Pinkbike Poll: Would You Rather... Make Your Choices for 2019

Feb 22, 2019
by Richard Cunningham  
Brandon Semenuk in his 1 shot segment for unReal movie in Cambria California USA 2015 Anthill Films
photo
Wake up and be able to ride like Brandon Semenuk or Aaron Gwin?


Tomorrow morning, would you rather wake up to either a new bike or to new trails? We've prepared a fresh round of either/or polls to help you get out of the doldrums of winter and into the spirit of the upcoming riding season. But, choose wisely. My Old-World grandmother warned me to be careful with what I wished for in winter, because if it did come true, I would be stuck with my choice for the rest of the year.

Win the DH World Championships or Red Bull Rampage?


Wake up to a brand new bike or all new home trails?


Your three favorite trails, completely buffed out, or one new trail just finished?


Podium at World Cup DH or a clean run down Brett Rheeder's 2018 Rampage line?


Good paying job and a steel hardtail, or a low paying job and a the bike of your dreams?


Always be fit enough to self-shuttle, or never be fit enough and ride an e-bike?


Be able to corner like Bryn Atkinson, or wheelie like Wyn Masters?


Ride anytime you want, or one perfect ride per week?


28-pound trail bike that descends well, or a 33-pound trail bike that crushes the downs?


Always KOM and ride familiar trails, or never KOM and a different trail every ride?



photo
Pole Machine review
Have new-school skills and an old school bike, or old-school skills and a new-school bike?

Your YouTube shredit is popular or your Instagram video goes viral?


You are offered a better bike or a top skills coach...?


Win the FMB series overall, or rule the FEST series?


Crappy weather and perfect skills or perfect weather and average skills?


Wake up and be able to ride like either Brandon Semenuk or Aaron Gwin?


Same bike all year, or a different bike every month?


Full sponsorship offer on a bad bike, or pay your own way on the free bike of your choice?


Average dirt and perfect tires. or perfect dirt and average tires?


If nobody ever knew: Cut the course or take drugs and win the World Championships?


Podium at World Cup XC races or barely qualify at World Cup DH races?


KOM on your most popular trail or PB comment of the day?


Never crash and be good, or always crash and be great?



Biggest single trick of the event goes to Jordie Lunn and his huge cork 7.
Well no one expected that from Van Steenbergen even if he is a wildman. Best trick for TVS.
If you had to: FEST or Rampage?

Good paying job in the bike industry or racing sponsorship deal?


Lose your rear brake on a high speed downhill, or front tire blow-out?


Wake up and discover you are Mike Levy or Mike Kazimer?


Have old-school riding skills, but own a new-school trail bike or have new school skills and ride an old school trail bike?


Wake up and be the master of corners or the master of jumps?


Cross country in a DH Kit or DH in a cross-country kit?


If you had to ride it: FEST line or Rampage line?


The smartest or the fastest rider in the world?




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295 Comments
  • 320 2
 Who are these people that would rather have a front flat than no rear brake!? Explain yourselves.
  • 20 1
 @freestyIAM Right?! Flintstone that sucker if you have too!
  • 10 99
flag BenPea (Feb 22, 2019 at 12:46) (Below Threshold)
 No rear brake = no steering.
  • 18 0
 @Nagrom77: YABA DABA DOOOOOOOOO my fellow shredders!
  • 45 5
 I've gotten plenty of flats while riding DH, and it's never caused a crash. I've never lost a rear brake, but that seems it could be quite scary.
  • 25 0
 No kiddin'....eff the brakes. Rubbers save lives.
  • 33 4
 @BenPea: Front flat = OTB
  • 3 4
 I said it first, but you said it best. Wink Salute
  • 62 1
 Having had both situations happen (front tire literally blew off with a sound like a shotgun, and brake went all the way to the bar on a fast strep downhill), is take the brake failure any day. Judicious use of the front and good use of terrain will stop you gently. There was no coming back from that front tire blow out.
  • 10 26
flag BenPea (Feb 22, 2019 at 12:56) (Below Threshold)
 @dthomp325: It is. Front flat, you can always put the rear anchors on.
Plus front tyres deflate less fast because the hole's generally not as big, so more time to get stationary.
Tbh, none of this is provable without some Levy v. Kaz action.
  • 9 20
flag lolodialsbikes FL (Feb 22, 2019 at 12:56) (Below Threshold)
 A front flat can be repaired, a rear brake that fails leads to a certain crash when you lock-up the front break and you are bound to return home at half-speed. I've had both, I prefer the blow-out.
  • 8 0
 @dthomp325: Last front flat I had was off a drop into rocks resulting in a sidewall tear and an unplanned headstand. Never touched the rear brake...
  • 1 11
flag BenPea (Feb 22, 2019 at 13:05) (Below Threshold)
 @millsr4: In what universe?
  • 29 1
 No time to think. Front tire goes, no chance of recovery. You hit the ground almost the instant things go wrong.

