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Maybe unpopular opinion, but I feel like Mammoth Mountain would be a good venue and they could put together a pretty gnarly run from top to bottom with a good mix. Agreed on Angel Fire as stated above.

Angel Fire has always been proper. Sure would be cool to see that one raced again! Nevegal was fun one to always watch in old bike movies growing up. Looked great! Bromont WC was always so proper! Squaw! forgot about the old Tahoe WC. You think Northstar tracks have what it takes for a WC? Would love to see a full Karpiel or Sticks and Stones raced by the fastest!

and @sspomer I had no idea until finding that video I just linked above Wow, Mount Snow Norba track was freaking awesome looking! Talk about gnarly and proper!! To see the riders/ go ride that today would be insane/so good!

For viewing pleasure! Mount Snow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT0V50Joggw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb8U-LKxZ2A Squaw https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBQPQRxPBaK/ https://www.vitalmtb.com/videos/features/Transcontinental-Headliners-2-… https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHs-shQxgot/ Durango/Purgatory https://www.vitalmtb.com/videos/features/Video-Vault-2001-UCI-World-Cup… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEqJLZ5Ql-M&t=7s (11:19) I will keep digging for more

I slowed down in practic to ask Rennie what happened (as we was walking his bike down, great photo) and I think he just snarled at me! The year Sam Hill won Mount Snow his rear wheel was so mangled is was rubbing the chainstays on both sides as he crossed the finish line. That was my favorite track in the US. It was brutal on bikes and wheels. Bromont and Durango were great tracks too!

It would be wild to see some proper WC riders take on the full Psychosis course. Current record is just over or just under 11 min? I think?

The current crop of riders on a mid 2000's era Mount Snow NORBA track would be a sight to behold.

dang, cant say I know that place! going to have to watch some videos! Mt. 7 would be gnarly for a proper WC track! Would love to see it and who would shine at a track like that. Definitely BC has the terrain.. Angel Fire would be good to see again. Definitely some East Coast spots would be great. Some phenomenal races held out there in the past with tracks folks were loving.

on the topic of steep, tricky tech vs speedy motorway, it's almost that every is so good anymore that times are going to be tight no matter what the track. we've had enduros with 40-minute total times separated by a few seconds. the elite men top 5 from MSA last year were within 1.1 seconds of each other, the top 3, only .5 apart. i think it's just the sport now, and it'll be rare to see 8-second blow-outs anymore. msa 2024

its become my favorite race content cuz its so behind the scenes. plus neko has no issues with just saying whats on his mind. and the host is very good about... directing the conversations without making any of it about him. he's so good with his guests, and i wish he would get more bigger names on his normal podcasts.

That whole episode is worth a listen.

also in said podcast neko acknowledged it was his idea to bring ken into the booth (although not to keep him that long) due to pressure from wb to expand the reach of the sport outside of mtb. i rarely say this but...DAMMIT NEKO. props tho, as he also said it let him keep his pay and also go out to the track and watch the race....hahaha

This reminds me of the horrific SX broadcasting where they have to say like "Monster Energy Series presented by Monster Energy". It can get even worse with team sponsors and then advertising afterwards. They really be like "he's making great time on that Monster Energy Kawasaki here at Monster Energy Supercross presented by Monster Energy, don't forget to pick up a can of Monster Energy at your local grocer today!" (I'm barely even exaggerating there.) in those regards MTB is MUCH more listenable lol

lol so good. I expect reactions would be... unique.

Interesting tidbit from Dave Rome's interview w/ the XTR PM: the infamous pad rattle is caused by the pads hitting the retaining pin, not the caliper. New pads have an ovalized hole (so they can rock back and forth but not up and down) which supposedly fixes the issue.

Heard about an updated transition spur recently, similar design language as the new sentinel, still has a flex stay and seems to be 120/120. No word on release date.

Other random bits and bobs from yesterday: 1. Danny Hart-esque custom hub end cap to deal with brake/wheel/frame flex on an unknown to me Canyon junior men’s bike. 2. Close ups of Jordan Williams brakes on his ebike as he and Loic were track scouting dueing Q2. Probably nothing new to see here, but prove me wrong. I didn’t peel the tape off the lever but I did think about it. 3. The craziest cassette you’ll ever see on Benoit Colanges’ bike. Also, the whole Scott team is on Rimpact chain dampers, which was interesting.

Weird shock I haven’t seen before on YT junior William Pugh’s bike (I think?), spotted at the top of qualifying yesterday and then in the pits today. When I asked about it at the pits they said they couldn’t talk about it. Looks like they borrowed the dials from a microscope or maybe a hunting scope.

A few racers are using this one: https://www.williamsracingproducts.com/shop/p/zero-drag-dt-swiss-intern…

https://m.pinkbike.com/news/canyon-project-disconnect-eurobike-2016.html