September 2016 - Good Month or Bad Month?

Oct 3, 2016
by Vernon Felton  
Pinkbike


Rachel Atherton

Races Her Way to the Perfect Season


Let's just stop for a second and let this sink in: Fifteen consecutive wins in top-level DH events. Damn. Rachel Atherton has long been the rider to beat, but she finished September in the most rarefied of positions—another World Championship jersey on her shoulders and 15 straight victories under her belt. Atherton drew level with Anne-Caro's World Cup record at Fort William and bested it the next weekend in Leogang. And then she just kept winning all the way through Val di Sole.

The odds of anyone pulling this off are astronomical. So many tiny things conspire against any one rider remaining on top for so many races. The pressure, frankly, has to be overwhelming. Hats off to Rachel.
World Cup Champion World Champion and now she can also add a perfect season to her long list of accomplishments.




Gearbox Fans

Pinion Announces More Affordable Option.


The gearbox is the cold-fusion of the mountain bike industry—something with tremendous potential that never seems to get any closer to becoming a reality. Just read the forum after any review of a Shimano or SRAM drivetrain review—there is no shortage of people pining to get rid of the dangly-bits on their drivetrain. And yet....here we are, still living in a world dominated by rear derailleurs, which, to be frank, work pretty damn well and generally cost a whole lot less than currently-available gearbox transmissions.

No, September wasn't the month in which that paradigm got tossed on its head, but lovers of gearboxes have one more reason to stay up all night, mumbling to themselves about the coming of "The Box." German gearbox manufacturer, Pinion, announced that they are nearing production on the C1.12—a lighter, slimmer and more affordable version of their 12-speed gearbox. How much more affordable? Pinion founder Christoph Lermon says you can expect to see it showing up as OE spec on bikes with price tags of about $3,000 (USD). Is the coming of the gearbox nigh? I wouldn't stand on a street corner holding a sign making that declaration, but the world might have taken a step closer to that day.
Pinion gear transmission




Dropper Post Lovers

Euro and Interbike Awash in New Models


There was a time in the distant past (also known as “a couple years ago”) when there were only a handful of dropper posts worth blowing three to four hundred bucks on. Options were limited. That’s been changing of late. In fact, this past month it seems that everyone and their kid brother decided “What the hell, we should offer one of those dropper thing-a-ma-bobs too.” September saw the introduction of all new models from e*thirteen, Ritchey, Eightpins, PNW Components, KindShock and BikeYoke. Did I leave a few out? Of course I did. There are too many to keep track of at this point, but that's a good thing. Competition tends to winnow out the wheat from the chaff. If you were bummed by the slim pickings of the past, 2017 looks to be a year in which we'll all be spoiled for choice.
Eightpins dropper post




Pinkbike



Aaron Gwin

World Champ Jersey Slips Away...Again


Wait, how could a guy who won the World Cup overall in September be having a bad month? Fair question. I'm guessing Gwin isn't sitting at home in his underwear, eating a pork chop and wallowing in his grief. He won the friggin' World Cup series with enough leeway to practically saunter down the course at Vallnord and still take the series title! But the one race Gwin has not won—the World Championships—slipped out of his grasp yet again. Danny Hart was on fire during World Champs and you'd have to be a heartless bastard to deny the brilliance of Hart's winning run, but you also have to feel for Gwin—just a little. Gwin won on that same course last year, and this time around—with the rainbow jersey on the line—he didn't make it to the bottom. Maybe that doesn't qualify as a "bad month," but it has to sting all the same.


The World Champs curse continues to haunt Aaron Gwin and he ends another year as World Cup Champion but with no medal from World Champs.





E-Bike Haters

Electric Bikes Still "Next Big Thing" at Tradeshows

Anyone who was hoping that e-bikes would toddle off quietly into the sunset had to be sorely disappointed when the news from Eurobike and Interbike was that e-bikes continue to be seen as the "next big thing" in the bike industry. As it stands, e-bikes are still thin on the ground in North America, but as one product manager at a major company told me during Interbike, "We have dealers in Europe who've told us that they wouldn't even carry our bikes in their shops anymore if we didn't add a few e-bike models to our line up. It's only a matter of time before they catch on like that in the United States."

