Christian Rigal Signs with Specialized

86 Comments

208 6

yahmon FL (Feb 28, 2022 at 9:50)

bmx background

33 1

nsmithbmx (Feb 28, 2022 at 10:10)

I hear he has one.

56 1

adrennan FL (Feb 28, 2022 at 11:09)

might be Monday and in the office, but if the drinking game says I gotta drink, then I guess I gotta drink.

16 0

gtill9000 (Feb 28, 2022 at 11:21)

At Whistler, about 5 years ago, I actually said this to a dude I was renting a bike from. Totally without irony. Now I cringe every time I see it, which is often.

michaelheinrich FL (Feb 28, 2022 at 13:01)

you gotta be kidding me

37 0

preston67 (Feb 28, 2022 at 13:32)

@gtill9000: I see what you did there.
Subtly letting us know that you have a BMX background.

powturn FL (Feb 28, 2022 at 14:41)

Someone please stop this merry-go round, I want to get off...

weebleswobbles (Feb 28, 2022 at 14:55)

@gtill9000: I'll be OK on these trails here I have a BMX bacground

11 3

LukeDeGriselles (Feb 28, 2022 at 16:30)

MTBers: BMXers are soooooooooooo cool!!! I wish I had a BMX background.

CX / Gravel Riders: MTBers are soooooooooo cool!!!

Road cyclists: CX riders are sooooooooo cool!!!

jamesbrant (Feb 28, 2022 at 17:27)

yeah i came from dirt jumping.

11 0

JacobyDH (Feb 28, 2022 at 17:44)

@LukeDeGriselles: BMXers: I'm soooooooooo cool!!!

panthermodern (Feb 28, 2022 at 18:45)

@JacobyDH: more like bmxers: “skateboarding is so cool”

eurojuice (Feb 28, 2022 at 21:30)

I. Am. Inspired.

By his BMX background.

Are you not inspired?

iamamodel (Mar 1, 2022 at 2:24)

@panthermodern: and then skaters are all like: "Riding scooters is soooo cool!"

JK.

Muscovir FL (Mar 1, 2022 at 6:07)

@eurojuice:

*inspiredness intensifies*

MAN I'M SO FREAKING INSPIRED RIGHT NOW

ridingbiking (Mar 1, 2022 at 6:13)

lols

t1maglio (Mar 1, 2022 at 11:26)

So I need some help on this. Most MTBers I know DO NOT have a bmx background. Most BMXers my age are starting to ride MTBs ... and it shows that they have better skills because of that background. I've bridged that gap since HS/College and continue to ride both now ...

But I'm confused, what is the issue with stating where your roots are?

ridingbiking (Mar 1, 2022 at 11:51)

@t1maglio: I feel the same way. I have a bmx background. I don’t understand why ppl have an issue with it. I think pinkbike forums have a weird comment culture. And if you don’t get it they downvote you into oblivion.

panthermodern (Mar 1, 2022 at 12:49)

@iamamodel:
Lololol

t1maglio (Mar 1, 2022 at 13:02)

@ridingbiking: thanks for that I'm seriously confused! Maybe its a CA thing? Here in Wisco if somebody actually rode or rides bmx its an anomaly.

ridingbiking (Mar 1, 2022 at 14:00)

@t1maglio: I think it’s a thing with pink bikers, not a real life thing. Everyone I know is stoked for bmxers to ride mtbs.

bobbyridesbikes512 (Mar 2, 2022 at 9:57)

@panthermodern: underrated comment x 120,245,290.

79 3

chriskneeland (Feb 28, 2022 at 10:06)

I'd rather someone sign Carson Storch

50 0

rick26 (Feb 28, 2022 at 10:46)

Is it even possible now for people to ride MTBs without any BMX background ?

justinfoil (Feb 28, 2022 at 10:53)

Only if you have no new perspectives. You can only look to the past for inspiration, not allowed to have new ideas.

hardtailpunter (Mar 1, 2022 at 0:31)

well I don't have one, and I can't ride for shit.

Muscovir FL (Mar 1, 2022 at 6:19)

You wait until Specialized realizes that the phrase "BMX background" is a hot new marketing tool.

