Video: Full Send on an XC Bike

Oct 16, 2018
by Josh Patton  
Views: 17,408    Faves: 18    Comments: 2


High Post Shredding With Jason Blodgett

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Jason and his XC shred sled at Baker's Creek in Knoxville TN

Over the summer Jason spent some time ripping the Knoxville area trails. We caught some of the action, his story, and an up close of the bike. Check it out.

THE STORY

My name is Jason Blodgett, I am 24 years old and I was born and raised in northern Ohio. My childhood hero growing up was Travis Pastrana, I wanted to be like Travis, I wanted to ride dirt bikes, I wanted to push boundaries, I wanted to build ramps in the middle of our country road. My mom had other ideas… She told me a bicycle was the closest I was going to get to being like the 199. Reluctantly, I grabbed the bars and quickly started racing BMX at the age of five and I fell in love with catching air, building ramps, and being free.

bigquotesYour seat post should never have more travel than your forks.
Fast-forward almost two decades, I’ve gotten to race my bike all over the world and see places very few people from northern Ohio have ever seen. I’ve continued to try and push the boundaries on bikes… no, not like Red Bull Rampage or Joyride, but what is possible on an XC bike.

That’s what this project was about, having fun and proving that 100mm travel XC bikes without fancy seat posts are still very capable and much better than the “DH” bikes from the time when I was born. No matter what bike that you have at the moment it should be about having fun. To me, having fun is pushing boundaries- whether that’s seeing how fast you can go uphill, or downhill, or how far can you ride in a summer, or how lost can you get on your local roads. Whatever that may be, just get out and push boundaries.

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Casual flattie with the post fully extended on an XL frame 29er, just another day in the office for Jason Blodgett.

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Details matter, this race machine has a top shelf build that makes world cup bikes look behind.
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A dusty, yet fast bike.


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pattonjosh avatar

Member since Aug 12, 2018
1 articles

140 Comments
  • 138 23
 A bit of roadie complex? 'I'm better than all of you because I make my life harder for no reason.'
  • 29 17
 Way to sound like an ebiker....
  • 7 3
 @enej46 the truest statement ever
  • 12 23
flag tigerteeuwen (Oct 17, 2018 at 10:43) (Below Threshold)
 Let me articulate why you sound like an ebiker to me.

Because everytime I have equated myself to enjoying mountain biking for a similar reason to the following quote I have been equated to having a roadie complex

"seeing how fast you can go uphill, or downhill, or how far can you ride in a summer, or how lost can you get on your local roads. Whatever that may be, just get out and push boundaries."

Thus.. you sound like an ebiker to me...
  • 23 25
 The funniest part is how awkward everything looks because of the jacked up seat. Can't tuck his back wheel properly, cant extend the tricks....colour me baffled.

