Aaron Gwin is Back, and He's On a 29er - La Bresse DH World Cup 2018

 Grandpa? I thought we talked about going on the internet before taking your meds.

 Aaron Gwin is an up and coming rider looking for his first top 10 finish on the World Cup circuit and 29’ers is a reference to Gwin and other riders trying to get a World Cup with before they turn 30. Now you know

 If he wins, it's the bigger wheels. If he looses, it's the bigger wheels.

 @endurocat: If he looses, it's probably because his wheels were too lose.

 @cmkneeland, can you remind me again how bigger wheels are dorkier than smaller ones? I forgot.

 @slumgullion: Listen here child the only meds I'm on are the ones my buddy Lance gave me.

 @cmkneeland: what the hell did you have for dinner

 @cmkneeland: stop worrying about what other people are riding and go shred

 @cmkneeland: Please stop fighting this is exactly what SRAMS wants!!! I can see it now, a new standard called the size for everyone. split the difference 28.25 Wheels. your playing right into SRAMS games.

 @endurocat: let's not forget that AG can probably ride a scooter and still qualify for finals...

 Is that a Huffy??

 @mikekazimer: Duh! Because they are not currently being ridden by @cmkneeland obviously!

 Big wheels just don’t look as steezy. It’s science.

 @jshutts22: Very true! As evidenced by the introduction of 27.5!

 All these munchkins are too short or just to weak to handle the big wheels. @mikekazimer:

 @cmkneeland: so by your logic, we should all be riding 20" wheels? Maybe even 16" if we can get the suspension to work? Oh, watch a video of Blenki hit A-line last week in the Air DH at Whistler (I was there) and tell the group again how playfulness is 'prohibited'. Full disclosure, I ride a 27.5 DH and trail bike. However, modern 29" are not all the XC machines from a few short years ago.

 @cmkneeland: Guess you lose!

 @Rider656: sorry about your luck bud! ????

 @mkotowski1: Not easy when you're being whipped by guys on 29".

 @bohns1: Never said it was bad luck.

m.pinkbike.com/photo/13817762

Just didn't have as much harmony between me and bike. Hey I compromised and am ok with 27.5 and happy as this size just feels right.

 @mikekazimer: 1.bp.blogspot.com/-va8nPJA1NC8/Us9ER2KHbPI/AAAAAAAAHxQ/ijcdlCgJQEI/s1600/1501805_626703317371241_258524326_n.jpg

New Tues release for next year

 @cmkneeland: sounds like you might be a dork wheel

 @cmkneeland: you should roll back to 26".....then you will be a dork on smaller wheels

 And who is La Bressy??

 @Rider656: Whatever works man.. I'm just having fun playing off the term.. Pick a wheel size and be a dick about it mantra.. Lol.. At the end of the day I don't really care what size people ride

 @cmkneeland: I take it you also ride a hardtail and abhor DH bikes because of their 200mm of travel that flattens out the rough stuff and prohibits playfulness and style...

 @rockchomper: Nah bigger wheels are the way to go! 32" is what we need next!

 @rockchomper:

 scrolling too fast isn't productive....
Sorry for tagging you @rockchomper

 I heard he is switching to 20" wheels for this race.

 Who really cares about what wheel someone else rides.... It doesn't affect you in the slightest. Obviously pinkbike is biased towards 29" (or whatever the current industry trend is until something new comes out to replace it) as it helps manufacturers sell product which is the end game of advertising and keeping money coming into the industry. Just ride what you have, in my experience I have a smile on my face whether I ride anything from a 20"-29".

 @VPS13: Usually, fans of any type of pro racing are very interested in the equipment, especially the wheels, that the racers are using!

 @VPS13: do you remember what happened to the value of 26" wheeled bikes after the DH wc went 27.5? That's why people get excited

 @VPS13: If you don't think it effects you, take a look at how many 26in DH bikes are being made. They're literally now special one-off's reserved for pro's only.

 @bbachmei: Or a 'glass half full' perspective, look at all the great deals on 26" bikes out there!

That type of resale value change happens on all sorts of products as years advance. My first gen Hayes brakes have sh*t resale value. But there is newer/better stuff out there. I am not saying 27.5 or 29 is better/worse just a fact of life. Absolutely nothing prevents anyone on a 26" bike from having the same fun this week as they did last week (made up time frame) before 27.5 or 29 came out. Fox, Maxxis, DT etc. have new 2019 26" products out right now. I have 27.5, not a big fan 29 for my riding. However, they are not the squirrelly noodles they used to be.