Lose the rear brake..... That's a lot of time to think as you're headed straight into a tree. I'd rather my crashes come out of nowhere, less scary that way. Not a huge fan of the "I'm about to die" feeling
  • 7 1
 @BenPea: in the question is "high speed downhill"...
and front flat in a tenth of a second... really scary experience! rather lost rear brake, than lost life
  • 15 1
 @BenPea: This one... what universe are you riding in?! Your steering comes mostly from your front wheel not the back and contrary to that braking is done mostly from the front rather than the back... You are talking about a front tire leak, the question said front tire blow out. If a front tire blows out there is no recovering...
  • 5 0
 @kevinseven: I agree with you, if a crash is a certainty. But, I've lost my rear brake (on chutes and ladders at Angel fire) and you can slow down plenty fine using just a front brake. Just don't panic, keep riding the trail and bring it to a stop. When I blew off my front tire I was in the ground before I even knew what happened.
  • 4 0
 Wyn Masters has a couple of PB accounts?
  • 8 1
 @BenPea: no front tire = crash
  • 1 3
 @pcmxa: funny, I had both too (not same time!). Loosing the brake on fading, you can anticipate. But loosing the brake otherwise is really scary. To realize you have no rear brake in the moment when you need it is scary! As for the tire, usually, you have more time to adapt to the situation. And it's only the front tire, you should use your wyn-wheelie skill Smile
  • 3 2
 One time I crashed and bent my rear rotor. Decided to remove the rear rotor and finish the descent with the front brake only. That was scary as hell! And I didn’t do everything on the bike, had to walk down some sections.
I’ll take the front flat anytime
  • 1 4
 I've run out of logical arguments. The best one I've seen is hit the ground vs. hit a tree. This is all based on the one time I tried a 500 m descent with no rear pads. The steep bits were horrid. But I still want to see a test under controlled conditions.
  • 4 1
 @BenPea: I had my rear brake pads fall out (... forgot the pin... stop judging me) and was surprised that i was still able to keep riding at idk 80% normal pace. I've never be able to successfully keep riding with a flat front. Might be different if you are bombing down a steep DH run, but even there idk the front flat still seems scarier to me.
  • 7 0
 I bottomed my fork and burped my front tire at Steamboat a couple of years ago. Took a loooooong flight before bellyflopping hard and busting a rib. A blown front tire on the down is a guaranteed trip to the pain cave. At least with a brake failure you can steer and have a chance to ditch the bike in a controlled manner. Maybe on a giggle trail a front flat wouldn't have consequences, but on any kind of steep descent get the camera out for a Friday Fail reel!!
  • 1 2
 @freestyIAM: a dusty trail doesnt have to be very steep to be very scary without a rear brake! You can barely brake without locking the front wheel. And it gets very difficult to control both your speed and your steering!
With a front flat you still have some traction and braking power from both wheels. Smile
  • 9 0
 I’ve done whole rides without a back brake, it’s far better than riding with a front flat
  • 2 0
 @Minikeum: you need to move your weight forward.. 70% of your braking comes from the front.
  • 2 0
 I am usually manually through everything on my back tire. So need rear brake don't need front tire.
  • 1 0
 Because of a traumatic experience i have with brakes failing
  • 4 1
 Ill take the brake gone before front flat. Ive done that at the local bp. Lost both caliper mounting bolts somewhow. Only an hour left in the park being open. Ziptied the caliper to the seatstay out of the way rode the rest of the day with only the front brake. Big front flat blow out is o.t.b, squirly minimum.
  • 1 1
 I lost my rear brake once for a few seconds which ended in hitting my head on a tree stump a few meters down the trail.
  • 7 0
 This is something that is wrong with the whole quiz, but with this question in particular their is a huge difference between a blow-out and a flat. A blue out is a sudden and total loss of pressure, usually coupled with the tire leaving the rim. A flat is a slower phenomena where the air leaks out over a few seconds or longer and the tire stays on the rim. For the same location... For flat vs no rear brakes. I'd take the flat every time. For blow out vs no rear brakes I'd take the no rear brakes. But that's part of the problem. They switched pretty important terms between question and answer.
  • 4 0
 @pcmxa: I think you hit the nail on the head... people who think "flat" say the brake is worse and people who think "blow out" think that would be worse... I guess both camps are correct at this point. I didn't realize they had phrased it both ways, I've been thinking blow out this whole time personally.
  • 1 0
 @millsr4: problem is most "blow out" examples in this thread seem to be a result of hitting a rock or other obstacle at high speed, so hard to tell if the crash is a result of the blow out or if they would have crashed anyway.