They'll trademark "BMX background" so that only their team riders can have it and they'll sue the crap out of you if you ever so much as touch a BMX.

panthermodern (Mar 1, 2022 at 12:52)

We can all name countless famous pros with BMX backgrounds from the past. Brian Lopes and John Tomac spring to mind off the top of my head. This isn’t a new phenomenon by any means

33 0

dennyg1968 (Feb 28, 2022 at 12:52)

I bet Sarah put that in the article just for the comments!

nilswalk (Feb 28, 2022 at 13:25)

100%

suspended-flesh FL (Mar 1, 2022 at 8:21)

PB preemptive strike

30 0

not-really (Feb 28, 2022 at 10:31)

Sorry what background did you said he has?

13 0

loganconnell FL (Feb 28, 2022 at 18:12)

Sir I do believe it was BMX. A BMX background.

19 0

BMcP (Feb 28, 2022 at 9:52)

So it is the rider and not the bike after all

88 1

blanshard16 FL (Feb 28, 2022 at 10:31)

it's not the rider it's the background

19 0

zone66 (Feb 28, 2022 at 10:58)

Lets get Storch a sponsor!

10 0

lepigpen FL (Feb 28, 2022 at 12:01)

Cue clips of Christian trying fakies on MTB and having a nightmare of a time compared to a BMX/DJer.

It's like a point of pride in BMX style MTB edits. "Look at how f*cking awful these rigs are at going backwards!"

adrennan FL (Feb 28, 2022 at 13:44)

next you will hear about how more forward rear travel (ass opposed to current high pivots) is better for landing fakie tricks into square edge bumps.

13 2

dsoller33 (Feb 28, 2022 at 14:01)

Can Specialized sue over having a BMX background??

plustiresaintdead (Feb 28, 2022 at 10:22)

B-B-B-BMXBACKGHROUNDFSSSSSS

plustiresaintdead (Feb 28, 2022 at 10:24)

Ok in all seriousness those tricks were dope. The rear tire tap/180 thing was clutch.

cougar797 (Feb 28, 2022 at 12:28)

Its now so cliché I hate BMX for no reason.

nickfranko (Feb 28, 2022 at 13:23)

I also have a BMX background: I rode a BMX bike once.

hardtailpunter (Mar 1, 2022 at 0:33)

sponsorships incoming, brace yourself

bmxbackground69 FL (Feb 28, 2022 at 10:37)

I thought this guy had a roadie background?

way2manyhobbies2keep (Feb 28, 2022 at 11:16)

Rigal goes huge, hes gonna snap some frames

Muscovir FL (Mar 1, 2022 at 6:09)

He does indeed go huge. Remains to be seen if a Stumpy Evo can survive being hucked off a rooftop. The alloy Scott Ransom he previously rode certainly could.

way2manyhobbies2keep (Mar 1, 2022 at 14:32)

@Muscovir: my buddy has warrantied his Spec's 3 or 4 times; we will see

mxnate (Feb 28, 2022 at 14:15)

Are BMX brands are hiring riders with a Mountain Bike background?? Just kiddin.

nozes (Feb 28, 2022 at 16:25)

I have a tricycle background.

iamamodel (Mar 1, 2022 at 2:28)

I have a tricycle future.

ridingbiking (Mar 1, 2022 at 6:11)

I know the bmx background is overplayed buut I remember following this guy from when I only rode bmx. Pretty sweet to see what he's doing on the mtb now and how his background creates some really creative stuff.

Muscovir FL (Mar 1, 2022 at 6:17)

In before Specialized realizes that the phrase "BMX background" is a hot new marketing instrument. They'll try to trademark the "BMX background" so that only their team riders can have it and they'll sue the crap out of you if you ever even so much as touch a BMX.

CRIMSONMTB (Feb 28, 2022 at 14:15)

bro why carson storch? lol cause his frame sponsor doesent even make the bike he rides XD lmaooooooo

jshutts22 (Feb 28, 2022 at 14:20)

When BMXer’s do MTB the right way. Congrats on a well earned ride.

shedsidechuck (Feb 28, 2022 at 16:09)

yeah theres got to be good things comin’ to Rigal from all this. cool low key edit too.

oathead FL (Feb 28, 2022 at 18:59)

bunch of haters on here. Good for Christian, the guy rips! Looking forward to seeing more edits from him.

KFiskerC75 (Mar 1, 2022 at 6:47)

Agreed. Have loved what CR can do on a MTB since I saw his promo vid for the Ibis Ripmo AF. Generally really like the crossover from BMX to MTB, bringing all sorts of cool jibbing. Nice that the sport is being kept fresh. Actually thinking about going the other way and get a BMX to hit some skateparks, although probably too old now....

bmx-background FL (Feb 28, 2022 at 20:59)

What y'all talking about?

