January 2018 - Good Month or Bad Month?
The Outliers
God Bless the Crazy Ones
God Bless the Crazy Ones
If you're anything like me, you probably just go to the store, or maybe the internet, when you need something, and especially if you're in the market for a new suspension fork or downhill bike. Make my own? I can barely make a bowl of cereal for dinner, thank you very much. But there are folks out there who do have the drive and know-how to not just make dinner, but also a wild, single-sided suspension fork and an even more impressive downhill frame. Miloš Musil, a long time Pinkbiker from the Czech Republic, built his MM LSD fork using parts from Suntour, RockShox, Enduro, and even Cannondale, along with a bunch of homemade carbon fiber. Canadian Jean-François Boivin was even more ambitious with his self-designed, carbon fiber Insolent downhill bike that sees its homemade shock located inside of the top tube and an Effigear gearbox.
Is it better? No idea, but it sure looks cool.
The MM LSD fork and Insolent downhill bike are interesting, but one has to also ask, why? I mean, you can choose from any number of production forks and frames out there, so why bother? The answer is because Musil and Boivin could, which is the noblest reason of all. There's no real marketing agenda, no propaganda, and no plans to get rich; instead, they simply made the product they wanted to have.
DVO Suspension
Giant Factory Off-Road Team + DVO
Giant Factory Off-Road Team + DVO
Most of us can spot that DVO green from a mile away, but while the company's forks and shocks are an exciting addition to the big players that we're all used to seeing, they've waited until now to jump into a top EWS and World Cup outfit. ''The relationship we have this year with the Giant Factory Off-Road Team is special because we are really focused 100 percent with Giant and their off-road program,'' DVO founder Bryson Martin said about the partnership. ''From XC to enduro to downhill, all we do is focus on the team—making the best suspension for the team guys and specifically for each bike model and segment.''
We'll see green on Giant's cross-country, enduro, and downhill team bikes, and I'd be surprised if our race photographers didn't spot some new developments in the pits during the 2018 race season.
We'll see green on Giant's cross-country, enduro, and downhill team bikes, and I'd be surprised if our race photographers didn't spot some new developments in the pits during the 2018 race season.
Giant goes green with DVO suspension on their team bikes.
Sam Pilgrim
Sam Signs with Haibike... to Ride E-Bikes
Sam Signs with Haibike... to Ride E-Bikes
I almost put this one in the 'Bad Month' section, but then I looked at it objectively and thought otherwise. Here's the thing: for as good of a rider as Sam is - and he's very, very good - the guy probably isn't going to win a Crankworx event these days. Not with the likes of Rheeder, Semunuk, and Rogatkin doing their thing. But Sam has a huge online following and about a zillion fans, so he's obviously worth something to a brand money-wise, and he's also smart enough to see the writing on the wall when it comes to battery-powered bikes. That is, they're coming regardless of how much we (and I) moan about them. Pinkbike is still treading lightly when it comes to e-bikes, but I'd argue that Sam has made a forward-thinking, and likely correct, call when it comes to a type of career that's very often short-lived and riddled with injuries.
More power to you, Sam.
More power to you, Sam.
Vroom vroom!
SRAM
The Dub Flub
The Dub Flub
If there's one fact that I've learned in the last twenty-something years of riding, it's that us mountain bikers don't much like change when it comes to so-called standards. That's especially true when decimal points and bottom bracket dimension are involved, which is a sure-fire way to start a fast-moving brush fire pushed on by the winds of hate in the comment section. Aaaaand that's pretty much what happened when SRAM introduced their DUB bottom bracket setup recently.
So, there are some good reasons for DUB, including less confusion over what fits what, sealing and (claimed) improved durability, as well as simplicity. I can get behind all of that as long as it pans out, but I'd argue that SRAM might have mishandled the release of DUB.
So, there are some good reasons for DUB, including less confusion over what fits what, sealing and (claimed) improved durability, as well as simplicity. I can get behind all of that as long as it pans out, but I'd argue that SRAM might have mishandled the release of DUB.
