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#bringbacktheslideshow!!

Thanks for the awesome coverage but please bring back the slideshow. Grab a coffee, hit play, then sit back and relax and soak up the world cup. Scrolling and reading just isn't the same.

bring the slideshow back

Sure, in a perfect world, we wouldn't do ANY first ride reviews. We'd only write about bikes that we tested against the direct competition on tracks that we know well. Since we can't really do that for every single bike launch, a first ride is often the next best thing. It's also good to be able to provide some actual real-world feedback on the day of the launch of a new bike, which is hard to do if you need to get a bike sent out to you first (many brands won't do that with a new bike, as they...

Great looking bike. I really like the single sided hardware and also since having mine for several years wondered when they would make the linkage carbon. Way to go YT!

Honest question: Why would Vital send a representative to test a bike under these circumstances? A handful of runs on an unfamiliar and scary track doesn't leave much room to make a meaningful impression. I can see how a "First Ride" article like this is great exposure for the brand, but I would be hard pressed to write anything meaningful about a bike after five runs in an unfamiliar locale.

To start with, seeing a bike in person is already infinitely better than copy-pasting a press release when it comes to evaluating the design process and the finished goods. I would argue that even without riding the bike, there are meaningful things to write about after merely a physical inspection. If you then add the opportunity to have in-depth discussions not only with the chief designer but also a rider like Aaron Gwin who was essentially the driving force behind most of the changes made to this particular bike, we benefit even more (both writers and readers). In general, when...

Awful fucking way to run the race with so many protected riders. Go kill it, Bulldog! And Eddie Masters! Yeah boy!

Mike Jones 4th fastest at split 3. On to watch this season.

i'd imagine they definitely factor in top qualifier for race coverage if not in top 20. would be insane not to include him in webcast. if he pins it, it'll be a nail-biter till the end! could be kinda cool

I think it’s so lame that even though Brook earned the top spot, we still won’t see him drop last. Will he be on the broadcast at all?

Aaron Gwin-Future American Idol superstar, UCI DH Masters participant, athlete agent, and motivational speaker. He's got a lot to look forward to after this career. Spomer you should have asked him what DH track from the past NORBAS would he liked to have raced...Schwietzer, Durango, East coast rox, Great interview and insight from AG. Thanks to VitalMTB and Aaron Gwin for putting this interview together.