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The Ultimate Recap of Pond Beaver 2020

Apr 16, 2020
by Brian Park  
Pinkbike Pond Beaver 2020


A huge THANK YOU to everyone who's been checking out our Pond Beaver coverage. I hope you've enjoyed it! With the whole world at various levels of lockdown this spring, we knew we wanted to do something to keep everyone at home informed while we're missing out on trade shows.

We had a ton of fun making Pond Beaver happen, and it seems like it was pretty well received. We had more videos, more articles, significantly more reads, and nearly double the comments compared to last year's spring trade shows.

That said, we sincerely hope to be back in Monterey next April to see our friends, get sunburns, and make questionable decisions at the Crown & Anchor.
Pond Beaver 2020 Quick Stats

Tech Videos: 8
Total Stories: 52
Total Reads: 1.5M (so far)
Total Comments: 6,271

What did you guys think? Should we do this again in the future if trade shows get cancelled? What would you like to see more of? Do we need to figure out how to do a virtual t-shirt cannon?

If you missed any stories, a recap of all our Pond Beaver coverage is below.




Introduction






Tech Videos




























Tech

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Wheels & Tires

photo




Apparel, Packs, & Protection

photo




Bikes

Pipedream Cycles The Full Moxie






Randoms

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Best for Last

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Posted In:
Industry News Reviews and Tech Pond Beaver 2020 Ultimate Recap


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Member since Dec 29, 2010
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68 Comments
  • 106 4
 I drank a bunch last night, pre-ordered a 38. Thanks and now broke and possibly single. Oh well.
  • 32 1
 At least you'll have more time to ride...
  • 23 3
 @RadBartTaylor: 38 Zwift edition
  • 4 1
 @WAKIdesigns: Frown
  • 17 3
 @RadBartTaylor: a real mountainbiker wouldn't compromise riding by attempting to achieve a mate of the opposite sex. Stay single, ride more
  • 5 0
 @lehott: says Mary Palm and her 5 sisters...
  • 1 0
 Legend.
  • 4 0
 Can she not handle the bigger sharft of the 38?
  • 3 0
 Palmela Handerson agrees @Beez177:
  • 1 1
 bigger is better
  • 3 0
 @RadBartTaylor: and the 'cheaper' of his two rides!!
  • 1 0
 @Beez177: cant forget Palmela Handerson
  • 1 0
 We know the feeling...
  • 2 0
 @Beez177: The 05:01 crew also aprooves.
  • 62 7
 Loved it! Much better than Sea Otter.
  • 53 1
 I look forward to next years Swamp Platypus.
  • 15 0
 @rocky-mtn-gman: you mean the Lake Muskrat
  • 19 0
 @RadBartTaylor: Don't forget the classic Sewer Rat.
  • 55 2
 I am already looking forward to InterMike in September...
  • 3 3
 @WAKIdesigns: ew
  • 1 1
 Have ever been? Didn't think so...
  • 12 0
 @WAKIdesigns: angry upvote.
  • 9 0
 then Reservoir Ferret
  • 4 0
 Anyone else feel like after watching the Fox suspension videos they are saying all previous models are crap? How did we even ride in 2018 & 2019 with such rudimentary suspension components???
  • 2 0
 @E-ROG: Nah... just the new stuff is better. Would it make sense if the new stuff was worse?
  • 2 2
 @brianpark: I am slightly disappointed that Trek didn't send you their carbon wheels. Kovee(d)29
  • 2 0
 @onemanarmy: copy that. I just watched, heard them mention like 10 "improvements" and thought, "I need to rebuild my 2011 Factory 36 180 on my Trek Scratch before park season"...guess I'm a little behind. cheers
  • 1 0
 @knobblytyres: My favorite so far...
  • 35 0
 First trade show I've been able to attend
  • 17 0
 Yeah this was cool. You all did a really nice job with this. Definitely do it again. And a virtual T-shirt Cannon is a great idea.
  • 13 0
 Been said already under this article and other along the way, but F it...sending kudos to the PB staff anyway. Seriously great idea to do Pond Beaver and the writing and content was really great. Honestly entertaining and gave literally millions of us mtb nerds something worthwhile to check put on the internet besides politics and Covid-19 stats. Much appreciated, and hope everyone out there is staying as safe and healthy. Much love.
  • 10 0
 Thanks PB! I was all set to go to the water weasel to camp, ride, hang out with all the friends form around the industry, and most importantly make questionable decisions. Lockdowns and covid put a rain check on that but the fun of new releases and cool bits of tech are a friendly reminder of how much our sport and the people who keep it moving forward rule. Now to shotgun a beer and stand in my backyard until Im nice and red, maybe I can even convince my dog to give me a high five.
  • 8 0
 When I turned 16, my very generous grandparents flew me to Sea Otter as a gift. It's a very fond memory - even raced "DH" on my hardtail (in hindsight, the lack of squish probably lifted me from a bottom quarter finish to where I ended up, firmly midpack).