Bertrude (Mar 1, 2022 at 10:48)

I’m not sure if anyone really cares . . . But before I had a bmx background . . .I had a skateboard background

weebleswobbles (Mar 1, 2022 at 11:40)

Well done bertrude!

Oblast (Feb 28, 2022 at 17:34)

Brand culture development, pure marketing aspect. I've no BMX background, my MTB career is ruined.

weebleswobbles (Feb 28, 2022 at 14:53)

Ideas inspired by his BMX background

Adamrideshisbike (Feb 28, 2022 at 15:20)

You say Rigal, I say Roval.

weebleswobbles (Mar 1, 2022 at 11:59)

Rigal, roval

titorips (Mar 3, 2022 at 13:41)

Which Specialized model does he ride, you think? Stump EVO? Looks like 27.5 wheels.

ChristianRigal (Mar 7, 2022 at 16:52)

It's an S3 alloy stumpy Evo Mullet!

JacobyDH (Feb 28, 2022 at 10:10)

Who is the profile that was pinged here?

JacobyDH (Feb 28, 2022 at 10:52)

Gone now

LeToux (Feb 28, 2022 at 15:32)

Mid 2000’s level

Braench FL (Mar 1, 2022 at 1:33)

oh did he ride BMX before?

chrisfirth FL (Mar 1, 2022 at 17:15)

What is the freecoaster hub with a cassette? Was it a custom I9?

losidan (Feb 28, 2022 at 13:03)

Rad

hIDesert (Mar 1, 2022 at 6:09)

#getStorchsponsored

krazyjey (Mar 1, 2022 at 11:54)

I have a MX background.

Below threshold threads are hidden

3 25

conoat (Feb 28, 2022 at 12:52)

i would wager a sold tener that a quick local is faster than this guy on their local trails. by which I mean, I don't understand MTB sponsorships to guys that don't ride MTB. I won't even couch it......I take this guy to my local DH tracks, and I will drop him.

14 1

crs-one (Feb 28, 2022 at 13:09)

Specialized probably isn't paying him to be the fastest down a local DH track. They're probably paying him to make freestyle videos. Given his professional resume both riding BMX and filming all kinds of cycling, he's actually a pretty useful pick, out of all the recent BMX-to-MTB dudes in his lane. I think about the elaborate and rule-breaking setups he's pulled off in parking lots at night, and it's exciting to imagine what he can do in the dirt. I respect keeping mtb money in mtb in principle, I think it's a bummer all these BMX dudes are getting money and recognition for shit Kirt Voreis has been doing for like three decades, but I think there's better targets for the sentiment.

28 0

ChristianRigal (Feb 28, 2022 at 13:12)

sign me up!

larrythelamb (Feb 28, 2022 at 13:35)

It's almost like CR was signed to do tricks/make edits and not race! Fancy that.

11 0

Saucycheese FL (Feb 28, 2022 at 15:28)

This guy is a creative rider. DH racers are a different style. The fact you're showboating about your racing skills on a comment section speaks volumes to your personality

Chondog94 (Feb 28, 2022 at 16:18)

Bold move sir

weebleswobbles (Feb 28, 2022 at 17:12)

From your couch to dropping Christian Rigal. This I gotta see

Biologybossman (Mar 1, 2022 at 1:36)

I wouldn't expect someone who can't even spell solid, tenner and coach to understand that other people are able to appreciate riding from a perspective that isn't purely racing. Have you sailed many times headfirst into trees without a helmet on at your local DH tracks by any chance?

kennyken1015 (Mar 1, 2022 at 2:22)

What an ignorant little rant! Where does it say he's going to be racing?

Muscovir FL (Mar 1, 2022 at 6:13)

LOL. This guy is a BMX and freeride legend. Racing is not even what he's famous for.

ChristianRigal (Mar 1, 2022 at 17:23)

@crs-one: Appreciate that man! Kirt is the homie and an absolute legend! I'd never want anyone to discredit him or try to take anything away from what he's done, he also started as a Bmx rider before MTB so that's the reason he's been doing stuff like this all his life haha! We're both just riding big bikes the way we like and he'll always be an inspiration!