This guy can probably do the tricks the right way on a bike that's actually suited to the task...yet instead they publish this?
  • 46 6
 @maxwellington:post a vid of you doing better until then shut up
  • 22 1
 @poozank: Pretty much. This guy was styling things far better than most people on pinkbike
  • 5 5
 @poozank: Ok, no opinions on any Rampage related topics for you then... because what you wrote.
  • 37 0
 But this makes sense if for those of us that live in flatter areas. It doesn't pay for us to pedal around big travel bikes for the few times we find flow trails. Instead, we ride the bikes that make sense for the terrain and adapt our riding when we find jumps and such. I think it goes to show you don't need slack angles and dropper posts to shred, you just need to be comfortable and confident on your bike.
  • 7 12
flag mkotowski1 (Oct 17, 2018 at 15:05) (Below Threshold)
 Yah and my bike with a dropper cost 2 grand not 10 k like the “Xc” bike he is riding
  • 4 0
 @pedalbitesucks: Wait... big travel bikes for flow trails?
  • 4 4
 @tigerteeuwen: He has a super lightweight, FULL sus bike with all the bling components possible, but the dropper is somehow fancy. He RIPS, I agree, but that's like a video of Gwin talking shit about all the other racers and dropping in a run with a non-fancy old school 650mm alu handlebar. I love seeing people shred XC bikes, but it's almost like saying Schurter is a pussy for running a dropper is a bit pretentious.
  • 84 2
 works for SRAM wont fit a reverb
  • 34 1
 speaks volumes about the reverb
  • 11 0
 If you have a reverb you have to learn how ride with it stuck up (or down).
  • 2 2
 In the no flow zone haha
  • 54 6
 *medium send on an XC bike
  • 58 16
 I can now see tons of poor buggers who never learned better, can't jump for crap, showing this video as a proof that you can shred hard with the seat up, making it even harder for themselves to attain basic levels of jumping. Natural selection is cruel... but necessary.
[Reply]
  • 29 7
 You are obvious example how nature can be cruel.
  • 11 7
 @Brdjanin: thank goodness winter is coming to Sweden soon for @WAKIdesigns is gonna need some ice for that burn
  • 30 6
 @Brdjanin: Yes, the whole online "community" suffers Post Waki Stress Disorder which can lead to anxiety issues in offspring up to 3 generations ahead.
  • 10 0
 I love the torrent of insecurity from everyone. The rider isn’t saying he’s better than everyone because he can send it on a high post. He’s just ripping. i hope we’re all secure enough to give props where props are due.
  • 1 0
 @DRomy: no,hes better than me -no problem admitting that. the edit could be twice as good if he would not have to avoid that stick coming out of his frame, though.
  • 43 1
 not to detract from his skill or anything but riding a low travel bike on smooth flowy trails isn't that extreme of "pushing boundaries". Show me some steep tech riding and I'll appreciate it more.
  • 15 4
 ive followed him down steeps in santa cruz. pitch didnt seem to affect his ability one bit. still letting it go and sending gaps like he was on the appropriate bike for the terrain
  • 14 13
 @tsampson: that's a stretch. There's no way to go around hip drive. Just because he can balance out his highly placed center of mass in relation to BB doesn't mean it is close to optimal form. He is very good at adapting to drawbacks of saving 300grams. He must be pulling insane Watts thanks to that. Super important on a casual ride. NOT. It falls under the category of cripples climbing everest. Yes you can, yes it is extraordinary, but do your really need to and who benefits from that? That comes from me who believes droppers longer than 150mm are unnecessary.
  • 19 0
 here ya go.... Here's jason ripping DH on a 120mm 29er. Change your mind?
www.instagram.com/p/BmoYVQyh15S/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
  • 7 2
 DUDE SHREDs THE TECH TOO and always had, raced with him in college he's a shredder
  • 33 2
 @WAKIdesigns: It is just a "fun" un-serious video. Jason is also a Pro Enduro racer who just got 4th place at USA National Champs. Not many people out there who are Pro XC/DH/Enduro/4X disciplines and a Cat 1 Road Racer. He obviously is better and faster than 99.9% of everyone on here and knows what a dropper is and does. Lighten up people!
  • 3 0
 @mrmikebikes: That trail was sketchy on my Honzo going way slower.
  • 2 8
flag mtbikeaddict (Oct 17, 2018 at 10:39) (Below Threshold)
 Now, I did like the part about having fun and bikes being more capable than they're often given credit for. I also appreciate the effort to create the video and share it with us (for free) Smile . That said, (easily offended people please stop here)
@philshizle makes a valid point.
Hmmm...
I'm in the PNW, so roots, rocks, etc. are easily at hand in addition to the baby's-butt-smooth dirt. @pinkbikeaudience If I make a video, could I pretty please get on the homepage? Wink Maybe face off against this? Would anyone find this entertaining? no one take this the wrong way ... honest question...absolutely nothing personal, just looking at this objectively...
His bike: My bike:
Trek Top Fuel RSL. 2011 Marin Alpine Trail
Components:
World cup level... CL find level
RS SID RS Dart III
XX1 Alivio/Deore
Level Ultimate. Hayes mech. disks
Full squish Hardtail
OCLV Carbon Aluminum (not exactly light at that)
Kenda Honey Badger. Continental Race King
Etc. Etc. Etc.
XL 29er XXL 29er
Only similarities: No dropper and 100mm fork.

Guys got skills. Am I hating? No. And please don't think that I'm whining. I don't care if I don't get on the homepage or whatever... just merely agreeing with @philshizle that perhaps a more demanding trail would've been more impressive.
  • 1 2
 @mrmikebikes: Ooh, thanks for that clip.
  • 4 0
 @mrmikebikes: That was badass, but he did have a dropped seat post.
  • 2 0
 @mrmikebikes: shit a brick that's quick. Just watched it over and over, hypnotic.
  • 7 0
 I think for a substantial amount of the MTB community, it might actually be news that you can ride flow trails on anything less than a 160 enduro bike.
  • 6 0
 @WAKIdesigns: he certainly could go faster on an appropriate bike. he could probably jump higher, and table/whip harder. what im saying is the dude rips regardless of bike, terrain, or seat height. as do most of the top level xc guys. if this was a video of Nino there would be no negative comments, but this is a video of a dude from ohio. Frankly, his jumps are far better than ninos in my opinion (i know nino is racing when we see that out of him)
  • 2 1
 @tsampson: what, all xc racers aren't dirt roadies?????
  • 33 1
 So many haters, yet he's probably still faster, more stylish and a better rider than 95% of people commentating on this tread.
  • 18 1
 now 96%
  • 7 4
 Who is hating? People are mostly just " why do this? "

