Opinion: This Year

Jan 9, 2015
by Richard Cunningham  

just sayin RC header pic

Traditionally, the start of a new year evokes retrospective diatribes that touch fondly on the most memorable moments of the previous one. Journalists, however, are not known for rosy perspectives on past events. With the exception of unfortunate souls who have been frozen in time by a career supernova, an evil boss, the redhead lover who took the dog, or by a conspicuously bad tattoo, most reporters are more than happy to forget the past and to move forward in hopes that the next year will be better – one that sends words flying out of our computers. Counting myself as one of the latter, here are some of my hopes for this year:

This year, I’d be happy if the the deciding moment of the next event I cover takes place directly in front of me and not while I am in a portable toilet.

This year, I hope the bicycle expos will sparkle with truly imaginative products, each articulated by informed staff – a sea of well-manufactured items, dancing before my camera, that don’t look like they came from two factories in China

This year, after discovering a newsworthy design flaw, calling it out, and proffering up a solution to the problem in my yet unpublished review, the maker will not insist that I was accidentally sent a pre-production prototype. The maker will not explain that he knew about the issue all along and that production versions have since been changed.

This year, it will rain in wet months when I am reviewing spike tires and in summer, it will be dry when I review fast-rolling rubber.

This year, I will finally learn why only French bicycle companies invite us to product launches in their own country. I will stumble upon a freshman product manager’s notebook which contains the mathematical relationship: PL x Dr = F + E, where PL is product launch, D is the distance between the source company expressed as a radius, and F + E is favorable reviews and editorial.

This year will be the one when contributors from the UK will discover the comma. North American writers will forget there is an exclamation point. Bloggers will reinvent the paragraph. New submissions will not be jumbled with lazy smart-phone abbreviations and Specialized will run out of acronyms.

This year, I vow to keep Fabien Barel in sight down the steeps in Morzine.

Chris Conroy will not begin his description of his latest bike with, “Here at Yeti. We are not concerned with producing the lightest bicycles…” This year, Yeti will actually release one bike that is competitively lightweight.

This will be the year when flat pedals and 26-inch-wheel hardtails return in force - as the weapons of choice for mountain biking’s most popular emerging sport: late-night super-drifter races, staged at indoor Kart tracks.

This year, German bike companies will follow Schwalbe’s lead, loosen up a bit, enjoy the sport, and not take cycling so seriously.

This year, one of us will have the courage to ask, “If the fabled Northwest loam is such a rare and wonderful thing, why is it so damn popular to depict riders shoveling it off the trail in great quantities with their rear wheels?”

This year, Red Bull and the FMB will arrange to clear the lines created by the Rampage competitors and restore the landscape, so the legacy of big-mountain competition won’t look like the first scene in “Where the Trail Ends.”

This year “progression of the sport” will be redefined by the need for photographers to hire uplifts to reach the top of the Fest Series jumps, and by the advent of tow-in freestyle competitions.

Somewhere this year, a girl will look into her mirror and make a pact with her reflection that she will be the first woman to earn a spot on the FMB World Tour.

This year, none of us will be called upon to write about fallen athletes.

This year, Strava will update its app to compare user data with trail profiles and automatically delete any entry that deviates from established courses. Stravidiots won’t be rewarded for cutting trails to pieces.

Somewhere this year, a promoter will decide to stage a series of Heritage trail rides, where mountain bikers will be invited to experience epic routes, crossing some of the world’s most spectacular landscapes, all without the burden of competition or the toxicity of conspicuous corporate sponsorship.

This year, competitors who crash out of pro freestyle competitions will receive monetary compensation in exchange for the drama that they add to the show and for the millions of media impressions that event promoters have been harvesting for free at their expense.

This year, the top ten bike brands will take a long, hard look at the off-road motorcycle industry’s successful model and recognize the foolishness of committing all of their development funds and manpower to develop a handful of superbikes that few can afford, and instead, redirect their efforts in earnest to build superbike performance into a larger number of mountain bikes that many can afford.

This year, USA Cycling will publicly announce that the National Interscholastic Cycling Association has done more to advance the future of mountain bike racing in the United States than USAC has accomplished in the past four decades.

This year, “enduro” will take its place in the language as a six-letter word.