The rumor mill is hot and heavy right now with all sorts of gossip about small to mid-size boutique brands who are also laboring away on, yep, e-bike models. If that's true, it's sobering news for anyone who thought that this trend was just some sort of battle that'd be fought amongst the big brands. If you're all about the pedal-assist bikes, then September was a great month for you. If, on the other hand, you are unhappy about the advent of motorized mountain bikes, the flood of new e-bikes at September's trade shows were anything but good news.

Good month bad month





Posted In:
Industry News


Author Info:
vernonfelton avatar

Member since Apr 11, 2014
202 articles
Report
Must Read This Week
Thank You For Everything, Pinkbike
76297 views
Pole Bicycles Has Filed for Bankruptcy
55588 views
First Ride: The Sub-$600 RockShox Domain and Psylo Forks
42640 views
[UPDATED] Final Elite XC Results & Overall Standings from the Mairiporã XC World Cup 2024
42126 views
Tree Root Pierces Harriet Harnden's Foot at Round 1 of the British National Downhill Series
38098 views
Pinkbike's DH Fantasy League: Get Your Team On The Line - Fort William is in TWO WEEKS!
34470 views
Review: Race Face's Era Chainring Uses Steel, Carbon, & Aluminum
28245 views
First Ride: Fox's New Transfer Dropper Post - Adjustable Travel, Up to 240mm of Drop
26886 views
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup

135 Comments
  • 290 7
 Danny Hart actually won World Champs. Shouldn't he have a "good" section?
  • 25 2
 Again!
  • 28 1
 Seriously! that was a big miss.
  • 75 0
 Def good month for Mondraker
  • 41 7
 I kinda snuck it into the Gwin bit, but I see your point. True.
  • 2 1
 @vernonfelton: For next time, cheers!
  • 30 0
 Four wins in a row, including the world champs, and he gets no love.
  • 32 0
 @jaame: Mondraker taking all 3 top steps of the mens world champs podium. Danny Hart 4 in a row. Maybe Mondraker don't pay pinkbike for advertising?
  • 23 1
 @hexhamstu: @jaame: This is probably going to get me some stick from all the fanboi's, but frankly I think Danny H winning 4 on the trot is way more impressive than Rachel's achievement. Don't get me wrong, she can only beat what is in front of her, and no doubt with a stronger field she'd still destroy them, but Danny won 4 on the bounce in a far more competitive series so should definitely get some recognition for it.
  • 5 1
 Gwin not winning might be bad for him personally but for the sport i think its good, domination isn't good for any sport, not only that, but look at the feel good story of Peat waiting as long as he did to win, made it an all time great sporting moment. Its drama like that that makes any sport awesome to watch.
  • 1 0
 @pimpin-gimp: I was going to write same but decided not to for a change!
  • 1 1
 Because merica.
  • 1 0
 @bluumax: I agree hopefully he will get the rainbow jersey one day but for the WC series consistency is what's needed and right now he's the best. He does seem like Peaty in the mid to late 2000s where he was almost a guaranteed podium. It does seem that many riders are getting hot on his tail so it will be interesting to see if he can separate himself from the field in his second year at YT.
  • 1 0
 I agree. what was it 3 WC and then the Champs?
  • 4 1
 @vernonfelton: So Hart goes onto smash out 3 WC wins outta nowhere and then smash the World Champs, but you only give him a mention under the 'Aaron Gwin' section...? Why? Why is everything about Aaron Gwin?

