June 2016: Good Month or Bad Month?
Riders Seeking New Bikes
Cannondale, Giant, Trek and others debut new rides.
Cannondale, Giant, Trek and others debut new rides.
June was a big month for new bike releases. Almost all of the big players rolled out fresh models. Both Scott and Rocky Mountrain showed off new versions of venerable cross-country models. If you were hoping to see a new Jekyll from Cannondale, well, not so fast, but they did debut a new carbon version of their plus-sized Bad Habit trail bike.
It was about time for Giant to rework some of their most popular models and the company delivered with more aggressive versions of both their Trance and Anthem models. Finally, you could argue that Trek's new Fuel EX and Remedy models really debuted in late May, but June was the month we laid out these in-depth impressions of the new Fuel and Remedy.
It was about time for Giant to rework some of their most popular models and the company delivered with more aggressive versions of both their Trance and Anthem models. Finally, you could argue that Trek's new Fuel EX and Remedy models really debuted in late May, but June was the month we laid out these in-depth impressions of the new Fuel and Remedy.
People Looking to Procrastinate
Plenty of videos to keep you from being productive
Plenty of videos to keep you from being productive
if you were looking for an excuse to put off meeting a deadline, June had you covered with no shortage of jaw dropping videos. A few days ago, The Rise posted a video and interview with Matt Macduff about his attempt on the Loop of Doom. Back in March, MacDuff attempted to ride the 40-foot loop. It was a roll-in three years and a Kickstarter campaign in the making. The result? Ten fractures to Macduff's right wrist, three in his right ankle, a week in a hospital and a recovery that's still in the works.
Macduff summarized the moment when everything went wrong, "I knew right away I can survive that impact, maybe I’m not gonna die...I remember seeing where I was gonna land and just prepared for landing. Just like when you jump off a 40ft cliff. It’s the same thing just... no water." Check out the interview here.
At this point, Brandon Semenuk could pretty much eat a gas station chalupa and somehow make the event absolutely riveting to watch. Consider the video below: Semenuk and Rupert Walker teamed up for a second round of Raw 100 and if you ever fancied yourself skilled when it came to catching air, there's this video to remind you of the gulf that separates the likes of Semenuk from the rest of us.
Gravity Riders On a Budget
SRAM Debuts GX DH Drivetrain
SRAM Debuts GX DH Drivetrain
Show of hands--Who wants to spend a butt-load of money on a boutique drivetrain for their downhill bike? Right. Nobody. Which is why it's good news that SRAM is trotting out a GX-level DH drivetrain. SRAM claims the budget version is durable and dependable. This much is clear--you can get it for a fraction of what you'd spend on their XO1 DH group. We'll see how it holds up to abuse.
What's it cost? What are the features? Check out the story here.
What's it cost? What are the features? Check out the story here.
Anyone Still Waiting for the Enduro "Fad" to Die
Enduro Is Alive and Well, the World Over
Enduro Is Alive and Well, the World Over
You can argue that Enduro racing jumped the shark the moment companies started marketing their latest enduro-specific handlebar grips and socks. The bike industry, after all, never saw a trend they couldn’t flog into a messy pulp. Which explains why so many peoples’ eyes roll the moment you even say the “E” word. And, yet, Enduro—abused trend though it might be—shows no signs of slowing down.
Consider the month of June. There was Trans Provence in France. The Sun Valley, Idaho round of the Scott Enduro Cup, the Sturdy Dirty Enduro just outside of Seattle, the SuperEnduro Canazei series in Italy…and we’re just skimming the surface here.
Consider the month of June. There was Trans Provence in France. The Sun Valley, Idaho round of the Scott Enduro Cup, the Sturdy Dirty Enduro just outside of Seattle, the SuperEnduro Canazei series in Italy…and we’re just skimming the surface here.