This year, I will try one new stunt. I will learn one new skill. I will teach one rider something new.

This year, the winning wheel size will be the one that has the power to get you off of the computer and onto the nearest trail - and today, the lucky number is 27.5 inches.

Cheers, I’m off for a ride.

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RichardCunningham avatar

Member since Mar 23, 2011
974 articles

132 Comments
  • 253 13
 This year I might finish reading all that.
  • 29 4
 Ahahah! Smile +1000
  • 22 7
 It's, like, 350 words. : )
  • 44 4
 Exactly, ain't nobody got time for 3-5 minutes of reading at a young teenager level.
  • 15 1
 I got as far as diatribes...
  • 4 1
 That was awesome @mitcht
  • 2 5
 OMG lol
  • 7 0
 What?!! No pictures??!!!! I hafta read?!!! Waaaaaaa!!!
  • 2 0
 More pictures!
  • 5 0
 Totally. I went right to the comments section.
  • 5 0
 This year is just another year.
  • 2 0
 @Teresi78 I didn't get much further. He lost me at "touch fondly"...
  • 1 3
 Jajajjajakan
  • 3 3
 If you don't like to read go to YouTube you turkeys. OR expand your mind a little and enjoy the thoughts of someone that has some knowledge to share
  • 1 0
 Jajajjajajajaj
  • 1 0
 Best comment ever
  • 103 0
 "This year, the top ten bike brands will take a long, hard look at the off-road motorcycle industry’s successful model and recognize the foolishness of committing all of their development funds and manpower to develop a handful of superbikes that few can afford, and instead, redirect their efforts in earnest to build superbike performance into a larger number of mountain bikes that many can afford."

