That Rob Warner/Greg Minnaar interview seemed pretty revealing.
"He's going back to" [CENSORED]. Has to mean Trek. No way Yeti can pay him. Plus the Team...
That Rob Warner/Greg Minnaar interview seemed pretty revealing.
"He's going back to" [CENSORED]. Has to mean Trek. No way Yeti can pay him. Plus the Team Rumours (or Ream Tumours) seemed to note someone (who was akin to Chad Reed) was going the way of starting his own team. Has to be Gwin.
I'm pretty sure Rob actually says "He's coming back on a [beep]" and it definitely sounds like the word starts with a letter R.
You never know with Warner though, probably a wind up.
I'm pretty sure Rob actually says "He's coming back on a [beep]" and it definitely sounds like the word starts with a letter R.
You never...
I'm pretty sure Rob actually says "He's coming back on a [beep]" and it definitely sounds like the word starts with a letter R.
You never know with Warner though, probably a wind up.
At least we know Minnaar isn't going to Commençal. I like seeing him
on the Syndicate. Trade team or not. Something tells me they'll be conforming
to have it a little better this year. Well....unless they're making a lot of money being
the anarchists. Interview with Warner
Gwin wouldn't take a step backwards and jump back in bed with Trek unless Martin Whitley has a program he can't refuse
.
I still say YT or a self-organised team with specialized...
~Or~ (plot twist) he just rides for the same specialized team this year with troy as he did last year....
On another note, this forum just hit 800 replies, damn the rumors are hot this year!
There's a TLD KTM Team and there's a SRAM TLD Racing Team. I have a hunch Aaron Gwin is racing for TLD (using either of the above names) and they'll end up using a YT just cause Cam Zink (a TLD rider) has a stake in North American distribution.
I heard:
-Ex-Lapierre Team now on Specialized
-Gwin was asking so much money of Specialized he was kicked out, knocked at YT's door, was declined as well and probably signed with someone else for less money.
Not sure on how reliable that is, but most of the stuff I was told by that source turned out to be true!
I heard:
-Ex-Lapierre Team now on Specialized
-Gwin was asking so much money of Specialized he was kicked out, knocked at YT's door, was declined as...
I heard:
-Ex-Lapierre Team now on Specialized
-Gwin was asking so much money of Specialized he was kicked out, knocked at YT's door, was declined as well and probably signed with someone else for less money.
Not sure on how reliable that is, but most of the stuff I was told by that source turned out to be true!
I don't see Gwin as the kind of guy to get kicked out of anywhere. Or the sort of guy who has to go round knocking on companies' doors to try and get sponsored.
I heard:
-Ex-Lapierre Team now on Specialized
-Gwin was asking so much money of Specialized he was kicked out, knocked at YT's door, was declined as...
I heard:
-Ex-Lapierre Team now on Specialized
-Gwin was asking so much money of Specialized he was kicked out, knocked at YT's door, was declined as well and probably signed with someone else for less money.
Not sure on how reliable that is, but most of the stuff I was told by that source turned out to be true!
I don't see Gwin as the kind of guy to get kicked out of anywhere. Or the sort of guy who has to go round knocking...
I don't see Gwin as the kind of guy to get kicked out of anywhere. Or the sort of guy who has to go round knocking on companies' doors to try and get sponsored.
Maybe if it were phrased differently;
Gwins contract is expiring and the amount he asked for was not within Specialized's budget, so they walked. Maybe YT then expressed interest through Zink, and again maybe he was asking more than YT were willing to give so they walked too.
He might win races but this is still a business and if Gwin is asking for more than Specialized can justify on a single marketing asset then bye bye.
I heard:
-Ex-Lapierre Team now on Specialized
-Gwin was asking so much money of Specialized he was kicked out, knocked at YT's door, was declined as...
I heard:
-Ex-Lapierre Team now on Specialized
-Gwin was asking so much money of Specialized he was kicked out, knocked at YT's door, was declined as well and probably signed with someone else for less money.
Not sure on how reliable that is, but most of the stuff I was told by that source turned out to be true!
