First ride on the Rimpact chain damper - is the hype real?

[@Ali_Clarkson]

So I had some strong things to say about how it felt climbing, I should point out that this is a product mainly aimed at the gravity market where this is less of an issue but it’s still worth mentioning it incase your average trail rider was considering using one. Future videos will concentrate more on the DH aspect, hopefully some nice fast or bumpy trails and some back-to-back testing with a normal chainring 🤘🏻

[@MC_5562]

You guys look insanely fast on these trails! Good stuff 👏👏👏

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Thanks very much!

[@Coolcmsc]

Ali, I don’t know about these chain rings and high pivots outside racing. But I do know when I see a good vid. I really love you mixing up the cam views with the story-line: excellent and bloody fast!!!🎉

[@amtberproducts]

Its just as easy to downshift a few gears on decents, so with each impact you dont get chain engagement to the cassette. That clunk sound from the wheel & spokes goes away and the suspension isnt hindered by chain tension anymore. Ive always wanted a free gear on the cassette which also seems a good way for a real chainless feel

[@eartharrow6772]

Cool seeing you send it

[@Sunesha]

cool mate, I like you testing things as you are very diffrent kind of rider. Also you are tried many weird stuff and can do weird stuff. So yeah I like this kind content

[@keithjones4702]

spends a small fortune on hub engagement. Loses it in a springy crank. weird.

[@KU-mg9el]

Thats how you sell stuffff boi

[@saltybmxer6977]

Mountain biking motto- MTB, solving problems that don’t exist since 1998.

[@keithjones4702]

@ I nearly went with a very similar comment.

[@OnlyShrimps666]

@@saltybmxer6977 stick to riding 2000s era bmx bikes then

[@saltybmxer6977]

@@OnlyShrimps666 stick to GFYS.

[@RalphIvanDelaTonga]

Real interest

[@unzulaessig]

Sound from the brakes are mint also

[@guyonthebike]

I like the lighting at 14:14

[@saltybmxer6977]

Mountain biking motto should be “MTB, solving problems that don’t exist since 1998!”

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Maybe but I’m open minded about trying new things even if at first glance it might seem unnecessary, people didn’t like the idea of dropper posts at first and I applaud people who try new ideas even if they don’t always work better than what’s already available…new ideas help push progression in tech and one day the prices might trickle down to something more affordable

[@saksittichompoo3583]

Another invention we can live without.

[@leftaroundabout]

I appreciate that you don't take conclusions before you're sure! Honestly this seems a pretty dubious product. It _can_ certainly be helpful on bikes that have a particularly bad case of kickback due to suspension geometry, but most modern bikes avoid that already through better design. And this chainring must be outright horrible for anything that actually needs crisp pedal response!

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Thank you, it’s easy to try and make up a conclusion but I honestly think that days riding wasn’t the best test…I think a faster or bumpier trail would be better and with back-to-back runs with a normal chainring. I’ll probably get an uplift day and make a better video soon

[@alextroche9453]

what mudguard are you running?

[@urbanskatingfreestyle-craz8411]

Please a reviw for the Ace pro 2 😀

[@kjdh3823]

The delay when pedaling would make me go nuts. I don’t see much of issue when riding since the hub is so fast it wouldn’t catch with your movement anyways. So idk I don’t see any sense behind that. It doesn’t even stop the chain from slinging around so it should do absolutely nothing but a delay.

[@dimensionsofearth]

This essentially does what a lot of the high pivot idler wheel frames do and its a lot less fuss than one of those! Looking forward to more testing on this one

[@ericm8811]

Hey Ali Clarkson! In my opinion the energy from the chain bounce is absorbed by the derailleur spring. Unless the rear wheel is stationary the freewheel will let any "pull" that people think they feel on the cranks and pedals go around the rear sprocket to the derailleur spring. In 39 years of mountain bike riding I've never experienced this magical pedal feedback when my bicycle is in motion and I'm not pedaling. Ride ride ride!

[@Ali_Clarkson]

I agree that this isn’t necessarily an issue I’ve ever felt, I find it a bit odd that Rimpact are focusing on that aspect rather than improved suspension but that’s not to say their claims aren’t true. I think what you say is also true other than the top of the chain won’t be absorbed by the mech (plus tighter clutches don’t help with the bottom these days).

[@audunskilbrei8279]

The top portion of the chain isn't helped by the derailleur. It's pinned between the freewheel and the front chainring. This does sound like a solution to a problem that doesn't exist to me though.