amen
  • 5 2
 I don't know much about the motorcycle industry, what is going on with it and how have they been successful?
  • 12 0
 Honda grom, Kawasaki ninja 250's, KTM Rc390, Yamaha R3, Ducati Scrambler. It's hot in the motorbike world to create these fun, tossable little engine'd bikes for beginners. Every motorcycle mag has a review in one and every rider who rides one says how fun they are. Controllable speed, easy to maneuver, easy maintenance, great prices.
  • 22 7
 a 4 stroke 450cm dirtbike costs around 4-5000usd. You can race with it at nearly pro level. Same in dh bike would cost 6-7000.
  • 4 2
 That is a direct result of the same industry producing track ready sport bikes that few are able to ride ... and that require a track to have fun on. People stopped buying them, you can only push technology so far before it becomes too much. Everything comes full circle.
  • 1 10
flag Circe (Jan 9, 2015 at 8:25) (Below Threshold)
 I was under the impression that the motorcycle industry wasn't so healthy, which is why so many brands are crossing over into bike...
  • 7 0
 It's not an incredibly healthy industry, but if you look at sport motorcycles specifically and what sells it's entry level and not super-bikes. This was not always the case. Dirt bikes are fairly constant. You can not race an off the peg dirt bike at a pro level. This has been discussed many times. No need to go into the whole motorcycle vs. bicycle debate here.
  • 9 0
 I've been involved in motorcycling for over 30 year, and I can tell you that it is 100% not cheaper than MTBing at all. Sticker price on a new 450 is around $8500 here in the US, not sure where those figures came from. Then there's all the riding gear, cost of maintenance, rebuilds, etc. Bicycling is pretty cheap to get into by comparison.
  • 52 4
 Any bike maker can build a good cost-is-no-object race bike. Motorcycle makers did not take the lazy route. They figured out how to scale cutting edge innovations into production products. A competitive moto costs the same as a competitve AM or DH bike and features the same components, but you get the fuel-injected 14,000 RPM engine, for free when you buy the moto. We can do better.
  • 9 2
 Yes and no. The entry level moto is more than the entry level mtb and you don't notice the deficit of said moto because of that 1400 rpm motor. The fork is often unadjustable, the shock limited to preload, the tires heavy as can be, but when you throttle it up you can't feel that anymore unless you are pretty sensitive to it all (aka experienced).
Even still mtb can do better, but you can also see where they have. My 2014 remedy 7 gets a lot of flack in reviews for not having a pike or other fat fork, but at the entry level it still gets an air sprung fork with LSC and a thru axle. It also gets deore hydros, a wide bar, wide tubeless ready rims, and a drivetrain that is both reliable and very similar to the higher end spec.
MTB needs some credit for the bottom end. Afterall, look at this $650 bike www.norco.com/bikes/mountain/cross-country/charger/charger-72
A good chunk of what comes on this entry level hardtail is tech that was state of the art 10 years ago. Remember when seat posts had one bolt and the fork had a big greasy coil in it? How bout 3 piece cranks and mechanical or rim brakes. This is so much better.
Especially when you consider this is $4000 usd and the technology is more than 10 years old: www.yamahamotorsports.com/sport/products/modelspecs/414/0/specs.aspx
  • 7 0
 I expect to get hated for this, but look at Specialized, despite making a ridiculously expensive S-Works, there IS a damn good performing Status (yes, I'm biased, I ride one) for a reasonable price. Sounds damn close to "superbike performance into a larger number of mountain bikes that many can afford". Now yes, they could spec it quite a bit better to make it work as well as it can, but then it's not as much the bicycle brand, but the components manufacturers as well. And where's the Glory? Now I don't quite like how that bike rides, but others love it, and for the price it's quite affordable proper DH bike. Not sure about the other top brands, but I believe the new Trek's Session park is quite great performing yet reasonably priced as well, but I might be wrong there.. I may go on, I just think it's not as bad as everyone makes it. Everyone goes on like "OMG the new top end top specced bike is STUPID expensive" - yes it is indeed, but there IS a great selection of race ready downhill bikes that'll be fun to ride.
  • 8 1
 +1 @taletotell ... if you look at most of the bolt on parts on a high end moto they are well constructed but heavy compared to their mtb cousins. Bike parts almost HAVE be light weight in order to be competitive at all. As you well stated, not so when you bolt a powerful engine that doesn't mind or get tired. I know this bush has been beaten repeatedly but I just have to point out that for 10 grand you get a mountain bike you can compete in world cups on. A factory "works" dirt bike is over a hundred thousand dollars. You can these days spend a couple thousand on a decent mtb and go race the thing, and not die. Pretty cool I think.
  • 8 0
 I think it comes down to units sold though. Honda sells allot more Crf 450's than Yeti sells SB-6c's. I would venture to say they would still sell more 450's if they raised the price to 12k and Yeti lowered their price's to 5k. MTB is a much smaller market. Not to mention the ability to finance a motorcycle. I pay 140$ a month on a zero interest loan for my 450. If I couldn't afford a MTB outright I either don't buy one or I pay interest on a credit card. Motorcycle manufactures offer attractive financing to get people to buy what they can't afford.
  • 4 0
 Very true. Units plays a huge role. Not to mention Honda Power Equipment is well supported by Honda's other business. Selling cars. This is also true of most other motorcycle companies, Yamaha, for example sells many types of equipment and product. This makes them profitable on the whole, they don't have to worry about keeping a roof over their heads on one niche product alone.
  • 5 0
 Exactly...For a company like KHI (Kawasaki Heavy Industries) selling motorcycles, especially off road motorcycles is a drop in the bucket to their bottom line. They produce everything from industrial pumps to oil tankers.
  • 3 0
 I'm honestly curious to see what the numbers are. How much money top end bikes rake in vs. the more budget option. As much as I'd like to believe that the more "reasonable builds" are the motor of the industry, I often see people with "carbon everything" bikes on the trail. We cry that we want to pay less and then every single article about some insanely priced component always has a "I'm throwing my money at the screen and nothing happens" comment upvoted to the top.