Team Mechanics Dreaming of an Easy Day at Work
Weather Gods Turn Leogang and Les Gets into Mudbaths
Weather Gods Turn Leogang and Les Gets into Mudbaths
You know it’s going to be a hell of a race when people are going ass over tits during the course walk. The heavens opened up and made the runs at both Leogang and Crankworx Les Gets absolute nightmares. While race coverage rightfully focuses on the courage and triumphs of the racers who put it all on the line, you have to feel for the poor sacks tasked with restoring those mud-entombed bikes back to perfect racing order, lap after lap. In June, a whole lot of mechanics paid their dues.
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We all buy parts to make our riding easier and more fun. God forbid anyone uses a little assistance to help themselves have fun out there eh.
The handful I've seen on mine all have one thing in common: they're terrible riders, and most wear full body armor for cross country trails!
So giving someone more power than they can generate on their own, when they have poor bike handling skills to begin with, is a recipe for disaster.
Think accident > lawsuit > trail closures.
Pretty pathetic really.
The 'power' also cuts out at a speed pretty much anyone can achieve on their own as well by the way.
Also, there have been E-cycle users on non-motorized trails while we are still in a process of regulation on non-powered bikes in wilderness. While breaking the law, they are hurting everyone's ability to maintain MTB in wilderness.
@mgolder E-cycles may not be creating wilderness access issues in Europe, but it's not helping our goals over here. It's actually doing the opposite of helping since most Electric-cyclist don't understand our legislative goals.
-E-cycles-
I've heard some shit on here, but the anti e-bike stuff is truly pathetic and snobby.
I haven't come across e-bike riders on my trails so I can't chime in on your observation. As for the protection they seem to wear, I wouldn't mind really. I also always wear knee pads, helmets with a bit more rear coverage and full finger gloves where the typical XC rider would wear a minimalist helmet, thin clothing and half finger gloves. It only becomes a concern when people don't wear minimal protection (like a basic helmet).
As for wear to the trails as mentioned by @Drewnose elsewhere, I'm not sure if this is actually an observation or just a fear. Usually when there is a race on my favourite trails, I'm more concerned about all the nice tight singletrack and the technical descends. Because the singletrack is getting straightlined and people are going to slide down the descends with their rear brakes locked. If people don't make it on the uphills, people step off and push their bikes up the hill. All this creates more wear than I can see a bike with pedal assist ever do. After all if someone spins out with an e-bike, that will be on one spot (just before a root for instance) whereas a locked rear brake destroys the complete descend. And too light of a gear (and then spin out) will probably do just the same as the e-bike spinning out. Too much power with too little control.
I do agree that if e-bikes are officially certified as motorized vehicles in your country and motorized vehicles are banned on these trails, then they shouldn't go there. But as far as I know e-bikes with pedal support restricted at the speed of 25km/h have the same status as regular bikes over here in Europe. After all, it doesn't matter much whether a hiker is being passed on a climb by a fit XC racer or a (possibly not so fit) e-biker with that same speed. The XC racer is probably less likely to hold back and give way, afraid to lose momentum and stall whereas the e-biker wouldn't mind slowing down as pedal support will get him/her back up to speed anyway.
I wasn't there back then, but lift assisted riding probably encountered the same type of resistance in the early years. Even if pedal assist isn't for you (or for me) it isn't a bad idea to just let it go and only intercept if it causes significantly more trouble than us regular mountainbikers do.
1.Hate on E-bikes
2......
3. No E-bikes are being produced
I am waiting for a new president of UCI with a tupet, in a red baseball hat saying: "Make mountain biking great again"
I was referring to the fact that anyone can buy a sea doo, put it in the water and pull the throttle on something with 150-300 hp. You dont need balance, skill or common sense. In Cal you don't even need a boating license. Just money and the ability to sit down.
I like how this ebike mentality relate to the dumb credit mentality in us. "i cant pedal but i want to go mtbbiking,so i get an ebike" "i dont have money for a house, a truck and a bike but i want all this, so i get a credit for everything"
For me, ebikes sends the wrong message, you don't have to try harder and fail till you win, you just buy an ebike and overtake all the suckers that don't know how to get fun and prefer to struggle uphill. Training will be obsolete in years.
