Video: 7 Pro DH Bike Checks from Crankworx Innsbruck 2021

Jun 17, 2021 at 22:31
by Pinkbike Originals  


With Crankworx Innsbruck being right next to Leogang a lot of World Cup regulars made their way over for some extra time between the tape. Ben Cathro caught up with a few of the racers to get the lowdown on their bikes.

0:00 - Canyon Sender
2:15 - Trek Session
5:48 - NS Fuzz
8:59 - Cube Two15
11:35 - Propain Prototype
13:20 - Mondraker Summum
16:55 - Trek Session





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110 Comments
  • 154 92
 I thought it was made pretty clear that the PB audience doesn't want to sit through a video to get a look at some bike checks. Give us a series of still photos so it's easier to collect the drool.
  • 47 13
 Can't make that YouTube monetization with photos doh
  • 53 5
 porn is better when it’s moving and have sound.
  • 56 17
 Honest question. Would you prefer we not post the video based bike checks to the homepage? No snark, genuinely curious.
  • 33 0
 @brianpark: i like them. Baste
  • 63 3
 @brianpark: nope, dont change video is awesome
  • 39 1
 @brianpark: Video's great, especially when the person being interviewed is really into their own tweaks *cough* greenland *cough*
  • 5 20
flag BenPea (Jun 18, 2021 at 0:26) (Below Threshold)
 @brianpark: Not sure 17 upvotes constitutes a majority.
  • 28 0
 @brianpark: I like a format with both vid and photos. My work network won’t allow the vids, I need photos!
  • 27 0
 @brianpark: Video plus photos...please Smile
  • 31 0
 @brianpark: post the video and the photos in the same article. A while back a similar bike check was posted then the photos were posted at a later time. That said, I get that this may be a strategy to drive traffic to get views on YouTube, then also capture the audience to check back in on the photo article. Also, more of a priority…… update the BuySell to be a modern marketplace
  • 8 14
flag continuity (Jun 18, 2021 at 0:35) (Below Threshold)
 @brianpark: no - we just want you to change them for photos with writeup.
  • 19 0
 I up voted @seraph and regretted it after watching video
I like reading articles as it just seems faster. But hadn’t bothered to read down to see I was a Ben Cathro video which I normally really like. And did again this time.
It was a great follow up to the Needles podcast with Edward Masters which was also very interesting
I think people dont like bike check videos when just photos would do because the rider is just using normal products from their sponsors. The stuff we have all seen before. Well before Covid.
But all these bikes were pretty new and with some trick new stuff
But this video also went into the lowdown on the last world cup

Maybe you could do a photo wrapup of the video. But if you need the YouTube money. Take the money. Its not like we actually pay you for all the content we consume.

@brianpark:
  • 25 0
 @brianpark: Both videos and photos are unacceptable. I demand my front page media in a hand made paper mache frame by frame depiction of the frames, with accompanying accented lily undertones
  • 11 0
 @brianpark: Both have merits, if you're just running through a spec list then photos/text work well.
In this where it's a proper conversation/interview regarding setup, tweaks and preferences where it offers more than just a list of parts then a video is prime.
  • 8 0
 @brianpark: photos and the video in the same article please Smile
  • 6 0
 Next up: Ben Cathro, Inside the Tape as photostory…
  • 6 1
 @brianpark: I like the video.
  • 7 0
 @brianpark: best bije check I have seen on here yet, Cathro actually knows and understands what to ask.
  • 8 3
 Cathro interviewing top ranked riders is great, people just complain cause they are used to pics.
  • 8 0
 @brianpark: How could Danny tell us about his Great Britain valve cap in a photo?
  • 2 1
 @brianpark: post them if you want, but give us a write up with pictures so we can enjoy when we should be working and can't watch videos Wink
  • 2 0
 @brianpark: If it's Cathro talking to these lot then it's more worthy than most of the homepage posts. Other bike check vids on merit perhaps?
  • 4 6
 @brianpark: a video accompanying a photo/text bike check is good.