Personally I've gotten many flat front tires riding and racing DH, and none of them have resulted in a crash. Flat tires can also be quickly repaired, while whatever causes a brake to suddenly fail probably means you're done for the rest of the day.
  • 3 0
 @dthomp325: my blow out was on a dirt corner. No impact. Just too much pressure on the turn for that the rim combo. It literally sounded like a shotgun going off and then I was riding on the front rim (for the quarter second it took that to slide out). Absolutely no chance at all to save it. I agree it is more common for people to have a catastrophic failure hitting something and your right that that could cause the crash too, but blow outs happen and is take a rear break failure any day.
  • 1 0
 Lost my rear brake (thanks, Shimano) at keystone last year and shattered a finger in the ensuing yardsale.

I still picked the brake option, cause I can't imagine it would have been any better with a front blowout.
  • 1 0
 @dthomp325: were you ever in the air before those flats? Bc exploding on touch down is not fun.
  • 3 0
 They are hikers with mountain bikes.
  • 2 1
 Flat is easier to fix
  • 1 0
 @kevinseven: this, my thoughtsn too.
  • 1 0
 I was shocked by those numbers too
  • 1 0
 @powderhoundbrr: this is the only realistic answer to preferring a front flat I’ve seen!

I’m not sure if most are jokers or terrible riders, but the comments don’t give me hope. #skillsclinic
  • 1 0
 I lost my rear brake and had a front flat tyre on the same ride, I shit you not. Both are scary as hell, but not having a rear brake is slightly more bearable than face planting full speed
  • 1 0
 @BenPea:
@BenPea:
When's the last time you tried to steer with a blown front tire?
Obviously you never have
You can use the front brake to slow down, and throw the bike sideways to scrub speed and turn
  • 2 0
 @ghost-shifter: When I hear the term blow out, I think catastrophic instant loss of pressure in the front tire. Think of an explosion not a hiss. Usually the tire blows completely off the wheel. So no time to react and you are literally riding a on your rim for traction. That doesn't last long at all. When it happened to me. It was a shotgun like BOOM followed by me hitting the dirt. No time to react and I only understood what happened on retrospect. When my rear brake went to the bars, I was on the top of a platform rolling into a 50-60 foot 30to 40 degree slope that had a hard left wall ride at the end of it. Definitely an Oh-Sh*T moment. but, luckily, that section of track was built to keep your speed up and I could use the front brake to essentially bail me out of it. There are lot's of other places where the outcome would have been a bit different, like on a gnarly rooty section I ride regularly, where you have to roll through a shoot with some speed then get on the brakes hard to not essentially send a 40 foot drop. the back going out there would be catastrophic. But given a choice between the two, I'll take the back going out most of the time, just cause I have a front and other ways to adjust the situation. My experience with front wheel blow outs (not flats) is that's is it. your done.
  • 1 0
 @dthomp325: I've had an old 2.7 Nevegal blow off a front wheel because the bead had worn/ripped. Wouldn't even hold a tube afterwards.. Oh, yeah. Hit the slick rock pretty good that day.
Drifting/powerslide slows you down! No rear brake F.T.W!
  • 1 0
 I had my rear brake fail at killington last year in the middle of the jump trail. Thankfully I was able to take it easy the rest of the way down. If it was a blown front tire, I probably would have gone over the handlebar.
  • 1 0
 dont fret: the solution is built into the conviction Wink
  • 1 0
 @pcmxa: I once ripped the front brake off in a race run and FECK ME! that was scary!!!
  • 1 0
 @Bozman-69: I once borrowed my buddy's bike and the front brake was shot... uncomfortable... Eek
  • 1 0
 I think the answers were not clear as to which one was loosing the back brake or front blow out. There were a few questions like that.
  • 1 0
 @BenPea: the 5th dimension where space cowboys are stalking you for a crime you committed in another dimension you have no idea of
  • 2 0
 Have a wife with human upperbody and fish lowerbody Or fish upperbody and human lowerbody
  • 1 0
 People choosing front flat are probably thinking slow leak. Anyone that has had a tire come off the rim before they can even stop knows it is way worse.
  • 1 0
 @arphia: This, it's all about context. Everyone's right. Yey!
@lehott: an army of Jamiroquais? Yeesh...
  • 1 0
 A front flat wont kill you. You hear it happen. You wont find out about no brakes until you need them. I have been in both situations and I can remember the time I got a front flat, I cant remember the time I lost my brakes.
  • 1 0
 My brakes are such sh!t that I lose the rear all the time and now expect it not to be there for me. Reminds me I should go bleed the brakes before today's ride.
  • 2 0
 Ask Cedric Gracia about rear brake failure in dh!!
  • 1 0
 @Clem-mk: case closed
  • 1 0
 @pcmxa: According to experts and coaches. We should be using the front most of the time anyway. I have never been able to completely wrap my head around this skill. And....I'm slow. So figure the into my response too.
  • 2 0
 @Nagrom77: or just use your front brake, which makes up 80% of your braking
  • 1 0
 @conoat: Agreed 100%. To clarify, I'd prefer losing the brake than having a blown out front tire. Sure recipe for a dirt sandwich! Smile
  • 136 0
 I already got a low paying job and a steel hardtail... win win I guess.
  • 12 24
flag tremeer023 FL (Feb 22, 2019 at 13:58) (Below Threshold)
 I've got a relatively well paid job and my only bike is a hardtail out of choice.
  • 19 3
 A good paying job + steel hardtail + Enve stem is where you administer a sociopath test...
  • 3 1
 @WAKIdesigns: thanks Waki. Not sure riding a hardtail makes me a sociopath.
Apologies if my comment caused any offence.
  • 6 1
 @tremeer023: do you have Enve stem?
  • 3 0
 What makes sense in Southampton doesn't necessarily make sense in Schladming.
  • 2 0
 @BenPea: absolutely, horses for courses - salary is irrelevant.
  • 1 1
 @WAKIdesigns: nope.
  • 4 1
 @tremeer023: so why do you get upset at my comment?
  • 2 1
 @WAKIdesigns: fair enough. Although i think the implication was there.
  • 119 1
 Would you rather ride a bike sized duck or a duck sized bike?
  • 36 0