Bottom line, If folks are buying bikes for resale value, they are 100% doing it wrong. I am sure I will get down voted for this but, it's Pinkbike

 @mikekazimer: particularly because mike kazimer prefers them

 They're limited because they made 5 and then realized that everybody rides 29" wheels so they just stopped.

 The 29s will fit 3 more eagles on them.

 @WrenchRy87: 0.5 eagles per inch. Good to know

 @sspiff: One eagle per .5 inch ;p

 True, if you're a little kid.

 Or if you ride street, park and dj at real bmx spots. Try fitting your 29er into those transitions please, I will be laughing with you not at you.

 @mikekazimer: Or an over the hill BMX racer who's knees can just about manage Cruiser.

 Ideal for the 6ft huck to flat, not much else.

 @OffTrackBouncer: why would you ride your 29" at the kids park?

 @es7ebanlv: not sure, but a BmX racer may wonder what’s that fuzz with using motocross- like bicycles to do those small jumps on a-Line and normal jumps on b-line while he sends crabapple bits sized jumps on kids bike on a daily basis.

 If Peter Dinklage has a PB account.

 @es7ebanlv: What are these kid parks you speak of.
This is what real dirt looks like
psbmx.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Posh-trails.jpg

This is a skatepark
psbmx.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Posh-trails.jpg

This is still a good street spot
distilledmag.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/splash.jpg

 Oops I fat fingered it

This is a skatepark
cdn.vitalbmx.com/photos/users/112/photos/8775/s600_630847588_1210624678.jpg?1293033854

 @mollow: you have to be kidding. Our Local BMX track has sht as big as biggest stuff on Rollercoaster in Hafjell which I am told has bigger features than A-line. And I am talking a double. World Cup/ Olympic track surely has stuff as big as Crabapple. 20-30footer doubles and 40 footer tripples. And you have either shortage or abundance of speed, you have to be excellent at sending it if time vs squashing it. On A-line kind of trail you look up and lean back a bit. And you can land like a lazy bum. I am
Slowly starting to understand what @stacykohut meant with Olympic level training laughing at MTB

 @WAKIdesigns: For real these slopstyle tracks look like what I've seen at the local bmx tracks for many years just made out of dirt, and like 15 hits in a row. This one spot has a table line for the kids and us old timers to warm up on. Hitting big tables at Mach speed is fun on a squishy bike but the bmx jumps can be terrifying, and getting bigger every month it seems.

 @fecalmaster: simply put BMX pro lines are fecking monstrous.

youtu.be/68AoFwMCwT4

 @WAKIdesigns: and that’s why if you spend any time at all on a bmx your skills (and balls) on the mtb improve dramatically. Around here there is a big bmx scene both racers (yeah I wouldn’t hit the big line at the track even with 6” of travel) and park riders. They use mountain bikes like they’re play toys, it’s too easy for them. I am shit at both sadly but it’s difficult to put too much emphasis on how good a training tool bmx can be.

 @iqbal-achieve: Agree, you can always tell who the well rounded riders are. Gwin, Seem, Rog all mega 20" skills that transfer to any wheel size.

 @WAKIdesigns: well obviously if you compare the pro redbull bmx athletes you may find some bmxers who do big jumps but in your comparision you were saying "most bmxers". With that being said the jumps shown in your youtube link are nowhere close yo being as big as A-Line. It's like saying the guys racing Hardline are representative of the downhill riders community... All you Joeys need to see crabapple in person before you even dare try to compare it with something else

 @mollow: honestly I see local non sponsored rider's on 20" going absolute orbital bonkers for many years. We do have a massive scene here in NY so it's probably different all over. The dirt jumps at Posh are the size of your house and just keep going forever.

 @mollow: almost as cute as you in the neon Enduro club

 @mollow: I'm sorry, is there anyone interesting to chat with up there.

 @WAKIdesigns: TRUTH, thank you Ask Semenuk and Rheeder where they got their idea of "steez' from : www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyswnPxWf7U

 @DGWW: Amen, that's a classic, very fortunate to meet and ride with alot of the riders in that video. Seeing them in person is a whole different perspective. Going massive every day.