Claiming that droppers should never have more travel than your suspension is just weird and wrong för most.
  • 1 0
 @feeblesmith: lol true. I've got legs >3ft, but prefer shortish suspension...
  • 20 1
 Why is everyone on this guy's s&%t? He rides without a dropper because he's got the skills to do so. So what? I don't. So I'll ride with a dropper, and he'll ride with that big ass carbon post. I ain't mad about it. As for the smooth trail -- I'm not hatin' there, either. Show me where it is! Sign me up! I'll bring my dropper.
  • 8 0
 I like your positivity!
  • 20 1
 The guy rips. With no dropper, I'd probably probably have to get new teeth.
  • 18 0
 Jesus, lucky he does not have a dropper or he would get shot down for the slammed stem or non lock on grips, good vidi mate, i enjoyed it.
  • 20 3
 Can someone now make a video about climbing with your seat slammed? Same logic right?
  • 6 0
 Yeah that means your super hard
  • 5 2
 Having the wrong tool for the job is the new cool, didn't you know?
  • 59 46
 dude sounds like a douche
  • 10 7
 Don't hate, relate. Wink
  • 16 11
 @aliikane: not hating one bit, I come from an xc background but to blatantly say i RIP ON an XC is a bit obtuse
  • 15 2
 There's such an infatuation with showing people what you do. Documenting myself bicycling doesn't even appeal to me.
  • 18 1
 I'm not sure about him, but you've left us no doubt.
  • 62 5
 He was my teammate on a local XC race squad. Easily the fastest most humble guy you could ever meet. Rips on road, CX, XC, DH, BMX, anything with two wheels. Funny how people say mean things for no reason, hope it made you feel less jealous.
  • 23 0
 All he said was his name and where he works.
  • 6 9
 Yah I can air out a bike with the seat up too but why would I? Have fun when you actually push it too hard, overshoot something and then snap your carbon seatpost with your ass.
  • 8 0
 @charleskimjr: I don't think what he says is Douchey.... I think it's accurate. Most people couldn't even come close to maneuvering a bike the way Blodgett does in the air with a dropper post let alone without one.
  • 1 0
 Sounds and is are two very different things.
  • 15 0
 I worked with Jason while he was riding for KTM. If there are two things I learned about him, it's that A: He's definitely not a douche, and B: he most certainly rips. The dude is a gentle giant. Don't judge a person's character based on one article on Pinkbike.
  • 9 0
 @xcmarauder: LOL at all the kids thinking they can rip as hard as Blodgett. I am from Indy so I am familiar with how fast he is. Not sure if anyone here knows this but if you can ride this hard with an XC bike, it just means you can shred that much harder on an enduro rig on harder trails.
  • 4 0
 @Kramz: That guy is a sponsored rider and works for SRAM. It is his job to showcase his riding and tools he uses for riding.
  • 13 1
 This is about how much a SRAM employee trusts a Reverb Smile
  • 7 0
 This is sick! Funny thing is I just started wearing lycra again, got rid of my dropper and put on a 100mm stem (inverted at that). I'm having a lot more fun in my flattish trails then on my previous "enduro" builds. I think we tend to get caught up in the hype and end up not riding what is best for our terrain. Just yesterday I was jumping with my high seat post and working on getting my body ahead of the post, just behind the cockpit and then this video comes out! Not having to mess with a dropper or think about whether I have the seat in the correct position rocks. Plus the fact that I don't have to tinker with dropper mechanisms and deal with the extra weight makes this new trip I'm in very good...
  • 9 0
 Pinkbike is full of videos of people riding perfectly groomed flow trails on enduro bikes and the comments aren't full of people saying "now do it on a rough trail".
  • 8 0
 So basically how we used to ride our hardtails without droppers in the nineties, and couldnt be arsed to stop and drop our posts..
  • 7 0
 I remember doing descents with the seat literally tapping me under the chin. No freaking idea how I did that. Oh, and that was in 2012.
  • 5 1
 @skelldify: if you cant rest your chest on your seat going down some steeps, you're doing it wrong Wink
  • 10 2
 OK please don't show how much sweat there is in you'r helmet again. It's almost as bad as showing how swaety your shamoix is.
  • 2 1
 Alpa Cinos Booty Sweat! Pop an ass open!
  • 8 1
 "Dropper posts are fancy." Says guy riding a $5-10k bike with just about every other modern boost-1x-eagle-carbon bell and/or whistle imaginable.

