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This is what's wrong with The Industry™

chris_f

Monkey
Jun 20, 2007
390
409
I was made aware of the term "gnarmac" in relation to cx bikes today. I felt something die inside of me when it happened.
 

Bikael Molton

goofy for life
Jun 9, 2003
4,010
1,146
El Lay
I'm pretty sure the cx / gravel / bikepack / gnarmac segment of the industry has surpassed MTB in marketing BS, reinventing the wheel, and accessory-flogging...

I’m happy those people aren’t clogging up real mtb trails though.

I was made aware of the term "gnarmac" in relation to cx bikes today. I felt something die inside of me when it happened.
 
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Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
18,852
9,557
AK
There's an event round here for them called "Grinduro"

Not even shitting you.
We have several, they are pretty fun, they wouldn't be very fun on a strict road-bike, but as far as needing a specific bike, that's just dumb for something that is going to be such a short "season". I use my fat-bike. I got 6th out of a pretty large field, by drafting, then bombing rough sections. Towards the end a fairly large group caught up to me, but there was a rough jeep-road section a few miles from the end and as I started to bomb it, the entire group of 5-6 riders all crashed together and I was home-free. I kept looking back, but no one ever showed up to the finish line. Still, keeping the pace up to that point (40 miles or so) was a bear, but as long as I had someone to draft it wasn't too bad. Hell will freeze over before I buy a bike for that. It's just a few races/events to pass the time while the trails are thawing out.
 

Toshi

Harbinger of Doom
Oct 23, 2001
38,031
7,550
So bike leasing is a thing now? https://www.wheelease.com/
This actually isn't a terrible idea for those of us who don't hold onto bikes longer than 2-3 years... which actually is a lot of people. Some likely get the bro or pro deal hookup and only take a small bath, but those of us who bought at retail or at a small discount realize a lot of depreciation. If one is going to upgrade regularly then leasing makes sense. Put the depreciation out front and visible.
 

maxyedor

<b>TOOL PRO</b>
Oct 20, 2005
5,496
3,140
In the bathroom, fighting a battle
This actually isn't a terrible idea for those of us who don't hold onto bikes longer than 2-3 years... which actually is a lot of people. Some likely get the bro or pro deal hookup and only take a small bath, but those of us who bought at retail or at a small discount realize a lot of depreciation. If one is going to upgrade regularly then leasing makes sense. Put the depreciation out front and visible.
As a cheapskate who always buys 18 month old bikes for 50-75% off, I like the idea of a centralized source for used bikes. The certified pre-owned concept that the Pros Cost rolled out actually makes a lot of sense, they just need to do something about a warranty/crash replacement.

I don't however see the value in leasing for leasee. The bike still depreciates, now you get to take a hit on depreciation as well as hand over a margin to the leasor. If it turns out anything like the car industry, it will cause more depreciation due to a glut of used bikes on the market that a leasing company has to get rid of. I sort of see your point about getting it out front and visible, but do people not know bikes depreciate? Are they not aware that it will be worth around 25% of MSRP in 3 years?
 

SkaredShtles

Michael Bolton
Sep 21, 2003
65,376
12,532
In a van.... down by the river
As a cheapskate who always buys 18 month old bikes for 50-75% off, I like the idea of a centralized source for used bikes. The certified pre-owned concept that the Pros Cost rolled out actually makes a lot of sense, they just need to do something about a warranty/crash replacement.

I don't however see the value in leasing for leasee. The bike still depreciates, now you get to take a hit on depreciation as well as hand over a margin to the leasor. If it turns out anything like the car industry, it will cause more depreciation due to a glut of used bikes on the market that a leasing company has to get rid of. I sort of see your point about getting it out front and visible, but do people not know bikes depreciate? Are they not aware that it will be worth around 25% of MSRP in 3 years?
Most people don't even know what depreciation IS.
 

