Results: Toa Enduro - Crankworx Rotorua 2020

 A scramble to the finish

 Managed to poach first place

 Cracking win

 Please no more puns you are frying my brain.

 Time to scotch these egg puns. Omelette you all think that over.

 Keep the sunny-side up, and the rubber side down

 @pivot !

 So the Egg DID come first...

 Same here.

 Hurray! Another year of Scribd!

 Racing wouldn't be the same without it.

 @Boosting: no one asked

 I was surprised to see her name up there. That's some impressive rehab work. Hopefully the Bulldog will be back on the podium soon as well.

 @Dlakusta: The ones that have a higher number than what she tested at all last year? Yeah no I think she will be fine

 @Dlakusta: I don’t care what you “believe.” Speculation, especially that which isn’t based in the evidence, is useless, and only serves to foster discord and xenophobia/bigotry.

 Wait for the usual Pinkbike dumpster fire comments section.

 @erikkellison: speaking about evidence, lmao

 really - telling people they are not allowed to have a valid opinion is pure censorship. The topic at hand is totally worth discussing. Parents in the USA are taking athletics associations to court because of it, people are afraid to make comments because of the way social media is so vitriol. Society is becoming less and less free.

 @mtb-scotland: No-one is shutting down the conversation. The PSA doesn't say the topic can't be discussed. You can voice your personal opinions without using inflammatory or derogatory language whilst keeping it constructive.

 @Dropthedebt: generally, in society, I find that while your comment is hopeful, it is simply not true.

 @Dropthedebt: They do shut it down because they confuse biology with a social construct that not every part of society believes. Trans woman are still male, many still have dangling genitals. That comment will probably be down voted even though its fact, not inflammatory or derogatory.

 @jgainey: @mtb-scotland:
whilst there are many in a wider society who will attempt to shut down this conversation, I do not believe Pinkbike are doing that with the PSA on articles that have relevance to this subject. Personally I understand it to mean "be respectful to the individuals concerned and keep comments constructive & not derogatory."
I agree it is an emotive subject, one that requires a wider discussion, but that is something that should be directed towards the rule makers and not the individual athletes or event organisers, who after all are competing or organising within the rules as they are currently set.
Is there a level of social engineering in play? Maybe, maybe not. Does an individual have a right to make their own choices in respect how they live? Absolutely.
There are definitely questions on all sides of this subject that require investigations & discussions, some of them coming from people whose own situations have been handled very badly.
[BBC News - NHS gender clinic 'should have challenged me more' over transition]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51676020
Most of us will never be able to contemplate the distress an individual goes through when dealing with their own bodies, minds & choices. It is within us all though to be respectful to other people, whatever their circumstances. As I said earlier, personally I believe that is what Pinkbike are asking from us as users.

 @Dropthedebt: They do have the right to live how they want which I don't have an issue with but we as a society should not shut down those that don't agree with it. The whole issue of transgenderism causes huge issues particularly in Schools and frankly bowing down to it without proper consideration is one of the reasons we have such a problem. We should be able to have a discussion without getting comments deleted or banned. If I want to say trans are still the same as they were before "coming out" I should be able to. That is not derogatory or being discriminatory. Like wise I should be able to say they are different without being abused. I don't believe if you have dangling genitals you should be able to compete in the female category just because you say you are a woman and take hormone blockers.

 @mtb-scotland: Pinkbike is not saying we cannot express our personal opinions. As they are operating a (semi) anonymous public discussion forum they are simply asking us, as users, too choose our language carefully when stating our personal opinions on this subject. The question of schools etc. is one that should be directed to those in control of the dialogue within education.
Pinkbike, as a private enterprise, have every right to remove any content which they deem to violate their readily available "terms & conditions of use."
We can all still make valid points that encourage healthy & civil debate as long as we adhere to those conditions.

 @Dropthedebt:
I think people are asking the wrong questions. I don't care how they classify Kate's gender.
The question should be does Kate have a biological advantage over the rest of the field and can that be proven ,one way or the other.

 @rhyssutton: You're quite possibly right Rhys. I know I am certainly not qualified to answer that sort of question & I suspect 99% of other Pinkbike users are also unqualified in that area of expertise. In which case we must trust in those who are qualified to understand the issues and make the decisions as appropriate to the evidence presented.

