ECMTB1

@Pauloquincer: that right there is funny

Value, Over valued, Under valued, ROI etc... I think It all is relative and really can only be answered by people cutting checks and selling bikes.... It cracks me up when I hear people say "Just give AG what he is asking for, he won with out a chain" There is no doubt the run was amazing.. maybe the best ever? And there is no denying the results, speed and skill of AG...but what if he is asking for 3 million per year for 5 years? Is it really worth it? Hell no... Sales just won't justify it... So it all really is relative. With that said I think AG has played a perfect hand, There is nothing wrong with a man asking for what he feels he is worth As absurd as some may think a crazy number is... If there is one buyer at asking price then you've scored. Clearly the company he is signing with must feel he is worth it. I also think Specialized has played a very good hand... Assuming how most of these deals work and that they don't have all the added cost of supporting the three new riders with expenses etc. and are able to supply just equipment and money to a already dialed in program. They get 3 riders with great public image, bright futures and the current elite World Champ. Plus adding a guy like Jared Graves, arguably the most versatile cyclist of all time. You have to take your hat off to that kind of off season dealing. World Cup racing is awesome and amazing.. but make no mistake... It is all business... and budgets are drawn up and are justified mostly by sales... If bikes don't sell the money allotted for team's to go racing dries up... La Pierre is a perfect example. I would love to see the before and after sales #'s of Specialized and who ever AG ends up riding for. I am excited to see how this all plays out, There will no doubt be a learning curve for all the guys getting onto new bikes/programs... We'll see how steep or flat the curve is at the first race....Can AG, Athertons, the new Spesh and GT programs ride the new bike psych.. figure it out and come to the first race with both guns blazing or do the guys like Steve Smith, Troy, Sam, GM. Rat etc..Have an advantage by returning on equipment they are completely familiar with. Only time will tell.

Two to Three bikes per season depending on wear and tear… Worlds Bikes are usually built special for that race and it depends on who you ride/work for what happens after… Some companies keep them for marketing purposes (set up in office spaces etc..) Some companies let riders keep them.

Thanks guys…. like the PR says… I am really excited to be working with Vic and The Gravity Cartel…The products are good and these guys are so down to earth and just really good people. Thanks again for having me Vic.

The folks at Troyleedesigns are class acts…I have so many good friends over there. I have said it before.. Without Troy I am not sure if I would still be racing or even involved with MTB's… In 96 I sat in his office as he called all the companies that I had tried to get support from and got either a no or a no call back. In his words to them..."I'm starting a MTB team and I need you guys to get behind it" Jimmy Kight, Jimmy Deaton and I were the team and we had a lot of fun… In classic TLD style. Troy, Thank you so much for the support and kind words.

a-r-c The planning of something on that level is big time… Team manager and team owner are big differences… Believe me I have thought about it… Not sure If I its something I would want that much stress. Last years gig was the perfect amount of workload/stress…. I could be on the hill filming the riders and going over lines after and try to help the riders with their mindsets (my favorite part)… But that stuff and just the planning workload that you have as a manager is still exhausting at the end of the season… I can't imagine the stress of things like getting killed at the airport check in for luggage and blowing the budget for the event before you have departed… Just watching "your" teams money go away...Team Owner Stress. I really like what I have lined up with Marin right now and I can see this being a long term deal.

Yes

Thanks ambatt, Being hired as a sales guy for Marin one of the first questions I asked was "where is Marin headed as a brand?" Adding Cody Kelley and continued support of The North American Enduro champ Kyle Warner is just part of the plan being hatched for growth at Marin. Will be fun and exciting times these next couple of years under the Marin roof.

John Kovachi was a wheel master…. Always looked forward to a fresh set of them Kovachi Wheels and thanks for putting your personal touches on some of my wheels from you guys.…. As Murryaybmx said, really good to see his art live on through his pupils… My wheel guy now is John Canepa… He was my mechanic at the end of my run with Mongoose and GT and he is one of my best friends…He built the now infamous "Aaron Gwin Leogang wheel" from this years World Cup in Austriia I agree, I think the Marin people are a good group and I think working with them will be a lot of fun.