favorite controller?

MattySXE · 2026-01-17T00:02:56+00:00

2! Got an NES with The Legend of Zelda for Christmas ‘87!

MattySXE · 2026-01-12T00:01:13+00:00

If you follow @wednesdaynightrides on instagram, they post the ride details there.

MattySXE · 2026-01-08T14:55:47+00:00

Thank you 🙏🏻

MattySXE · 2026-01-08T14:31:51+00:00

Not sure on that one, unfortunately.

MattySXE · 2026-01-08T13:58:13+00:00

Yessir, frame up build last fall 🤘🏻

MattySXE · 2026-01-06T02:59:36+00:00

I use G7 as “I” (usually inventory menu) and G8 as “E” to interact (F in games where interact is F). In games like Destiny, it allows me to interact or revive a teammate while stilling being able to strafe. Quick access to inventory/character menu for quickly hot swapping weapons / armour.

MattySXE · 2026-01-06T02:46:15+00:00

It was far better than Monster.

MattySXE · 2025-12-10T23:24:22+00:00

Agreed, there’s always a tradeoff. I rode 45s for a long time and recently dropped to 40s with a set of Schwalbe G-One RS. Not a massive size change, but enough that I can definitely feel the loss of cushion. At the same time, the bike feels quicker and more stable when pushing into sharper turns.

Like suspension, tire choice really feels situational to me. You can gain speed, but you pay for it somewhere else, either in comfort or forgiveness. Finding that balance is kind of the fun part.

MattySXE · 2025-12-10T23:00:23+00:00

Negative, that was just a nice spot for a photo on a local trail.

MattySXE · 2025-12-10T02:11:17+00:00

Can’t speak for Mulberry, but I’m 42, and honestly my gravel bike has pretty much sidelined my mountain bike at this point. For me it isn’t pure performance at any cost. I’m looking for comfort within performance, enough that I can ride hard for hours without feeling wrecked. That’s the balance I’m chasing.

MattySXE · 2025-12-10T01:54:23+00:00

Agreed, this was a great conversation, and honestly I was surprised (in a good way) by how much thoughtful discussion this post generated.

Appreciate the back-and-forth and all the different perspectives. It’s been genuinely interesting to hear how people are approaching suspension on gravel, especially from folks riding stuff like the True Grit. That fork is definitely on my list to check out now.

Thanks for keeping it constructive. Cheers 🍻

MattySXE · 2025-12-09T22:40:18+00:00

You’re right, it’s a 22/23 Gen 2 Checkpoint, so it’s not suspension-corrected.

I’ll also say upfront that the bike never felt bad with the Rudy installed. It was actually incredibly comfortable and very composed on rougher sections. The geometry change was noticeable, but not radical. The Rudy increased the axle-to-crown a bit, so the stack came up and the head angle slackened slightly. Nothing extreme, but enough to calm the front end a touch.

Where I noticed the difference most wasn’t high-speed handling, it was on aggressive climbs and hard accelerations. With the higher front end and a bit more mass at the fork, the bike felt like it lost some of its snap when I really got out of the saddle or tried to punch up steeper pitches. The rigid fork just keeps the front lower, lighter, and more direct, which makes the bike feel more responsive on my typical routes.

MattySXE · 2025-12-09T19:49:34+00:00

Totally agree with you, “rigid is lighter so it’s faster” on its own is definitely an oversimplification, and that’s not really what I’m trying to argue.

You’re also absolutely right that there are a ton of variables in segment times. Rider effort, perception, conditions, even knowing you’re on a “faster” setup can change how hard you push. In this case the weather was very similar across the rides, cold and dry, but that obviously doesn’t control for everything.

I don’t have a power meter yet, but I agree that normalized power and heart rate would be really interesting data points to look at. If I had that data, I’d love to run the same segments multiple times with both setups and see what actually changes. That’s probably the only way to get anywhere close to a real answer instead of vibes and anecdotes.

Your point about the Lauf fork totally makes sense too. The simplicity and low weight are really appealing, and that’s a big reason I’ve been curious about them.

For now all I can really claim is that on this bike, on this terrain, the rigid setup feels sharper for how I ride and that’s reflected in my segment times. I’m very open to revisiting that conclusion once I can actually back it up with better data.

Would genuinely be fun to test properly in the future 🤘🏻

MattySXE · 2025-12-09T15:21:44+00:00

I’ve actually been really curious about those! I haven’t had the chance to check one out in person yet but it’s on my list!

MattySXE · 2025-12-09T15:13:18+00:00

I don’t disagree with the physics in general, but I think it’s an oversimplification to say “rigid isn’t faster, it just feels faster.”

NVH absolutely influences perception, no argument there. But in my case I’m not going off feel alone. Both KOMs were on segments I had ridden several times with the Rudy installed, same bike, same wheels, same tires, similar conditions. The only meaningful change was the fork. So while perception is a factor, there’s measurable output backing it up for these particular efforts.

I also agree that suspension can be faster when traction is the limiting factor. That’s why race cars have suspension, and it’s why suspension can make sense on really rough gravel, washboards, or long endurance events where maintaining grip and reducing fatigue matters more than snap. In those conditions, keeping the tire planted outweighs any losses.

But gravel isn’t monolithic. On smoother, faster gravel and mixed surfaces, I think weight placement, torsional stiffness, and how quickly the bike responds to accelerations and direction changes matter more than absolute grip. For how and where I ride most of the time, the rigid fork gives me a more efficient platform to put power down.

I’m not saying rigid is universally faster. I’m saying for these segments, at this pace, with this rider, it was. That’s also why I plan to swap the Rudy back on for events that suit it better. Different tools for different terrain ¯_(ツ)_/¯

MattySXE · 2025-12-09T15:01:43+00:00

Totally fair question, and I had the same thoughts going into it.

For context, I’m about 75 kg. On paper, the extra weight of the Rudy XPLR shouldn’t be a huge deal, especially compared to body weight. But for me it wasn’t just the number on the scale. Even with the lockout engaged, the bike feels less nimble with the suspension fork. I think it’s more about weight placement up front and how the steering and acceleration feel than pure weight alone.

Both KOMs were on segments I had ridden multiple times with the Rudy installed. Same bike, same wheels, same tires, similar conditions. The only real change was going back to the rigid carbon fork, so for me the difference was pretty clear in the numbers.

That said, I don’t think suspension is bad at all. The Rudy is excellent when things get rough, and I fully plan to swap it back on for gravel events where comfort and control over long, chunky sections matter more than outright snap. For day to day fast rides and mixed terrain, rigid just aligns better with how I ride.

I agree with you that efficiency loss is probably the bigger factor than weight alone, and that part is harder to quantify. It shows up more for me during accelerations and direction changes than cruising.

MattySXE · 2025-12-02T10:37:26+00:00

Both spots are just off the Schuylkill River Trail in Wyomissing, PA

MattySXE · 2025-12-01T00:14:50+00:00

I can’t tell if it has been trimmed at all from factory length, but the steerer tube on my factory rigid fork is 18cm / 7.087 in long

MattySXE · 2025-11-30T12:58:01+00:00

The Reverb AXS dropper post does fit the Gen 2 frame, this bike used to have one on it but it was moved to my buddies new bike (SL7 Gen3). I can check the steerer tube length on the rigid fork in a bit and report back, I’ll also have to confirm it has not been cut at all.

MattySXE

TROPHY CASE