I know. But to be honest: We just want to see him race the UCI DH Worldcup, right?too early, not enough coffee.
also. it says international race efforts.
To be honest, I don't care about the national series.
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any team rumours nonsense this year
- Thread starter al-irl
- Start date
To be honest, I don't care about the national series.
there is 1 UCI DH WC in the US this year.
So is Rude racing the entire World Cup DH circuit this year? I was skip reading.
no he's jumping to forumla 1
Breaking news: This has been scrapped due to the fact that Rude cannot fit into the car.
trophy truck with gwin.
I read the whole press release. My take is that Yeti did not let Rude know they were pulling the plug on their World Cup DH program and he got stuck out in the cold during the fall signing period. I would think Richie WANTS to race the World Cup and assumed he would be since he is World Champ.
I don't care about me and who I get to see on the World Cup. I do care if Richie got hung out to dry by a company dragging it's feet or keeping it's cards too close to it's chest instead of looking out for a young kids best interest and helping him find a World Cup ride elsewhere.
I'm sure the truth is in between somewhere, but I have the distinct feeling Richie thought he was racing World Cup DH and rather than not have a job,is having to tow the line.
"Hey Shaun White, we're only gonna sponsor boardercross for the Olympics. Race it or else"
I don't care about me and who I get to see on the World Cup. I do care if Richie got hung out to dry by a company dragging it's feet or keeping it's cards too close to it's chest instead of looking out for a young kids best interest and helping him find a World Cup ride elsewhere.
I'm sure the truth is in between somewhere, but I have the distinct feeling Richie thought he was racing World Cup DH and rather than not have a job,is having to tow the line.
"Hey Shaun White, we're only gonna sponsor boardercross for the Olympics. Race it or else"
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Not exactly sure this is a bad thing. Stepping up to an elite level does not necessarily mean that you're going to have success right off (rudes case)... Enduro racing is getting exponentially more popular year after year, so for me it kinda makes sense for them to focus a bit more on enduro and have a top-tier team, than to race the full wc schedule ($$$) and maybe expect some good results once in a while
Maybe just maybe its what he wanted.
http://www.pinkbike.com/news/A-Day-in-the-Life-with-Richie-Rude-Jr-World-Champion-2013.html
that was written in December (well, published). It seemed pretty obvious that his training and focus was on DH.
"When asked if he thinks he will win the rainbow stripes again, Rude looks up and flashes that wry smile. Sometimes, actions speak louder than words."
I don't think there's a rainbow jersey in Enduro...
I'm a little dissapointed too. It was fun watching him develop and progress. All the talk was always about him placing top 20 in the Seniors category... and improving every race.
that was written in December (well, published). It seemed pretty obvious that his training and focus was on DH.
"When asked if he thinks he will win the rainbow stripes again, Rude looks up and flashes that wry smile. Sometimes, actions speak louder than words."
I don't think there's a rainbow jersey in Enduro...
I'm a little dissapointed too. It was fun watching him develop and progress. All the talk was always about him placing top 20 in the Seniors category... and improving every race.
Disclaimer: Butch and I go way back, so please don't read this as me being a smarmy a-hole. ... I can't resist busting balls, though. 
In any event, we've been talking about this for a very long time, and Richie's been in on the conversation the whole time.
I posted a pretty thorough summary of what's going on over on eMpTy BeeR. I realize it's not nearly as interesting as pulling wild theories out of one's ass, but sometimes the truth is refreshing:
http://forums.mtbr.com/yeti/no-more-dh-team-yeti-895955.html
Peace, brother!
JP
False.
The saying is actually, "close to the VEST".
In any event, we've been talking about this for a very long time, and Richie's been in on the conversation the whole time.
Incorrect.
I posted a pretty thorough summary of what's going on over on eMpTy BeeR. I realize it's not nearly as interesting as pulling wild theories out of one's ass, but sometimes the truth is refreshing:
http://forums.mtbr.com/yeti/no-more-dh-team-yeti-895955.html
Peace, brother!
JP
Thanks for the update brosef but still vague on one thing.
Hope you don't mind clarifying something.
I completely understand that Rude loves riding, getting paid to ride and race and that he appreciates everything Yeti has done for him. I also get that he's willing to do what he can to honor his commitments.
That being said, most of us are very aware that up until very recently, he was putting everything he had in to train specifically for DH.
I am specificlly asking:
1. Did Yeti give Richie enough advance notification that he would not be racing World Cup DH that he would have had plenty of time to pursue signing with another team or putting together his own sponsorships?
Hope you don't mind clarifying something.
I completely understand that Rude loves riding, getting paid to ride and race and that he appreciates everything Yeti has done for him. I also get that he's willing to do what he can to honor his commitments.
That being said, most of us are very aware that up until very recently, he was putting everything he had in to train specifically for DH.
I am specificlly asking:
1. Did Yeti give Richie enough advance notification that he would not be racing World Cup DH that he would have had plenty of time to pursue signing with another team or putting together his own sponsorships?
