I think this one got missed but Raphaela Richter on a pro contract with Ibis racing EWS. I often had her in my fantasy teams thanks to her affordability, perhaps her price will go up!
Saw him at dyfi bike park on Sunday, yeah he was on a polygon, still ohlins suspension and hunt wheels, that could just be because if component shortages though.
I posted about the Intense lookslikea… in the tech rumors forum. Can confirm it had a frame wrap on it like all other intense protons, and...
I posted about the Intense lookslikea… in the tech rumors forum. Can confirm it had a frame wrap on it like all other intense protons, and it also had a black fabric cover over the main frame. Split pivot (abp) rear end with very Waterloo like cable guides. Compared it to an un camouflaged bike and it looked strikingly similar.
Dam, I know pros will ride/test bikes from other companies when testing/developing a bike to have more data points and as a sort of sanity check...
Dam, I know pros will ride/test bikes from other companies when testing/developing a bike to have more data points and as a sort of sanity check or palette cleanser. But if he is actually riding a trek (with intense colors) semi-publicly that says a lot. I'm completely speculating here, but maybe it's Gwin's way of trying to light a fire under Stebner? Very interesting.
Gwin was pretty quick on a Trek previously...
Also sounds like the days of Intense fabricating protos and stuff in-house is no more. Which could explain the crappy development frames and disconnect seen the last few years.
Gwin was pretty quick on a Trek previously...:laugh:
Also sounds like the days of Intense fabricating protos and stuff in-house is no more. Which could explain...
Gwin was pretty quick on a Trek previously...
Also sounds like the days of Intense fabricating protos and stuff in-house is no more. Which could explain the crappy development frames and disconnect seen the last few years.
Remember in the late 90s early 2000s, when lots of racers (who were sponsored by a bike company that didn't make a real dh bike) were riding an Intense M1 that was rebranded with the colors/stickers of their sponsor? It'd be the height of irony if intense sponsored riders in 2022 raced a trek that's been rebranded as an intense!
Someone earlier in the thread mentioned that Intense is testing other brands bikes right now, and suggested that the bike in that picture is a Session...
Someone earlier in the thread mentioned that Intense is testing other brands bikes right now, and suggested that the bike in that picture is a Session. I don't remember who it was but I'm sure you could find it a couple pages back.
Couple of points on this. Intense actually reposted this picture on their Instagram. I highly doubt they would do so if it wasn't one of their...
Couple of points on this. Intense actually reposted this picture on their Instagram. I highly doubt they would do so if it wasn't one of their bikes. Secondly, I highly doubt Gwin would be in a more public setting like this testing other bikes. My guess is that testing occurred last year which resulted in the production of this steed.
Call me crazy but look at the rear suspension. I think it looks different. The seat stays are very high and it looks like a rocker up top rather than the system they have been running.
Related: What is the final verdict on why Neko left? Was it the bike (interviews point at that)? Was it program/ sponsors as a whole (not a ton of crossover when he went indie)? His videos, granted they are all hero shots, show him flowing and in ways that I have not seen him in some time.
Someone earlier in the thread mentioned that Intense is testing other brands bikes right now, and suggested that the bike in that picture is a Session...
Someone earlier in the thread mentioned that Intense is testing other brands bikes right now, and suggested that the bike in that picture is a Session. I don't remember who it was but I'm sure you could find it a couple pages back.
Couple of points on this. Intense actually reposted this picture on their Instagram. I highly doubt they would do so if it wasn't one of their...
Couple of points on this. Intense actually reposted this picture on their Instagram. I highly doubt they would do so if it wasn't one of their bikes. Secondly, I highly doubt Gwin would be in a more public setting like this testing other bikes. My guess is that testing occurred last year which resulted in the production of this steed.
Call me crazy but look at the rear suspension. I think it looks different. The seat stays are very high and it looks like a rocker...
Call me crazy but look at the rear suspension. I think it looks different. The seat stays are very high and it looks like a rocker up top rather than the system they have been running.
Related: What is the final verdict on why Neko left? Was it the bike (interviews point at that)? Was it program/ sponsors as a whole (not a ton of crossover when he went indie)? His videos, granted they are all hero shots, show him flowing and in ways that I have not seen him in some time.
