The Pinkbike Podcast: Episode 122 - Do Social Media & Mountain Biking Go Together?

 I don't always use a GoPro on a ride but when I do, I do absolutely nothing with the footage then delete it 2 years later.

 Social media is just a personal marketing campaign; I think it's hard to do social media posts without coming off as self-absorbed. I think if you make a living off your MTB marketing that is different, but for myself, trying to look cool on the internet is a huge distraction. I would rather just ride and share the experience with the people that are already on the trail with me.

 I like to post stuff because I like to revisit it later. I don't expect to get tons of views, but I like sharing my hobbies with anyone that wants to watch.

 NO.

 I was just fine reading mtb magazines

 I love to see a photo or short clip from a friend, or even just a stranger on the internet.
2 things are getting you blocked: tagging "sponsors" of products you paid retail for, and asking me to like, subscribe or give you money.

 As most things in life,social media is what you make of it. Learnt to filter by yourself and don't be triggered and you'll be fine.

 Social media enables the self absorbed and burns out those who aren’t

 I don't want to use FaceBook, but I have to. All my local mountain bike clubs and trail building groups use FB as their primary news feed. We tried using other services, but the user population on FB is so big that our events would not reach the same audience. I really understand now why these social platforms sink so much money up front to build the people network, because once you do it's hard for another platform to compete. *Not trying to rant, just hoping another way presents itself*

 The average pink bike commenter laments fast food and cigarettes, when social media has been proven to be just as harmful as the former two, to our brains. If you're not a company selling a product or an influencer selling your soul, SM is bad for your health FULL STOP.

 Well...let's see. I'm not a raging narcissist and I'm not trying to sell you anything, so I don't bother.

 Social media is a great way to keep up on group rides, work days, and new trail features. It works better than emails or newsletters. I'm not an influencer, so I don't have to take SM seriously. Sometimes I'll post something relevant on my local group because I'm bored and want attention. I'll throw up the occasional travel pic to soft brag, inspire others, and because I want attention.

 Social Media is the new smoking. Initially, it seemed cool and everyone was doing it. Now, it is straight-up poison for your psyche.

 Deleted fb & Insta accounts a few years ago 'cause F*** Zuck and his disinformation machine, so the only ride-related social media I participate in these days is Strava. My strava feed is private, and restricted to people I allow to follow me.

For the most part it's cool keeping up on what my friends are up to on the bike, but I recently unfollowed a dude I met out on the trail, who seemed cool enough, after the umpteenth ride log showed up in my feed of him posing and commenting about how he "slayed" or "shredded" or "sent it" or whatever. Every. Single. Ride. Always with the posed photos of himself, and/or his bike. Always in the same carefully framed mid-air leap or superhero pose. I mean, we get it dude, you're fast and have some style, but narcissist much? Unfollow.

 Saying that a lot of the rampage guys would not ride Hannah and Katie's drop in seems a bit of a stretch. Fair fucks to all the girls riding in formation, its way more than I will ever ride but don't make out that the rampage riders would struggle with any of those lines.

 Speaking of social media - there’s been 3 athletes make announcements on social media about concussion this week, maybe this would be a good podcast topic, you could perhaps bring in any number of people - one of the key helmet manufacturers, a pro rider or well known rider who has experienced concussion, or even just a rider rep or past rep from the DH circuit, essentially with an expert in the field of TBI, and id love to hear the stance from a UCI Rep, a round table discussion of sorts. I understand logistically that many people would be a headache, but I’m sure you get the idea; The topic always seems to generate a lot of discussion in the PB comments

 Yeah I think it's fun to share things with people I like. And fun to see what my friends are up to. I guess that makes me a narcissist and not very core.

 less SM and more riding...

 @mikelevy Not a media related question but something for all the presenters: what parts would you lighten on your bike? I'm on an alloy bike and noticed swapping nx to gx and carbon bars are both performance enhancers and a (relatively) affordable pound off. I aspire to Quinney's "just ride your bike" attitude but am curious what parts you'd swap.

 I never cared much for social media and I will continue not to care about it in the future.

 A ride should not be curated. It's a distraction from the whole purpose of a ride. So is your effing music playing even at a gnat's volume.

 I am a full-time rider and content creator. I literally only use social media to provide value to brands as a marketing tool. While of course I'm always trying to enjoy my ride and improve my skills, it's far more powerful to prove to a sponsor that you can aid in selling a product. I'm not sure what the balance is, and I try to focus rides on having fun, skill-building, and media, and separate them as much as possible.

 Social media is a great tool to quickly determine whether I want to get to know someone better. If someone is constantly posting about their rides and bikes, especially in a way that screams "insecure adult with a real job trying to create self esteem from how fast I can ride a bike in the woods," I know not to waste any of my time.

