The Pinkbike Podcast: Episode 60 - What Kind of Mountain Biker Do You Want to Be?

 I want to make it to an old mountain biker.

 “I think it’s nice to develop skills on a freeride or downhill side of things. Then use those skills on a shorter travel bikes and be able to go on a 10,000 vert ride that has alot of difficult sections/features on it”

Kaz, I think you may have just discovered a new sub-sub category of riding; Gnarcountry

 A grim donut riding, e-bike hating, session loving and all around straight to the comments mountain biker... I. AM. PINKBIKE.

 I want to be the mountain biker that stays healthy, always is positive and enjoys every ride, consistently rides with a good group of friends, takes joy in finding small things to improve upon, has decent enough fitness to commit to a suffer-fest within short notice, and always friendly to anyone on the trails. I'd like to think I'm close to this now and try to remember how grateful I am.

 there are always these type of guys, that BMXed most of their childhood but barely mountain bike nowadays that they are on their 20s or 30s even 40s, but whenever they grab any MTB they just shred it... jumps, drops, KOMs, gaps, tricks, anything... that was my goal for some years. Today a bar turn and a 3 meter wheelie is good enough for me.

 To be goatee free until death. This is the way.

 I'm 52, and still a relatively pain free rider, except for the odd mishap(separated shoulder, fractured ankle, broken tibial plateau,.... LOL). I just want to keep it going like this for as long as I can.

 Levy you said this episode would be about aliens!!

 For the brake question guy in the Shimano lineup:

BR-MT420 is the lowest/cheapest 4 piston Shimano brakes.
BR-MT520 Servo Wave + 4 piston --- you want to be here or above

BR-M6xxx and above is Deore.

 I like big jumps. I would like to look good doing big jumps…

 Question for the panel: How has where you grew up riding played a role in what sorts of skills you excel in? Growing up in Connecticut (sidebar: Kaz, where in CT did you ride and were you around for the 2000s freeride glory days of Meshomasic and Trumbull?) I've always found that tight awkward corners and flat chunky tech were a relative strength and still what I enjoy most. While I've travelled and gotten better at other aspects of riding I definitely believe my environment shaped the type of rider I've become. Do other regions have these types of specialties or is it just "mountain biking".

 Question/rant for the podcast team:

Why do we talk about seat tube angle (or effective seat tube angle) so much when discussing geo vs effective top tube? As someone who recently got into mountain biking and spent probably a little too much time looking at geo charts all the talk about seat angle makes no sense. I am aware it is usually used in the context of seating pedaling position and that for two bikes with the same reach the one with the steeper ESA will feel smaller/more upright - generally to make a longer reach more manageable. The thing is ESA doesn’t make sense for the following reasons:

1. You also need to combine it with the reach to determine how the bike will feel. ETT tells you with one number.
1.5. ETT is linear and easier for smooth brains like me to understand. All ESA does is let you calculate ETT by yourself. (I know most geo charts have ETT on them. I just don’t understand the focus on ESA.)
2. Many bikes have kinked seat tubes or seat tubes that do not start at the bottom bracket. To understand how much worse off taller riders may be or how much drop you may need to get the seat out of the way (something Kaz is fond of talking about) you also need the actual seat angle.

I think riders would be better served by talking about ETT and (and actual seat angle if you want more info). Is talking about ETT just not cool anymore?

 I want to be supportive of the MTB community, but also fit and injury-free. Hoping to ride until I'm 80 and don't want crashes to limit that.

Current goals are weight loss and mental health maintenance. And to stay fit enough that I can go for a longer ride with folks 20yrs younger and not get left too far behind (I haven't tested this proposition yet lol).

 I'm an urban down free country all mountain-ish MX rider. After I get my son though college maybe I can add "e" to the front of that list.

 Hey PB team, one of the many users claiming to be trained as a scientist checking in. Hi. A suggestion I offer yall as you roll out more of the State of the Sport content: the line 'the data speak for themselves' isn't true. Evidence supports a story. If you don't at least try to provide the story, some loudmouth in the comments or 75k users' preconceived notions will fit the data to the preconceptions and provide the story, or 75k different stories. If PB is going to tread into analyses like the gender pay gap, I think you have a responsibility to know the state of that debate and to present your new data with some respect for those who've come before you. I think you have a responsibility not to roll over to some goobers in the comments who spout off pseudo intellectual whaarrblgarble that gets 50 upvotes for pushing the story "aCtuAlLy, there's nothing to see here because eConOnOmIcs" or "EvErYoNe agreed to to everything that's ever happened to them, so it's fine!"

