16 Slope Bikes - Crankworx Whistler 2016 by mikelevy

63 Comments

83 11

gonecoastal (Aug 20, 2016 at 23:02)

I recognize seven of the rider names in this bike check. Am I old or do I just not care?

63 5

poozank (Aug 20, 2016 at 23:24)

Haha I'm in the exact same boat. When I last paid attention to slope style Cam Mcaul was a thing

18 7

downhilldj127 (Aug 20, 2016 at 23:30)

I met a former Joyride competitor in Virgin (not during Rampage) who described himself as "A Gymnast on a Bike." Six months later Fest was a thing and I haven't given a single thought to slope style since (other than coming on here to say this).

35 6

Imnukepf (Aug 21, 2016 at 0:20)

Yeah i think your all old

14 0

jakecallcut (Aug 21, 2016 at 1:58)

You are probably just not into that particular type of mountainbiking.... That's probably why you don't care..?

12 0

medievalbiking (Aug 21, 2016 at 2:27)

It's a pretty hard type of riding to connect to for the majority of riders. All the stuff going on is so crazy and out of my league that I have no idea what's going on/ who should win. Meanwhile I can watch DH and Enduro and tell exactly who pinned it through a section. 9/10 of pinkbike has never landed a tailwhip I'm guessing

cyclo-maniac (Aug 21, 2016 at 5:40)

@jakecallcut: To be honest, I'm not sure it really is "Mountain biking" at all. I think Dirt Jumping, or Dirt Biking is more fitting. The whole slopestyle thing is closer to BMX than to Mountain biking. Whatever it is, its awesome to watch, thats for sure!

jakecallcut (Aug 21, 2016 at 13:13)

You could then say Freestyle BMX isn't BMX because it is so different to it's origin which is BMX racing. slope style is on mountain bikes, they just ride them in a different way.

medievalbiking (Aug 21, 2016 at 14:16)

Who cares they're all bikes?

gonecoastal (Aug 22, 2016 at 13:28)

@poozank: LOL @ "Cam Mcaul was a thing" Thanks for that. One of them announces now or something?

40 0

Hyperx (Aug 20, 2016 at 23:35)

Freecoaster?! Can't wait to watch for what tricks Brandon use it..

21 0

Clarkeh (Aug 21, 2016 at 3:12)

Watch him trick the end drop, land backwards and coast to the line.

nhlevi (Aug 21, 2016 at 4:13)

The moment I read that I knew he will win. Not like I had a doubt about at least a podium spot

camerondodd98 (Aug 21, 2016 at 4:31)

go on tomas lemiones Instagram. He half cabbed off the first drop (on a cassette hub though but would be way easier with free coaster)

15 1

GOGRANDE (Aug 20, 2016 at 22:59)

Brandon's bike seems like a winter camo theme... Original, creative, and bad ass.

darkmuncan (Aug 21, 2016 at 0:42)

it looks likes a collage of pictures? Most B&W, some colour.

booked-for-simulation (Aug 21, 2016 at 0:54)

What's with his shirt? Not with TLD anymore?

jakecallcut (Aug 21, 2016 at 2:03)

@booked-for-simulation: tld make helmets, gloves, pads and other protection which he wears and he has a tee shirt sponsor called shock mansion which he sometimes wears.

stiksandstones FL (Aug 21, 2016 at 6:51)

@booked-for-simulation: You crazy, its one of our new Tees from the Fall collection www.troyleedesigns.com

stiksandstones FL (Aug 21, 2016 at 6:52)

@jakecallcut: TLD is his apparel and protection partner, shock mansion dedicates exposure to Brandon often times and we allow some collab with him/SM.

dtm1 (Aug 21, 2016 at 8:05)

@stikmanglaspell: lol you allow that do you. I'll go out on a limb here and say Semenuk does the "allowing"

booked-for-simulation (Aug 21, 2016 at 21:50)

@stikmanglaspell: Thanks for clearing that up; maybe I'm just weird but I'd find it disturbing for Mr. Semenuk not to be wearing TLD or not riding Trek.