Cool video though!
  • 6 0
 Cool vid, dude can shred on a XC bike. Just goes to show you don't need a big bike with a dropper to have fun. Just go out and ride your bike! It's cool any way you slice it!
  • 16 12
 He doesn't seem to sit down in that video so he could just as well have run his seat low. A low seat isn't any more expensive or fancy than a high seat, it is just lower. Where it would help for the riding he does there would actually be the corners and the rollers. It allows for more range of motion which is what makes such trail features fun and effective (to gain speed).

I would be the last one to say he needs an adjustable seatpost, but if he doesn't like to keep an allen key handy but still would like to raise his saddle from time to time he may like to invest in a quick release type seatpost clamp. The top tube is nice and low. Unfortunately the silly frame design has a very tall seattube with a kink, so it is limited how much he can lower the seat. But it would still help.

Other than the rather upright cornering and rollers, his riding on these groomed trails looks nice and smooth. But he didn't quite get his intended point across. "A 100mm travel XC bike without a fancy dropper post" Sorry this is a top level full suspension XC bike. It should be up to what we see Schurter do at the WC races, so that includes jumps and whips. A dropper post is relatively cheap compared to what this bike has cost. But no need to spend that if you aren't racing and don't mind spending a few seconds lowering that saddle when it is time to hit the fun sections.
  • 52 6
 Dude, how do you write so many words but still manage to say nothing?
  • 24 5
 @slumgullion: Don't worry, you're getting there. You already said nothing, now just add more words.
  • 9 8
 @vinay: what are you babbling on about? Pointless
  • 6 1
 @slumgullion: I upvoted him anyway - for the effort Wink hard work. pointless maybe but hard anyway.
  • 4 2
 You forgot to start with your thesis statement.
  • 6 0
 Reminds me of this quote: „... look, man, I've got certain information, all right? Certain things have come to light. And, you know, has it ever occurred to you, that, instead of, uh, you know, running around, uh, uh, blaming me, you know, given the nature of all this new shit, you know, I-I-I-I... this could be a-a-a-a lot more, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, complex, I mean, it's not just, it might not be just such a simple... uh, you know? ...“
  • 4 0
 Kudos Jason. Fact is that most mtb consumers probably buy far too much bike/too much travel for what they're going to do. Also, I hear far too many people say "an xc bike can't do that" and or "a dropper post is required to ride this" and its mostly bs. Good riders can make XC bikes do a lot of things. But I gotta disagree about fork travel vs post travel: I have a procaliber with rigid fork and a dropper, and routinely hit drops and jumps on it. IT IS A BLAST! When you have ZERO suspension, you need to use your legs hips MORE to serve as suspension... and that's what a dropper enables me to do.
  • 4 0
 Sounds like many on Pinkbike are intimidated by a guy who can shred on a 100mm bike without a dropper. I guess they feel they have to justify their purchase of a 30 pound downhill bike with dropper. Maybe they are just soft and need to HTFU.
  • 6 1
 I'd like to see him 'full send' down something with an actual gradient, and have his seat up.
  • 3 1
 A dropper post's travel is about fit, not style. I run a 175mm drop LEV Ci on my 5010 (130 rear, 140 front). I need the height and I need the saddle out of the way as much as I can when I jump. Sorry I'm not a super stylish XC phenom like this guy.
  • 2 0
 If someone had time travelled and erased from history the invention of the dropper post, we would still all be running quick releases and manually dropping the saddle to do that type of riding. Apart from the odd few with masochistic tendencies.
  • 1 0
 I still do that! Smile
  • 6 0
 Before the start of the video I had a reverb commercial.
  • 5 0
 i imagine this comment section is the exact opposite from whatever the first review of a dropper post was on PB.
  • 2 0
 Good riding and for all the nay sayers the reason you can't wrap your head around the sight of a high post is because you can't ride with one. I'm a highposter myself and now have two one the bench I've taken off of different rides because I just don't like them...go figure.
  • 1 0
 All these salty slo-bros with their big squish bikes.

I live in an area with tons of trails and no elevation so we deal with what we've got by having a huge XC scene. Lately though with modern trail building techniques we've got a new trail with lots of flow jumps rock rolls and skinnies.