From one of the vendors, I bought a souvenir headset spacer with the sea otter logo etched on it. It's been on every one of my bikes since then. Not exaggerating. It has been on four mountain bikes and a BMX.

A Pond Beaver branded spacer would be the ideal companion piece, just sayin'
  • 8 1
 Doing my part in the comments!

Really though, we all appreciate the work that went into this. The coverage helps keep us sane when we check Pinkbike 17 times a day while working from home, because we have some reason to think there might actually be some updates Smile .
  • 11 0
 You must be busy if you only check it 17 times a day
  • 7 0
 The Sea Otter is now wondering how its socially distant cousin got so popular while it's stuck at home...
  • 5 0
 Can't believe I've read all the reviews and comments, and only realised today the Pond Beaver / Sea Otter play on words , I blame too much self isolation, ironically also a play on words Smile
  • 3 0
 You're not alone... I connected the dots today, in the final article...
  • 7 0
 When will the Pond Beaver 2020 tee-shirts be available?
  • 1 0
 We'll maybe have a little something up in the shop soon. Smile
  • 5 0
 How do the stats compare to a normal Sea Otter/Interbike/Outerbike etc week of posts? Did you single handedly kill MTB trade shows?
  • 14 0
 I hope not. Sea Otter is a great time despite industry grumps complaining about it—I like saying hi to everyone in person and getting down to California in April. A few key shows a year is nice.

But yeah, compared to the last year's tech coverage from SOC, Pond Beaver has 33% more stories, 47% more reads (so far), and 95% more comments.

That said, I do hope we can travel less as an industry—the time, money, and environmental impact of our little media circus is not insignificant.
  • 1 1
 @brianpark: Yeah, it's probably wrong to compare Sea Otter or Sedona/NEMBA Fest to a trade show as there is much more going on than just catching up with people and drinking.

I wonder how much of the number jump is attributed to people not going to work and not having any event coverage to look at. Either way, hats off to you guys, the content was great and nice to see that the ball can keep rolling amidst everything thats going on.
  • 2 1
 Thanks for the Pond Beaver and Budget bike reviews. It's been a welcome break from bugging the kids to do their damn homework. Now should pull the trigger on this GT Sensor in my cart that is 25% off? I just want a little more travel than my 2013 fluid and a decent pedalling platform.
  • 3 0
 ANy distributors have the new micros shift group for sale yet? I'm ready to buy
  • 2 0
 Me to eveybody I have talked to including my local bike shops have told me a month until qbp has it same with worldwide and the like it sucks
  • 2 0
 Universal Cycles has all three components in stock, but it looks like they're going quick! Mine already got delivered!

www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=102640

www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=102641

www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=102643
  • 1 0
 @gustin18: Thanks man!
  • 1 0
 @gustin18: thanks bro just ordered. Cheers
  • 4 0
 I did not see a review for Dangle Bongs
  • 3 2
 Total Reads: 1.5M (so far)

4 weeks at home is taking its toll on me.
I read this as 1.5 metres and got very confused for a few seconds.
  • 2 0
 Took me about a week to realise Pond Beaver was a socially isolating Sea Otter. Insert Face palm meme here...
  • 1 0
 No worries mate, your are not the only one Wink
  • 1 0
 New tires and bikes are great, but what I'd really love to buy right now is some Pond Beaver merch.
  • 2 0
 Yes please.
  • 1 0
 But... we'll see you in Monterey in October right?!
  • 2 0
 Yes, just also in April next year, please.
  • 1 0
 @brianpark: You honestly think the October date is gonna stick?
  • 1 0
 @onemanarmy: predictions are such a crapshoot these days that anything past the summer might as well be a coin flip (even typing that feels overly optimistic). Feels good to think about the future even if it's uncertain.
  • 1 0
 Great coverage. Did I read early on something coming from Roval?
  • 1 0
 Where’s my Pond Beaver T-shirt?
  • 1 0
 Yeah it was awesome
  • 1 0
 Thanks homies!
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