 Duck!
  • 5 0
 Duck!...
  • 4 7
 get your duck sick
  • 4 4
 Duck as fuck
  • 23 0
 @Macdo159: Goose!
  • 4 1
 You ever tried to saddle a giant duck?!
  • 2 1
 Quack Quack, me & this duck bout to f shit up!
  • 1 0
 Duck, Duck, Goose.
  • 1 2
 @audric: I got my sick duck awove as fvck
  • 1 0
 Now we are talking! Asking the hard hitting questions PB is afraid to!
  • 53 3
 Your three favorite trails, completely buffed out? I don't get the dumbing down of trails to make them flow trails. That is what suspension and skills are for. Keep the trails raw and technical.
  • 26 0
 Buff doesn't have to mean paved. Imagine if someone took a rototiller to all the turns and brought back the loam! Moto track style.
  • 2 6
flag NotNamed (Feb 22, 2019 at 13:14) (Below Threshold)
 Nah man...without custom tuned Suspension I these raw trails are hard on my hands
  • 32 0
 I took it as "fix the takeoffs and landings for jumps, fix trail damage, etc." not like remove features but restore them to what they originally were like.
  • 3 0
 @jefe: but if they are your favorite trails already, then they are probably already pretty sweet. nothing beats riding a new line for the first time
  • 5 0
 I guess I was thinking nice berms without braking bumps, not rocks removed. I don't want sanitized trails, but I can only pray for a day in the bike park without brake bumps.
  • 3 1
 @JakinM: coming from dh racing past, i enjoy riding the same trails/sections over and over again, perfecting it everytime. Riding an unknown trail, i’m too scared and focused on what is coming up instead of the actual riding and fun part.
  • 1 0
 I though they meant all the graffiti gone over with industrial gray by city workers - that's the Buff.
  • 1 0
 @jefe: I live near Santa Cruz. Several trails that were rocky and technical were buffed to be smooth wide flow trails or fire roads with cheese grader gravel.
  • 1 3
 Dumbing down trails is a form of “erosion” and it happens to every trail on Earth. A kind of entropy. A 100% natural
Process.
  • 3 1
 @WAKIdesigns: just like climate change?
  • 1 2
 @BenPea: yes. It would not be normal for organisms like humans not to warm it up. Free will does not exist. Cold death of the universe is inevitable. Holly Michaels is amazing,
  • 3 0
 @WAKIdesigns: you had me at "organisms like humans" and lost me at Michaels.
  • 1 1
 @BenPea: I wanted to bring you back on Earth before you wanted to bring up vacum decay
  • 1 0
 @WAKIdesigns: I'm all about the polarity reversal.
  • 48 0
 If you had to, Rampage or Fest question legit scared me when I started to think about it. I looked around to make sure no one was watching me answer and holding me to it.
  • 21 0
 You can't creep and weep your way over a fest jump.
  • 27 2
 @BenPea: I'd rather huck and pray over a fest jump than a rampage drop, though.
  • 23 2
 I figured I'd likely die either way. Might as well die in beautiful Virgin, Utah!
  • 20 1
 @Joelsepheklof: I answered rampage but the thought of dying in Utah makes me wanna change my answer.
  • 18 1
 @JakinM: myeah... It's the difference between being shot out of a cannon and flung out of a top window.
  • 8 0
 At least with rampage all the speed you'll get comes from the fall, at fest you're already going fast enough to kill yourself before you even hit the jumps
  • 1 1
 What is going on with the comment system
  • 6 1
 @drunknride: The Mormons will get your soul wherever you die.....
  • 5 0
 Having seen Rampage in person, trust me, Fest series is the less deadly option. You can die on a Rampage run before you even hit a drop or jump (by veering even slightly off course and falling off a cliff). At least with Fest you know you will make it to the takeoff of a jump.
  • 3 0
 @Andrew9696: My exact same reasoning. I chose Fest. Would rather have nicely sculpted jump lines, even if they are massive, then falling off of cliffs, riding down those rocks, and still dealing with massive sketchy jumps/drops
  • 39 1
 So the people who answered "batteries for the win" in the e-bike question are going to have their pinkbike account revoked right?
  • 38 2
 Would you rather comment on Pinkbike or go out and ride your bike...
  • 10 0
 Waki
  • 6 32
flag Flowcheckers (Feb 22, 2019 at 16:05) (Below Threshold)
 This has got to be the dumbest poll ever in mountain biking. Shallow questions for weak egos, clouded with empty materialism. RC has no shame.
  • 27 0
 @Flowcheckers: Ouch!
  • 1 0
 Ride, even if injured.
  • 33 8
 whoever chose being a hack and having an awesome bike over being awesome and having an old bike your riding bikes for the wrong reasons.
  • 7 2
 I did not even get most of the questions, I never really felt like I liked the question or the answer Big Grin That 33 pounder was a mind-twister though, my DJ bike is 30 pounds.
  • 7 1
 Not so sure. I'm an old-school rider (been starting in 1991) and still learning how to ride "new school" style.
  • 15 1
 nope, old school can still be pretty steezy as well. Old school doen't mean bad
  • 8 5
 You know these surveys are bullshit when a majority choose a new bike rather than a full sponsorship but on the next two questions choose the better conditions rather than better gear... At least it shows a majority of people on PB are gapers who don't realize when they contradict themselves.
  • 7 0
 15 clicks per unique visitor, combined with the 10-15mins spent on the site to read everything. Well played PB dev team. Must be a slow news day.
  • 6 1
 you're totally wrong, buddy, some people really love to buy or build a perfect bikes and it's their's choice, so what's wrong with this?
At least that kind of people bring money to our industry...
  • 3 1
 @scott-townes: Better skills on current bike is better than New bike is better than crappy bike I'm forced to ride. It's really not that complicated.
  • 10 0
 Tippie and the boys did some pretty amazing stuff back in the day with their "old school skills". I wouldn't exactly call them hacks. Go back and give them a long slack bike and I'm sure they would have progressed even faster.
  • 1 0
 @NYShred: It's currently snowing a heap in Squamish, so not much riding anyway.
  • 4 0
 @cool3: yep I’m an old hack with a sweet new Slash... kinda had to click that one, I’ve enjoyed the journey here and hope to keep hacking it up while I can.
  • 3 1
 @ZappBrannigan: "Better skills on current bike is better than New bike is better than crappy bike I'm forced to ride"