I don't see Gwin as the kind of guy to get kicked out of anywhere. Or the sort of guy who has to go round knocking...
I don't see Gwin as the kind of guy to get kicked out of anywhere. Or the sort of guy who has to go round knocking on companies' doors to try and get sponsored.
Maybe if it were phrased differently;
Gwins contract is expiring and the amount he asked for was not within Specialized's budget, so they walked. Maybe YT...
Maybe if it were phrased differently;
Gwins contract is expiring and the amount he asked for was not within Specialized's budget, so they walked. Maybe YT then expressed interest through Zink, and again maybe he was asking more than YT were willing to give so they walked too.
He might win races but this is still a business and if Gwin is asking for more than Specialized can justify on a single marketing asset then bye bye.
It only makes sense that Spesh wouldn't re-sign Gwin when they just picked up Graves. A decent season from Graves will probably sell more trail bikes than a historic season from Gwin. I wouldn't be surprised if there is no longer a Specialized Factory team for DH and instead they are the frame supplier for another major team (similar to the setup of TLD/Sram or United Ride).
I could also see YT being a frame sponsor for Gwin's new team. They might not have the scratch to be the main sponsor but I could see them hooking up with a company like TLD and creating a new team built specifically for Gwin.
I'm not buying it. Troy will definitely be a full on factory supported rider. I could see gwin riding yt but it's laughable that he could be scrambling. I figure gwin will be riding a demo maybe that's it from specialized. He finds a new tire company and all that jazz.
It only makes sense that Spesh wouldn't re-sign Gwin when they just picked up Graves. A decent season from Graves will probably sell more trail bikes...
It only makes sense that Spesh wouldn't re-sign Gwin when they just picked up Graves. A decent season from Graves will probably sell more trail bikes than a historic season from Gwin. I wouldn't be surprised if there is no longer a Specialized Factory team for DH and instead they are the frame supplier for another major team (similar to the setup of TLD/Sram or United Ride).
I could also see YT being a frame sponsor for Gwin's new team. They might not have the scratch to be the main sponsor but I could see them hooking up with a company like TLD and creating a new team built specifically for Gwin.
I doubt it, an average result in the EWS gets almost no coverage. Hell, a good result gets almost no coverage!
Long bow to say he would sell more, sure the bikes are more similar to the mass market but Id get pretty excited to ride the trail bike that the chainless wonder is riding.
Anyway, off topic sorry.
One option is that if they realised they couldnt afford him, decided where else they could spend their money. They already got a top World Cup rider (Brosnan), XC and road racers. So why not get a top Enduro rider? Make an offer to Graves and voila. That to me makes sense. Graves > Gwin does not,
And I believe Brosnan is still racing world cups. Specialized would be smart to stay in WC just like any of the big guns. F1 and innovation baby yeah!
Yt probably does not have money to run a team with Gwin. Also i dont think they really need him - they have bike which is...
Yt probably does not have money to run a team with Gwin. Also i dont think they really need him - they have bike which is good, almost every time out of stock, so why they would need a Gwin on it? They will simply continue improving what they have...
I would bet its Canyon if any... they have money, they have all resources needed to build a bike from scratch, they have people, they are more PRO than YT, they have wide range of bikes which is good for expanding if everyone talks about your company, they are actually expanding worldwide, and they need a new DH bike as hell, because its the last product they did not improve since a few years ago.
So it's Barel as team manager and Gwin as test dummy for a new bike? Highly doubt that - Gwin is very into winning races and...
So it's Barel as team manager and Gwin as test dummy for a new bike? Highly doubt that - Gwin is very into winning races and capable of any track. Don't think he wants to get a bike not capable of winning at all.
Where i said that? :) You know what Canyon is doing behind the wall? What bikes they are testing and working on? If Barel will be...
Where i said that?
You know what Canyon is doing behind the wall? What bikes they are testing and working on? If Barel will be really a team manager? If bike that does not exist is capable of winning or not?
My point was that Canyon has resources and there is a room to have a top guy on program so they can work on making a top bike. YT does not need that.