Also, I would never have thought I'd have Stikman himself personally respond to an online query! Thanks for making the effort and making my day! I grew up reading MTB mags with you in them! MTB Action had a feature on top wrenches once, and you stuck out 'cause you had the coolest name and you were the only one wearing a race jersey (you were with Mongoose then).

13 0

valanidi (Aug 21, 2016 at 2:16)

Shame Soderstrom is not doing slopestyle contests anymore...

BeastTech (Aug 22, 2016 at 5:34)

He is injured.........

10 1

Morebike (Aug 20, 2016 at 23:20)

Just watched the 30 second(ish) bike check kids edition, this article is totally irrelevant.
It's all about the ride, not the bike.

chyu (Aug 21, 2016 at 2:42)

Gone were the names like McCaul brothers, Bearclaw, Soderstrom, Granieri, Reynolds, Pilgrim.

naptime FL (Aug 20, 2016 at 23:32)

Reckon Semenuck's gonna be doing fakie's on the platforms/ whale tails?

mike-gamble (Aug 20, 2016 at 23:37)

I'm going to call a switch flair or 540 off the cabin or final drop for Semenuk.

muyguapa (Aug 21, 2016 at 3:52)

It might have been nice to know what the bikes were...

mxmtb (Aug 20, 2016 at 23:34)

Slope bikes got better coverage than whip off ,air dh and Canadian open combined

chrisfirth FL (Aug 22, 2016 at 9:28)

So how is Semunuk running a freecoaster (not freehub and all of the other butchered names I've heard from MTBers this weekend) with a rear derailleur? Obviously he needs it as a chain tensioner for the Trek, but with freecoaster engagement it seems really risky to be running it with a derailleur combo. I assume it's the profile hub? How about some close ups photogs.

Hyperx (Aug 23, 2016 at 1:18)

yeah,its profile zcoaster.derailleur used as chain tensioner.

booked-for-simulation (Aug 20, 2016 at 23:14)

I apologize for my ignorance, but what's a freecoaster hub?

ronc360 (Aug 20, 2016 at 23:24)

A hub that enables you to go backwards without having to pedal backwards

AUS-alo661 (Aug 20, 2016 at 23:26)

You can go backwards without pedalling backwards, they are used a lot on bmx's.

12 0

Kramz (Aug 20, 2016 at 23:26)

I did intensive data crunching research analysis like no other (a Google search), and found out that they allow you to coast while traveling backwards, instead of having to pedal backwards while traveling backwards.

BobbyHillbomb FL (Aug 20, 2016 at 23:28)

It's a hub that allows the rider to roll backwards (otherwise known as fakie) without having to back pedal. It first became popular with BMX flatlander riders in the early/mid 90s, and it has recently become more common with street riders.

naptime FL (Aug 20, 2016 at 23:29)

Disengages the drive when going backwards (fakie) so the cranks don't turn.Makes it easier for doing tricks out of fakies
VERY popular in flatland and modern Street riding atm

I remember, was it Arron Chase? Having a ghetto freecoaster using a cog with the inside teeth filed off so that cog would spin on the freehub when he shifted into that gear

Kramz (Aug 20, 2016 at 23:35)

I couldn't imagine taking off, or landing a jump backwards on a bike like they do in skiing, so it should be interesting.

booked-for-simulation (Aug 20, 2016 at 23:41)

Thanks everybody!

djm35 (Aug 21, 2016 at 0:18)

Bmx style hub for fakies (going backwards) we might see a fakie landing or even better, a take off! I think that some other guys are using them too. They are used in bmx quite a lot now.

Hyperx (Aug 21, 2016 at 0:42)

@djm35: we probably not see fakie landing.It will be smth like halfcab bar/whip/flair from first drop...and maybe last
Except Brandon it's no freecoasters in slopestyle.

23 0

bmcknight (Aug 21, 2016 at 1:59)

Hopefully several more people answer this question...