 @mtb-scotland: you didn't read the notice did you. And if you did, perhaps you didn't understand it?

 @CaliCol: Personally I neither agree or disagree with how the left or right sides of political debate classifies "hate speech" or "personal attacks" as this will always come down to personal interpretation, religious or political bias & social values, amongst a host of other factors.
A great deal of the world's issues could be made a whole lot better if we stopped defining them as left or right problems. Every day we are categorised and labelled into groups... IC1 male, Hispanic female, ABC1, C2DE... the list of groups we are separated into goes on & on & on.
The one thing we have in common is the fact every one of us, regardless of colour, social economic background, religion or sexual identity, are human. So let's treat each other with a little humanity.
“People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don’t know each other; they don’t know each other because they have not communicated with each other.” MLK

 @mtb-scotland:
@mtb-scotland:
While I agree with you in principle, the key word here is 'valid' - and who makes the call as far as what is a valid opinion? There's a difference between a valid, informed, opinion and bigotry. I don't disagree that the issue at hand deserves discussion and is important to sports (at large), but asking that those expressing opinions do so in a well-mannered and informed way is far from censorship. Nobody is saying 'If you have a negative view of Trans-gendered Athletes, keep those opinions to yourselves'. Pinkbike is simply asking that those opinions be presented in a civil, informed way. That's not censorship.

 @mkotowski1: I bet you've never lived anywhere else and have no clue how free you really aren't

 @mtb-scotland: "They do have the right to live how they want which I don't have an issue with but we as a society should not shut down those that don't agree with it."
So you want people to be able to tell others that they don't agree with their sexuality or gender dysphoria? Or would you like to rephrase?

 @CaliCol: Why would you want to offend anyone? Are we at the end game of humanity where we accumulate points every time we make someone else feel like shit?
Anyone who feels 100% certain about anything is most probably wrong and is only refusing to think more deeply about the topic because it hurts their atrophied brain.
The only issue I have is how do you measure the advantage of growing up male and make the body alterations needed for to level every facet of the playing field, from strength and aggression, to stamina and pain resistance? The answer remains who knows?
My other question is wtf is Rae Morrison on!?

 @BenPea: youre not understanding my comment. How many actual female athletes are not speaking out about the advantage trans woman have because they fear loosing sponsors or vilification in the press/social media. What about in a school if a boy decides they are a girl. Do we let them use the female changing rooms? For most of the time it is not an actual issue but there are times when it is.

As for your comment. Why should you not be able to say if you are having a discussion that you trans people are not a different "gender"? That doesn't mean you have to be nasty or not respect their human rights. I'm a biologist and you can't just suddenly change what you are. You can clearly feel better by acting as is you are but you are not changing anything biological which is the key for me. You can dress up how you want it makes no difference to me.

 @mtb-scotland: I wasn't referring to your biological insight, but your turn of phrase, because that's not what you said.

I neither agree not disagree with you, because in absolute terms, we don't know if it is possible with current medical science to reprogram a body so as to effectively wipe all traces of the advantage brought by previously being the opposite sex (or gender or whatever TF).

 You can’t @BenPea:

 @mtb-scotland: Don't be so defeatest.

 @mtb-scotland: or defeatist for that matter. It seems you don't want to believe it can be done.

 @mtb-scotland: it's not complicated, you're in Pinkbikes house, so you express your views without personal abuse, just like when you are in my house you express your views without swearing in front of my child, or you get your marching orders, no ones telling you how you have to think or what you have to believe.

 @CaliCol: If you take the time to actually read my comments you will see I have made my personal position quite clear. Why should I feel the need to offend anyone when stating my personal opinions?

 @CaliCol: you f*cking moron.

 @rhyssutton: You are right. I don't care what anyone identifies as. The issue is fair competition, and there is no easy solution. The biggest loser here is the future of women's sports.

 hi guys, i went through this thread and (all of them in this article) last night and it is a difficult topic, I understand both sides tbh, so i wanted to inform myself before making an opining, i found this article last night, it seems pretty straight foward it might form a more mature opinion than just keyboard warrioing, after reading it as objectively as posible, i coudlnt do anything other than putting myself on the shoes of Ash Rawson the father of Kate's cycling former "rival", having your daughter giving her 100% not achieving her goals due to something totally independent from cycling must be way frustratin, i would honestly be pissed, is not a cycling problem but it is there, and no solutions seems to be coming in.

interactives.stuff.co.nz/2018/03/a-level-playing-field

 @mtb-scotland:
No other good way to say this so let’s just give this a shot: Your comment bums me out and makes me sad. Sometimes it’s almost as if folks forget that while your opinion may be your opinion, just because you think something doesn’t mean it has to come out of your mouth. Didn’t your momma tell you to treat people like you want to be treated, and maybe even how they want to be treated? Everybody’s got a different situation and you’d be a fool to tell them how they should negotiate theirs.