I'm not hating, I respect the dude like I respect them all, but I swear that when ever Aaron wins he gets PB bike checks and interviews left right and centre. But Hart goes onto accomplish such an amazing feat given the fact he'd never bloody won a WC before, and you push him under Gwins shadow... Slightly disrespectful.
  • 2 0
 @vernonfelton: What's wrong with pork chops? #meatsweats
  • 2 0
 Agreed, when was the last time a male rider won the finals and the world champs in DH?
  • 3 0
 @troyleedesigns: I'd say Sam Hill '07
  • 3 0
 The justification of sneaking a mention of his accomplishment into the "AARON GWIN" section is ridiculous.
  • 3 0
 Gwin only won two races this year. He's still an absolute beast, but Hart is more beastly at this point in time. Change the article, Pinkbike.
  • 1 0
 and the last few WC races!
  • 2 0
 There should have been a good month section for the Atherton brothers for making their sister so fast.
  • 1 0
 @zer0c00l44: ha ha, too true man!
  • 245 12
 Fuck off E-bikes.
  • 126 2
 That Lapierre is the ugliest thing I have ever seen. And I'm including other Lapierres in that comparison.
  • 26 7
 They're like an all around complete failure to launch. First off they're just a motorcycle which have been around forever, secondly they're not a very good motorcycle. If someone told me that in 2016 there'd be a gaping hole in the market for bad motorcycles, I would have doubted them.
  • 15 48
flag Dustfarter (Oct 3, 2016 at 22:04) (Below Threshold)
 @Kramz: That is a statement made by someone who has never ridden one. Ignorance is bliss my friend.
  • 26 7
 Here's an idea for e bikes. They should only be avaliable under a prescription. I think the only reason anyone should be allowed to ride one is due to an injury/condition that stops them from being able to ride a proper bike! ??
  • 6 15
flag me2menow (Oct 3, 2016 at 23:55) (Below Threshold)
 @slowrider73: HAHAHA funny.
  • 20 3
 No more mopeds, please PB.
  • 16 6
 To be fair, my dad has an e-bike. He would never be able to ride for anywhere as far/long/as much as he can without the assistance. It allows him to actually enjoy mountain biking, taking on the local trail centres as well as rides down the canal, which he simply cannot do without having that motor down there. They may not be your cup of tea, and I wouldn't get one myself, but they definitely have their place.
  • 6 17
flag pperron79 (Oct 4, 2016 at 5:41) (Below Threshold)
 @ant1601: Its defenitly the point of e-bike industry. If a wider range of bikers uses mtb trails, more money and projects will comes on the trails and its positive for all of us in the sport.

Biker needs to stop thinking about just himself.
  • 2 3
 That Pierre looks like the straight dope..whatever that means..
  • 1 1
 @ScottStedman: Have you never seen the new Cannondale Moterra? It looks like an iron gate ahahahahah
  • 1 1
 @ScottStedman: I think it looks pretty sweet -- for a MOPED.
  • 4 2
 @ScottStedman: The only thing that could be uglier is an Ellsworth E-bike!
  • 1 1
 @slowrider73: nailed it there mate! that's the only reasonable application for them
  • 1 1
 Well as a bicycling enthusiast I think the definition is at least muddy when you add a motor to it. I'm not saying it's a bad thing that you've added a "motor" to your "bike", but not calling it a motorbike seems like a slight of hand, and it's not like it's never been done before.
  • 140 1
 No world renown mountain biker died this month, so it's been pretty good
  • 4 1
 The truth...
  • 25 1
 Zaria I think is how her last name was spelled (forgive me I do not know her full name) passed away this month.
  • 14 0
 If you want to extend to BMX, Sam Willoughby (twice BMX World Champ) broke his back and will possibly remain paralyzed... Frown

Further adds up to an already shitty year...
  • 13 0
 @Dynex: Zarja Cernilogar died in August. If a rider like that dies it makes for an incredibly bad month (and we've had a few). I'm not sure whether I've changed my standards to the extend that if a rider doesn't die, it makes for a good month though. The only positive is seeing how much the mountainbike community really cares about our athletes. That's heartwarming, the good bit.
  • 2 0
 @vinay: My bad I thought that was the beginning of this month.
  • 6 0
 Yep, we got a bit of a break in September and then one of the best Czech slopestyle riders died on October 1st. www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtmPBgnqwlA
  • 2 0
 @AProulx: #Strengthfor91
  • 5 0
 Paul Basagotia making mad progress too
  • 89 4
 Well I saw a guy not staying on the designated e bike trails at outerbike...idk...even at outerbike people ride them where they're not supposed to....i think they're motorcycles in disguise...and its crazy people don't see them that way. Its a cycle. It has a motor. Our trails are all going to have to be illegal efforts soon.
  • 42 2
 E-bikes are not for mountain bikers.
They're for people who want to ride a mountain bike but can't or won't.
I get the old and injured standpoint but if you're riding an E-bike then all the 11x and 12x and progressive/linear suspension designs are not for you. It won't matter. the technology is irrelevant. Go get a motorcycle and enjoy yourself. Stay off bike trails
  • 4 6
 @kubaner: totally agree. Non-riding guy at work just built a 1000 watt e-bike in his garage combining an aftermarket motor and crankset combo screwed into the BB with a seemingly 5-tonne battery screwed into the downtube bottle mounts. Just because the technology was there...he had the money/time and thought riding sucked without it.

