Min-Maxing

The min-maxing idea is pretty simple on paper. This is an alternate look at how to spec bikes to get the best performance per dollar, rather than to catch the eye of any fickle consumer. Spend more money on parts that make the biggest difference on the trail while staying on budget by cutting corners elsewhere. Wear items that will be replaced over the natural life of a bicycle are a great place to be stingy as well as by choosing off brand parts that often perform better than their big-name equivalents. This process is easier said than done and it gets increasingly difficult on less expensive bikes where a single upgrade, like a good suspension fork, can break the budget by hundreds of dollars.

Min-maxing has become an obsession for me since I started on my Marin Hawk Hill Review.