Well, looks like Izabella will indeed just get support from Spesh but not be part of the Gravity team after all.
[img]https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/forums/2022/01/19/11892/s1200_4D15265C_E3E3_48AA_BF1F_05E374B37532.jpg[/img]
Well, looks like Izabella will indeed just get support from Spesh but not be part of the Gravity team after all.
Not sure,she was with them in Spain,i think she got home,because she is still going to school
Call me crazy but look at the rear suspension. I think it looks different. The seat stays are very high and it looks like a rocker...
Call me crazy but look at the rear suspension. I think it looks different. The seat stays are very high and it looks like a rocker up top rather than the system they have been running.
Related: What is the final verdict on why Neko left? Was it the bike (interviews point at that)? Was it program/ sponsors as a whole (not a ton of crossover when he went indie)? His videos, granted they are all hero shots, show him flowing and in ways that I have not seen him in some time.
I mean, no one can really get inside Neko's head and say why, but I think it's pretty clear he didn't get along with the Intense bike that much.
That being said: I think it's also pretty clear that Neko is a different breed and has a lot of interests alongside his racing. He definitely seems to have an entrepreneurial mindset and enjoys taking on diverse challenges. I know a lot of businessmen like him who are inspired by new challenges and new undertakings. So... while there may have been some negatives associated with Intense that inspired the decision, I think it' more about the positives associated with Neko's personality and growth mindset that led to this decision to create his own path forward.
Well, looks like Izabella will indeed just get support from Spesh but not be part of the Gravity team after all.
[img]https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/forums/2022/01/19/11892/s1200_4D15265C_E3E3_48AA_BF1F_05E374B37532.jpg[/img]
Well, looks like Izabella will indeed just get support from Spesh but not be part of the Gravity team after all.
Are legs that make up 3/4 of your overall body now a requirement to race for them?
So will they bring bake the Play for him to compete in slopestyle on?
YT marketing decisions are weird. Abandon racing programs (while mainly making trail bikes) and sign a bunch of hybrid slope/bmx/freeriders (Fedko and Stark) while not actually having a ton of offerings in those categories.
So will they bring bake the Play for him to compete in slopestyle on?
YT marketing decisions are weird. Abandon racing programs (while mainly making trail...
So will they bring bake the Play for him to compete in slopestyle on?
YT marketing decisions are weird. Abandon racing programs (while mainly making trail bikes) and sign a bunch of hybrid slope/bmx/freeriders (Fedko and Stark) while not actually having a ton of offerings in those categories.
So will they bring bake the Play for him to compete in slopestyle on?
YT marketing decisions are weird. Abandon racing programs (while mainly making trail...
So will they bring bake the Play for him to compete in slopestyle on?
YT marketing decisions are weird. Abandon racing programs (while mainly making trail bikes) and sign a bunch of hybrid slope/bmx/freeriders (Fedko and Stark) while not actually having a ton of offerings in those categories.
You sure about that? Remember a survey on the other site which revealed that freeride and especially slopestyle riders were making the most money in mtb world.
You sure about that? Remember a survey on the other site which revealed that freeride and especially slopestyle riders were making the most money in mtb...
You sure about that? Remember a survey on the other site which revealed that freeride and especially slopestyle riders were making the most money in mtb world.
But I think it's cheaper to support a slope/freeride program than a racing program (not talking about just rider salaries).
A race team needs a ton of support from manager to mechanics to physios to cooks. Plus, you're handling the travel arrangements for the entire team and support staff and equipment. Freeriders and slope riders are almost self-supported. So, yes, you may have to pay the rider's salary and some travel budget, but you're not also paying for an entire support staff to go along with the rider.
I mean racer support: we need the mechanic to put on a new chain after every run, new wheels after this race, restroke this shock.. cancel that... we're going with a coil shock this weekend, acquire new tires before race run, the physio needs to go over the racer and nutritionist needs to adjust the macros before next race.
Dylan Stark support; yo.. can I get another bong rip before we do this shoot?
You sure about that? Remember a survey on the other site which revealed that freeride and especially slopestyle riders were making the most money in mtb...