I rode it for 10 seconds and it's a totally different experience; one that would reward the enthused techie or training-averse commuter to have fun getting from A to B, or from climb to DH. The weight alone would render it un-jumpable on a trail with the centre of gravity warped all over the place, but give it 2-3 years and these aftermarket kits will be smaller, lighter, mass-produced, cheap, hidden from sight/ridicule and easily installed by laymen. I really don't think anyone will be able to stop these bikes hitting our trails - even if we regulated manufacturers or were able to police it anyway (mass shunning / beatings aside).

I'm not saying I'm going to enjoy it, but it might be best just to embrace this weird, odd cousin in a warm hug. Once the battery dies it'll still be leg power that matters, and the unassisted will always have their pride.
  • 8 1
 Yeah someone flew by me on the ez / lazy loop climb at outerbike on one. They have their place, in motorcycle trade shows and 4x4 roads but not on singletrack or at MTB demo events.
  • 68 1
 "motorized mountain bikes"...errrrrr, you mean "motor-bikes"?
  • 5 1
 technically, and unarguably according to actual highway traffic acts, these are defined as mopeds. or 'speed limited motorcycles' here in Canada, regardless of propulsion being gas, electricity, or horse shit. PB is really hammering mopeds on us, ultimately, because bike companies make them and pay their bills via adverts. They are mopeds through and through.
  • 2 1
 www.mopedarmy.com/wiki/Moped_Laws:_Canada
"A motor-assisted bicycle is a bicycle that:

* is fitted with pedals that are operable at all times to propel the bicycle; check
* weighs not more than 55 kilograms; check
* has no hand or foot operated clutch or gearbox driven by the motor and transferring power to the driven wheel; hmmm, maybe a check?
* has a piston displacement of not more that 50 cubic centimetres or 1.5 kilowatts (2.04 PS; 2.01 bhp) motor rating; check
* does not attain a speed greater than 50 km/hr on level ground within a distance of 2 km from a standing start." check