No, it's not 29mm. It's 28.99mm.
Here's what I would have done: nothing. Seriously, I wouldn't have even mentioned the bottom bracket and spindle changes to you guys if I was SRAM because, as we saw, the fully warranted weariness about this stuff will only generate anger, even if there are solid reasons for the change. Instead, I would have simply let DUB happen, probably without calling it anything. That tactic that would have eventually seen consumers and shops benefit and appreciate the change, just so long as the claims pan out in the long run. Anyway, our own Vernon Felton waded in to see what's up with DUB, so check that out if you want to learn more.
American Classic
Legendary Brand Closes Shop After 35 Years
Legendary Brand Closes Shop After 35 Years
American Classic was never in the Cool Kids Club when it comes to mountain bike companies, but founder Bill Shook came up with some interesting products over the thirty-five years they were in business. That came to an end recently when they closed their factory doors in Taichung, with forty workers in Taiwan and the United States being given severance pay and let go. ''Their demise is being described as a “cash flow” issue,'' Vernon Felton wrote a few weeks ago when the news broke. ''The brand experienced declining sales in 2016, hoped to bolster things with OE sales and when that didn’t materialize, the funds weren’t there to keep things rolling.''
According to Bicycle Retailer and Industry News, American Classic is currently in negotiations to sell its trademarks and other intellectual property. That means we still might see the name, and maybe even Mr. Shook himself with some fresh ideas.
According to Bicycle Retailer and Industry News, American Classic is currently in negotiations to sell its trademarks and other intellectual property. That means we still might see the name, and maybe even Mr. Shook himself with some fresh ideas.
Will we see American Classic again? I hope so.
Strava
National Security Concerns Over a Fitness App
National Security Concerns Over a Fitness App
A lot of us bitch about Strava lines and Strava-ssholes, but it turns out that the US military has a far more legit concern: soldiers using Strava while working out have been uploading their efforts online. That wouldn't be a bad thing, but there's a host of somewhat secretive US military bases that have now been showing up on Strava thanks to their Heat Map feature. Even if the locations of these bases were known to other countries, I bet the Department of Defense isn't all that happy right now, especially because it's not like the data is anonymous - there are names attached to those little avatars.
I don't imagine that any rogue nations will be using Strava's data to do anything that nefarious, but it does raise a whole bunch of legit concerns that carry a lot more weight than the last Strava-sshole who just had to cut that one tricky corner. You're still a jerk, though.
I don't imagine that any rogue nations will be using Strava's data to do anything that nefarious, but it does raise a whole bunch of legit concerns that carry a lot more weight than the last Strava-sshole who just had to cut that one tricky corner. You're still a jerk, though.
''What's your fastest time to the nuke silo?''
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PB talking about short lived careers as pro slope riders, well.... Gonna be a lot shorter now he's left a reputable, respected company to ride for an 'who the FK?' ugly mobilitE company an Pretty much ruined any marketability he had as a brand.
Dictionary definition of a sellout
Like I said
Dictionary definition of sellout
He left NS to ride those ugly pieces of shit.
Sellout
Is Martin sodastrom a sellout cause he left NS for a bigger paycheck at specialized? Pretty sure there are plenty of riders that have done the same. Danny macaskil? Can't ride for popularity upvotes and likes forever. @nojzilla:
Sam is the dictionary Definition of selling OUT
Sam Pilgrim gives zero f*cks about what is fashionable to like. He is having fun, and he makes me want to go have fun on my bike. He is super skilled, and carries an attitude that most people should be envious of.
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Strava, Map My Ride, Google, whatever. All of it is tracking everything we do and we don't seem to care because shiny. Here in the U.S., we used to care about and fight for our constitutional right to privacy and a reasonable expectation of said privacy in and out of our homes. Now, we just give it all away in the name of neato without a thought to who or what entities do with our info. Supposedly there are protections in place by companies and our government (here in the U.S.) that keep this information private. But, its been shown again and again that this just isn't the case.
