shredchic

If Lifetime wants to differentiate actual mountain bike races from their gravel events, they should bring back the 100 mile MTB endurance races of yore, like the Cascade Cream Puff, (100 miles/15000'), the True Grit in Utah, the High Cascades in Bend, etc. These have been unjustly forgotten. If you're going to call it a mountain bike race, include actual singletrack trails that actual mountain bikers actually enjoy riding.

Nobody gets it! It's really quite simple. XM is to M what XL is to L.

I am also really sentimental about the old classic Ibis swoop, and logo having bought my first Ibis in 2007. But the new design looks powerful and balanced. I like both!

@mmcvl: They did have an industrial designer from the beginning and still have the same one (Roxy Lo), among others. Maybe it is fair to say the design overhaul was overdue, but that classic Mojo styling was beautiful and revolutionary compared to most bikes back in 2006. The design evolved over the years but the newer models are a clear departure, and are also beautiful, IMHO. To each their own I suppose.

It seems to be a pattern in enduro bike reviews to list a lack of DD casing as a huge negative. Not everyone lives next to a bike park and can justify the weight penalty. Certainly SCB has in mind a bigger market than Whistler residents.

It's gnarly! The el profile doesn't even tell the whole story. Epic hike a bike sections, not to mention carrying your bike disassembled on your back through the Grand Canyon.

It read like a French movie.

You can do it! The climbs/hike a bike are part of it, but you still get shuttled most of the way up most of the stages. I think the longest day when I did it was 25 miles. Most days were a lot less. Perhaps they could have one less stage each day for the amateur riders in general.

I did this as an amateur woman (2017). I had mixed feelings about it - mostly positive. The riding was some of the best most memorable I'd ever done in my life, and the people were really nice. But the vast majority of riders had expenses paid by their bike industry employer or sponsors. I felt really out of place, but more because I am not in the bike industry or a sponsored pro. The % of female involvement sadly must mirror what the bike industry looks like. I've never been to a Sturdy Dirty, but there are definitely some clues not very far away for how to get women to show up for something. I think the secret has to do with community, acceptance, camaraderie, laughter and good times. I think this event has all that, what it's missing is a lot of other women being there - especially amateurs. So yeah, it's a bit of chicken v. egg thing to boost involvement.

Hugs and healing to Jess Blewitt! She had a complete ripper of a run before the mishap! What a talent. Wishing for full recovery and good spirits.