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The new format means more race runs to watch on any given weekend which i'm all for. I don't agree with the protected rider status rules though - if you bin it in the semi-final, you should be out of the main final regardless.

I don't like the protection rules. I get you are protected into the race. That race is the Semi Finals. Not both the semi finals and the finals. I mean if you are that hurt, screw up 2 times be it a mistake or mechanical you don't deserve to be in the finals. You had your chance you blew it come back next week.

I don't mind it but kinda wish the Finals was on Sunday (or the day after semis) to spread it out a bit more.

Makes sense, comfort on a bike can sometimes outweigh other performance upgrades to a frame/bike. To make the cliche F1 reference, lots of times when one driver gets an "upgrade package" for a race and their teammate is on the "old" package the teammate on the "old" package actually does better because they are used to the car.

The demo he’s on is a custom size for him, I can’t see him jumping on the new frame design this season, he clearly has something that works for him. and the next race is this weekend….. so unless he has already been testing the new bike in the background, then I can’t see it happening. I also heard that even the prototype of the new frames work costly, not that would be a problem to a company like specialized. But Loic stuck to the old frame last season when Finn was already on it, to me that indicates that...

I think there seems to be a zero-sum problem here. One can, and in my opinion should, look to create a better community while doing the work as well. I can only speak for myself in full, but I am executive director for a statewide environmental education and outdoor learning nonprofit that serves children in a majority-minority state with the largest per capita Latino population in the country. Before that I ran a mountain biking advocacy organization that built singletrack, supported NICA, taught riding and maintenance clinics, raised funds to give away literally hundreds of bikes, and worked to ensure...

photo of the gamux proto frame from lenzerheide

Definitely not refined enough to even consider charging people. It’s like Freecaster days with better visual images but how much is down to much better technology.

Pretty funny that the Spartan (and Chainsaw), HB916 and now the Slash all use the exact same layout. It should make for an interesting comparison to see how they're tuned differently.

nothing ickier in all my days than watching GoPro employees rush to grab cameras off hurt Rampagers' helmets...

Really nice to be able to watch the juniors. Overall the coverage was pretty good but they've definitely got a few things to iron out. Coverage was a bit choppy, saw a lot more of some runs than others. There were no updates on the running order so you didn't know when you were into the top 10 etc. Personally I found the on screen graphics pretty hard to follow. Maybe it was a mistake but seeing the rider number rather than their finish position when they cross the line doesn't make much sense to me? When they did show...

Was weird for riders to just disappear and to never be heard from again even much the screen and commentators didn’t know it changed riders. Not impressed with the commentators. At no point have they said what any one qualified until the last rider. Cedric is too French and lil over the top when French riders were on track. Yeah Claudio was like that for Swiss riders but it was fun because they were not a super successful nation in DH. Overall felt like RB level images but in Freecaster package.

new slash

Not sure if this has been discussed here, but on a local Swiss Bike Site they mentioned the banning of chainsaws at the Lenzerheide World Cup this weekend... Kein Scherz: Weltcup Lenzerheide verbannt Kettensägen vom Streckenrand | Ride Magazin Translated the text below for all the English speaking fellas. What sounds like a belated April Fool's joke is actually meant seriously: The chainsaws, which are extremely popular fan utensils in downhill, remain silent at the World Cup in Lenzerheide. The reason is that the race tracks are located in a spring protection zone. After eight years of the World Cup...

I don't think it is particularly offensive or in poor taste, just not great marketing: There is no way I'm opening Vital at work (open space) while that ad pops up on my screen, and there is absolutely no way I would click on it.

Man it’s always been hard on juniors but it’s going to be total mayhem having 17 year olds trying to qualify on a few practice runs after traveling across the world on moms and dad’s dime.