We keep getting told that the bike companies make a lot more out of their walmart bikes but when I'm on the santa cruz website and I look at the bike of the year's "From: $8399 MSRP" pricetag, I can't help to have the feeling that some accountant at SC ran the numbers and decided that leaving out the budget builds wouldn't have much impact.
  • 1 4
 @wildstyle go ahead and have your fun on a honda grom while cars smoke you off the line and going on the freeway is a death wish. Little bikes may be fun for beginners or sh!ts and giggles but for experienced riders or daily drivers they just don't work.
  • 2 0
 @mrgonzo Not freeway bikes for sure. Then again, not everyone is looking for a freeway bike.
I picked up a 1979 xr500 honda for $175, got it running for a cheap carb kit and the cost of a chain, and you know what, I don't care to get it street legal. The thing is a torque machine that will wheelie in 4 gears. It is good to get on a rough running motorbike once ion a while and just be a little stupid. I personally prefer dirtbikes, but i can appreciate a ninja 250. Not the fastest but I am sure it is fun on a winding back road.
  • 4 0
 @mrgonzo, I've owned a couple motorcycles and I think you are wrong. It's motorcycle owners who think that they "need" a 1000cc machine to get around on that crack me up, it's a borderline race bike with lights and a license plate. If you think that a ridiculously powerful machine is what you need because you are an experienced rider, then you are not an experienced rider. The speed limit in most states is a third of what a modern liter bike is capable of, you don't need a big engine to have big fun and be safe on the roads......and you live in SoCal so there is really no safe place on any road for a motorcyclist here, absolute madness on the freeway no amount of displacement will help.
  • 2 0
 I used to agree, but the acceleration of a bigger motor saved on the freeway from people trying to merge me into the concrete median, and that made me think again. I like being able to gun it and get away from distracted drivers if I need to. Otherwise I agree.
  • 1 1
 I ride my Bandit 1200 every day and I've owned smaller bikes too. For me the power is addictive, I can't go to a less powerful bike. I love red light racing and hauling balls in a straight line. Twisties are fun on the weekends but not my favorite. I have a shit ton of miles under my belt and have taken courses to improve my skills. Not an expert by any means but I know what I like, and a small displacement bike is not it. We need more street riders in the motorcycle hotness forum so if you all want to discuss further that would be a good place.
  • 32 1
 This year I will finally figure out how to defy the industry's lie that mountain biking will never be as fun as it could be unless I buy that newest bike.
  • 2 0
 ^^^Just showed that animation to guests on New Year's Day.
  • 19 1
 From RC - "This year, one of us will have the courage to ask, “If the fabled Northwest loam is such a rare and wonderful thing, why is it so damn popular to depict riders shoveling it off the trail in great quantities with their rear wheels?”

PB (and other media outlets) have a large part in glorifying it.
  • 12 1
 ^^^True that
  • 4 3
 I clearly recall a Yeti video from about 2 years ago where the volume of PNW loam sent off trail was truly appalling. Can't manage to bring myself to consider any of their new offerings, regardless of how they ride. Clearly the opposite of the marketing video's intent.
  • 1 0
 Maybe it's rare cos people shovel it off the trail. And maybe the really great thing about this celebrated loam is shovelling it off the trail in great quantities with your rear wheel
  • 14 0
 "This year, after discovering a newsworthy design flaw, calling it out, and proffering up a solution to the problem in my yet unpublished review, the maker will not insist that I was accidentally sent a pre-production prototype. The maker will not explain that he knew about the issue all along and that production versions have since been changed."

Hahaha, that was tasty!
  • 14 0
 This year we need to end new hub, headset, and bb standards just because some school
smart engineer says its 6% stiffer, or lighter, or more enduro.
The focus needs to become longevity.
Not inevitable fragility.
Everyone I know just wants their bike to fall apart less.
  • 1 0
 I think its too late for this (boost anyone?) but I'll take that wish with ne through to next year
  • 15 1
 This year i will not crash. Not
  • 11 0
 I crashed on my first ride this year so there goes the resolution.
  • 23 0
 Keatonmtb: before every ride, justt throw yourself into the nearest rock or tree and get it over and done with #takingcontrol
  • 2 0
 I also crashed on my first ride! Whoops.
  • 6 0
 Reframe: This year I'll learn from my crashes.
  • 4 0
 "If you aren't crashing, you aren't trying." (Loose quote of Cam McCaul)
  • 13 0
 This year vandals of our trails will be criminally charged for their crimes. Amen
  • 1 0
 We need to get IMBA to help with a trail monitoring program of sorts!
  • 13 1
 This year the majority of testing pinkbike does, will be with affordable bikes and components and not with silly out of reach for most normal people high end bikes !
  • 9 0
 This year, lots of local trails associations will continue working with local landowners, cities/counties/states/provinces/what-have-you, parks systems and others - resulting in lots of volunteers building and maintaining lots of awesome legal trails. Those same local trails associations, with hopefully generous support from riders and local bike shops and the industry, will further their efforts to run skills clinics, kids-on-bikes days, group rides, and other community events. All of which will lead to continued, expanding stoke, lots of awesome riding, and a general acknowledgement in the wider community that this mountain biking thing is a good thing for everyone, getting people out doing something healthy, contributing to local community well-being and the economy.