 Question for the group:

Do you ever get tired of needing to be diplomatic in the bike industry? Do you ever wish you could just call out a brand for mediocre engineering masquerading behind great marketing or talented riders? For example: do you ever want to ask Trek what in the world they're doing with their R&D budget because they haven't done anything since they released ABP in 2007?

 RIP, TEAR, SHRED!!!... but also chill enough to enjoy & protect the environment - not so much I'm considered apart of Greenpeace, but still not blow-up an old lady pushing her shopping cart across the trail and break her fresh dozen eggs either. Something like that... full heavy metal headbanger chilling at a classical concert

 It's funny listening to your thoughts on the shoddy brakes on entry level bikes. Your perspectives are all the same and I feel like you've forgotten who is likely buying those bikes. For me, a noob, upgrading from 100 dollar craigslist bikes trying to get into the sport for less than 1500, that entry level hardtail was the first bike I ever rode with disc brakes and I raved on and on about how amazing they were having only had v-brakes up to that point. Now a few years later I finally notice I could use some more stopping power, but most people getting entry level bikes don't know what they are missing out on. I'm guessing that's why manufacturers slap those on there to save their budgets.

 We’re all trail riders that strive to make the ups easier and the downs faster. Fact.

 I want to be a good dad

 Your totally right about wanting to be Fabio. I always wanted to be like him and ride bikes like his. Then I finally got to meet him at crankworx. I would also classify myself as an enduro rider/ kid that rides a 170mm enduro on trails with 5m vert up and down.

 seat angle have evolved a lot. the reach is not as relevant with those steep seat angles. The suspension have changed a lot too, the rider is way more centered on the bike and on suspension (better balance front and rear), the center gravity on the system (rider+bike) is better, and therefore, slack headangles and long wheelbase are not like feeling like they were before.

 I like to call myself a semi-rad rider. After starting mountain biking in Florida where there is very little elevation, our local trails focused mainly on building large jumps, drops, and features that eventually led to me braking my neck and taking a multiple year hiatus from the sport to recover. Fast forward to today, I currently live in California around the Monterey and Santa Cruz area where I ride some of the best trails around without my wheels ever having to leave the ground. I only ride a hardtail because my semi-rad philosophy says that if I can't ride a trail comfortably on my hardtail, I probably shouldn't be riding it.

 Downcountry/ aggressive cross country for life. I have 110mm rear, 120mm front and 2.8's. I can hit reasonable drops, cruise through mud and rocks, and pedal all day. I think about a longer travel bike all the time. Maybe 140-150 but in my mid atlantic area, whats the point? I would rather have my travel set up and tuned and use all of it than just hover around the mid stroke for every ride.

 I guess I would be called an xc/trail rider. I’ve moved to the more fitness side of riding. I’m the example of what people do when they get older, at 51 I’m not “old” but I have moved to different desires than I had at 25. I started racing BMX 40 years ago and moved to the MTB in 1988 and then physically moved to Missoula MT in 1990 for the back country and riding. I’m still here and still riding. Now I ride every day with commuting and have longer rides on the week ends and in the summer after work with the late sunsets. I love to get 40-50 mile rides in and still like to go up and down black trails but now I keep the wheels on the ground and take way less risks. Biking has kept my weight the same since I was 18 and want that to stay. I ride a ‘21 Epic Evo “down country” bike and imo they are the perfect bike for someone like me that has the ability to go on technical terrain but isn’t looking to bomb down or hit the big jumps and will probably never go to a bike park. I basically ride “all mountain” with a XC attack.

 Another geometry question: I'm wondering if I should keep worrying that I'm missing out on the whole long reach thing. I'm 6'6", and I'm on an XL ripmo AF with 495mm reach. Bumping up to 510mm doesn't seem worth it considering that I do like my bike, but maybe 525mm+ XXL bike is worth making a move? Is it really that noticeable? I ride in western WA, plenty of steep and technical. I do find myself hanging off the rear of the bike a fair amount.

 Question for the podcast for discussion, what's the prediction for new bike model year/release cycles with the continued effect of all things Covid now that a year has passed

Will we see brands sticking with models for a number of years, has already been talk of upcoming new models being delayed.

maybe reduced margins wont sustain previous levels of R&D and new models anymore

Bonus would be your current model stays current longer

 I am a Trail Mountain biker, in that I like to head out on my bike and ride trails. What gives me joy when riding my bike on trails are the places I can get to, the flow of the trail, the conquest of technical sections, and the high achieved from finishing a ride or demanding section. I embrace climbing on a trail as payment for the joy and an investment in making me a better all around rider. I just really enjoy riding trails whether they be flat, steep, flowy, janky, technical or double track.