LOL wtf did you just write?
  • 3 2
 @scott-townes: You complained about people contradicting themselves, then cited several of the questions as if they were mutually exclusive. I was pointing out that it's quite easy to see a logical priority of desires if you took the time.
  • 2 3
 @ZappBrannigan: Or you're just posting nonsense.
  • 8 1
 I answered that one but I don’t inderstand why old-school skills (steep, slow, control, experience) make me a hack? I don’t win races but I sure as sureness don’t feel like a hack.
  • 3 0
 @Honda750: Love your handle. Pretty "old school" too... Smile
  • 3 0
 @cool3: I'm still undecided if new school geometry is any better. Old school bikes make you lean back to keep from going otb, while new school bikes make you lean forward to keep the front tire from washing out. Seems like trading one problem for another.
  • 3 0
 @dthomp325: In the really steep n' deep there is a bit more of a safety margin with the new geo, I think.
  • 6 0
 @cool3: I thought new school is letting most of the air out the tyres an hitting the same turn 200 times to fil insta cutties Big Grin
  • 1 0
 @scott-townes: I chose a new bike because I really don't want the constraints of sponsorship like, you can travel an compete the world cup but you have to lie about how awesome is a bike you hate
  • 1 0
 @dthomp325: Trance 29 seems kinda middle school, except for the old STA. Hopefully forward STA/weight rotation on yr beta Smash will mean you don't have to lean. Should present quite the contrast to Wreck.
  • 27 2
 Avg. PBer - I would rather win a DH World Cup than Rampage. I would alao rather be Semenuk than Gwin.
  • 30 1
 I was one of those: i think that the DH World Cup is a cooler accomplishment and it would be awesome to feel like you're the fastest guy in the world at that moment.