@Kusa that was not an accusation - Barel was in the ring for being the future sh team manager. He retired and ao it would make sense.
Don't get me wrong - I would love to see how they can prove their bikes in dh wc
I don't see Gwin as the kind of guy to get kicked out of anywhere. Or the sort of guy who has to go round knocking...
I don't see Gwin as the kind of guy to get kicked out of anywhere. Or the sort of guy who has to go round knocking on companies' doors to try and get sponsored.
Maybe if it were phrased differently;
Gwins contract is expiring and the amount he asked for was not within Specialized's budget, so they walked. Maybe YT...
Maybe if it were phrased differently;
Gwins contract is expiring and the amount he asked for was not within Specialized's budget, so they walked. Maybe YT then expressed interest through Zink, and again maybe he was asking more than YT were willing to give so they walked too.
He might win races but this is still a business and if Gwin is asking for more than Specialized can justify on a single marketing asset then bye bye.
That team has been gone for years.
Charlie I think is on back on Trek as of last year
Jon has a deal with Specialized
Logan is his big brothers mechanic
Rich I think is just working for Hookit and is Gwins agent.
That team was part of the package when he signed with Trek, then he had a similar thing with Specialized
Gwin is obviously an amazing competitor but his personal beliefs and what not do get in the way of his marketability. I think if he won half as many races but was more entertaining off the track he would be worth way more than he is now. Mountain biking is a lifestyle or at least people want to think it is, conservative christian beliefs don't always fit in that lifestyle or image that has been created. I bet an injured Sam Hill is as valuable as a healthy Gwin when it comes to sales. All of this mixed with the opinions that american core riders (thats the only people in the US that even know what UCI is) have of Specialized as a brand just don't add up to increased sales. An american dude that buys a Demo is buying a Demo no matter who is riding it at the top level.
Just to stir the pot here.
Gwin is obviously an amazing competitor but his personal beliefs and what not do get in the way of his...
Just to stir the pot here.
Gwin is obviously an amazing competitor but his personal beliefs and what not do get in the way of his marketability. I think if he won half as many races but was more entertaining off the track he would be worth way more than he is now. Mountain biking is a lifestyle or at least people want to think it is, conservative christian beliefs don't always fit in that lifestyle or image that has been created. I bet an injured Sam Hill is as valuable as a healthy Gwin when it comes to sales. All of this mixed with the opinions that american core riders (thats the only people in the US that even know what UCI is) have of Specialized as a brand just don't add up to increased sales. An american dude that buys a Demo is buying a Demo no matter who is riding it at the top level.
So, here you are getting after Gwin for bringing religion into his interviews, yet you are bringing it into a forum about racing rumors. Guys who make comments like yours bring up Gwin's religion more frequently than Gwin does.
Just to stir the pot here.
Gwin is obviously an amazing competitor but his personal beliefs and what not do get in the way of his...
Just to stir the pot here.
Gwin is obviously an amazing competitor but his personal beliefs and what not do get in the way of his marketability. I think if he won half as many races but was more entertaining off the track he would be worth way more than he is now. Mountain biking is a lifestyle or at least people want to think it is, conservative christian beliefs don't always fit in that lifestyle or image that has been created. I bet an injured Sam Hill is as valuable as a healthy Gwin when it comes to sales. All of this mixed with the opinions that american core riders (thats the only people in the US that even know what UCI is) have of Specialized as a brand just don't add up to increased sales. An american dude that buys a Demo is buying a Demo no matter who is riding it at the top level.
Wait what?
The whole idea of sponsoring a world cup downhill racer is so he proves the equipment in one of the most demanding environments known to man. Personality is important, sure, but its more important that he/she is a professional than he/she is a party animal or "entertaining" off stage. Look at Wyn. I love that dude but I don't think his top 30 WC race performance or party antics are really selling bikes or by your account all the bigguns would be knocking down his door.
Mountain bikers are an educated group. Bikes are expensive. Results speak to buying decisions way before "who would I like to have a beer with" (though I'd argue both are relatively unimportant overall)
To add Sam Hill is one of the most boring off-track personalities. I personally think its sort of badass but there was a time I was fairly certain he was a two wheeled drift robot sent from the future to destroy every flat corner on the planet. Look at all his old interviews. He has like zero tonal inflection to his speech. ..