When I open an article and see it's just a video though, I just close the page.
  • 7 0
 This could have been an email!
  • 1 1
 Hey Brian I've just photographed the video while it is running. Seems to work. I'd call it good enough to keep the moaners happy.
  • 1 0
 @brianpark: Just post both.
  • 1 0
 @brianpark: video with photos underneath would be great
  • 6 1
 @brianpark: do Friday fails in photo form one week and watch the tears roll.
  • 3 0
 @brianpark: from what I can tell from aggregate comments is that people want both video and photos. It will also allow everyone to complain all in the same place.
  • 6 2
 @brianpark: Honestly don't even watch the bike check vids. It's not as easy to scope the bike in detail, not enjoyable to me at all. Don't watch them.
  • 2 0
 @brianpark: Not about the question, but an suggestion. It think that i would be interesting if you did a series of bikes checks with different themes, fx. suspension, which would include sag, fast or slow rebound and how many clicks of compression. You could also do some about tires or cockpit setup.
  • 4 0
 @DARKSTAR63: you should watch this one, it’s good.
  • 2 0
 @brianpark: I'd like both. Seems easy enough to grab a still of each bike and post them inline with the video all in the same post...
  • 3 1
 @brianpark: No, keep posting them. I think with video format youre going to get way more info and insight than what pics and captions can get across. The direct insight from the rider or mechanic is awesome. I feel like youd miss some of that with a caption or it may not come across the same as it does with live commentary. If its just one bike check pics can work but when you have this many it would take 100 pics to get the same info across.
  • 2 0
 @brianpark: prefer stills - heart always sinks a bit when I see its video....
  • 1 0
 OK - so I hadn't spotted that it was Ben C (Yeh, ok, watched) - but my first reaction is always prefer stills. But will now watch & see if the wonderful Mr C is as good as ever & can turn it around... more soon... bet you can't wait...
  • 1 0
 @h20-50: Just use a VPN
  • 3 0
 @brianpark: Sometimes nice to hear the rider actually talking about their bike to get their opinions on things, but the high quality closeup pics are where the drool is at
  • 1 0
 OK now watched up to start of Joe Breedon - Screeeching U-turn - Cathro makes it. As other commenters have said - interesting , knowledgeable questions delivered in a friendly casual way that the riders respond really well & honestly to (so far presume no agro kicks off after Reese). Thanks BC & PB
  • 1 0
 the problem in this particular "article" is Cathro, he is not the Editor type, he is not gonna seat with a laptop, type and edit an article, he just grabed a cameraman and said "hey mate lets check some bikes, follow me"
  • 6 1
 @brianpark: Video, photos, written description of the bikes, interpretive dance in video form, written description of interpretive dance in both English and Morse code.... that should cover it.
  • 1 0
 @brianpark: Bike porn content is good in any form. If someone doesn’t want to watch a video they don’t have to.
  • 3 0
 @brianpark: I really liked the video. I watched the whole thing through with a morning ☕
  • 8 0
 @brianpark: I suppose it depends on who's doing the interviewing. Ben Cathro is amazing. Good knowledge of racing, good knowledge of bike tech, but above all, he seems to have a great relationship with the riders and has that natural interviewer's ability to get them to talk. It really elevates the value of these bike checks. We wouldn't be able to get that in photos. Though I also really like photo stories for drooling over product, or trying to wrap my head around how something works...
  • 1 0
 @brianpark: Photo bike checks are better than video. I'm just not going to watch this.
  • 1 0
 @brianpark: I never watch them. I much prefer looking at photos, especially if there are multiple detail pictures for each bike. Even though you can pause a video whenever you want, you just can't get the high resolution that you can with a photo.
  • 1 0
 @Frontrange: you’re missing out.
  • 1 0
 Anyone notice Danny Harts voice
  • 1 0
 @woyshnis-media: Nope, never noticed his voice from the 100+ video interviews PB has done with him over the years.
  • 3 0
 Can you believe they followed the 30k+ views instead of the dozen salty comments?
  • 1 0
 @tttyyler: hahaha, end of the discussion.
  • 2 2
 @brianpark: Honest question: is this really about corralling your readers onto YouTube for monetization? Loyal readers would appreciate an honest answer. Asking us whether you should remove the article all together seems punitive and passive aggressive TBH. Why not post images AND the video on the home page ?
  • 3 0
 @brianpark: nope don't change them just because some self entitled clown says to.
  • 1 0