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,031
5,921
borcester rhymes
I don't know why that's wrong with the industry, but I liked Paul's no-nonsense take on reviews, even though he likes his bikes limousine long. Anything that takes some of the "OMG SRAM IS GREAT" adverticles out of PB is good by me.
 

canadmos

Cake Tease
May 29, 2011
20,190
19,156
Canaderp
the MBAification of pinkbike is almost complete

Well.... Maybe wrong thread, or correct? Mike Levy or maybe someone else wrote in the comments of a recent article that they infact write and publish quite a lot of e-bike material. We just don't see it because the content is only published to European readers.

:bad:
 

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
85,562
24,182
media blackout
Well.... Maybe wrong thread, or correct? Mike Levy or maybe someone else wrote in the comments of a recent article that they infact write and publish quite a lot of e-bike material. We just don't see it because the content is only published to European readers.

:bad:
pinkbike dot e u no worky.
 

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
85,562
24,182
media blackout
zipp carbon mountain wheels. single. wall. carbon. wheels.

"here, lets take all the benefits of a carbon rim, remove them, then call it a feature"
 

Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,536
5,470
UK
Mike Levy or maybe someone else wrote in the comments of a recent article that they infact write and publish quite a lot of e-bike material. We just don't see it because the content is only published to European readers.
Every ebike article I've ever seen on Pinkbike has loads of 'mercan's losing their shit in the comments.
Didn't ever actually notice there were no comments from Canadian's.
Are you guys even more mental about them?
I've always thought of you as a pretty levelled and placid nation.
 

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
85,562
24,182
media blackout
Every ebike article I've ever seen on Pinkbike has loads of 'mercan's losing their shit in the comments.
Didn't ever actually notice there were no comments from Canadian's.
Are you guys even more mental about them?
I've always thought of you as a pretty levelled and placid nation.
real canadians have dirtbikes
 

FlipSide

Turbo Monkey
Sep 24, 2001
1,376
804
Every ebike article I've ever seen on Pinkbike has loads of 'mercan's losing their shit in the comments.
Didn't ever actually notice there were no comments from Canadian's.
Are you guys even more mental about them?
I've always thought of you as a pretty levelled and placid nation.
Canada doesn't have as much retarded trail access issues like our neighbors from FreedomLand down south.

Yes, there are Canadians that are quite vocal against eBikes, but I'm not sure why it generates such passion here. Some fear for the trail access in some regions, which is a legitimate concern. Some are afraid that eBike riders will get hurt or have a mechanical too far away from their car for their fitness level (lol). Some are purists that are pretty much recycling the same old shit the XC dorks were saying about the "Lazy and unfit DH riders" 20 years ago. (Yawn...)

My personal experience: I ride trails open to eBikes and I don't give a fuck about the eBikes I see in the same trail as I ride. It is 100% a non-issue. I find it super cool for older people I see in the woods. I also find it super cool for the rippers who just want to take advantage of the technology to have fun.
 

Bikael Molton

goofy for life
Jun 9, 2003
4,010
1,146
El Lay
how are e-bikes relevant? I'm not following...

Well.... Maybe wrong thread, or correct? Mike Levy or maybe someone else wrote in the comments of a recent article that they infact write and publish quite a lot of e-bike material. We just don't see it because the content is only published to European readers.

:bad:
 

William42

fork ways
Jul 31, 2007
3,908
634
If there's one thing I trust, it's walmart to make high quality products.

Those zipp wheels are even more comical. I can't tell if the world we live in is satire, this feels like an alternate reality that happened on accident that the story was never written for and is fizzling out right now. What the fuck.
 

Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,536
5,470
UK
I still don't understand why we don't use rod driven mechanical discs instead of pissing about with fluid in flexible expanding hoses and leaky seals and sticky pistons.

;)
 

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
85,562
24,182
media blackout
Those zipp wheels are even more comical. I can't tell if the world we live in is satire, this feels like an alternate reality that happened on accident that the story was never written for and is fizzling out right now. What the fuck.
i had to double check it wasn't april 1st when that posted.