so yea, these are mopeds any way you spin it.
  • 7 2
 Land use manager: So what you are trying to tell me that if the motor is activated by turning a throttle, it’s a motorized vehicle… but if the motor is activated by turning the pedals it’s not a motorized vehicle and you insist it’s a “mountain bike”.
E-bike advocate: That’s right.
Land use manager: Oooookay. Well, to me it quacks like a duck. So we can either ban e-bikes along with all the motorized vehicles currently banned — or, if you want to insist it’s a mountain bike, we’ll just have to ban all mountain bikes. I’m a nice guy, so I’ll let you choose.
  • 1 1
 @MichaelLinehan: From what I can find, the definition in Canadian law doesn't say throttle. so it may still fall in speed limited motorcycle category regardless. I do know that the mfgs are pushing to have them classified on their own, as in the states, but it may not fly up here. those e-scooters that were an absolute menace the past few years started getting tickets, so I'm hoping this falls in line as well.
  • 65 2
 dang pinkbike, you're a mountain bike site, stop bringing up mopeds
  • 48 3
 E-bike haters? I think what you meant to call is are "people who still have a realistic view of what mountain biking should be".
  • 3 0
 I'm beginning to suspect, certain media and certain industry people are the main driving force behind the surge of them. It could be pure capitalism too, there are plenty of stupid people which are into the 2 stroke huffy conversions, that see these as legitimate Tesla superbikes, along with rich fat people....at times like these i like to sip my coffee and wonder, what would waki do?
  • 41 1
 Every month will be a bad month from now on until ebikes go away and quit causing trail access issues.
  • 3 2
 keep calling them what they are, mopeds.
  • 44 5
 E-bikes are like fat and ugly woman... Some guys like to ride them...
  • 53 1
 Just don't let your friends catch you at it
  • 27 0
 I'm sure it's all smiles on the way up, but once you've gone down... eww.
  • 41 3
 Boycott all brands that offer e-bikes
  • 2 1
 Haha this is great, but will we be able to do that considering that even Pinkbike's most loved brands (Commençal...) are getting into it?
  • 5 1
 Trek, Specialized, Cube....... If people boycotted all brand that offer E-bikes there would be very few brands to chose your next bike from. Btw I am not pro E-bike.
  • 30 1
 I'd rather ride an Ellsworth than an E-bike
  • 27 1
 Danny Hart for the 4 consecutive wins!!! WTF Pinkbike?
  • 18 0
 Do the manufacturers of e-bikes actually ride mountain bikes for real? I doubt it. If they did they would know that trail and land access is a huge issue for most of us which could easily be shat all over with the appearance of e-bikes.
  • 13 0
 Good month. I got to ride a few times and didn't crash and get hurt or break something on my bike. Life is good.
  • 13 3
 We'll I can honestly say no shitty e bike will ever hit big drops and gaps because the people riding them will be pussies and pussies can't free ride
  • 4 8
flag filryan (Oct 3, 2016 at 23:15) (Below Threshold)
 That's a bit harsh. How do you know there not on one for a reason. I love riding my big rig doin drops and gaps but I have bad knees. Can go all week in the Alps with a chairlift to get you to top but half a day push ups and I'm in pain for 2 days. Same with xc half a day peddling up and pain. An e bike may really help me being able to stay out on the long days with the boys.
  • 3 7
flag MysticMCyclist (Oct 4, 2016 at 0:35) (Below Threshold)
 Nico Vou. Rides an E Bike and even races them ????
  • 1 3
 Nico is only sponsored for Lspierre
  • 13 6
 People understand that deraillures are great right now and cost effective compared to gearboxes.. Its just the derailluer was invented over 100 years ago and I'd say its the most inefficient part of the bike, this $300 piece of metal flapping around on the side of your bike messing with your suspension and waiting to smash rocks...
  • 22 3
 I haven't had a derailer issue in years. While I find the gearboxes enticing.. I'm not in need of it either.
  • 8 2
 You can say it's the most inefficient part, but it isn't if you compare it to a gearbox. I'm really looking forward to a proprietary bottom bracket interface on production mountain bikes - if SRAM did it people would panic and get angry on Pinkbike. Pinion does it and somehow it's genius.
  • 9 2
 I want to hate derailleurs, but when you can buy an 11-speed SLX for $55 it's hard to be too upset.
  • 2 0
 @Jokesterwild: hate to say it but if you ride dh derailleurs go first, smashing off things happens all the time through tight gaps between rocks etc
  • 7 0
 @acetasting1992: I am sure it happens. But my friends and I ride the shore every week and no one in our group has ripped one off in some time. but hey maybe were not as hardcore as the rest of you lot Wink
  • 9 2
 Gearboxes - It's not that the derailleur doesn't work well, it's bloody good...the gear box thing is about;

1. The opportunity to negate the effects of the transmission on suspension, thereby freeing designers to make the best designs possible.

2. Reliability.
  • 1 0
 If Sram and Shimano got in on the gearbox game I bet it would only be a few years before they started to become commonplace, until then I can only see it being slow progress.
  • 2 0
 Less sprung weight
  • 1 0
 @schofell84: *more sprung weight less unsprung weight Wink
  • 1 0
 @thestigmk1: my bad, that always confused me. It sounds backward. When I hear sprung weight i think weight the spring has to move in the suspension.
  • 7 0
 Good:

Danny Hart wins last races, on up and up.
Mondraker makes a podium first.
Finn Illes wins and is on up and up, despite almost not racing.
Normal bikes still exist
Aaron gwin wins title again.