For me, I use very little social media (PB being one of them), and take care with my info. Remember, people, everything you do online is evidence. This doesn't just mean criminal evidence. Your FB or LinkedIn or whatever. Employees look at this stuff to build a profile of prospective candidates. I don't think it is right to do so, but again, evidence...
Safe computing everyone...
I was followed from the airport and had my hire car done over and lost loads of stuff. too quick to be an opportunist.
"$30k worth of bikes out of his garage."
With that kind of stupid it was only a matter of time before those bike were stolen.
I have three bikes. When I'm leaving for more than 24-36 hours, I remove the forks from the frames and stash those in a dif section of the house. Because I don't trust people.
Makes for a choice target.
In actuality, the richers rarely watch out for each other. Specially in cities, or city outskirts, where there are millions of people moving around all the time. My cousin thought he lived in a safe and expensive neighborhood until the homes in the area started getting burglarized by people with moving trucks.
My cousin tells his neighbor "my house got robbed, they took almost everything": neighbor; "I thought you were moving out?" The neighbor never called the police to come make sure that his assumption was correct, so my cousin came to understand that the middle-class neighborhoods watch out for each other as his new neighborhood the neighbors are always watching out for unknown people wandering the neighborhood and telling each other about what they have seen... You know, neighborly! ... Because of concern of their property and family.
www.kgw.com/article/news/crime/top-10-portland-neighborhoods-for-car-thefts/488518047
I only bothered to googled the first couple of communities and the are plenty of houses for sale there in the low $200's. Is that the nicest part or Portland? Is that where Phil Knight lives?
well, stop being naif, he wasn't hired because of his sweet skills in the kitchen or his phd, he was hired because he has a fanbase that was built around something that gather fans around. A recipe.
You don't get a lifetime compromise of their fidelity, like other sports, bands and brands! People come and go, support you or leave you based on what they think it's their interests, goals, what they look for in something. They have a say. Why shouldn't? It's a public decision based on public perceptiveness, fan base, media exposure, brand value, etc, etc. It's not a innocent job given to a desperate man, a refugee that crossed the ocean on a raft.
This to say, that yes, the fans have a word, even if they don't have any more than that - and it's up to him to make his own decisions, of course - but they still get to voice their feelings! Why not? we're not in soviet Russia - one opinion, one hero, one flag, gulag if you don't respect that.
And again, it's not hate, he just steered from what some people liked him from, an in their view made him famous. He changed? Let's part ways, that's it.
Now read it again and apply it to any other thing in life band, food, actor, film maker. What's so strange about it having an opinion? jesus.
Now, you do have a point. He has a contract because he has fans, and if he loses enough of his fan base because of his decisions, then yeah, that could spell trouble for him. Or more specifically, if he can't convince his fan base to go out and buy Haibike, then he's not much use to that sponsor. But I guess that's the risk he's willing to take. In the meantime, he's on two wheels living his dream (his dirt jumper IS NOT an ebike), and getting paid for it. I don't see what's wrong with that.
"What's he supposed to do, start selling real estate because you and a bunch of others in the comment section of some website don't like his career path? Someone's willing to pay him a living doing what he loves. And if any of you say you wouldn't do the same thing -- that is, get paid for doing what you love -- you're all lying to yourselves. You all can take a flying leap."
I think this is beside the point, I couldn't care less what he does with his private life, finances and such, it's all based on speculation, personal views and lots of judgment and guessing, like if he loves or not what he is doing, I don't care. The only thing that matters to me on this particular subject is what path did he choose in terms of his public image and does it fit my idea of a MTBiker that I wanna follow. I do it all the time with tons of other public profiles, we do have to choose witch one to support and the ones to ditch.
Time is short!
I don’t think anyone is saying that Pilgrim didn’t have his reasons, and I don’t think anyone is claiming that they wouldn’t have done the same. But we are all nobodies that won’t help sell emtbs.
The guy was a pillar of the mountain biking community. So regardless of whether his motives are warranted in the “real world”, it doesn’t change the fact that the man WAS a hero.
Everyone deserves to earn a living, not everyone deserves to be eternally worshipped for what they USED to represent.