And perhaps this year will be the year when some of the guys (invariably guys...) who have always been too cool for that sort of thing finally realize that they, too, can contribute to that effort. As a result, they'll come out for a trail day. Or take a friend riding (and actually stay with them to help them out). Or won't ride irresponsibly on mixed-use trails, pissing off hikers or horsey people (and leading to ill-will in the wider community). Or won't cut up trails, or put shoddy, ill-conceived features on trails they didn't build.
  • 16 2
 Fuck strava.
  • 4 1
 ^^^um.... this.
  • 8 1
 "This year, USA Cycling will publicly announce that the National Interscholastic Cycling Association has done more to advance the future of mountain bike racing in the United States than USAC has accomplished in the past four decades."

This may be overly optimistic. Wink

On the other hand, I'm totally down for "RC's heritage trail ride series." I don't think it's something you should leave to someone else.
  • 1 0
 You know what? Let me even add this: I'm totally willing to help organize this, especially to organize a local(Tucson)event. Heck, our local bike group has a annual poker ride that could coincide or be the Tucson stop. Hit me up.
  • 1 1
 Who do you think is going to hit you up? Just organize it.
  • 1 0
 I don't have the industry name recognition to make something like this happen: RC does, which is why I suggested that he should actually go for it himself.

...Of course, if you'd read my first post, you'd know that.

What I do have is time & ability to do the legwork, which is why I offered to help.

As for our local event, we're going on the third year of holding it, so if you're implying my mouth is writing checks that my ass can't cash, sorry, I'm not that guy.
  • 1 2
 Organize a good event and you too can become an "industry name".

and if you can point out to me anywhere on this page there is a reference to rc organizing the event other than your last post (and including your first) maybe I'll begin to understand what your intention is. But I doubt it
  • 11 4
 This year i will stop looking at the past and complain about it and actually do something about it. I shall not write about issues everybody knowns about just to look cool. i will stop thinking that my opinion has somekind of value just because i have the chance to work where i can be heard. I will realize the responsibility i have when i write.
  • 9 2
 "This year, competitors who crash out of pro freestyle competitions will receive monetary compensation in exchange for the drama that they add to the show and for the millions of media impressions that event promoters have been harvesting for free at their expense." this i agree with
  • 5 1
 Oh ya, I can see it now. The bigger the crash, the more you get paid! Crash for cash! $10,000 for winning Rampage, $15,000 to the paralyzed rider in intensive care for that insane crash off the sender in Round 1! "Nice work bro" Nothing for 2nd place.
  • 1 0
 Ok more like Insurance coverage for the athletes like Mark Matthews - who is like in 40K in medical debt. I think Redbull can afford it. A lot of their events would not be as successful if it weren't for all these athletes.
  • 7 0
 This year, I hope more companies and media outlets will grasp the concept of supporting trail builders, and will recognize that they push the sport just as much as top level athletes do.
  • 5 1
 This. Aside from Bell, hardly anybody in the MTB industry, from the manufacturers to the local retailer, seem to give a shit about trail building even though their sale numbers rely directly on the availability of nearby trail networks. Next bike I'm buying, I'll be buying it from a local shop who actually takes part in the building process instead of those who are just mooching off the hard work of others.
  • 2 0
 @PLC07 - really? Here in Bellingham, it seems like every one of our LBSs sponsors trail days and sponsors the local trails association. Seems to me like that's the way to do it. And it would be great for the industry to direct some of their marketing dollars that way - organize demo days around trail days (build all morning, have a lunch bbq, demo for free all afternoon if you spent the morning building).
  • 2 0
 Really. We're blessed with around 10 decent networks here and 75% of the trails were probably built by the same 5 dudes

