and feds are saying my evaluation is incorrect and if I was fast as hell like you guys I'd realize it. I've ridden the trail in the wet and the dry, and I have ridden its predecessor on 4 different bikes from a hardtail to a DH, and in a variety of conditions. I have no problem with the lips at all, and my feelings about what's on the other side of them is not unique. Criticism directed at the volunteer builders in town seems to flow freely. Just providing a little balance.

Let me know when you're up there feds, coz it would be sweet to see someone who is fast as hell. I'll bring a pen and paper so I can get your autograph after you nail that sucker to the wall. Bring cmack and we can have a full on bro fest of super rad fast dudes.

Pedal like a mofo, case half the jumps and overshoot the rest, if there's a landing at all. Yup, it's definitely part of half nelson.

The guy in #2 is about to wish he had gloves on

I guess someone missed the memo that you get better climbing traction with plush suspension. As long as you don't pound up and down like a monkey when you pedal, and as long as your bike has adequate anti squat like VPP or similar, there is absolutely no need to lock out, or firm up suspension. My Nomad with a coil and a push link to make it plush like a DH bike climbs better on tech terrain than any bike I've ever had. Certainly much better than a hardtail that won't conform to the terrain. This is all a bunch of nonsense. What a waste of R&D dollars. Give me a Marzocchi with virtually zero maintenance requirements and the ability to react over a pebble any day over this crap that will no doubt need servicing mid ride.

During the JRA test, you can see the aluminum is starting to deform at well under 1000lbs. That's irreparable damage too. All it takes is a small crack and the frame will begin to unravel... aluminum is great, sure, but it's not the wonder material everyone thinks it is. I think what people are forgetting is that carbon is lighter and rides nicer. It has great characteristics on its own merit. So whether or not it is stronger than aluminum is really a secondary concern. If it is exactly on par, we have a winner. If it is even 10% weaker, then I think the benefits still outweigh the disadvantage. But I don't think that's the case; I'm pretty convinced it is at least on par, or slightly to significantly stronger. It seem like for carbon to be a winner in most people's eyes, it has to be twice as strong, half as heavy and survive whatever any hack can throw at it. Well, that is not going to happen. Instead what we are getting is aluminum frames that are lighter than their predecessors and they dent easily and all the carbon haters call that progress. Perhaps aluminum is better at surviving certain situations. But there is little doubt that carbon is better at other situations. End result? Probably a similar overall chance you will break your frame as before, except it's now lighter and rides better. And the carbon V10 costs the same as the old Aluminum one did. I've broken a total of 5 frames including an aluminum V10 and have not yet broken a carbon one, but I will give it an honest try.