You sure about that? Remember a survey on the other site which revealed that freeride and especially slopestyle riders were making the most money in mtb world.
But I think it's cheaper to support a slope/freeride program than a racing program (not talking about just rider salaries).
A race team needs a ton...
But I think it's cheaper to support a slope/freeride program than a racing program (not talking about just rider salaries).
A race team needs a ton of support from manager to mechanics to physios to cooks. Plus, you're handling the travel arrangements for the entire team and support staff and equipment. Freeriders and slope riders are almost self-supported. So, yes, you may have to pay the rider's salary and some travel budget, but you're not also paying for an entire support staff to go along with the rider.
I mean racer support: we need the mechanic to put on a new chain after every run, new wheels after this race, restroke this shock.. cancel that... we're going with a coil shock this weekend, acquire new tires before race run, the physio needs to go over the racer and nutritionist needs to adjust the macros before next race.
Dylan Stark support; yo.. can I get another bong rip before we do this shoot?
No question a DH factory team will be more expensive than a single slope/freerider. However, the mob was never a factory team. YT was just the frame/main sponsor. But of course I have no idea about exact budgets for either option
You sure about that? Remember a survey on the other site which revealed that freeride and especially slopestyle riders were making the most money in mtb...
You sure about that? Remember a survey on the other site which revealed that freeride and especially slopestyle riders were making the most money in mtb world.
But I think it's cheaper to support a slope/freeride program than a racing program (not talking about just rider salaries).
A race team needs a ton...
But I think it's cheaper to support a slope/freeride program than a racing program (not talking about just rider salaries).
A race team needs a ton of support from manager to mechanics to physios to cooks. Plus, you're handling the travel arrangements for the entire team and support staff and equipment. Freeriders and slope riders are almost self-supported. So, yes, you may have to pay the rider's salary and some travel budget, but you're not also paying for an entire support staff to go along with the rider.
I mean racer support: we need the mechanic to put on a new chain after every run, new wheels after this race, restroke this shock.. cancel that... we're going with a coil shock this weekend, acquire new tires before race run, the physio needs to go over the racer and nutritionist needs to adjust the macros before next race.
Dylan Stark support; yo.. can I get another bong rip before we do this shoot?
No question a DH factory team will be more expensive than a single slope/freerider. However, the mob was never a factory team. YT was just the...
No question a DH factory team will be more expensive than a single slope/freerider. However, the mob was never a factory team. YT was just the frame/main sponsor. But of course I have no idea about exact budgets for either option
But even as you said they were the main/title sponsor so probably handling the majority of the budget.
Been a while since he's had a bike sponsor, does he not want one? It's hard to recognize what bike he is riding, Demo? Tried looking closer at latest video from Mexico and can't recognize. His trail bike looks like it could be a canyon.
You sure about that? Remember a survey on the other site which revealed that freeride and especially slopestyle riders were making the most money in mtb...
You sure about that? Remember a survey on the other site which revealed that freeride and especially slopestyle riders were making the most money in mtb world.
But I think it's cheaper to support a slope/freeride program than a racing program (not talking about just rider salaries).
A race team needs a ton...
But I think it's cheaper to support a slope/freeride program than a racing program (not talking about just rider salaries).
A race team needs a ton of support from manager to mechanics to physios to cooks. Plus, you're handling the travel arrangements for the entire team and support staff and equipment. Freeriders and slope riders are almost self-supported. So, yes, you may have to pay the rider's salary and some travel budget, but you're not also paying for an entire support staff to go along with the rider.
I mean racer support: we need the mechanic to put on a new chain after every run, new wheels after this race, restroke this shock.. cancel that... we're going with a coil shock this weekend, acquire new tires before race run, the physio needs to go over the racer and nutritionist needs to adjust the macros before next race.
Dylan Stark support; yo.. can I get another bong rip before we do this shoot?
No question a DH factory team will be more expensive than a single slope/freerider. However, the mob was never a factory team. YT was just the...