 The part about how RedBull were shipping in influencers and how they are choosing to market Formation was really interesting and felt like it deserves more coverage than just a passing mention in a podcast. It's a fascinating time for our sport as it becomes more visible to the outside world. I hardly do SM at all, so maybe it's all been discussed already and I missed it.

In general I wonder why PB don't dig into some of these more serious issues more often, you have really good writers with really interesting insights and opinions, I'd love to read more of them on the main site. Possibly that's not PB's remit though, maybe Beta is covering that more as it's more long-form?

The discussion about paid for reviews was another one that completely changed my understanding of how I'm being sold to that feels like it's worthy of a lot more words and discussion.

Love these podcasts, they are fascinating and you all do a great job in presenting and editing them.

 Timing probably was off, but given the news about Beta (and the nearly complete collapse of outdoor journalism in general) it would be great to discuss how the business model of social media has destroyed the older journalism models.

 Question for next time: Can y'all talk about the demise of Beta and where that crew is headed? Maybe have the likes Palmer, Formosa on? Is anyone getting absorbed by Pinkbike?

 I'm in mountain biking for a long time (since 1991) and honestly social media are OK to know if a group ride is happening in the next week or so, but for the rest, it's a very poor database of information. I miss the time when forums where a lot more active. Because when you search for advise about one component or a place to ride for your next holiday, the information in the forum sticks. Then you can do a search with google and even a few years later you can find useful information in these forums.
Doesn't seems to be as efficient with the SM, so for me, it's a big loss of common knowledge after all.

 @mikelevy - Great podcast. Maybe a discussion point for another podcast is "Where do you think social media is going in the next 5, 10, 20 years?" Is it something that will continue to get bigger or will we wise up and start living real lives again.

 I was surprised by the views in formation. RB is all about selling cans of drink. It’s all they do. They are only into mtb because they see a good roi into sales because of it. I was surprised any one thinks they have any other motivation

 @mikelevy and co.

Just finished the podcast. It was mentioned that it’s designed to divide us. True to an extent, but it can also connect us. We travel to ride a lot, and my son almost always connects with local groms or other riders wherever we travel. This has led to cool experiences of connecting with locals, getting to dig and ride on private trails or dirt jumps others don’t get to access, getting shown around at the various old rampage sites by local kids (if you know, you know that finding the lines out there is daunting), plus having those kids to give tips on how to ride that terrain, having various meals and face to face social time with people we probably would have never met otherwise. Now it seems like wherever we go, we have connections. Now you can build that sort of network the old fashioned way, but social media can rapidly accelerate the process.

 Thank you for describing the influencer island at Formation. Pretty disheartening to hear about that. This is where I think social media is bad. People don't take things seriously or respect the work behind the act/post. I think social media is also bad because when people advertise for a company for free, why should/would the company pay photographers, journalists, and athletes (people who have trained and studied to do the job) to do the same thing.

 Had a weird moment today when watching this YT Industries video with Ace Hayden. The music sure sounds familiar???

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR6k5iBef6w&t=2&ab_channel=YTIndustries

 Why the hell would I post a selfie after a ride? I don't post one after going to the gym, dinner er....oh never mind. People under 30 post for practically every tiny event in their lives, don't they?!

Get over yourselves...it's a bike ride, not climbing El Cap.

 Woah, that was heavy. Thanks for that, it made me a bit sad, but I still liked it a lot.
Virtual hug goes out to you people

 Idea for a future episode- discussion of what protection people wear for different types of rising and why. Does this change depending on skill level. I’d also love to know what pads to the DH pros wear.

 Tyre Pressures - it depends on so many variables that you can't compare. Ride what is right for you.

 More tech episodes and interviews please. The episode with Dustin would be a good framework. This episode and the road trip episode were strikes for me dawg.

 This is not even specific to mountain biking but if you require me to use SM to engage with you, I simply won't engage with you.

 PB is the inly social media i need. I usually land on Friday fails rather than sunday sends or saturday saves or what ever it is.

 Can someone post up the pisstake Insta accounts mentioned?

I quite like nrml_mtber, unioncigaretteinternational and the like.

 What are the pros and cons of ‘trying to grow the sport’ ? It’s seems like a given for a lot of people but why, to what end?

 I'm pretty sure anyone on Pinkbike would gladly give away their personal information in order to see Kaz' TikTok dance

 Pinkbike was social media before social media was a thing.

 @mikelevy that would mean people have to have your phone number! now i know how you missed all my car racing invitations!

 What is social media? Will my bike work without it?

 Social media makes everything worse. Pinkbike comment sections are a prime example.

 Thanks for the heads up on Pinkish Bike and Chainslap News..

 Making my own bike clips is my Artistic outlet valve.

 All hail the skinner box!

 Pink bike is one of the only good social media platforms. All'so we need 2 podcast a week pls.