Don't get me started with integrated headsets!

What is it with bike companies. Are they letting their marketing departments dictate their design.

I can understand the necessity or should I say desire for an integrated heaset on a road bike. You want to reduce weight and have a lower stack height.

What do those things have to do with a mountain bike. Heck, a headset is probably absorbing forces on a mountain bike from multiple angles simultaneously.

The strength and durability needed for a mountain bike does NOT lend itself to an integrated headset.

I could go on, but it's getting late!

Flippy shifters and integrated headsets AND more than 8 speeds have NO advantage on a mountain bike. I will add: Unless you are racing at a Professional level and have an indiscriminate amount of funding and essentially have disposable equipment at your beck and call.