 @DGWW: Absolutely what it's about. To be honest I don't have a lot of time to watch videos, I can't do that at work, I'm busy at home, simply not a youtuber. I pass over most of the video content. It probably works for them but it not a great fit for me. Not mad about, is what it is.
  • 1 0
 @mhoshal: Pinkbike is a business, we are their clients. We provide them with income by visiting the site and consuming the advertisements. Having a desire or preference as a customer doesn't make anyone entitled (or a clown). Someone believing that they don't have any power here would make someone a clown in my view.
  • 1 0
 Not sure 55 upvotes constitutes a majority.
  • 1 0
 @DGWW: Considering they didn't serve an ad from YT, I'd say it's probably the other way around. They are on YT for the much larger audience, and hope hope to channel some viewers back here where they get a greater share of ad revenue. Also a reliable embedded video doesn't hurt. I can recall when the site used a different media player and it had a lot of problems, and probably cost them more.
  • 1 0
 @brianpark: I think a lot of people who complain about video content are those at work or at school where access to the content is either frowned upon, blocked, necessitates silence, or exceeds their bandwidth capabilities.
  • 1 0
 @brianpark: Honest opinion from having worked in a little bit of audiovisual, is it too much to ask for both?
  • 2 0
 @brianpark: I like them.
  • 2 0
 @DH1977: I completely agree, if instead you added all the explanations and riders comments in text alongside the photos it would be like War & Peace with photos. There is so much knowledge transfer in this particular video.
  • 1 0
 @brianpark: really enjoy these videos where the pro’s go through the little things they do with their bikes.
  • 1 0
 @medievalbiking: username checks out.
  • 1 0
 @brianpark: I don't care much for photo stories anymore. I prefer video. Which is to say different folks have different preferences so your current approach makes sense. Maybe a filter for video bike checks like for bikes. Seems to be just as controversial ;-P
  • 2 0
 @brianpark: Cathro's getting enough detail out of each person to make the video far more worthwhile, IMO. Pictures are nice, but hearing people explain their preferences and tweaks is far more interesting.
  • 30 0
 ben cathro for every bike check please.........all the others ive seen done by other people have been crap (sorry) mostly just commenting on pointless stuff like "i see you have a oneup bar fitted.....nice" like thats anything of interest unless its something different from anyone else's oneup bar.
  • 8 0
 Totally agree. He is actually asking interesting questions about set up choices, like Laurie's crowns or Reece's flat pedal switching, whereas a lot of bike checks are just people listing parts.
  • 30 0
 Really enjoyed the video!! Think Cathro made it different with a more personal touch
  • 10 0
 Great video, interesting to see pro riders riding such different setups.
Laurie steepening and lowering his new bike and running more traditional fork crowns too.
Vali not having an issue with 29" wheels but the bigger guys running mullet and Reece still had clear tyre buzz on race run last weekend.
Mixing brakes too for a different feel.
I bet so many are tinkering with so many details to try and find those 1/10th's
  • 1 34
flag DoubleCrownAddict (Jun 18, 2021 at 2:44) (Below Threshold)
 She would have won muddy Leogang had she been on smaller wheels, IMHO. She'll be ok on the dry tracks with 29 though.
  • 12 0
 @DoubleCrownAddict: *she would have won if she didn’t end up face down in a gravelly rut
  • 2 0
 yeah even running one carbon rim, one alumnimum rim along with trying different spokes was mentioned. crazy
  • 4 5
 @DoubleCrownAddict: She would've won if she were still on YT.
  • 1 0
 @santacruz-ing:
It would be great to have an insight into which teams test what. Also what influence sponsors have to determine what a rider rides, regardless of performance on the track.
I hear some teams test next to nothing, others everything.
Carbon does feel so different to aluminium for rims.
.
Its racing, nothing (within the realms or reason and test limits) should be left to chance, but there are so many variables, all with a different input for different riders.
  • 11 0
 I like how even with a mechanic in here, Laurie comes off as the most knowledgeable about bike set up.
  • 2 0
 I liked his lock on tip, I’m going to steal that one.
  • 8 0
 Straight up, Cathro is THE GOAT when it comes to mtb media presenters. He is extremely knowledgeable, relaxed, and makes a regular bike check segment much more detailed and interesting to watch
  • 2 0
 for real he has a good vibe with the riders and it seems like they like him
  • 7 0
 Videos work well for things like this where we have Cathro interviewing riders, or for Daily Drivers etc. I think the mix of both video and images works well. Just depends on the context.
  • 6 0
 This is cool to hear the little details from the riders.