I ride with guys on big squish bikes(120-150mm), and clear everything they do while going a ton faster on all of the climbs with my XC Hardtail. I honestly don't see the advantage of the big bikes until the terrain gets super chunky and steep. However, for modern smoothed out machine cut flow an XC hardtail is likely faster, especially if the trial ever turns upward.
  • 5 0
 Most bmx tracks are rougher than this.
  • 16 13
 Where you riding? Perfect little whoopdy loos for my 3year old and her balance bike
  • 4 6
 Devils race track.I highly doubt you want to bring your 3 year old there.
  • 2 0
 "Casual flattie with the post fully extended on an XL frame 29er, just another day in the office for Jason Blodgett."
Really?
  • 5 3
 Of course an XC bike is better than a DH bike when you live in flat Ohio...Not saying xc bikes aren't fun and all, but they are two very different machines
  • 5 0
 Nice skills!
  • 2 0
 Aight wow, not hard riding at all, could put that bike through some much nastier situations and bigger jumps if your gonna say how capable that bike is
  • 4 1
 Good riding, Jason! Proves you can have fun on any bike (type, age, make, etc).
  • 5 4
 Proves a 10 000$ xc bike lets you ride a smooth trail... Yep
  • 3 0
 seat looked like it got in the way on every clip
  • 3 0
 Mountain biking with no mountains
  • 2 1
 glad to see that even people working at SRAM havn't found a way to route the cable better to the rear shock on the top fuel frame...
  • 4 1
 What an animal! Nice riding brother.
  • 3 0
 Looks like it would be more fun with a dropper.
#downcountrythatshit
  • 3 1
 A trail with no rocks! I've yet to find one of those. 0mm suspension would be the best in that case.
  • 5 3
 Just think how much more rad he could be with a water bottle and dropper!
  • 23 1
 my mate randy would use a dropper
  • 5 2
 Why no lycra?
  • 13 12
 Why? ain't steezy when you try to whip or manual with a high stick up yo nutz. Nino's whip is not a whip; neither is this.
  • 6 4
 Nobody looks good with a stick up their a**
  • 16 8
 An ounce of style when you're leading World Cup XCO's is worth more than any freebro whip.
  • 3 1
 @jclnv: You made me question why I like mountain biking. What happened was I got older, and tried to road bicycle, and found it A-B-oring, so went back to mountain biking. It doesn't matter to me how far away from the house I go, and come back.
  • 5 1
 another example for just because you can it does not mean you should. if you have the choice this is plain stupid. i understand racers if they try to save grams and get along just fine without a dropper . but for everyone else its just adding a handicap and killig fun. meh
  • 1 0
 @EliasFritzen: hard to disagree without being too explicit
  • 2 1
 Dude, get a dropper on that thing, it'll still be an XC bike, just way better to send.
  • 2 0
 Thia guy must have a pike dj on front lol
  • 3 5
 "Details matter, this race machine has a top shelf build that makes world cup bikes look behind."

Soooo... you're riding XC top shelf bike but you're constantly last behind everyone riding XC ever bike?

Also, what's up with baggy clothes on XC race bike? You go for fast low bike with low rolling resistance tires and aero position and then dress up in a parachute that negates the advantages of XC bike.
  • 2 0
 Worlds most uncomfortable backrest
  • 5 6
 No name guy being all cocky about “ripping” flow trails on his xc bike? why is this on the front page?
if the point was to show that you can shred on an xc bike, Nino has already proved that plenty.
  • 3 1
 People smash squamish trails on Cromag hard tails.
  • 3 1
 Full XC maybe, full send?..... hardly.
  • 2 0
 So this is the guy your girlfriend told you not to worry about.
  • 2 0
 Cant really remember what is a fixed seatpost?
  • 3 1
 S/O Indianapolis, Indiana baby!!!
  • 1 1
 So basically we're allowed to ride XC bikes the same as DH bikes?! Wow I would never have guessed I was allowed but now I feel better.
  • 6 7
 He obviously has good skills but it makes you wonder how hard it can be to lower your seat or better yet buy a proper mountain bike, not a glorified road bike.
  • 1 0
 According to pinkbike you're not allowed to have fun on an xc bike lol
  • 1 0
 thanks pinkbike.... i now know that i truly suck at riding bikes!
  • 1 0
 My buddy Noah rides like this.
  • 2 1
 How to get a strava KOM at your local bike park
  • 1 0
 Now, who needs a dropper post? lol...
  • 2 1
 that seatpost gives me the willies.. nice shredding nonetheless!
  • 2 0
 Goodbye warranty
  • 3 1
 That was pretty badass
  • 1 0
 More stylish than me with my seat down. Respect.
  • 1 0
 Full send on a full squish. Do it again on a hard tail! Smile
  • 1 0
 Brave..
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