Howdy, neighbors and neighbours!
Beta here, just popping by to let you know we’ve started rolling out our fall 2021 Beta Tests. We figure Pinkbike’s Fall Field Tests have got you in the mood to watch three tech editors get on camera and chat about bikes. We do that too! And we’re covering a totally different lineup than Pinkbike.
We’ve got 14 bikes in total, and each one has something to say. Two of them were made in North America, three are actually pretty affordable, one is a mixed-wheel, and one has a hidden rear shock. Four of them run on high-pivot suspension designs, which means 10 of them actually don’t. We’ve got a mix of categories from XC to super-enduro, and we put every bike through its paces on the world-class trails of Bellingham, Washington.
We’ll be releasing them through the next month, starting with the new Pivot Firebird and Devinci Spartan HP. We’re dropping two reviews a week until the middle of January, so stay tuned.
Pivot Firebird Pro XT/XTRLeading the resistance against the high-pivot apocalypse.
Read the full Firebird review
here.
Devinci Spartan HPA high-pivot bike that actually corners—what a time to be alive.
Read the full Spartan review
here.
And if you just can't get enough bike-reviewer talking heads, you can dig into a bunch more from the 2021 Beta Tests here.
“I know, let’s make them sit on bar stools with no backs, don’t give them a table, and stick a beverage in their hands.”
It’s also notable that Brian’s job description is to inform consumers about the bike industry. The idea that he spins to sell expensive bikes is itself a spin invented by consumers and he has no responsibility to live up to the tropes of your imagination.
At any rate, my comment was genuine — I really did think that what this article was going to be until I clicked on it. Then I was like, “oh yeah. Forgot about them.”
I must say it makes still more fun than most crappy AAA games who try hard.
At least SC is a tech demo ...
Except the word is still used in that exact meaning every day by climbers.
It does originate from those times and recording climbs on betamax but it's still very much alive.
I just pointed out it wasn't really "90s slang" as it's still in use. But then again, what did I expect from PB, reading comprehension? No chance haha.
Yes, we miss Vernon too
Just my crap 2c
I’m going to go against the grain here though on the Beta bashing and say that I have really enjoyed Ryan, Travis and Nicole over the years. I wish them all the best, and want to thank them for all their contributions.
Especially when comparable free sites with ad banners are a mere click away.
Agree, my experience on HPP bikes is defined by the cornering and handling, not just the smoothness. I definitely feel their cornering is a step above everything else I've ridden.
There may be other things to pick apart with high pivots (e.g.; manualling), but cornering isn’t one of them. Not for me anyway.
One of my HP experiences is based upon the Dreadnought. It's probably the best cornering bike I've ever ridden, and that's with 464mm rear centre before sag.
It corners well in big, long, fast speed, berms but how about slow, tech trails with really tight corners?
Pinkbike has always been a platform and not just our own content. I’m really not sure what’s so offensive about sharing more interesting reviews.
It may salvage the idea if the Beta crew is actually filmed on bike and the stupid & awkward AB-InBev product placement is rethought…
That statement is indicative of why there are concerns. When a brand stops seeing through the eyes of its consumers only trouble lies ahead.
Don't write us all off as resistant luddites. It will be to the detriment of the brand and the business over the long run.
Can't wait to come to PB for the best of the best curated MTB content from all sources, including Vital, Freehub and countless others.
@dubod22: because we aren't joining up with Vital.
@Bobadeebob: We're going to add a fourth Field Test in 2022 with Beta, for a total of ~50 bikes in the year on top of standalone bike reviews. One thing we'll probably lose is that we'll go from 3 testers (Beta style) to 2 testers and sometimes a moderator (Pinkbike style), to make sure testers are able to spend more time on each bike.
@pourquois-pas: I'm all ears, please explain. If you're bummed in general that Pinkbike and Beta are owned by the same company, then hey that's fine and not much I can do about that. Change is weird and as we evolve I'm sure not everyone will be happy, but I'm still not sure why there's a downside to posting these free reviews from Beta to Pinkbike. Oh and we've posted plenty of content from Freehub over the years.
@thegoodflow: see above.
@blackercanyons: @DBone95: I should have been more clear, we're sharing Beta's stuff here because we're on the same team now. But we do try to generally support MTB people and media—we shared the news of Bike Mag's passing, and the news of Beta launching, long before we were acquired by Outside.
Give up the change BS. Seriously. Heck I even called that out before you responded and you still couldn't help but insinuate it is just because we don't like change. I'm all for change that adds value in the relationship. Pinkbike is vastly different than it was when I first logged on and it has become an amazing resource, a real influence in the industry. I'm genuinely happy for everyone involved who made that happen. But if you can't see why we're concerned about the future that's too bad. I understand you're not in a position to publicly acknowledge it, but stop coming back like "I dunno what the problem is..." it looks terrible on you and the site.