Bad:

AC retires and Nico retires (bad for us, we loved watching them).
Interbike fails
Industry is upsetting more and more consumers, see above.
Too few world cups and racing season ends.....
Another DH racer dies.
  • 4 0
 and lol at 'haters'. the word used most often by people who don't have a good point and get crushed when anyone uses logic or reason. "What my E-bike may damage the effort you put in to keep legal trails? HATER!!"
  • 4 1
 E bikes...please, for the love of God. Stop.
I have serious anxiety about you and your intrusiveness.
I think I would buy a gearbox, put my duck in it, smash it with a sledge, and go back to breaking derraileurs for no reason before I put the laziness into riding a "little tikes" bike on a trail and getting unamused looks by real mountain bikers.
  • 3 0
 September does begin the month of "brown ice" with the wet leaves on the trails. Can be the nemesis of cornering for the fall.
  • 7 0
 And the ending of September means start to mtb season for southern Californians finally!
  • 3 1
 @jrocksdh: I hate you lucky socal riders
  • 7 2
 Why does an E-Bike need a derailleur?
  • 4 3
 Well, there's no clutch, just an assist, so you still have to pedal.
  • 5 0
 E bikes are the best... Said no one ever
  • 4 0
 e-bikes IS NOT the "next big thing" in the bike industry because IT IS NOT bike.
  • 6 2
 E-bikes for olds and fats!
  • 22 1
 What is "old"? I'm 46 and I can still pedal pretty hard. No e-bike in my future!
  • 9 0
 Fat and I pedal or push to the top and always will (except for lift accessed). Lazy and money to throw around comes in all shapes and sizes.
  • 9 0
 70 is old. Before then, no e-bikes.
  • 2 0
 @mikeyrides: 70
  • 22 1
 @mikeyrides: I'll be 65 in a few days. No *!!#$%!!! e-bike for me. And not when I'm 70, either.
  • 2 0
 @MichaelLinehan: right on bro!!
  • 1 0
 @MichaelLinehan: legend
  • 7 2
 "Coming of the box"
Heh
  • 7 4
 E-bikes are going to make my Strava times awesome. KOMs for days.
  • 14 1
 Probably the best unintended consequence of ebikes is that theyll render all koms useless...nice lil backhand slap to all the strava trail cutting dorks.
  • 3 0
 @jrocksdh: lol there's a guy at work who bought an ebike and has been stealing commuter KOM's. We keep telling him to use the ebike option in Strava and he just keeps telling us to ride faster.
  • 2 0
 Friend of mine is already guilty of that. Got a demo E-bike and went out and KOM a bunch of tough climbs.
  • 5 2
 What if there was an e-bike that used a gearbox?
  • 2 0
 I have to say Aaron Gwin really rocks.
  • 3 6
 Again sry to all those who have pain do to Injurys but you won't find any sympathy from me I've fucked my knees up royaly and have had many surgery a to correct the damage I have pain to but I push threw it like a real rider should so fuck e bikes they suck a fat cock
  • 3 2
 You're Canadian and have free healthcare you dick
  • 1 0
 @schofell84: good luck getting top notch soorts medicine thru a public system.
  • 1 0
 @jrocksdh: just talked to 6 dh'ers while riding in Canada and 5 of them had the same shoulder surgery from various sports injuries. $60k a whack in the states, and they were all working schmucks (roofers and a teacher). They laughed at how stupid our system is.
  • 1 0
 @schofell84: its also very difficult to illegally immigrate to canada and start a family(of then canadiens)...keeps canadas spending way down. Ya i lost my awesome health coverage at work and now cant afford obummercare. Either got make big $ or no money in the states now.
  • 1 0
 @jrocksdh: they spend less per capita than Americans.
  • 1 0
 Go home e-bike kooks
  • 2 4
 Rachel is only good because of her bros Funk E-bikes and get a crosser Mondraker 3 out of 3 never done before Hart attack, 4 out of 4 nuff said
  • 2 1
 That is absolutely ridiculous. Rachel is good because she trains incredibly hard and dedicates her life to racing and riding bikes. She is the only one riding her bike when she wins, not her brothers. I would agree that it definitely helps to have the support team she does, and I'm sure training with them is a huge asset. But I don't believe it is a fair statement to give her credit to her brother's when she is such an impressive athlete.
  • 1 2
 @britgerber: go study hahahahaahh www.pinkbike.com/news/rachel-atherton-pursuing-perfection-video-2016.html#cid1516187
  • 1 2
 Good month
Below threshold threads are hidden







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv65 0.234303
Mobile Version of Website