I don’t know about that….they make 13 bikes and 3 ebikes. I recently bought a heavily discounted Santa Cruz and hey ho it’s like a bicycle but nicer. I’ve had Norco, Transition, Kona and a couple of German brands before and the Santa Cruz just feels and looks much more premium, rides really well too.

The Ayatollah will be pleased.

Sounds like a solid plan. If you haven’t already found it, Trailguide.no is a lot more useful than trailforks in Norway. I’d be tempted to ride around Åndalsnes if I was going from Oppdal to Sogndal. It’s a little out of the way though but the area is absolutely stunning.

Always a helmet (open face), no exceptions. Knee pads 95% of the time on the MTB. Since messing up both elbows in separate crashes I’ve also started wearing elbow pads after the last one, still recovering from it. Backpack has a protector in it, wear it on most rides. It’s pretty rocky and rooty where I do most of my riding.
Never really done any proper DH these past couple of years but I’d probably get a full face for that if it becomes a regular thing which it might this year.
Started riding in just a helmet and have been adding on more protection after each bigger crash now that I think about it.

Left foot forward, left ball hangs lower. This is the way.

Kona Honzo?

They need to be done tighter than you think. My RaceFace cranks used to do the same thing until I tightened them harder than anything else I own (probably). They’ve been fine since.

Buy that or just steal the geo (or customize your own would be the gentlemans approach…) and buy directly from Marino for less money. I have a custom Marino myself, cost me $430 with headset, rear axle, seat clamp and shipping included (then another $100 with import fees). I’d buy another one from him without hesitation.

I don’t know much about Sick but I’d rather support the maker when it’s possible rather than the dudebros of instagram.