But if I'm just going out and riding, it would be pretty amazing to be able to do it like Semenuk. Obviously, it would be amazing to be able to ride like Gwin too, but Semenuk's riding just seems like such a blast.
  • 4 6
 @MarcusBrody: You ain't winning a World Cup if you're Semenuk!
  • 12 2
 @Rubberelli: you did realize that each question is separate? It doesn’t have to line up...
  • 1 0
 The question was the DH World Championships vs a Rampage title.
  • 2 1
 @mate1998: I do realize there is no right and wrong answer. I also realize that people are wanting to be a DH race champ over a freeride champ, but when presented with a choice between an actual DH champ and a freeride champ, they choose the freeride champ. Pretty damn funny and probably the reason that most amatuer freeriders buy DH race bikes, not freeride bikes!
  • 2 2
 Would you rather be Jesus (Gwin) or GOD (Semenuck)
  • 3 0
 @Rubberelli: Don't underestimate the bloke, he's blown my mind on multiple occasions!
  • 1 1
 @Grealdo: who am I underestimating - the average PBer? Im making no judgement on the two individuals. I'm merely pointing out two answers running completely counter to each other. I would bet they could have added a 3rd option in the survey and winning an EWS chaionship would have come in third, behind Rampage, yet being Sam Hill probably would have exceeded the votes for Semenuk.
  • 3 0
 @Rubberelli: but if you combine the two, you're popping oppo flat 3's on your winning WC race run.
  • 1 0
 I only race and follow XC, so I didn't know any of those people. I just chose randomly. I would like to wake up and be Nino!!!!
  • 1 0
 @xHAMMERx:

Sorry that there is no website for XC junkies but PB is trying to accommodate even your ilk going forward. I’ll be following the women’s XCO bc it not as boring as the Nino show.
  • 20 0
 Old school skills on a new school bike is how I am now...
  • 15 0
 Great questions would love to see someone XCing in a full DH kit. (Oh wait I rode at Swinley once...)
Corners over wheelies anyday but jumps or turns was the one I had to think about most.
  • 2 0
 #bikeparkswinley for life
  • 1 0
 so comically true, Swinley
  • 18 1
 Being the smartest is really overrated. Trust me on this one.
  • 5 0
 I was a little confused by this one assuming that they meant a smart rider. What's the advantage of being smart if not going fast? If i'm the fastest, I must be pretty good at line choice.

Now if I'm the smartest person in the world who rides mountain bikes, I guess that would make me pretty smart which would help me outside of riding, but I'm not sure that's what they meant.
  • 1 0
 well said
  • 9 0
 @MarcusBrody: well you completed the entire poll so you're obviously not the smartest
  • 4 0
 @MarcusBrody: if you're the smartest you'll figure out a way to be fastest.
  • 18 2
 I spy 80 trolls who picked "Give me the front tire blowout" Razz
  • 2 1
 fix my flat in minutes and back to the ride
  • 3 0
 @mikeSC: I can ride fine w/o a rear brake... losing the front makes me uncomfortable... on the other hand, riding down the trail and my front wheel goes... Eek just look how Minnaar broke his arm, for example.
  • 7 0
 I interpreted it as: While you're going mach3 down the hill....Front tire blows out OR lose the rear brake.
  • 1 4
 @loopie: that's how I read it too. the tire is obviously a quicker fix
  • 2 0
 @JakinM: I’m not thinking you two interpreted it the same. Loopie I read it like you. To me it seemed like “which would you rather have happen when you’re going Mach chicken on a trail.” Front tire blowout just seems so much harder to save.
  • 16 1
 33 lb trail bike that crushes the descents? That'd be even better than the 34lb+ one I currently have.
  • 11 0
 One simple phrase that covers half of these questions: "whips for show, corners for dough"

-Ghandi
  • 11 1
 Bike sized duck mate
  • 10 0
 Levy vs Kaz… lol
  • 57 0
 I picked me.
  • 7 0
 @mikekazimer: Me too.
  • 2 0
 @mikekazimer: Who did RC pick ?
  • 1 0
 @mikekazimer: Who do you think Levy picked? Wink
  • 2 0
 @mtbikeaddict: awkward
  • 1 0
 I have no business answering most of these at my skill level but I definitely ducked out of this one. I got chills with either answer...
  • 6 0
 The real question is, would you rather have a front blowout on a rampage line, riding an old bike with fresh tires – or loose your rear brake riding a Fest line after receiving skills coaching from Mike.
  • 5 0
 I'll take new school skills and an old school bike. Why? Because all I can afford is a 2005 Cannondale Prophet. Nothing even close to stock on it though. Skills include slow mo endos, cornering like a dump truck, climbing like a wheezy goat, and fun in a flying meat wagon. Where do I sign?
  • 9 1
 Squamish trails too wet today?
  • 1 0
 Snow bro... at least in Vancouver. It doesn't hold me back. Just killing time at work between 2 rides.
  • 8 1
 Waking up as Kazimer or Levy would be decided by who I'd be waking up beside.
  • 8 0
 "dream bike" or "dream health care" would have been a good one.
  • 7 0
 * clears throat
  • 6 0
 I think you should have really polarized the commentariat: Would you rather your bike have A. Room for a water bottle B. A threaded bottom bracket.
  • 1 0
 Threaded bb, you don’t have to fit a cage
  • 3 0
 Lost my rear break at high speed once. Still had a few seconds to think, which is a lot of time in DH mode, and managed to pull off a decent save. But when my front tire blew out after a huck to flat, I was in a world of pain.
  • 4 0
 Be a pioneer in the sport building with steel tubes, or a johnny-come-lately reinventing the same stuff of 30 years ago in carbon?
  • 3 0
 What Starling Vs Hope?
  • 1 0
 @chainspotting: its still win-win... Smile
  • 4 2
 "Podium at World Cup XC races or barely qualify at World Cup DH races?" The answers to this question have just perfectly quantified what has become the average Pinkbiker (it should never be that close) #makepinkbikegreatagain
  • 4 0
 We need to build a wall between the true Pinkbikers and the people that are coming and stealing all the space for quality content. If we make a new site for downcountry and ebikes Pinkbike will be great again. #makepinkbikegreatagain
  • 4 0
 My dream is a Rampage run. Just once in my life. It will never happen as I'm too old and not skilled but Rampage run is just pure perfection
  • 2 0
 I already corner like Bryn and wheelie like Wyn. I’ll send it down Rheeder’s Rampage line anytime. I do it on my steel hardtail so that I can leave the venue styling in my MacLaren. Shredding like Aaron and Brandon every night and then I wake up! Steel hardtail is still there in the garage but the MacLaren is conspicuously absent.... ????
  • 5 0
 "Would you rather win..." YES
  • 5 0
 Damn you Pinkbike!!!!!! I'm supposed to be working!!!
  • 4 0
 You ARE working - for Pinkbike! Weclome aboard! The break room is down the hall on the left.
  • 3 0
 Would you rather have two bed bugs in your bed every night or three mosquitoes follow you around all day for the rest of your life?
  • 2 0
 mosquitoes
  • 2 0
 @JakinM: You can't run from the mosquitoes on no sleep.
  • 6 0
 Bed bugs, I would just sleep on the couch????
  • 1 0
 Mosquitoes. They would just land on my arm and get caught in the hair.
  • 3 0
 Wake up to a brand new bike or all new home trails?