 @mikekazimer: By that logic, the Fest guys are mostly made up of little kids who still stick to 26"

 @juanbeegas: I actually find them very entertaining. He obviously has been operating with a blindfold on locked in a basement for the last 25 years if you don't have a clue about 20" madness and the average amateur will out huck you , forget the pros.

 @WAKIdesigns: modern bikepark lines are bmx lines with braking holes. I'm back from 1 week at Châtel, the différence between green blue and red is the size of the braking holes. I found one proper mtb line, the other half is bmx track and the last half is full of house size jumps.
Berms and jumps seems to be mtb there.

 @DGWW: That was MESMERIZING

 @fracasnoxteam: That's because you're riding in the wrong place mate ! Go to the Lac Blanc there you have real MTB tracks. Bike Park shit is well ... shit ? Ye mostly, otherwise go to DH races you'll get fresh tracks every weekend and proper MTB as well no bike park stuff.

 @WAKIdesigns: I am huge fan of BMX racing and the skills of these riders are nuts. There is just not much point in comparing it to DH riding because there are no braking bumps, rocks or roots. I am quite sure none of these guys would prefer riding a BMX over a full suspension bike riding down that braking bump fest A-Line is.

 Real riders love all things on 2 wheels. Moto X, BMX, park, DH, street etc, etc. If you limit yourself that's exactly what you're doing. Do you think Gwin only rides DH or Sem only rides slope style. Expand your mind and riding skills. Or not, you can lead a jackass to water know what I saying

 @cru-jones: my original point was to make a light hearted joke at mountain bikers talking trash about people riding kids bikes on playgrounds, when all too often the reality is that they themselves use complex bikes to roll A-line and case the sht out of every jump while "kids" they laugh at, hit as big or bigger lines on "kids bikes". I did not mention riding downhill, which is BTW dominated by people who were racing BMX through all their puberty. We have a few DJ/park dudes here who decided to try MTB and they absolutely kill it, putting all those folks who have been riding for years to shame. All they need is a year to adapt their bodies to pedalling. And then they rip. If you now have a BMX racer capable of doing prolines coming in, his strength and stamina are way above a seasoned MTBer. A good BMXer trying DH or Enduro for 2 years will demolish the field of XCers trying DH/Enduro for 2 years. They will be crushed. Not beaten by a few seconds, no, crushed.

 @Balgaroth: je pourrais rouler la Roots tous les jours de l'année.......

 @WAKIdesigns: also it pains pains me I have to agree with you as this is simple fact. Looks at all the Pro DH racers, all ex Bmx or MX riders. And when they retire and start Enduring (where you find more plain Mtb backgrounds) they also dominate the field. If you want to succed at Mtb, don't learn of to ride with a Mtb it seems ...

 @Balgaroth: my biggest realization lately has been that not only BMX skill transfers well into MTB. So does their conditioning. If one would think about it, MTBers make their fun (and in case of pros: living) out of certain speed zone where seconds are being cut. Acceleration to that speed zone is what matters, you want to arrive there as soon as possible, since it is hard to pedal within that zone. Off course gravity helps, but as Ben Cathro has demonstrated on analysis of Leogang, two pedal strokes on a descent can mean a second. The issue is, can MTB Marathon racer get 1 sec out of 2 pedal strokes... Can Chris Froome do that? Also explosive power can easily adapt to more efficient mode for long climbs, whereas small efficient engine geared for enduring distances just can't deliver accelerations. I am in awe of people being in awe of Jared Graves delivering 250-280W on an hour climb as he once stated. Nobody asks how many Watts he can deliver on 20m sprint when the clock ticks. Because I am pretty sure it's a fair bit over a 1000.

To put it into perspective of a regular bloke, since I guess this is what most of us commenters here are, you yourself can't give much sht whether you arrive to the trail head in 1:45h or 1:30h of a gruelling fireroad climb (while difference in conditioning to achieve 1:30 can be big) or whether you wait for your friend or he waits for you. What you care about is either staying on his rear tyre or riding away from him, depending on who rides first. Furthermore, when riding in social setting, you will often stop mid way down the mountain for a breather (all Joeys do. often) , thus endurance parameter goes completely out of the window. So... why do Joeys keep insisting on riding those fkng road bikes to get better at MTB?! Not to mention those who get a hard on at the sight of a bosu ball and twang of the words like "Yoga" or "functional training"