PSA: Nobody(especially transgender folks) wants to hear you talk about “dangling genitals.” That’s just kinda weird, to put a broad assumption that implies you’re thinking about the genitalia that someone may or may not have.

 @muchofastman: my mum told me to speak my mind.


PSA: if your genitals are external rather than internal, you shouldn't be racing in the female category.

 @mtb-scotland: f*ckin 'ell man, bringing both dangling genitals and your mum into this public forum is audacious at best.

 @rhyssutton: Yes she does and yes it has, the skeletal and bio-mechanical advantages of a genetic male do not change through any kind of hormone treatment.
Even if the testosterone suppression starts before puberty. The genetic make up stays the same they may be a little weaker than a comparable male but will still be significantly stronger than a genetic female.

the whole idea of basing it on testosterone levels is idiotic and was based purely on how transgender felt their performance changed when the testosterone was lowered, there was no actual testing of performance metrics.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzg9QtQelR8

I have no issue at all with weather a person wants to be a man, woman or a turnip, but when it starts to affect peoples livelihood it is a problem in my eyes.

 it isn't a backlash. its about fair competition. I have to agree with the plaintiffs

 @mtb-scotland: Just let them live how they want and give them their own class . . . NO MORE PROBLEMS.

 The fairest for all involved is to eliminate both men’s and women’s classes and just have a single “human” class.

Then everyone is equal - no more debates on equal prize money for slower times, transgender entries, etc.

One class for all since we’re all equal.

 @meathooker: I’m glad your comment is sarcasm (I hope it’s sarcasm).

 @mkotowski1: and some people's job.

 I find the arguments of this "backlash" a bit removed from reality. Professional sports is entirely about drawing arbitrary lines through the population and declaring winners within unequal categories. For instance: Why does Elite category start at age 23? One could argue that a 22 year old is just as fast as a 23 year old but can "unfairly compete" against the 19 year olds in Junior category.

 @patrickrobinsons: you can always get another one job, life’s a bitch and i dont feel bad for people who can’t make a living playing a sport

 @mkotowski1: how would you feel if your daughter had trained their heart out been top of her category for years but lost out on a college scholarship to a boy that decided they were a female a few months ago?

Would it still be "playing sport" then?

This nonsense is already starting to affect the futures of people, how is one supposed to "get another job" if you were denied your further education by a person that felt they were something they weren't.

 @b45her: should scholarship money really go to athletes?

 Same thought. To make it worse $1,500 NZD is just over $1,000 USD. I've been to local races with the same payout and maybe a 1/4 of the entrants

 There's no rocks. Just roots and dirt.

 Almost as surprised by how many dont wear a full face. Insame to me that a blown turn could lead to facial reconstruction in a half shell.

 @PhillipJ: the back of my stem feels like a rock

 no, it really isn’t.

 Have you tried a world cup xc track? Mont saint anne world cup xc track is as hard a black diamond dh trail and they are going race pace in spandex with superlight helmets. Pros, risk it for the biscuit, they have to be comfortable and have every competitive advatage.

 @GeorgeHayduke: no u

 Yeah it's great to see riding - but this is SO unfair to the other girls. I'm not transphobic at all - but as a girl if she was racing against me I'd be furious.

 If I reply with a factually accurate, completely non-biased, scientifically, correct statement the comment will be deleted. Thats the state of the internet in 2020.

 @hamncheez: we are all biased

 Yes, she stood out as one of the smoother fast riders on course yesterday

 I feel you don't really need a dropper seatpost. Just get a rigid seatpost and keep the saddle low. Or get a qr seatpost clamp for those occasions where you do want your saddle high.

 @vinay: Just Wow! I think I’m still weeping in deep laughter and respect!

