The bicycle world is a milieu where the collision of technology and extremely old, simple machines collides.
An interesting video looking at rotor design. I have had some issues with 180mm ice tech rotors – particularly freeza style – rubbing after longer braking sections. They then rub continuously, and on a longer ride, it can drive you wild.
So is the tech worth it?
On my Moxie, I mounted up a centre lock non ice-tech 200mm rotor to see if the bigger diameter trumped the heat reduction of the ice-tech rotor. Yes, was the answer and the increased stopping-power is welcome on that bike.
I have a set of Enve (actually Edge) rims on DT 240 hubs in storage because the rims are non tubeless compatible and I can’t find a way to convert them and keep the tyre on the bead seat. Several thousand pounds of obsolete. Tech for the win?
But recently, as much as I love DI2 (and I really do – its flawless and amazing swift shifting and durability are legend ) i’ve been messing with a slx/xt mix drive chain and the 12 speed version is pretty incredible. Fast, accurate shifts and seems solid. And cheap.
Now, the bike it is on weighs 15.5kg. thats *heavy* for a hardtail. The fox 38 with Vorsprung smash pot coil spring functionally is incredible. But its a boat anchor too. Is the tech worth it?
I hauled that bike around a 11.5 hour Cairngorm loop recently. For the rough decent from Macdui to Etchachan and down to the Hutchy hut – and indeed sections of the Derry trail, amazing. Hauling it through Feshie? Brutal. You can’t ride it at low speed no-handed due to the floppy front end. The floppy front end that makes it spectacular on hard decents.
So – is tech worth it?
Functional minimalism is kind of my mantra for the ‘bagworks stuff and it applies here. Look at what you need your function to be – apply a discerning eye – consider what compromises you are willing to make and then pare it back.
“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Airman’s Odyssey
drj0nswanderings 
Surely you need to try a 200mm IceTech rotor to compare?
Not had a problem with any of mine – other than the old sieve-like garage leading to one delaminating due to corrosion.
Re fork – a stock 36 would be the answer. No?
Prob – just need to actually get one ! I’ve a 36 hanging on a hook with a Luftkape in it but otherwise stock and it seems Xc weight in comparison…it’s going on a different bike though. Don’t get me wrong – not complaining about the 38 – I like it a lot for intended use, it’s just feeling out where the tables turn is all.