Wait what?
The whole idea of sponsoring a world cup downhill racer is so he proves the equipment in one of the most demanding environments known...
Wait what?
The whole idea of sponsoring a world cup downhill racer is so he proves the equipment in one of the most demanding environments known to man. Personality is important, sure, but its more important that he/she is a professional than he/she is a party animal or "entertaining" off stage. Look at Wyn. I love that dude but I don't think his top 30 WC race performance or party antics are really selling bikes or by your account all the bigguns would be knocking down his door.
Mountain bikers are an educated group. Bikes are expensive. Results speak to buying decisions way before "who would I like to have a beer with" (though I'd argue both are relatively unimportant overall)
To add Sam Hill is one of the most boring off-track personalities. I personally think its sort of badass but there was a time I was fairly certain he was a two wheeled drift robot sent from the future to destroy every flat corner on the planet. Look at all his old interviews. He has like zero tonal inflection to his speech. ..
Thank you Jeff. I personally am not a fan of religion. I don't bother with it myself. AND I've been annoyed by Gwin mentioning it after winning. I figure that the closest that I come is as a failed Buddhist. He was just a cool human, but I just can't be as cool as he was. I'm thankful that you didn't turn this forum into an argument about god. Race on.
I mean Rob Waner said he was going "Back" onto blank bike brand. Was he saying that to throw us off the sent or was he being serious and why do the brits get to know who Gwin is riding for before americans? Brits are always trying to control us!!
So, here you are getting after Gwin for bringing religion into his interviews, yet you are bringing it into a forum about racing rumors. Guys who...
So, here you are getting after Gwin for bringing religion into his interviews, yet you are bringing it into a forum about racing rumors. Guys who make comments like yours bring up Gwin's religion more frequently than Gwin does.
Like I said stirring the pot, and to be fair you're assuming way more about me than I did Gwin in my comment.
There are other post talking about marketability of the riders so I thought it was fair game. If bike companies don't think about this stuff when signing someone then thats their bad. I personally don't care how anyone affiliates but to pretend this doesn't exist is stupid or ignorant. In retrospect I should have known that its a touchy subject. I am just saying its not all about results.
Jeff, you're right about Hills personality but his image is huge. People all over the world know who he is and love the fact that he doesn't clip in. He's like a god to the flat pedal brethren, but yeah poor example. I should have used the Syndicate as a example. Fun bunch of guys that shred and yeah they sell bikes.
Anyway sorry for distraction get back to the rumors.
@Russthedog I feel like you logic is very skewed. Obviously your a DH guy Primarily, as am I, but I also follow EWS closely and there Is Plenty of coverage for reults, maybe not as much as DH, but it isnt far off. Just because you dont actively look for it, doesnt mean it isnt there.
And Coverage on websites such as this, and magazines etc etc, is one thing, but bike sales is another, the 2 dont really go hand in hand. I would bet my left nut that Specialized sell EXPONENTIALLY more Enduros or even Stumpys than Demos already. DH results no doubt help sell DH bikes, but Trail bikes deadset murder DH bikes when it comes to sales. I can only imagine how many of the new (2017 realease?) Enduros Specialized will sell if Graves wins the EWS in 2016. It will be a hell of a lot more than Demo sales if Gwin happened to win both World champs and the World cup overall in the same season.
All that said, Where Gwin ends up is definitely the most interesting talking point of the whole 2016 rumours.
Wait what?
The whole idea of sponsoring a world cup downhill racer is so he proves the equipment in one of the most demanding environments known...
Wait what?
The whole idea of sponsoring a world cup downhill racer is so he proves the equipment in one of the most demanding environments known to man. Personality is important, sure, but its more important that he/she is a professional than he/she is a party animal or "entertaining" off stage. Look at Wyn. I love that dude but I don't think his top 30 WC race performance or party antics are really selling bikes or by your account all the bigguns would be knocking down his door.