#wegotitallwrong

 Honestly I think the last 25 years of bmx mayhem have been a hoax. The 360 dub trucks off 20' rooftops, dub flip whip over 40' gaps, tripple flips, 1080s 15 years ago, and quad whips all a conspiracy. It's the aliens my friend's and they have landed. Actually this whole time the bmxers all have been on 29ers, even Rogatkin just smashed it on a 29er. These aliens have scewed the cameras to decieve us. They have started their takeover in action sports unfortunately. I have contacted Tony Robbins, Chuck Norris and Oprah to come up with an implemented 5 level plan to infiltrate and eradicate these aliens from Uranus to stop all this confusion.

 @WAKIdesigns: For sure BMX is the best starting point for a career in any cycling discipline. But then I think Emilie Siegenthaler’s (who crossed over from XC) results are at least on the level of Jill Kintner’s in DH.

 @cru-jones: what about Cecile Ravanel, Andreane Lanthier-Nadeau?

Of course mister shit master here has to compare Sean Burns to the general riding population. What a clueless jabroni

 @cru-jones: except Jill had Bronz medal in Olympic games is a multiple times World Champion in 4X never did a full season of DH and Emelie hasn’t won a single World Cup race ever. You must admitt that both girls had a bit different priorities... don’t be so butthurt @mollow, what happens if I come to Whistler and jump crabapple bits? You will be even more butthurt

 @WAKIdesigns: sorry if that's what you made of what Im trying to say. I'm just saying most bmxers dont do jumps as big and would certainly not laugh at someone having a full suspension bike to hit those. I know bmx racers have skills...

 @mollow: most people in any bike park in the world can’t clear any jump in it. Average BMXer clears jumps that are done by advanced MTBers . I know people who fly rollercoaster in Hafjell yet can’t clear a double on the pumptrack (I used to be one of them). Clearing a double on BMX trqck requires actual skill, good hip drive and good timing of it. Clearing aline on enduro or dh bike requires leaning back in the right moment. You can get away with so much sht on a big bike on flow trails that I simply refuse to give any credit to somene who prides himself with doing it. I have personally seen a fat dude clearing rollercoaster in Hafjell, sitting down between jumps. Just take an average mtber to a skate park
And tell him to roll into a 5ft quarter. He won’t. Tell him to jump a spine. Good luck. Tell an average MtBrr to ride Aline on a DJ bike. Or VDs track on a hardtail. They won’t. They will be holding on to their bike like to a life raft

 Most bmxers will hit the brakes before jumping because they're not used to hitting a 60 ft jump at 60km/h and will case the shit out of the jump. Different skills needed for both. Good luck putting your weight back and let the bike coast lmao I'd love to see that and yes I will be butthurt if you survive crabapple hits with that technique. Just make sure to let me know so I can at least spectate it.

 @mollow: Please stay in the bike park where it's safe little guy. Too much traffic in the real trails these days. I wish I could compare Sean Burns to any MTB rider but he actually gets laid.

 @fecalmaster: "real trails" "little guy" man I can't wait til that day when I'm finally as cool as you!

 @mollow: What brakes, you must be watching Bob Haro videos.

 @mollow: I know right, you keep mentioning that. I think your a bit to obsessed with me. You see I live with an actual female, I know it sounds crazy to you but absolutely no interest in even chatting with someone from the man bear society. Have fun lady.

 @fecalmaster: I know, f*cking weirdo responding to your comments directed at me eh?

 @mollow: I know even you can find a girl if you're into that sort of thing. Chatting with someone who thinks you're a complete tard isn't going to well for you.

 Quite ironic ain't it? You're the one getting sour here laddy

 @mollow: At least try to be original. I know you're obsessed and already biting.

 Sounds about right on my YT

 Thanks for a little humor in an otherwise tiresome list. Love my Capra (29). The paint job gives it that thrasher look that I love from the 80s.

 At the pace that my paint is chipping off I’ll probably end up with a stripped frame or custom paint job. It’s like they used the same method M&M used to add a thin candy shell. But hey, it costs half as much so there you go...

 Pulled a Sticker of the (Capra) Seat-tube lately and ripped the paint right off with it. At least no sticky stuff left on the frame :-)

 worst paintjobs ever, gotta admit. But that's how you save the $$ I guess!

 He should slap a bunch of punk band stickers all over it.