How I got to this point; started out on BMX when I was preteen, even did some BMX racing. Than got a kuwhara MTB when i was 12, followed by a rigid rocky mountain fusion that i had from 14 - 19. Would ride flat rooty trails in my surrounding hood and some hills. Than borrowed my brothers XC hardtail with front suspension at 23 and started riding with some buddies, our original focus was cleaning sections going up than we graduated to trying to clean rock rolls going down. Eventually, i crumpled the XC frame as i was a heavy fellow. Got a Kona Chute and up my rock roll game while neglecting the fitness.

Eventually I moved onto a RM7 with a Monster T and we became big stunt hunters pushing our bike from stunt to stunt and only riding descents when available. Entered one DH race and finished 10th or so from last after suffering 3 crashes during my run, most likely because i really didn't study the trail i was riding and was not very fit. At this time I complained alot about climbing or having to climb. Basically i was a shuttle bro who didn't shuttle as I had a lack of access to shuttle able hills and frankly didn't have the stamina for more than 1.5 runs down any substantial hill. But I had a pretty freakish ability to send what were considered crazy lines at the time.

Stopped biking for about 5 years, sold the RM7 got a Norco Range than proceeded to discover that i actually liked riding trails both up and down. Did that for about 9 years and find myself back on a hardtail with modern geo riding the heck out of my bike both up and down, flowy and janky trails in Vancouver's northshore and loving every minute of whatever green, blue, black or double black i find myself on.

The biggest difference between than and now is that i embrace the climb and this has made every aspect of my trail riding better and more enjoyable.

 I was pondering taking up real live praying to ensure the return of The Stankshuns Podcast. Here it is, and I didn’t hear the word once.

No matter; 5 stars from OTB_TripAdvisor. Thanks, I love the good-humoured banter. Maybe lockdowns will ease up in December 2021, and this podcast series won’t be essential listening for the half the planet that is on suicide watch.

Comment Gold! What a treat. Good luck to all.

 @mikekazimer Re riding whatever bike we have is fun, regardless of geo and modern tech. I started on a 1981 Stumpjumper and my last bike (2020) had a HTA of 71.5 deg. We adapt to what we have.

@alicialeggett Modern geo and tech has opened up trails and capabilities we couldn't do on our old bikes. So it does move us into new riding territory.

 I want to be the one turns his own pedals.

 Question for the Pinkbike Podcast team: For those that ride clips, do any of you install the extra tread near the toes on your shoes? Does anyone in the biking world do that?

 I've never felt closer to you guys than hearing about how you just love riding and would do it no matter what.

 “...as the years go bye.” Levy, it caused me pain to see you send those two paragraphs so hard and crash at the finish tape. If you were trying to write in baby talk, please disregard the comment.

 I'm a 'Harduro' rider. Riding a hardtail on enduro trails and freeride style lines. (I.e Where they aren't designed to be ridden).

Why spend more on rear-sus when you can mess up your own joints instead!

 never go full enduro

 Yeah steezy jumps, smooth corners, float over gnar...above all, I want to be a happy mountain biker.

 Polite to other trail users (yes, even E(vil) bikers) and not a slave to whatever the current "fashion" is.

 @brianpark Haha, betting Wade Simmons has completely shaped the trajectory of a LOT of MTB'ers interests

 I want to continue getting better without getting so injured I can’t continue getting better.

 Brian Park: worlds most successful internet troll. I knew I remembered that name from somewhere! You really used to stir some things up on nsmb

 “As the years go bye” That’s deep, maaaan.

 That I have some kind of God power, I would made gigantic mountain then I would gather all mountain-bikers from whole world that we all together ride on it at the same time !

 Just want to be a mountain biker for many more happy knee pain free years.

 An OLD one

 All Mountain, All The Time.
Bury me with my bike(s.)

 Unfortunately, I can't be a mountain biker at all right now: apparently @ethirteen-components doesn't return emails regarding their 9-46 TRS cassettes breaking in half or having teeth fly off of their flimsy cogs.

Apparently computers don't function during a pandemic for customer service.

PNW responds within a day and we're on week 2 and waiting...

 I want to be as good as my bike is

 When will the HC/AM tshirts hit the pink bike shop?

@mikekazimer @mikelevy @brianpark

 100%.
Bikes are the answer.
First its fun, then it can hurt!
All trails, till I'm old~

 ..

 I want to be a better mountain biker.

 Is this available in Braille?

 I want to be the balance bike world champion!!!

 I want to be an ebike XC rider......

 The type that is better than I am

 Where are those Hayes Dominions “on sale”?

 Free ride + enduro= freedruo

 BETTER, I want to be a better mountain biker

 ''VIKING BEARD POWER'' AHAHAHAHAHA!

 Pinkbike paid for tattoos???? next podcast please!

 Full Goon 4 life.

 'woodsy jibber'??

 E-biker