I like the BBQ/demo idea!
  • 2 0
 It depends upon the demographic of the area. An area saturated with mostly road riders will be full of shops that spend all their time organizing shop rides and such. You will always still find the hardcore dudes that are out in the bush, it depends if there is a strong enough local community to back their efforts or not. Thankfully Washington has a really great community. But why would someone focus their time on building new and innovative trails when they could just go ride a 6 pack of jumps, get famous based on the tricks they can pull, and make a bigger paycheck than they ever could have going out and building trail. Personally that's why I think the FMB is turning into the 6 Jumps in a European Parking Lot tour. If more people were focused on innovative trails and pushing the limits of what can be built and made to flow, then I think we will see more and more events with courses that are fun to watch. I think the FEST series is a good start, but because the guys who run and participate in that series are from an older group of riders who would rather have fun on a bike and focus less on stacking up big checks.
  • 6 1
 "This will be the year when flat pedals and 26-inch-wheel hardtails return in force - as the weapons of choice for mountain biking’s most popular emerging sport: late-night super-drifter races, staged at indoor Kart tracks"

I ride a 26" hardtail with flats for my trail riding days... I like to hop over things and style it up as much as possible even for xc riding... I actually prefer it to riding bigger wheels.

Maybe its because I ride park and dirtjump with 26" wheels that anything bigger feels unnecessary and not as playful/ fun...

Only time I ride clips is to race xc.
  • 9 2
 this year will be the chainsaw massacre year !
canadian will be on every podium smith, semanuk, reeder, logan peat, Batty, kabush, Brown,Pendrel, Gagné, Pichette
  • 6 0
 Do you mean podium, or top step? Because this would be rad, but I'd be bummed for Sam Hill if he didn't come into this year & win some more races.
  • 5 0
 I'll take podium. As nice as it would be, the odds are ridonkulous for all to make the top step... but not impossible. Smile
  • 4 0
 First ride of the year on the first day of the year. I found a big group of people in my town going to bikeparks almost twice a month for a whole weekend which I can join. Which is perfect for me as a student who has no driving license yet.
  • 4 0
 This year, I will try one new stunt. I will learn one new skill. I will teach one rider something new!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • 2 0
 Yep just a few of those would be nice...

but, you want some real true innovation, that works first time OOTB (would be nice) without the big companies invesitng in boundary pushing superbikes... sorry, but keep building superbikes and keep the trickle down of tech from them happening and keep the market there for lesser companies to create great products that can emulate that performance.


How about this year a handful of people will realise they truly do not need state of the art to have fun and kick ass, and a handful will also work out that form, fit & function beat fashion any day.
  • 3 0
 This year, i (really) hope Indonesia has more race especially for privateers like me.
Where everyone can enjoy, and share the knowledge to each other.

Amen.
  • 5 1
 'This year, I vow to keep Fabien Barel in sight down the steeps in Morzine'. Good luck with that.
  • 1 0
 your havin a laugh
  • 5 0
 Yep ^^^ I have ridden with Barel a few times there. He makes the steep lines look effortless.
  • 3 0
 Not to mention the trees are growing such that a 780 width bar barely fits thru! The best parts of Morzine are the tiny goat trails dropping off of the named trails. Some of the hairiest, gnarliest, techiest trails that are so fun to ride!
  • 1 0
 wha ti mean is your vow is totally unrealistic...is it ?
  • 1 0
 Hell yeah for NICA! I was in the first year of the MN high school league. It has doubled in teams and riders almost every year since its creation. That is pretty damn impressive. I also lettered in mountain biking. So that's cool too.
  • 2 0
 First I'm boring to read, 2. I reader the comments, 3. I looked back and read headlines and discovery this man really know than he say. My vote for than the companies bring compensation to a fall riders.
  • 1 0
 He's right. How far are we gonna go before bikes are so overpriced that nobody wants to get into the sport anymore? I don't care how much R&D you've done, and what you think you are capable of, a pile of aluminum and rubber is not worth 3 months salary. Especially considering the depreciation. You have to have more money than brains to fork over $8000 for a bike.
  • 8 3
 This year I will spend more money on my bike and less on blow!! WaitWhat?
  • 2 0
 You know what Rick James would say to that, right?
  • 3 2
 Jesus, that was one big bag of "I know better than you". I love RC for that! Legitimate Royal trolling. He has always has a point in it, but in some weird way it gets blown into something of shape, size and most importantly - properties, of Hindenburg Big Grin
  • 3 1
 This year, German bike companies will follow Schwalbe’s lead, loosen up a bit, enjoy the sport, and not take cycling so seriously.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAAAHAHAHHAA. these jokes.
  • 2 0
 RC: That may be the best thing you have written since your MBA days. Well done!