 @vinay:

 That should have been a +1...

 Thank you, just spoke my mind. Thank you for listening. This is what the comment section is for.

 You have many other places for speaking out regarding issues you care about. Pinkbike is not obliged to give platform to comments that are not inclusive or can do harm to some people.

 @dj100procentenduro: f*ck you. It only gets hits because of the comment section. It's how they survive. most reputable news sites don't need comment sections. They thrive on flame wars. That's why wak attack hasn't been banned.

 Our aim is not to censor conversations or ideas, but if you go around misgendering we'll get ya! Might as well slap a tolerance sticker on your car and scream at anyone that disagrees with your beliefs.

 @westeast: one cannot tolerate intolerance.

 24" ain't dead

 and wear your knee pads, its 2020 and we know the repercussions of concussions, and your head isn't even weight bearing.

 @ButtermilkBar: Eh?

 @jclnv: I could probably look it up and find it, but I think you likely remember It, don't you? It wasn't that long ago.

 @makripper: since when is pinkbike a reputable news source

 @ButtermilkBar: why Kona?

 “Former man racing against woman” exactly!@ButtermilkBar:

 @kleinblake: of course. Anyone who holds a contrary view is labeled as “intolerant” and can not be tolerated. That’s my point.

 @ButtermilkBar: Oh I think I remember. As usual, context is key. I believe we were talking about AGW/Co2 and because I wasn’t in agreement with your position on that politicised junk science, you assumed I was anti any environmental issue. Which, BTW, couldn’t be further from the truth. However, you will now doubt be pleased to hear that I support a women’s right to compete in sports over men who choose to identify as women. No doubt that obvious logic baffles your mind too.

 @makripper: f*ck u 2. Don’t know if this is the case...It’s more like 50/50 content vs comments. At least for me

 @westeast: no, no only those who have right wing/authoritarian/fascist views are labelled as intolerant. I don’t think I ever seen anyone on the progressive side been labelled intolerant. ‘You bloody intolerant climate justice activists you are so intolerant towards fossil industry’ said no one ever.

 @dj100procentenduro: perhaps that's because you could interpret right wing with intolerance. Anti-abortion, anti-gay, pro-religion (in itself intolerant of people who are not of the same religion/sect/cult/belief system).

 @danlovesbikes: @dj100proccentenduro:

WOW! Your comments only further prove my point. You're both cocked and loaded ready to denounce anyone who disagrees with you on your sacred issues. The irony is you are everything you claim to denounce. Try having a calm conversation with someone with whom you disagree on some of the issues you brought up. It's a game changer and much better for the world than labeling so many as simply intolerant.

 @dj100procentenduro: I suggest you look at institutional education in the western world that only teaches the anti-nation state, diversity, mass immigration, gender self-identifying, climate emergency, narrative and is pumping out millions of the indoctrinated drones who are the epitome of intolerant.

 @jclnv: So you admit that you suggested somebody commit suicide because they disagreed with you and you are completely unapologetic about it?

Are you really that big of an internet scumbag???

 @ButtermilkBar: I don'y know exactly what you're on about but whatever. Virtue signal away internet hero.

 @westeast: I am intolerant to idiots and stupid comments. The word you are reaching for is hypocrisy, not irony. You're welcome.

 @jclnv: Get a load of this snowflake

 @jclnv: confirmed.

 @vtracer: Yeah absolutely. I'm still running 24x3" on my mountain unicycle. You've got 26", 29" and now 27.5" too (and 36" but that isn't quite trail stuff) but none of these is ever going to replace 24". Also I still think there is a place for hydraulic rim brakes on these. I know disc brakes are getting more common there now but I can't see how I should possibly NOT smash it into an obstacle or stomp on it with my foot. I realize loads of people are now running these just fine so it clearly can be done, I just can't see myself get away with it.

 @westeast: sorry mate I’m not gonna discuss with some people (fascist is one example). Other than that I don’t know what you point is. You seem to assume what I think and You add me to some easy to understand categories which completely wrong.

 I'm gonna have an IPA for every race this year don't know about PSA. Haven't tried that yet.

 It's reverse psychology. I didn't even think about it or care until the psa.

 There was last year on all the World Cup results.