Makes me feel less of a freak too about the tiny differences I can notice (while riding far more slowly).
  • 4 0
 Why did Danny mount his front disc rotor in the wrong way? Mayby way faster?
I'll try it this afternoon and come back on this topic.
  • 5 0
 Me: *See's Ben Cathro in thumbnail*
*click**click**click**click**click**click*
  • 6 0
 I would like to see "new" Glory
  • 11 4
 Giant is on top of it and has scheduled the next suspension design update is for 2032.
  • 2 0
 @DoubleCrownAddict: i mean new colours Big Grin
  • 2 0
 @brianpark it may have been done but if not it would be interesting to see how many of the pro DH riders use a 27.5” front wheel? It seems like they have all decided that 29” front wheels are faster.
Get Cathro on it at the next World Cup round!
  • 3 0
 I doubt any pro (sponsored rider) is using a 27.5" front wheel. Even if their frame sponsor doesn't have a 29" dh frame they can just jam a 29" wheel on a 27.5 fork or run a proper 29 fork.

29" wheels are faster. That's a fact. Riders under 6 foot in height are limited in their control of the bike by 29" rear wheels, but no one, no matter how short, is hindered by 29" front wheels.

I would expect only privateers on dated equipment due to budget constraints to be racing on 27.5" front wheels.
  • 4 0
 Great. Thanks Pinkbike.
  • 1 0
 Anyone else notices two valves on the rear of Vali bike? Just curious, it looked like an orange valve and Ben didn't mention it so didn't know if it's new or just old tech.
  • 3 0
 I forgot to ask that question! She’s got a tube + tubeless setup in there. Matt says it’s the most reliable system they’ve tried.
  • 1 0
 @ben-cathro: Kade seemed to be running tube and tubeless in this bike when it exploded on the Whip-off too.
  • 2 0
 ...Including the Trek
  • 2 0
 Did Danny lose a tooth?
  • 11 2
 Yeah, he got slapped in his face with his own balls
  • 3 2
 I'm at work and YT can't be viewed....
  • 1 5
flag DoubleCrownAddict (Jun 18, 2021 at 2:49) (Below Threshold)
 Would have denigrated the viewing quality and made it seem unclassy.
  • 4 0
 That is useful to know for everyone on the internet. Go home and watch it...
  • 1 0
 The Session had two session's
  • 1 0
 Props to KERT for the sponsored video !
  • 1 0
 Why not a video AND pictures? Best of both worlds.
  • 1 0
 great vid, really enjoyed that.
  • 1 0
 Cathro, please film everyone so that you don't look kike a giant! Wink
  • 2 2
 They do look a bit like sessions ..
  • 2 3
 I'd say Penny Farthing's some of them!
  • 2 2
 They all look like sessions
  • 1 0
 sweet goggles, bro
  • 2 2
 I miss Christina C on these vids!
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