[@customerisalwaysrigh]

I feel like they could probably reduce that climbing clunk if they made the chainring elliptical. Maybe more teeth at the top of the stroke to give you more to push against. Or maybe just little valves and gates in there with a spring backed ifp so when it hits something fast the cranks move but at slow speeds it doesnt. I guess at the end of the day it kinda feels like this is a problem most people dont have and a solution that really only benefits DH bikes.

[@Allsystemsaredown]

Or even just a lockout that you can engage for climbing.

[@customerisalwaysrigh]

@Allsystemsaredown that's definitely a better idea

[@YanDoroshenko]

I never understood stuff like this. Maybe at the DH world cup, but then you're not driving an F1 car around, are you.

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Yeah I see this as an item you buy if you’re looking for every single last bit of optimization for racing etc, that said if you’re someone who loves to tune bikes and get it running super smooth you don’t necessarily need to be a racer to enjoy it

[@sapinva]

Spend $500 on an instant engagement hub, then another $300 on the damper and get all the advantages of a $30 hub with 7 degree engagement. You could have just used the cheap hub and saved $770. Maybe a better product would simply disengage the chain at the click of a button. We have dropper posts, why not chain droppers?

[@Ali_Clarkson]

I used to think exactly the same way (and still wince at the cost of drivechains in general) but I have to admit that this does work much more consistently than a lower engagement hub, this is guaranteed a certain range of float whereas a hub depends on where the pawls are sitting at any given moment. I agree that a front freewheel (like on trials bikes) or a freecoaster type hub could be a decent solution to suspension kickback

[@neilburns8022]

@@Ali_Clarkson bodge one together for a future vid 😂

[@--LZ---]

Because of the way it's designed, it looks to me at least not to stop chain slap, but to stop chain feedback (or whatever the proper term is). I'm assuming you'd feel it more on some bikes more than others because of different suspension geometry. Basically it still slaps around but your crank is more isolated from it so you feel it way less. I wouldn't even bother with stuff like this. Overengineered for little to no gain.

[@JK-dv3qe]

chainring actually looks like something out of the 80's. very basic and logical. makes me think that all the 'fancy' chainrings that were thought up after were actually just expensive fluff

[@oscarlamb5980]

First Minute gang --> Can’t ride atm so following along a lot, always love the vids Ali, test the EVOSID cranks from Ali express £61 for cranks, chainring and bottom bracket, they look like 5dev and feel great, I have a pair for my dirtjump

[@868686mauro]

Try not to use your hands like a hammer, mate. If you give yourself tunnel damage it’ll affect your riding comfort even after surgery. Grab yourself a soft hammer. Save your hands.

[@todd_on_bikes]

Throw that engagement point eraser on the Hex, take it to the streets, and show us what you can do with it! 🤣

[@WannaJumpBikes]

Just buy a specialized, problem solved 👍

[@Create_o_raptor]

Ah.. MTB is waaay too weird.. trials is way better

[@okatbikes4917]

Dampener? This is a device for moistening your chain? I think you mean damper.

[@garretteverett2613]

Both terms are correct for describing this component.

[@okatbikes4917]

@@garretteverett2613 dampen /ˈdamp(ə)n/ verb 1. make slightly wet. You are wrong.

[@saltybmxer6977]

What is it with your seat angles? Your bikes are set up for women.

[@Ali_Clarkson]

What do you mean?

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Ah pointed nose down? Not sure why that would be any extra benefit for women 😋 but I agree it does look daft, it just feels sooooo nice for climbing! I do have an Aenomaly Switchgrade which allows me to alter the saddle angle, it’s able to be changed to less nose down but I happen to leave it in its extreme position when filming

[@saltybmxer6977]

@ your seat is pointed down. So is your buddies. Men generally have their seat with a slight angle up. Women have a slight angle down. That is what I have picked up in 20 years in a bike shop.

[@saltybmxer6977]

@@Ali_Clarkson anyway love your vids. I turn as many friends as I can onto your channel. Keep up the hard work.

[@Ali_Clarkson]

@ so I’m gonna be blunt…you’re wrong. So Bmx, DH, trials, Dirt Jump do have their saddles pointed slightly up, it gets the rear of the seat out of the way, makes grabs easier, knee pinches easier and is more comfy when chilling and cruising. When climbing a nose up saddle is horrible, firstly you need to use more arm strength to help resist sliding off the back and secondly it puts loads of pressure on your junk and nerves causing pain/numbness. Having a nose down saddle takes the strain off your arms and is generally more comfortable…the steeper the climbs the more nose down the saddle. Both angles are a compromise though which is why I have a saddle angle adjuster fitted so I’m not stuck in any extreme position. I’m not sure what the general public tend to do with their saddle angles though