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Robert from The Loam Wolf here. I was the one who broke the Scalpel, and I’m not surprised I did - overshot the landing of a large jump for an XC bike, landing in the pocket between the landing and the flat ground after it. Huge bottom out. I corrected Kaz at Pinkbike’s quote - he had flatteringly guessed me to be 190lbs, whereas I am 220lbs. Nothing fishy. I wholeheartedly believe the Scalpel is fit for purpose and that it was my fault! Was having far too much fun and got carried away.

That last sentence is 100% correct. A BMX/Freestyle/Skate comp would have an entry fee & a prize purse. That's all. 10-20 dudes fighting it out for 3 to 5 checks. If your competition is a BIG TIME draw like you say, then the organizer is going to pay 10 deep. But that's it. Every dime a freerider/freeracer makes as "income" is determined before he/she gets on the plane. No one shows up for a financially incentivized competition before negotiating an appearance fee. And yeah, working hard at a real job is how the Aussies quite literally converted a decade of...

A feature is published on Vital too, for a few hours already.

There is absolutely no need for him to rush back to competition. He's already won WC races so his goal is the overall and worlds. The overall is gone and realistically worlds would be the first race back. He is so young it's not worth risking a career long injury at this point. I'd be taking the year off from competition. Do some riding trips and videos to keep the sponsors happy, get 100% recovered and then smash the field next year.

Man I feel like people aren't reading the whole thread or can't stay on topic with the same points. We can't get away from this idea it's about guys getting paid tons of money (like its about top earners). Unless you're privy to information that's not yet been revealed. This ENTIRE thing is about the wild cards and lowest guys on the totem pole earning some peanuts so that they can either BREAK EVEN or make a single peanut off the event. Let's not forget the top riders just gave up winnings earnings and likely sponsor win bonus (if not...

I'm liking this less and less from the riders the more I think about it and the more that comes out. Looks like Crankworx was willing to play ball and met them on most their issues, and for the money one, they even made some adjustments for that. If the riders boycotted simply for the fact the Crankworx isn't funding all their personal costs, I kinda agree with Crankworx. No one is forcing the riders to go and to travel to these events. If you can't afford to do it, then so be it, you can't go. Like they're essentially...

What really bothers me is that Lewis brakes CHOSE to MIMIC the way Trickstuff brakes look. Hope/Trickstuff/Intend/Sram/Shimano/Hayes/TRP all look pretty distinguishable, even between some of their own models. It's not how brakes are made is a secret anymore. You have a lever that pushes a piston that pushes fluid that pushes another set of pistons. Sure you can add cams here, adjustments there, play with leverage ratio, fancy cnc, parts, it doesn't really change the way brakes work fundamentally. Not discrediting the manufacturing of these brakes in any way. For a set of the more pricy Lewis brakes you can...

*asks for guys to only let lawyers discuss IP. *Proceeds to discuss geopolitical situations across the globe.

Let’s please keep global geopolitics out of the tech rumors thread.

You guys killed it again, as always.

Pretty jazzed for Dakota. Some good momentum heading into the start of the season. Can't wait to hear some of those ''Goooooolly'' down world class tracks.

here's a press conference from a couple days ago with some specifics. just seeing this morning b/c the youtube algorithm...could be old news.

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess that the people who already didn't like unions mostly sided with the Crankworx organizers and the people who already liked unions agreed with the athletes. Call it a hunch.

g-out project from windrock https://www.vitalmtb.com/g-out-project-2024-tennessee-national-downhill

And if we loop in 50 posts about how much strain our fingers will endure with Lewis' brake levers, we'll have come full circle. My damper is dampening with excitement.

Maybe from the Crankworx perspective the optimum resolution might be to change it from a competition to an exhibition. Invite 5 top riders - 5 male & 5 female - and pay them what amounts to a generous appearance fee that includes travel/lodging. Hold the exhibition the last day of the Crankworx event. Charge a separate ticket price for fans to watch the event in person - maybe in the form of an add-on to any other event ticket prices. (So, slopestyle by itself $10, but slopestyle added to 3-day pass or whatever only $5... just making up numbers here...

I can feel the teenage angst bleeding through here, so I know I'm not going to change your mind. For anyone who is intellectually curious around the subject and how wrong this person is, here is an easy example to follow. The TL;DR is supply and demand underpins how "markets work". Not name calling and employees banding together (ironically what you just described has more Marxist tones, which is fine). Anyway - my example for anyone who cares... At the pointy end of the spear in the live performance space, its pretty widely acknowledged the best in the world right...

They glued theirs on.

here's a real pic of luca's canyon in a tuxedo a full-body bike tuxedo could be rad for mechanics. wouldn't have to clean anything. #bringBackForkBoots

started own thread b/c not racing, but crankworx slopestyle riders boycott rotorua over low pay, no appearance fees https://www.vitalmtb.com/forums/hub/slopestyle-riders-boycott-crankworx…