We rarely enter the laboratory in the basement of our publishing building. Not because our colleagues down there are daft or the air is bad. We just prefer riding bikes and parts to analysing measured values or interpreting curves. The last duel confirmed that we are on the right track. Rockshox "Vivid Air" versus CaneCreek "Double Barrel Air" was the name of the duel in FREERIDE 4/12. We felt that the "Double Barrel" was too progressive. Subjectively, the "Vivid" rode better because it was more linear. The laboratory values did not confirm this. And? The "Vivid" won the duel and CaneCreek is now building a new inner air chamber with larger air passages (High Air Flow) to counteract the progression that was not detected in the laboratory but which we clearly perceived in the terrain.
That is why the winner of this brake duel will not be decided in the laboratory. The riding test will be the deciding factor in the final judgement. But even though we tested both brakes on our test trail in Bolzano under identical conditions with identical riders, we still want to know what extreme values can be determined under controlled laboratory conditions. After all, we don't deliberately brake the front wheel to the maximum on scree - it's safer to practice somersaulting forwards from a one-metre plank.
Read all about the Avid Code vs. Shimano Saint duel in the PDF download.