 @Balgaroth: so that people like you can learn some history. Hardcore is the punk of the 80's mate!

 @Rubberelli: Ah sure it originated from it and some metal influences but the same way I can't listen to punk old school HxC just make my ears bleed. Coming from the Metal scene only newschool HxC works for me as it's groovy and has a good flow which is key in any music (from metal to electro Tribe and HxC), which often punk lacks a lot, same as old school HxC, same as some old school Black Metal lol. Some music styles aare more equals than others xD

 @Balgaroth: If you like Hardcore and groovy, you need look no further than Bad Brains or the Big Boys!

 @Rubberelli: definitely better than average Punk but not my cup of tea. I much prefere the likes of Terror, Lionheart, First Blood for exemple.

 @Balgaroth: okay, but I'll bet they have super lame stickers. He needs a good California Uber Alles sticker on that bad boy. One of Raymond Pettibon's masterpieces on the downtube.

 He wrote about writing about it

 We do the writing here at PB.

 This is where I do most of reading. Keep up the good writing gentlemen. @endlessblockades:

 Yess

 Jesus take the grips!

 Sucks if the rapture happens on your race run though.

 @arrowheadrush: Only if they're Diety

 twenty-nine-inch-nails

 @arrowheadrush: Beat me to it!

 Judging by the outcomes it seems that Aaron did some sinning lately.

 That made me laugh out loud, well done my friend.

 @wibblywobbly Psh that's nothing. I sit on the stoker's seat on a tandem and mounted the fork backwards.

 I’m glad he hasn’t been but our local Temecula brand Intense already spotted using e bikes whomp whomp

 One treachery at the time mate ! No doubt YT will release a eBike considering Commencal and Canyon did so this year.

 #27.5forlife

 #Twentysevenpointfiveisstillalive

 @iqbal-achieve: #wasabouttosaythesamethingabouttwentysixinthefrontandtwentyfourintheback

 If he likes it, this will be all he rides. He has said he prefers 29" wheels.

 Gwin May never win another race. Not because of the wheel size. Other riders, that injury. No one wins forever.

 @jaame: hahaha! Yeah, and Waki may never respond to another comment ever again... Such is the randomness of the universe!

 @Rubberelli: You're only as good as your last race! Was Vouilloz expecting his last win to be his last?

 @jaame: uh yeah. Pretty sure he did when he retired from WC, since he already planned to retire to race rally and he won one near the end of the season, I believe.

 And people like Chris Boudreaux to design the bikes...

 He will be carried to the finish by a team of eagles.

 It rolls on a wing and a prayer...

 He believes in God so a genius he aint, he is quite good on a bike though...

 Just the e-bike haters to go...

 Since when is bruni racing wagon wheels??

 @deadmeat25:

 But how many people on here have decked out DH rigs? 29ers will have huge effects in the EWS and “enduro” Bikes and “all mountain” bikes which most people in the world own

 Not withereing, just gone underground.

 We still have Sam Hill on our side.

 @BrigadierBuege:

He is making the transition to 29er because he said he is getting beat every week by a 29er. Listen to the audio.

www.vitalmtb.com/news/news/Loic-Brunis-Leogang-Bike-Choice,1165

 @aliikane: He will make the change and get beat every week by a 29er or maybe a 27.5....

 The bigger the wheel, the bigger the heel!

 @HalfWheeln: Thats not what she said.

 Betting you haven't listened to his interview with maddogboris on Vital. Say goodbye to your money

 @mollow: dang no I haven’t lol

 @mollow: betting he doesn't win the rainbow on that monster truck either.

 @headshot: if he doesn't, its because of the wheelsize. If he does, it's because of the wheelsize. He's screwed either way

 @mollow: He was just slow on the day I guess, this weekend. Fell over and then lost time the whole way down. Do 29ers not work that well in mud and tight stuff?

 @headshot: who knows. Did Amaury look like he was losing time? I think Gwinn wasn't fully pinned after his small crash, he most likely saved himself for worlds. Martin Maes was also on 29 wasn't he?

 @mollow: nope 27.5 for Maes

 www.amazon.com/Feedback-Sports-Elite-Repair-Stand/dp/B001CSPTSC

 Since he needs no chain to win, my guess is pedals are optional. Might as well give him a 29er dandy horse and watch win anyway.

 IKR, stickerbomb it and done!