I'd like to see a brand new bike worth all of the work put into home trails...
  • 4 0
 Front tire blowout on a steep dh????
  • 5 1
 Would you rather be;
Chuck Norris or
Brett Tippie
  • 10 0
 Tippie
  • 9 0
 Chuck Norris shaved once. He was Brett Tippee for 3 hours.
  • 6 4
 I didn't answer the drug or cheat line - just no good either way - no matter if no one sees - you know! And what is KOM? Am I that old?
  • 5 3
 I agree about the drug or cheat one. and KOM is king of the mountain (fastest time on a certain segment), but I didn't answer those either because strava is for the dogs
  • 2 1
 This!
  • 4 0
 Would you rather ride an ebike or a trike
  • 8 0
 Trike...no braino
  • 3 0
 @Moremilesplease: same
  • 3 0
 What would you rather take anally before your ride? A handful of mushrooms or a buttshot of vodka?
  • 4 0
 Or or and?
  • 1 0
 I'd rather have a handful of anything over a buttshot of anything...
  • 4 0
 Insta or YouTube famous? What a world we live in
  • 1 0
 Interesting everyone said "never KOM and a different trail every ride" up top...

But then down further ppl wanted the COM over the COD??


This is either Fake News or Voter Fraud....??? Smile
  • 4 0
 It’s cause it works like this:
New trails > Kom > Cod. You can not care about one thing and not care even less about another thing.
  • 1 0
 My biggest crash was because of a front flat, when you actually realize that your front tire is flat, it's already tangled up in the fork and you're already flying in the air.
  • 3 0
 Only be able to watch Jean Claude Van Damme or Steven Seagal movies for the rest of your life?
  • 3 0
 So by popular opinion, most people agree: they want to win a WC DH, but while riding like semenuk!
  • 1 0
 No waterbottle space and pinkbike comments section or two water bottles and dentist comments about new eremote saddle post order time isn’t enough fast for life
  • 3 2
 While I would rather ride like Semenuk, I will pick Gwin. He seems to be doing ok with the McLaren and that house he is building.
  • 1 0
 Semenuk has a tight pad! Also, have you ever tried driving a Mclaren around SoCal stoned? Anxiety attack coupled with self-conscious insecurity - it wasn't fun. Everyone was looking at me.
  • 4 1
 I'd rather wake up as Levy but in Kazimer's body.
  • 1 1
 Amen
  • 2 0
 ...when you hate your old tatoos, and have ideas for new ones...
  • 3 1
 Missed a question, "In a fight to the death who would win? @mikekazimer or @mikelevy
  • 4 0
 Chuck Norris
  • 7 1
 The viewers.
  • 9 2
 @brianpark: The viewers... and me.
  • 2 0
 @mikelevy: Eat a bunch of donuts, and all you'd have to do is sit on him! Razz
  • 1 0
 @mikelevy: And the smack talk begins. @pinkbike you need to make this happen, get them in the ring for a bout and raise money for "share the ride".
tup
  • 3 0
 Kaz all the way Sorry Mike
  • 2 0
 Already survived the failure of both brakes!!! Come on pinkbike we need lbs and kg !!!!
  • 5 1
 Who's mike levy?
  • 2 0
 Travel to the pine forests of British Columbia and hold up high your offering of assorted donuts and three times shout FREE DONUTS ! ....He will appear from the mist.
  • 2 0
 @justincs: wrong incantation. It's "DOWNCOUNTRY" three times
  • 1 0
 @freestyIAM: My Bad!
  • 2 2
 I have a bike I like (HB160. Insurance payout, don't judge)
I ride trails I like year round, day and night (Chopwell)
Never gonna ride big
I'd ride full face road for shits n giggles