Sure… Let’s wait and see. Our firm was taken over by a big US corporate in 2012… It went great for a good number of years, but now we are a shell of our former selves. Good if you can keep the momentum going and the bloody accountants out of making “design & technical” decisions…
Sort of applicable when things get bigger & more corporate… What is the definition of a donkey…? It is a horse designed by a committee…
I'm not saying i want to pay, but at some point if they continue to deliver the goods we have to give them something besides our data.
Ok, Palmer cannot stand still and becomes a little nervous while others are talking But sometimes they come up with different perspectives or aspects, which can help if you cannot test ride a bike that you are looking to buy.
So they are supplemental to reviews here and elsewhere and they are free.
Previously when I've clicked on Beta I hit a paywall so I just stopped clicking.
dilbert.com/search_results?terms=Company+Merger
Pinkbike is great, no complaints, but there is no question their website reads like a NASCAR stock car. I can deal with the ads cause I love the content, but you really expect all websites to be like that? Sorry people, we gotta move with the times....
I bet the ones complaining about the paywall here are the ones riding $6,000-$10,000 bikes but then complain about why bike servicing is so expensive, get upset about having "tip" hard-working waiters, and get mad at the barber shop when they have to raise their prices because they want to provide their workers a good wage. I don't make a lot of money, but I'm happy to pay for stuff I believe is good quality (and hopefully the people who pay me for my professional services think the same....)
Seems like PB does a superior job at vetting which personalities will be more relatable and entertaining.
Always looks super awkward watching the Beta squids “casually” hold their beers like someone that has a severe wedgy that they want to adjust but can’t.
Bikers Edge channel reviews are pretty top notch as well
It feels weird... or is it just me?
Choose a measurement standard and be a disk about it, yeah?
Ask yourself: so what? If you think Outside is "big" you're being dramatic like I said before. If you think 40 tiny titles about niche nerdy hobbies that have always been 90% adverts being under one roof is somehow "important" then I envy your lack of real problems in life.
As for pb/beta, where's the "monopoly"? Are they preventing anyone from running or reading other outlets? Shutting down or taking over vital, nsmb, gmbn, enduromtb, mbr, mtbr, bikeradar, hundreds of others? Oh wait, they're just adding a few people to pb from a dead print magazine that Outside didn't manage to resurrect before it died again. If you want to protest against media monopolies, go spend your precious energy on some real ones, not on geeks trying to sell you toys.
What's your actual fear here? You won't know which bikes you like without "diverse sources" telling you what to buy? You'll get lost and die in the woods without trailforks? All of Outside's assets can disappear tomorrow with zero impact on your life. It's not that deep.
also I work in the ski and bike industries in multiple capacities, and like it or not, Outside holdings do actually have some influence.
the rest of what you said is shortsighted and misunderstands some major things, but you're set on being condescending and dismissive, so I'm not going to put energy into trying to change your mind about it. Mountain biking is no longer a small niche sport.
We know how this ends. With Chevy, hair loss, and ED medication advertising on every review.
PBs website is old and nothing has really changed, aside from the Pod/Vod being removed from the top right, it's really undergone no dramatic changes. Consistency is important imo. Look at successful publications like Time, Nat Geo ect, they have not changed their formatting forever. It shows confidence in their product not trying to bamboozle anyone with fancy home page.
Also. check vital, same small icons as PB, it works. Check Reddit and P-Hub too, same shit.
It's a matter of 1 person going to pink bike, clicking 3 articles and generating x amount of money by doing so, and then going to Beta and generating x amount by doing so, rather than going to Vital or where ever.
As far as Robin could GAF, PB and Beta are the same website.
When did Bernard Kerr become a top EWS racer?
There's a couple of other riders at Pivot who have earned that mention.
Best example is their review of the Specialized Stumpjumper. They all made it very obvious that they disliked that bike and specifically the simplified flex-pivot suspension.
But instead of speaking their mind, they awkwardly stumble around for ten minutes, desperately trying to avoid saying anything too negative. As far as I'm concerned, their credibility took a major hit.
actually I’m,not even here anymore
So, I most certainly didn’t do it
Ok?
pinkBetabike
Betapinkbike
pinkbikeBeta
youtu.be/eYb22BLBqGw
Half the interesting reviews from now on will probably only be available on the "sister publication" Beta MTB, which has the paywall.
hmmmm
Nonstop bitching & complaining.
How about, f*ck off.