Fiodor2six (Aug 21, 2016 at 3:55)

It's just me or anyone else also think that Semenuk will win

scottlink (Aug 21, 2016 at 7:12)

Nyquist announced he'd be accreting around on a mtb at the big comps this season.... IMO, bmx is getting sooooo crazy, he's smart to take the joy ride over to mountain bikes...

abele02 (Aug 21, 2016 at 6:27)

If anybody were to be landing backwards, it would be Rogatkin

drumnbike (Aug 21, 2016 at 9:41)

I suddenly have the urge to put my Banshee AMP back together.

diego-b (Aug 22, 2016 at 15:09)

what wrong with messere's rear end?

Nachoo (Aug 21, 2016 at 8:54)

is it me or they forgot to put sam reynold's photo ??

racer585 (Aug 21, 2016 at 6:03)

Why on earth does Semunuk have a Derailleur on a single speed bike? I that just for sponsors? It just seems like another thing that could go wrong. Am I missing something?

billeh77 (Aug 21, 2016 at 6:58)

Pretty sure he doesn't ride single speed, he has a few grears

nolimit (Aug 21, 2016 at 7:55)

He's using the dreaiikeur as a chain sensioner... You can't run the Ticket singlespeed without one

racer585 (Aug 21, 2016 at 8:52)

@nolimit: Got it.

McArdle FL (Aug 21, 2016 at 15:06)

Is rogatkin running 29" wheels or is he really short??!

nfa2005 FL (Aug 21, 2016 at 19:36)

i just voted

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weebleswobbles (Aug 21, 2016 at 6:43)

So yes, there are 16 bikes..wait.. yea there are 16 bikes all with a rider. Come on journos what in the actual f@ck, where's all the information. This is less bike checks and more click bait click bait

8 13

butlerssecret (Aug 20, 2016 at 23:16)

All bikes should be auctioned off and proceeds should go to the fallen heroes of MTBs families or a charity of their choosing.

51 7

darkmuncan (Aug 21, 2016 at 0:19)

Ok, lets just get this straight, athletes are not heroes. Emergency Service Personal are heroes. Your average joe who risks his life to enter a burning house to save his neighbour's life is a hero. The surfer who swims out in a rough break to rescue a swimmer our of their depth is a hero. A majority of our defence force personnel are heroes. Heroism is not earned by excelling at your chosen profession, heroism is earned by putting yourself at risk for something greater than yourself.

Session603 (Aug 21, 2016 at 7:40)

@darkmuncan: As a 10 year emergency service professional i appreciate the sentiment. But we're not heroes either. We're just regular people trying to make a paycheck. I had to pay for those Highland lift tickets somehow. I'll agree on the military though, the sacrifices they make in the name of keeping the rest of us safe are nothing short of heroic. Whether they ever see combat or not. May God or nothing (whatever you prefer) bless every single one of them.

dropoffsticks (Aug 21, 2016 at 22:14)

well, they might not be actual heroes but heroes to a lot of people. Growing up (well actually I'm only 16 I still have a lot of growing up to do haha) and getting into mountain biking Cam Zink, Kelly McGarry, and The Claw were my personal heroes. And I know that Stevie inspired a whole generation of mtb riders, the same way the guys i listed above inspired me and my friends, or how gwin inspired a generation of cali racers. So a lot of the legends that have passed might not have been actual heroes, but they were heroes in the sense they gave so much back to this sport and inspired a generation of young riders. But not disagreeing with darkmuncan, Emergency Service Personnel and those who serve are truly heroes.

BikeGeek11 (Aug 21, 2016 at 0:11)

I'm I the only one that's just hearing about Ryan Nyquist riding in red bull joyride?

eugen-fried (Aug 21, 2016 at 1:17)

I remember him saying, he'll quit professional sport about 8 years ago. I guess he changed his mind a little bit.

laynehip (Aug 22, 2016 at 15:31)

@eugen-fried: Had a mortgage to pay. Those residuals from the finger bike action figures don't last forever.