Means nowt without health.
  • 3 1
 Don't want to brag but i already archieved a KOM on my hometrail AND pinkbike topcomment... once.
  • 1 0
 I like these polls. It creates online opinionated chaos. I think everyone who rides mountain bikes are Type A personality. Lol.
  • 1 0
 What sort of person stalks someone, that they've never even met, to make up some pathetic bullshit for the internet? Definitely deficient in something, wtf.
  • 2 1
 Should have been: be fit enough to self shuttle or have a e-bike that never runs out
  • 4 3
 Any of you bike nerds buy a snowmobile yet? Easy to forget bikes over the winter with thumb power.
  • 2 1
 i am workin on it!
  • 1 1
 @shedsidechuck: best investment I've ever made.
  • 4 4
 Earn your turns 2 stroke boy!! If you wanna be fit in the summer, skin it to win it. Or....get an eBike
  • 4 0
 @peleton7: and your comment was going so well...
  • 1 1
 @peleton7: LOL. Want to see the snowmobile rack with the splitboard on it? You skin from the parking lot. I skin from the wilderness boundary. Guess who gets to the goods faster?
  • 2 1
 @Sycip69er: It's not just about getting goods. Areas where sledding has increased near me, the moose and other critters have moved entire drainages to avoid the noise.

Someplace largely devoid of roads like B.C. or Alaska a sled is worthwhile. In the lower 48, most stuff worth skiing is a reasonable tour in......and silence is nice.
  • 1 2
 @BenPea: I say what's on my mind. Sometimes people dig it, sometimes I get some massive downvotes. Here for discussion, not to be the most popular guy.
  • 2 0
 @peleton7: don't take it personally, I'm here for shits and giggles
  • 2 0
 My every move will surely be tracked now....
  • 10 0
 totally feel like I just gave my soul away to some marketing company
  • 1 0
 @mikeSC: We probably paid for a pony keg for PB staff with these clicks alone.
  • 1 0
 Racing means nothing to me when I do it. But at the same time would be the best job ever.
  • 2 0
 Wake up and discover you have Mike Levy or Mike Kazimer's ears?
  • 12 0
 Mine are bigger, which means I have superior hearing. They do collect a lot of mud, though.
  • 3 1
 Isnt gwin vs semenuk the same question as turns vs jumps??
  • 3 1
 Whips for show...
  • 4 0
 @ibishreddin: CORNERS. FOR. DOUGH.
  • 1 0
 @ctbiker888: Hucks Fo 'Sho
  • 1 0
 Big props for the Fatboy Slim's first album reference, Better Living Through Chemistry!
  • 4 0
 That saying is from ta DuPont Chemical ad slogan from the 1930's and used by hippies in the 1960's to laff about drugs. The people who run PB are in their 80s
  • 2 0
 People should be paid to take polls
  • 2 1
 The youtube/insta Q should have a third choice... f*ck social media, I'm really not that special.
  • 1 0
 Well paid job in the Bike Industry? That exists? Can someone show me proof?
  • 1 0
 Everyone prefers a WC podium but chooses Semenuk over Gwin ! =D
Bring the GWINENUK choise Pinkbike!
  • 1 0
 There needs to be more features like this!
  • 1 0
 Gwin is speed, Semenuk is art.
  • 1 0
 Wake up and discover you are Mike Levy, Mike Kazimer or RC?
  • 1 0
 Good poll! Some of those answers are really close for either choive
  • 1 0
 Front late aren’t so bad with all the inserts these days
  • 1 0
 Flat
  • 2 1
 What is kom? Am I really the only idiot?
  • 1 0
 ha that was fun... thanks PB
  • 1 1
 I got an upgraded yt al comp with xx1 (used). Its red, and has even more than 150mm. Superbike Wink
  • 1 0
 Good-paying job AND a steel hardtail? Where is the downside?
  • 1 0
 Whats wrong with old school..PUNKS! Smile
  • 2 2
 I skipped the YouTube vs Instagram question because my life doesn’t revolve around how many followers I have.
  • 1 0
 Urrrrrgh. What the hell are they doing?!
  • 1 0
 High paying job in the bike industry? What sorcery is this?
  • 1 1
 Levy or Kazimer...?? uhhhh.....
  • 2 1
 That was fun, great job.
  • 1 0
 I enjoid this
  • 1 1
 1652 people "Pinkbike comment of the day"! Whaaaatttt a bunch of werdo's.
  • 1 0
 Didn't know COD exists
  • 2 2
 What's a you tube?
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