No question a DH factory team will be more expensive than a single slope/freerider. However, the mob was never a factory team. YT was just the frame/main sponsor. But of course I have no idea about exact budgets for either option
I would say DH racing puts way more stress on a company for R&D even if they're just a frame sponsor. Just imagine how much has been out into DH over the last 7-8 (2014-2021) years as far as geo, kinematics and wheel size redesigns compared to the 13 years before (2001-2013).
The older gen bikes slowly developed geo and some kinematics but a bike from 5 years before could arguably be competitive on race day. Once wheel sizes started to change, bike development went wild. How many mules did each company have to build to get everything right for 275, only to have all of those bikes, their expensive carbon molds made moot overnight with 29 and then have that half flipped to mullet for a bike that sells in the hundreds, maybe thousands for YT, Commencal and Canyon.
Meanwhile for slope, although the bikes have most certainly evolved a lot in slope, you could arguably use a 10+ year old bike with barely any updates or a copy paste catalog frame and win a comp with an order of 50 bikes that they'll sell to dirt jump kids in 24h and throw and throw entry free and a few bucks for gas, beer and tacos to the rider who sleeps on their local friends mom's basement couch.
And free ride they take the current Enduro or a last gen DH and send it until it breaks.
Been a while since he's had a bike sponsor, does he not want one? It's hard to recognize what bike he is riding, Demo? Tried looking...
Been a while since he's had a bike sponsor, does he not want one? It's hard to recognize what bike he is riding, Demo? Tried looking closer at latest video from Mexico and can't recognize. His trail bike looks like it could be a canyon.
probably hard to get one when you're not doing contests or big projects apart from the occasional film. It's a shame because he's such a legend but I guess brands don't see the return of investment.
Also sounds like the days of Intense fabricating protos and stuff in-house is no more. Which could explain the crappy development frames and disconnect seen the last few years.
Related: What is the final verdict on why Neko left? Was it the bike (interviews point at that)? Was it program/ sponsors as a whole (not a ton of crossover when he went indie)? His videos, granted they are all hero shots, show him flowing and in ways that I have not seen him in some time.
https://www.vitalmtb.com/news/news/Kona-Bought-by-Kent-Outdoors,1408
That being said: I think it's also pretty clear that Neko is a different breed and has a lot of interests alongside his racing. He definitely seems to have an entrepreneurial mindset and enjoys taking on diverse challenges. I know a lot of businessmen like him who are inspired by new challenges and new undertakings. So... while there may have been some negatives associated with Intense that inspired the decision, I think it' more about the positives associated with Neko's personality and growth mindset that led to this decision to create his own path forward.
YT marketing decisions are weird. Abandon racing programs (while mainly making trail bikes) and sign a bunch of hybrid slope/bmx/freeriders (Fedko and Stark) while not actually having a ton of offerings in those categories.
A race team needs a ton of support from manager to mechanics to physios to cooks. Plus, you're handling the travel arrangements for the entire team and support staff and equipment. Freeriders and slope riders are almost self-supported. So, yes, you may have to pay the rider's salary and some travel budget, but you're not also paying for an entire support staff to go along with the rider.
I mean racer support: we need the mechanic to put on a new chain after every run, new wheels after this race, restroke this shock.. cancel that... we're going with a coil shock this weekend, acquire new tires before race run, the physio needs to go over the racer and nutritionist needs to adjust the macros before next race.
Dylan Stark support; yo.. can I get another bong rip before we do this shoot?
The older gen bikes slowly developed geo and some kinematics but a bike from 5 years before could arguably be competitive on race day. Once wheel sizes started to change, bike development went wild. How many mules did each company have to build to get everything right for 275, only to have all of those bikes, their expensive carbon molds made moot overnight with 29 and then have that half flipped to mullet for a bike that sells in the hundreds, maybe thousands for YT, Commencal and Canyon.
Meanwhile for slope, although the bikes have most certainly evolved a lot in slope, you could arguably use a 10+ year old bike with barely any updates or a copy paste catalog frame and win a comp with an order of 50 bikes that they'll sell to dirt jump kids in 24h and throw and throw entry free and a few bucks for gas, beer and tacos to the rider who sleeps on their local friends mom's basement couch.
And free ride they take the current Enduro or a last gen DH and send it until it breaks.
He's still on his Sender and Torque afaik.
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