 @ButtermilkBar: I really hope that with time you are able to change your perspective on this. Change is challenging, and comes easier for some than others, but I think in this case would really help you better engage your world in a positive way.
If you really feel that strongly about this, develop indisputable proof that your perspective (that this is unfair) is valid, but stop with the negativity and cynicism. Your comment about her being 100% male just shows your ignorance.

 @makripper: that's not what reverse psychology means. And you should care, because you live in a society where the vulnerable need protection.

 @erikkellison: Cheating is cheating. When anybody goes from mid pack regional pro to World Cup contender in one year just by changing sexes it's obvious cheating.

How would time change my prospective? You think if I meet more trans people and realize they are generally nice and honest people that I'm going to change my mind? I've done that and no.

Cheating is cheating. Just because the consistently pathetic organizing body got rolled over by political correctness doesn't mean that me and many other people are not going to recognize obvious cheating when we see it. Some people are shameless in their cheating and lying some people witnessing it essentially become shameless in their attempts to avoid talking controversy or controversial subjects or hurting somebody's feelings. This is the insane Fox news world we live in but I reject it outright.

 @danlovesbikes: This type of cheating isn't brave, it's shameless. Brave would be for transgender former males to either continue competing as males(which some have done successfully), or advocate for a new racing class for transgender former males. But the vast majority of them are not doing that, they are enjoying their new successful professional athletic careers that coincidentally pay a little better. Get lost. Nevermind you are lost in political correctness.

 @ButtermilkBar: cheating is breaking the rules. People may not agree with the rules, but Kate is not breaking any rules and therefore, not cheating.

 @ButtermilkBar: "When anybody goes from mid pack regional pro to World Cup contender in one year just by changing sexes it's obvious cheating."
What's obvious is the tiny size of women's fields. Look at the time gaps. More than one minute back and you're nowhere in the men's race. If there were as many women competing as men, Kate would again be nowhere. In the recent past, we've seen women's races with fields that could be counted on one finger. Could it be that other issues are at play?

 @ButtermilkBar: why do you keep saying former male? You know what you're doing when you use that language. You're pretending that it's not meant offensively but we both know it is. Passive aggression. Dude, it's not the first time you've been wrong, it won't be the last. Just because you think it, doesn't make it right, just because you believe it, doesn't make it true. This isn't about a category for 'former males', it's about you hating a group that makes you uncomfortable.

 @danlovesbikes: it is exactly this. Queeziness, disgust at the thought of the anatomy of it all, fear they'll end up like Begbie in that club in Trainspotting. I long for the day when you can't tell whether or not a woman used to be a man, when people will no longer top themselves because they can't be who they are.
That said, I'm still not sure we can accurately modify enough factors to neutralise all advantages gained from previous development as a physical male. Are the scientists sure? Are they sure enough to allow sports to admit trans athletes into their contests? People aren't using enough question marks, which is a sign of the times, pun intended.

 @BenPea: Yes I agree with your point, the fact that the heart may be larger, larger lungs etc, and that can't necessarily be inhibited by chemicals. That being said, the issue has gained much more mainstream attention and as a result will hopefully get more attention and interest from the clever people so they can figure this stuff out. I think at this stage as long as there isn't a clear and obvious physical advantage (i.e. she doesn't look like Arnie) then I guess it it will just be a matter of balance and judgement.

 @NMK187: Technically breaking no rules just like Trump but shamelessly destroying the credibility of women's sports and careers of life long women who grew up in 100% female women. I only have one question for you.

Would you want to want to watch a women's sports if the top 10 finishers were all transgender former males? Would that be ok since nobody's breaking any rules?

 @ButtermilkBar: How would you define Caster Semenya's situation with IAAF?

 @ButtermilkBar: I was only replying to you calling her a cheater, which is not true.

 Whys that crazy? He doesn't typically place very high.

 Agreed. Bigotry and hatred thrive in the shadows of ignorance.
Many would do well to reread the MLK quote from @DropTheDebt above

 Yeah, I'll have some please.

 @edspratt: Kate Weatherly, I believe

 Terms and conditions? You mean a polite notice to remind people to not say offensive things via their keyboards?

 @danlovesbikes: the funny thing is most of the comments on PB can be interpreted as offensive.........

 Which bike is he riding?

 @Rageingdh: looks like the pivot team was riding the new switchblade

 That's only for EWS innit?