cwatt

@downhiller900sl: you’re right, I made a mistake when I edited my comment. The Big Hit was Specialized, but the Two50 Dirt was Norco.

@ChazzMichaelMichaels: you’re 100% right. I edited my comment a few times before the 60-second edit window or whatever it is closed. Clearly I made things worse. Hahahah.

@RedBullRampage — here’s my idea. Allocate the standard amount of time for building and then everyone off the mountain for 3-5 days. This time can be used for physical and mental rest but actually allows for flexibility with the event date to be moved forward if need be. Then, builders would be allowed one day for final prep. Yes — it would increase costs all around with paying staff to be on-site for three (3) to five (5) additional days, but it would allow the event to actually happen, perhaps with second runs occurring later in the day or even a following day. Why am I suggesting this? Years ago I invited a friend over to watch the event. I told him I would buy pizza and beer. He declined joking it would probably just be a 3-hour wind delay and Andraeu Lagondegy (sp?) wouldn’t take his second run. I think about this every year and every year it seems like something happens. So what’s the upside? Turn the broadcast into a 3-day affair. There is the women’s event already having its own day, then Red Bull has the opportunity to do a lot of behind-the-scenes type programming with maybe even RedBull sponsored video projects (like a mini film festival). Think of it like another Crankworx event where things can be moved to accommodate weather. Heck, maybe even incorporate something like a Motocross freestyle event or some other RedBull sport like rock climbing.

My read on the situation was the speed and aggression. Though everything you said is accurate, Robin’s first run was a very slow pace by comparison (think track stands and euro-nose pivots). Hannah’s first run, though the faults and shortcomings you listed, was, in my opinion, the spirit of Rampage and gave the impression of stronger bike handling and more cohesive top-to-bottom flow. In fact, that’s something I noticed with a lot of riders; LOTS of pausing before features and I suspect that’s a byproduct of them testing each feature individually and no one doing any top-to-bottom practice runs. In the end, I think Robin’s increase in speed and flow and aggression combined with cleaning-up little things is what got her the win. In my personal and most humble opinion, I thought the judging was spot on. And don’t get me wrong here, Norbs got robbed. Hahahaha.

Thing I like: the quick-lace Things I don’t like: the colour

@tomfoolery-tomato: Oof. Those comments are quite consistent.

I don’t think they do. Perhaps I’ve misunderstood them, but my understanding was they are designed to allow the suspension to work freely (think Aaron Gwinn chainless run / those Canyon bikes with ghost gears, etc.).

@nzandyb: Your math checks out. The only possible explanation I can think of is if the frames land in USA and are then exported to Canada for final sale.

@Dogl0rd: I’ll second the Canyon ‘customer service’. Absolutely horrific. You might think I’m just being a male Karen about it, but I have receipts. I’m convinced they are paid by the number of e-mails responded. Pro tip — don’t use full sentences. Use bullet points.