The man is a sell-out. You can argue all day that he isn’t. But he HAS sold his place in the spiritual world of mountain biking.
Doesn’t mean he’s not as good as he was. Doesn’t mean that he’s a bad person. It DOES mean that he made a CHOICE to take the money and SELL what he used to represent.
It’s not hate for a man making a living, it’s the lamentation of the loss of a big part of what makes riding so challenging and gratifying.
We all make choices. Hell, I sold out a long time ago. I’m perfectly fine admitting that. But I’m not Sam Pilgrim. I never flew the flag for MTB, and then wiped my ass with it.
Someone you trust is one of us.
exposure, longer career paid to ride 2 wheels
first person sponsored to do so, also help attract other bike associated $$$
for any e-bike maker, putting their money where their mouth is so everyone will know they mean business
don't be afraid try an e-bike, they are fun.
Being a pro mountain biker isn't all that glamorous. If you're the absolute best of the best you probably make what, $150, 200k/year? That's a total guess btw. If you're anything except the best of the best, you make significantly less than that. Your "career" is short, you get hurt a lot, and I'm betting there's no pension plan. Sam switching to Haibike will probably net him a significant payday, and he most likely won't have to charge as hard as he did on NS, thus saving his body and lengthening his career.
Good for him, I say. Pro MTBers take on ridiculous risk for very little reward. Good for Sam for presumably getting paid somewhere close to what he's worth.
This will in NO way be good for real mtb'ers that are all ready having a hard enough time with trail access.
THAT
is why there is SO much animosity towards mobilitE bikes and Sam selling out
Hope you understand that now.
That's exactly what it was. Ultimately, DUB doesn't really impact me or my ability to get parts for my bike or anything else, but we're just SO sick of SRAM's BS marketing and their push for standards for the sake of generating sales, that we've had enough, and calling it 28.99 instead of 29 almost seemed aimed at rubbing the consumer's nose in it all. Like they're saying "Look what we can get away with!"
My three sets of sram cranks will not work with an xtr bb. My two sets of shimano cranks will not work with a sram gxp bb.
Not sure what the big deal is. It is not a new standard that wont work on old or new frames (unlike boost).
And pb is pretty pathetic putting ebike stuff on the positive, if the sram bb situation is a negative.
XT shifter/der on a Sram cassette is about as good as it gets for 11 speed.
No need for Eagle here, 32:42 is a low ass gear on 27.5 wheels, walking has to be considerably faster than 32:50
#becausecommentsection
Best DUB could manage was a "whatever, I never change my BB" or "whatever, at least it still fits on my bike"
I feel like all the Strava complaints have played themselves out by now and even with this news there are no original jokes.
Less respect for the ones who clearly don't understand the satisfaction of DIY stuff and critizice.
This. Exactly. They should have done the same too with metric shocks. Instead they feed it into their marketing hype machine because well...SRAM. It's starting to look a bit transparent.
"I almost put this one in the Bad month section"
Really?
Just say ; I really like this.
Meanwhile Sam “The Sellout” Pilgrim jumps into bed with the devil himself and it’s all “good for you for trying to make a living”.
Pinkbike, you’re a bunch of sycophantic hypocrites. And your weak-ass attempts at rationalizing this is really sad. You rarely, if ever, openly criticize e-bikes, and you entirely complicit in trying to makenit appear like emtbs are a foregone conclusion. When you could actually do something about it. It’s made even more sad by your attempts at rationalizing your inaction & complicity.
In short, don’t p1ss on our collective leg and tell us it’s raining. Be men and women about it and just admit that you scared of making the bike companies angry and let’s move on.
Stop calling them ebikes, at least stop posting about them on a bicycle forum! It is no longer a bicycle once you put a motor on it.
Went all last season injury free, but didn’t even make it through off season this year! ????
[ taps nose ]
Oh! Hi Russian spies! Nothing to see here! E-bikes suck lol.
[ phew ]
In seriousness, a bike is just a bike, if someone is desperate enough to steal it, surely it’s better to speak to an insurance company and not Glock.