New suspension, better tyres, lighter and stronger parts, bigger gear ranges . . . We all buy these parts for one simple reason. They make your riding easier, better and more fun.
Everyone on their high horses about e-bikes should be riding on a clunker for all trails still, as clearly anything that makes biking more fun and enjoyable is terrible.
The main argument here from the naysayers seems to be you think the bikes just ride themselves on a throttle. Idiocy.
e bikes are fun. I'm 67 years old and have Lymphoma (in remission). At present I walk up hills to bomb down. I've been riding since the early 1980's and have good bike skills. If I had the cash I'd convert one of my bikes to an e bike tomorrow.
Yeah whatever! I've built my own trails anyway. Interesting that a lot of respected journalists who were originally sceptical have ridden and loved e bikes.
Improved all the time by and for pedalling, cause you know, its difficult, takes strength, will, discipline and training to do it. It's what is rewarding in this sport! If I just want to shred with no pedalling effort ill buy a electric scooter, or a mx and go and ride on their trails.
That's why that technology is good, for RIDING easier because on top of that you have to pedal, you made that commitment when you bought a bike, no one is forcing you to do it.
You know why some mx bikes are cheaper than mtb bikes? it's because they have a motor, and they can throw any cheap alloy or steel than wont matter, it will still go through. Now bikes that requiring human power only have this whole market and spectrum of improvement based on the fact that human force is all that is powering them, so you need to make them lighter, responsive, and so on, to adapt to that fact. Add a motor and we will no longer care for the 100g difference in rims or headset, aero, carbon, or locking a suspension on the hills. You'll transfer all the mx tech and thats it. no longer a bike.
Don't confuse technology oriented to the sport to basically doping. We've been riding bikes for more than a century, we developed the sport, we took the roads back, and you're trying to teach us what is fun? And I don't hate people or are trying to enjoy life, I just feel that you're wrong about what is cycling and you're probably on the wrong sport too.
I'm 'on the wrong sport', whatever that is supposed to mean I'm not sure. Are you suggesting I own and ride an e-bike? As I don't own one at all.
I'm trying to teach you what is fun? Am I? Or am I pointing out the hypocrisy of people who hate e-bikes because they think it doesn't involve any cycling, despite the very clear and always obvious fact that the bike will not move an inch unless it is ridden just like a normal bike. Seems more like you are trying to teach everyone what is fun by saying an e-bike can't be fun because it is 'wrong' for some baffling reason. I say people can ride whatever bike they bloody well want as long as they like it and have fun then it is all good. I'm not being snobby and petty unlike so many.
Your whole argument that buying fancy new parts to make riding a 'normal' bike easier and more fun is true only because you have to pedal?!! Staggeringly wrong. As an e-bike requires the same, if not more at times amount of pedalling.
But If you say it is ridden as a normal bike and it is as difficult to ride as normal bike, so just ride a normal bike, why not?
And we're not snobby, we're just being protective. Why? Because we're being invaded over and over by some people who want to change the basic and fundamental rule of this sport/activity, by overriding it with a motor.
That's it. If you want integrity you will fight to ban motors, and doping no matter what.
Sooo, just because you come on a website and spew out the fact you have KOM on some DH trails and you are a "top tier" climber. Ask yourself, does that really boost my credibility or just my ego? Don't ask us, we will laugh at you even harder.
Multi-use trails are for everyone to enjoy. However, if a group of riders shows to be more dangerous and reckless with regard to multi-use trails, then for the safety of the other users, the dangerous group has to go... I typed that with reluctance as it has also affected my local trails and my MTB hobby!
I'm not sure where the Internet community came up with the idea that MORBs are causing our hobbies removal from specific trails, but I know I'm guilty of using the idea at times to convey my disdain. However, an article on a competing website laid out the reasoning behind the decision to ban MTB from Protected Wilderness and I found myself ashamed as I had spread false info around the net, which may have actually played a role in misinforming the masses and slowing and distracting public debate.
