Video: The Final Race - Pinkbike Academy Episode 9

 I thought so as well, but Even may actually be the better (faster) rider.

 Vital seems pretty good

 Nsmb

 I enjoy NSMB.

 Vital is great for general news and their forums, NSMB is amazing for super in depth product tests that’ll usually also give you tons of info on how to service/maintain the gear too.

 Looking for the NPR of mountain biking content?

 @neb636: KUAF, the local NPR station in Northwest Arkansas, actually does a great job of covering local mtb news!

 Im not sure you understand how free content works...if its free YOU are the product

 When bikes worthy of review cost $3-9k each and require days of use for "first impressions", and months of use for a proper review, I don't really see how a truly independent source would have the funds or time to deliver enough worthwhile content to be relevent. How would you monetize? How could you hire staff without an income stream? I'm not in the biz, but I guess I don't see how any of this is possible without sponsored content.

 Is there a more independent source of sports? I'm sick of being fed commercials when I watch football games!

Seriously, how do you think they pay their employees to provide free content?

 There's lots of great MTB media out there, but I feel like I've got to make two points here.

First, just because other media doesn't label their things sponsored, doesn't mean they're not sponsored. Put it this way, if they are profitable without a huge community or traffic, the only way for them to make that profit is by sponsored content. And yes, lots of outfits don't disclose. YouTubers are 10x worse for that—if they're not getting millions of views they're not making enough money from ads to make it worth it, so they're almost all getting paid by brands for their content. Some of them are responsible and disclose it, but lots don't.

I work really hard to be clear about church and state, and I honestly believe there are no more transparent or independent MTB media publications out there. Unlike the vast majority of MTB media, none of our sponsorship stuff extends to reviews or verdicts anywhere. We're not charging for awards, etc. To be clear there are other great independent media folks out there, but I hate the narrative that we're not.

Second, "absolute onslaught of sponsored content" is a bit strong. So far in 2020 we've published 4482 stories, 160 of which have been sponsored. That's about 3.5%. In 2019 we did 167 sponsored stories. Hardly an onslaught.

 @brianpark: A few more then two points but well said! My general feeling is that all content has become more over the top and much of your non sponsored ( non PB generated) stuff is made by folks who are. The whole feel is less genuine with dynamic banner adds and endless videos put out by the sponsored folks to clickbait us. That said if you can filter out the noise the FREE content is fantastic. ( I'll give you a pass on the blatant "fatbike the artic" add piece from a few weeks ago that slipped in as content....)

To your point on youtube adds, seem like they are every 60 seconds now with the frequency change, I dont even bother putting down the remote....Lets's just be happy that PB is mostly passive marketing and requiring a click to get marketed to....And atleast PB isn't listening to me on my phone and tayloring adds to what I just said or just typed...or are they?

 @brianpark: Haters gunna hate. PB is a fantastic resource. It's free, provides a great service, and is upfront about where the money comes from.

Thank you!

 So what news in the great wide world do you watch that isn’t sponsored? CNN, Fox, MSNBC, your local news, your newspaper, and on and on and on — all sponsored. All paid for by ads. I guess there’s NPR, or some state run stuff in other countries, but the vast majority of news in the US is sponsored by someone.

 @brianpark: Brian, it seems that you take what commenters say to personal, i understand the comment sections is a very important part of this webpage, but dont let people get into your head, i can tell on the PB podcast that some commenters irritate you as well, Pinkbike has been and it still is an amazing MTB content page, even though i dont agree with everything on the website, i think you and your team are doing a great job.

 @brianpark: I have a hard time believing that 3.5% number, and there's probably a pretty big disconnect between readers on how you count "sponsored content." My interpretation is that you got hard cash for 160 articles, but that doesn't tell the soft influence brands have with freebies. I doubt you include receiving bikes or gear for review as sponsored content, even though PB probably enters agreements with those brands to have them sign off on final publication to some extent, and probably take feedback from brand PR in the editing and review process and important bits to include. I think most normal people would consider that a form of sponsorship. Temporary free bike/gear, "fair review" that the brand gets a heads up on and maybe has a little sway in the editorial process. Am I way off base in thinking this? I'm sure smaller bike brands are just happy to have their gear reviewed good or bad, but I'd be more curious to know what PB's relationship is with the larger parts of the bike industry. How often do you guys take feedback from brands on your reviews before publication?

For what it's worth I think PB's need to constantly balance this soft influence of free goods is why PB fails to explain to its readers with any authority or decisiveness what trends are good and bad for the consumers -- PB is afraid of alienating potential customers/clients/sponsorships/brands etc. by being declarative about anything. PB couldn't exist without the freebies, but that's how they built their business model. That's why I'm asking for other outlets or content creators to follow for legit reviews. There's probably a way to deal with reviewing freebies that meets some journalistic standard, but the fact that you don't consider it a form of sponsorship tells me you're more interested in protecting the brands while maintaining the illusion for the consumers.

 Doesn't matter man after that first episode it seems most of the good people are gone "oh let's eliminate good riders because they didn't make a good video or something! Cause that's so much harder to learn than to be a pro mountain biker" #prioirities

 @monkeybizz: From what I gathered, Evan and Ben are two of the fastest downhill riders, if not the two fastest, in the how. Stoked to finally get a chance to see a race and to see how they stack up competitively.

 @monkeybizz: Would have had the same final 2 men if all they did was race the whole time anyway so it feels like you are shouting into the void.

 @Assclapp: Didn't really watch anyways but I guess Task Failed Successfully on their end

 i did

 Surely you would have learned by now...