(For the rest of you readers: I am sorry I do not have anything snarky/witty/clever to say. I'll try harder next time.)
  • 1 0
 This year I hope main stream companies don't shy away from staging ground breaking events because they might be expected to financially bail out competitors who get something wrong (possibly on lines they have built themselves) whilst competing in an event where they were aware they needed to have insurance in place before entering.

Sorry for the lack of commas.
  • 1 0
 This year, Red Bull and the FMB will arrange to clear the lines created by the Rampage competitors and restore the landscape, so the legacy of big-mountain competition won’t look like the first scene in “Where the Trail Ends.”

This is pretty important.
  • 4 1
 This year everyone should buy used bikes instead on new ones so i can sell mine and get a new one.
  • 1 1
 Richie,
Nice wish list for 2015, particularly with respect to affordable, well performing bikes.

However, the one that caught my interest was your “vow to keep Fabien Barel in sight down the steeps in Morzine.”

“Vow” is a strong term. It means to:

• pledge, promise, or undertake solemnly
• dedicate or consecrate to God, a deity, or a saint
• assert or swear emphatically
• declare solemnly

If the unthinkable were to occur (that you could not keep up with the fabulous Fabien except in your dreams) what do you think your penance should be? Smile Smile

Matt
  • 1 0
 I already have a hole in my right arm from trying (healed now) HAHA!
  • 1 0
 Some great call-outs in the article, thanks for those.

Best one:

"This year, I will try one new stunt. I will learn one new skill. I will teach one rider something new."

Amen.
  • 3 0
 "This year, I vow to keep Fabien Barel in sight down the steeps in Morzine."
You better invest in some binoculars RC!
  • 2 0
 This year I will nail the big drop at rogate downhill and push my riding to new limits!
  • 2 0
 This year, I will visit Rogate downhill for the first time to see what i've been missing.
  • 1 0
 I especially enjoyed the one about design flaws in pre-production prototypes. I've read about this with two different products already this year.
  • 1 0
 Interestingly enough this article reads the same way and gets its point across if you read it from top to bottom or from bottom to top. Great read RC! Thank you!
  • 2 0
 "This year, I will try one new stunt. I will learn one new skill. I will teach one rider something new." Brilliant!
  • 3 0
 This sounds like a good solid plan.
  • 2 0
 this year I have healed enough to get out there and do it all over again but my eyes can not see all the blur above..
  • 2 0
 This year I will make the trip to Canada to Coast Gravity Park. Sad thing is I only live 3 hours away.
  • 2 0
 "This year all bike companies will take inspiration from moto's not road bikes.
  • 3 0
 This year, Coltic Bfe frame and 150mm fork.
  • 1 0
 That was great! Thanks RC and cheers to a 2015 of stellar riding and people leaving our PNW on the trail, where it belongs
  • 1 0
 All good things. If we all concentrate maybe the good vibes will help us achieve this.
  • 2 0
 May I ask what the decaying moment of the event was?
  • 2 0
 I might achieve this years plans .... next year !!
  • 2 0
 Wish you all the best!!!!!
  • 2 0
 "The redhead lover who took the dog"
  • 1 0
 Can someone put this into a video for me please? Thanks
  • 2 0
 Happy new year. Cheers
  • 1 0
 This year, I go for a ride (still haven't touched my bike this year Frown )
  • 1 0
 this year my old ass will ride my own dh bike for the first time
  • 2 0
 just send it!
  • 1 0
 Trish Bromley for the FMB.
  • 1 0
 The truth hurts. As in my tummy hurts from laughing so hard. Thanks R.C.
  • 2 1
 This year fox will win product of the year at pinkbike.Wink
  • 1 0
 Good piece, I enjoyed it very much.
  • 1 0
 PNW loam*
  • 1 0
 well said, all of it
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