Mountain bikers are an educated group. Bikes are expensive. Results speak to buying decisions way before "who would I like to have a beer with" (though I'd argue both are relatively unimportant overall)
To add Sam Hill is one of the most boring off-track personalities. I personally think its sort of badass but there was a time I was fairly certain he was a two wheeled drift robot sent from the future to destroy every flat corner on the planet. Look at all his old interviews. He has like zero tonal inflection to his speech. ..
"Look at Wyn. I love that dude but I don't think his top 30 WC race performance or party antics are really selling bikes or by your account all the bigguns would be knocking down his door".
He just signed with GT, are they not a big enough brand?
I think a lot of people miss the point of sponsoring or running a DH team, it isnt to sell bikes, thats just the end product way down the line, it is to create brand exposure and awareness;
You're not trying to sell people a bike, you're selling them an image or identity they can aspire to, ultimately determining their perception of your brand. How often do people attribute the characteristics of a top name rider to the bike they're riding? i do it all the time.
I think in this industry you cant get by without the product to back the marketing up, thats why the first contact with the customer has to be a positive image; Sam Hill being cool as fuck and getting a lot of media attention leads to people looking up what bike he rides, this leads to looking at reviews of the bike he rides and that leads to sales.
Results and personalities dont sell good bikes, they just generate the initial product exposure.
Personally i dont think Gwin is as effective in doing this as guys like Fairclough, Ratboy even Masters,
Bike brands don't necessarily run a dh team to sell dh bikes. Santa Cruz doesn't have a big factory enduro team, yet they sell more enduro bikes than brands that might have a big enduro team.
Some good thoughts about that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raGGw6fyDWk
Bike brands don't necessarily run a dh team to sell dh bikes. Santa Cruz doesn't have a big factory enduro team, yet they sell more enduro...
Bike brands don't necessarily run a dh team to sell dh bikes. Santa Cruz doesn't have a big factory enduro team, yet they sell more enduro bikes than brands that might have a big enduro team.
Some good thoughts about that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raGGw6fyDWk
This is very true. YT have big names now (in freeride), but a few years ago all the sales were because of rave reviews. Having big name riders is not the be all and end all of a successful company. Saying that, I think we'll start to see a lot more smaller brands try and scoop up bigger names to gain attention in what is a very competitive market.
At the end of the day, it's the bike that sells, not the rider on it.
You never know with Warner though, probably a wind up.
on the Syndicate. Trade team or not. Something tells me they'll be conforming
to have it a little better this year. Well....unless they're making a lot of money being
the anarchists.
Interview with Warner
.
I still say YT or a self-organised team with specialized...
~Or~ (plot twist) he just rides for the same specialized team this year with troy as he did last year....
On another note, this forum just hit 800 replies, damn the rumors are hot this year!
(Ruffin is with Commencal, for precisions......)
Gwin + ??? = YT
Both 100% confirmed.
-Ex-Lapierre Team now on Specialized
-Gwin was asking so much money of Specialized he was kicked out, knocked at YT's door, was declined as well and probably signed with someone else for less money.
Not sure on how reliable that is, but most of the stuff I was told by that source turned out to be true!
Gwins contract is expiring and the amount he asked for was not within Specialized's budget, so they walked. Maybe YT then expressed interest through Zink, and again maybe he was asking more than YT were willing to give so they walked too.
He might win races but this is still a business and if Gwin is asking for more than Specialized can justify on a single marketing asset then bye bye.
I could also see YT being a frame sponsor for Gwin's new team. They might not have the scratch to be the main sponsor but I could see them hooking up with a company like TLD and creating a new team built specifically for Gwin.
Long bow to say he would sell more, sure the bikes are more similar to the mass market but Id get pretty excited to ride the trail bike that the chainless wonder is riding.
Anyway, off topic sorry.
One option is that if they realised they couldnt afford him, decided where else they could spend their money. They already got a top World Cup rider (Brosnan), XC and road racers. So why not get a top Enduro rider? Make an offer to Graves and voila. That to me makes sense. Graves > Gwin does not,
And I believe Brosnan is still racing world cups. Specialized would be smart to stay in WC just like any of the big guns. F1 and innovation baby yeah!