We MTB users should take a step back and take a moment to find compromise in ourselves, as it has been said "change the world by changing self first", and see where we can go from there. A community wide form of meditation to find balance within ourselves, our groups, our communities and those we do not share relative interest with.
Thanks for reading!
I smashed my knee. Broke 3 ligaments and the meniscus. They couldn't fix my femur joint so threw away the broken bone. 18 months off a bike. It's noisy as hell and will wear out.
So I can tell you for sure I will use an ebike if it's that or sitting on the sofa.
If I get permission from the world of pinkbike of course........ Think about it. Riding a bike or not simple choice.
Also, the last resort of a desperate and anger induced 'man' . . . Mentioning penis size as if he is john holmes or something. Bravo.
You know, some of you dehumanize people for riding e-bikes, just get real and go all the way with your hate. Release it.
I just got back from a week biking fown there and i look like i have chicken pox!
I thought scottish midges were bad!
Invalid argument
Derp
It's bad when even your own political party pretty much has disowned you.
I'd still call it a good month since I got to ride
Other than that its been really, really hot!
flatheadbeacon.com/2016/07/02/search-bear-killed-man-near-glacier-park-winds
...on a more serious note. That was awful news, from the various reports it sounds like Mr Treat was the victim of plain bad luck.
@mgolder: E-bikes and pedaling with assistance is not proper riding. They are motorized and should be treated as such. There has been a lot of advocacy and hard work to build and then maintain non-motorized bike trails we have. Yet we still have riders and motorized vehicle operators that don't respect the hard work that goes in to maintenance or the laws and regulations surrounding the trails.
The last thing we need is inexperienced riders or riders with poor fitness, that are incapable of peddling to or riding trails that they wouldn't necessarily be able to access on their own steam, riding these trails. A lack of experience is a lack of experience no matter how you slice it, if you have a motor to assist you in over coming an obstacle/condition or section of trail that you couldn't with your own steam you shouldn't be riding that trail. Think of a sensitive trail system where with even a little bit of rain the soil retains a lot of the moisture, even with the best fitness it would be hard to peddle through the slippery mud, someone with experience heck even half a brain would turn around and stop riding if they were destroying the trail. Now drop someone that just started biking, bought an E-bike and heard about this trail in to the picture, think about the trail damage that would occur from them having a motor assist them. Ask yourself, if they are that inexperienced or that out of shape do you think they would go back and try and repair the trails they just buggered up? NO.
It is a great thing to see more and more people starting to bike and have fun out "there", and there are going to be cases that are extraordinary and E-bikes will help some people who have lost the ability to peddle the way they once did. Just when it comes to motorized E-bikes they need to have their fun somewhere else out "there". "There" being on motorized vehicle trails, not non-motorized trails maintained for non-motorized activities. They have their place and that is the dumpster and by that I mean they can DIE, as many other hair brained bike industry fads have. Down the road we will laugh about this and say, remember when they tried to push motorized electric mountain bikes on to the market, hahah that was dumb!
@Waki Hear Hear! A Wall for Whistler, but maybe make Britain pay, they are the ones messing everything up right now.
@Drewnose: Peace, fella! I'm just messin' with ya. When you serve up a softball like that, you gotta expect a home run. Or a slap shot straight into the goal, if you will, if you can relate to that more as a canuck.
Back in March Matt Macduff finished a project after loads of hard work, crashed hard and is going through a tough couple of months recovery. But it is good month now because we got a video.
Enduro racing is going well now. Organizing villages are proud and especially alpine villages are happy to attract some more crowds during spring and summer. Riders are having a good couple of days riding beautiful scenery no matter whether they're in for good results or just for the event. But now apparently we should be toughtful of those poor sods who click on these event reports and related product reviews and are getting fed up every time they read the word "enduro". Those I can only advice to just stay clear of those articles and spend the time saved riding your bike. You'll see, July will be beautiful for you.
Oh, your sport is it? Behold, the owner of mountain biking.