Don't get me wrong - I would love to see how they can prove their bikes in dh wc
...including Gwin ;-)
Charlie I think is on back on Trek as of last year
Jon has a deal with Specialized
Logan is his big brothers mechanic
Rich I think is just working for Hookit and is Gwins agent.
That team was part of the package when he signed with Trek, then he had a similar thing with Specialized
Gwin is obviously an amazing competitor but his personal beliefs and what not do get in the way of his marketability. I think if he won half as many races but was more entertaining off the track he would be worth way more than he is now. Mountain biking is a lifestyle or at least people want to think it is, conservative christian beliefs don't always fit in that lifestyle or image that has been created. I bet an injured Sam Hill is as valuable as a healthy Gwin when it comes to sales. All of this mixed with the opinions that american core riders (thats the only people in the US that even know what UCI is) have of Specialized as a brand just don't add up to increased sales. An american dude that buys a Demo is buying a Demo no matter who is riding it at the top level.
The whole idea of sponsoring a world cup downhill racer is so he proves the equipment in one of the most demanding environments known to man. Personality is important, sure, but its more important that he/she is a professional than he/she is a party animal or "entertaining" off stage. Look at Wyn. I love that dude but I don't think his top 30 WC race performance or party antics are really selling bikes or by your account all the bigguns would be knocking down his door.
Mountain bikers are an educated group. Bikes are expensive. Results speak to buying decisions way before "who would I like to have a beer with" (though I'd argue both are relatively unimportant overall)
To add Sam Hill is one of the most boring off-track personalities. I personally think its sort of badass but there was a time I was fairly certain he was a two wheeled drift robot sent from the future to destroy every flat corner on the planet. Look at all his old interviews. He has like zero tonal inflection to his speech. ..
There are other post talking about marketability of the riders so I thought it was fair game. If bike companies don't think about this stuff when signing someone then thats their bad. I personally don't care how anyone affiliates but to pretend this doesn't exist is stupid or ignorant. In retrospect I should have known that its a touchy subject. I am just saying its not all about results.
Jeff, you're right about Hills personality but his image is huge. People all over the world know who he is and love the fact that he doesn't clip in. He's like a god to the flat pedal brethren, but yeah poor example. I should have used the Syndicate as a example. Fun bunch of guys that shred and yeah they sell bikes.
Anyway sorry for distraction get back to the rumors.
And Coverage on websites such as this, and magazines etc etc, is one thing, but bike sales is another, the 2 dont really go hand in hand. I would bet my left nut that Specialized sell EXPONENTIALLY more Enduros or even Stumpys than Demos already. DH results no doubt help sell DH bikes, but Trail bikes deadset murder DH bikes when it comes to sales. I can only imagine how many of the new (2017 realease?) Enduros Specialized will sell if Graves wins the EWS in 2016. It will be a hell of a lot more than Demo sales if Gwin happened to win both World champs and the World cup overall in the same season.
All that said, Where Gwin ends up is definitely the most interesting talking point of the whole 2016 rumours.
He just signed with GT, are they not a big enough brand?
I think a lot of people miss the point of sponsoring or running a DH team, it isnt to sell bikes, thats just the end product way down the line, it is to create brand exposure and awareness;
You're not trying to sell people a bike, you're selling them an image or identity they can aspire to, ultimately determining their perception of your brand. How often do people attribute the characteristics of a top name rider to the bike they're riding? i do it all the time.
I think in this industry you cant get by without the product to back the marketing up, thats why the first contact with the customer has to be a positive image; Sam Hill being cool as fuck and getting a lot of media attention leads to people looking up what bike he rides, this leads to looking at reviews of the bike he rides and that leads to sales.
Results and personalities dont sell good bikes, they just generate the initial product exposure.
Personally i dont think Gwin is as effective in doing this as guys like Fairclough, Ratboy even Masters,
Some good thoughts about that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raGGw6fyDWk
At the end of the day, it's the bike that sells, not the rider on it.
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