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I can't get into all the details (because why the hell would I disclose private negotiations on a public forum), but I can assure you that he was given a number of generous options and is stoked to ride enduro for Yeti next year.
I'll let Rich Sr. know you're looking out for his son's best interest.
JP
P.S. If we're going to get into evil empire conspiracy theories, I have it on good authority that Stanley Kubrick helped NASA fake the moon landing, and The Shining is his confession to it.
I'll let Rich Sr. know you're looking out for his son's best interest.
JP
P.S. If we're going to get into evil empire conspiracy theories, I have it on good authority that Stanley Kubrick helped NASA fake the moon landing, and The Shining is his confession to it.
We're going to call our new enduro team 'Room 303'.
So the top American future DH contender sponsored by an American company has his event, that he has spent the last 7 years or so training for, dropped by his sponsor? Sure, people ride endure but does anybody watch it? DH is gaining traction with sponsors, increased bike parks and Red Bull TV..Rude is what this country needs for that sport.
It is one thing to say he was given options, but was one of the options that Yeti would continue to support him as they have in the past on the full WC circuit? If not, he wasn't really given every option. No offense to Yeti, but I hope he gets out of that contract as soon as possible and gets back on the circuit. Enduro will be there for him when he's old.
Get back into DH Richie! The fans are waiting!
It is one thing to say he was given options, but was one of the options that Yeti would continue to support him as they have in the past on the full WC circuit? If not, he wasn't really given every option. No offense to Yeti, but I hope he gets out of that contract as soon as possible and gets back on the circuit. Enduro will be there for him when he's old.
Get back into DH Richie! The fans are waiting!
I'm not sure how else to explain this to you guys, but HE DOES NOT WANT TO. We told him about our idea to focus primarily on enduro, and he was super excited about it. Is it so hard to believe that a young guy who's spent years focussing on one niche of riding and achieved the goal he'd been chasing could be a little burned out and reinvigorated at the thought of conquering another challenge?
Holy smokes. I can't believe I'm doing such a bad job of explaining the situation.
@ John P.
To promote a general level of discourse here:
how much weight has Graves lost over the last 3 years?
how much tonnage did he lose over the 2012 off-season?
the physiological specs of the riders he beat this past weekend in the OZ national XC round are really impressive.
lots of work maximizing w/kg of (or optimizing work/percent VO2max if yer game works that way) seems to have been going on in the background since Beijing to get the dude so effing fit.
To promote a general level of discourse here:
how much weight has Graves lost over the last 3 years?
how much tonnage did he lose over the 2012 off-season?
the physiological specs of the riders he beat this past weekend in the OZ national XC round are really impressive.
lots of work maximizing w/kg of (or optimizing work/percent VO2max if yer game works that way) seems to have been going on in the background since Beijing to get the dude so effing fit.
i'm not even sure why you continue to bother.
1. this thread is a riot...c'mon I don't even get involved in this shet but its almost Feb and we got about 2.5 months of shet weather to go....
2.let the kid ride his bike; its fun remember? trying new stuff is usually fun...good for him. hope he mashes on people with funny euro accents. it also brings more influence prestige atmosphere whatever to the EWS. Maybe shoving enduro is just for "washed up dh riders" notions out of the way. it may also draw more dh riders to enduro that may see it as a training benefit...worked for blenki he killed it all last year. think he did some enduros
3. @ mickey it certainly would be an unique approach to follow graves training process for a season or two in prep for senior ranks when still won't be able to buy a beer in the USA. Let the kid ride whatever .
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Bull.
Everyone knows that The Shining is actually a message about the slaughter of the Native Americans.
till rich he owes me some labattsI can't get into all the details (because why the hell would I disclose private negotiations on a public forum), but I can assure you that he was given a number of generous options and is stoked to ride enduro for Yeti next year.
I'll let Rich Sr. know you're looking out for his son's best interest.
JP
As much as it personally pains me to see the switch (having been at his 1st DH race & seeing the strapping lad 'grow up' racing at Platty, etc.), this makes sense from a marketing perspective.
The truth is in the baking soda.
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Really? It blows my mind. Enduro may be an "event" that's all the rage right now, but it isn't going to sell bikes or be good media. It's cool and I'd love to do a multi-day one (as a father of two it ain't happening though), but DH grew exponentially in mainstream media last year. It is the marketing platform for mountain biking. Bike parks are still an infantile business and lots will fail as the few succeed and figure out the right business model.
No one outside MTB is going to pay to sponsor Enduros or the horrible media coverage that comes with the sport, just like motorcycle enduro. Motorcycle enduro has tons of participants, races everywhere and way more trail bikes in moto are sold than supercross bikes. But supercross sells.
There is no way media, video or major press coverage of enduro motocross will generate outside interest from sponsors. And I'm confident that it won't sell near as many bikes as the factories project. I think the money everyone is about to pump into it won't boost sales or put any company in the black.
It's a great crossover for DH racers to change up the routine in competition, but I think it's a step backwards for our sport. I think the thrill will be short lived and the exposure and excitement of Rampage and the World Cup have more staying power.
Not everybody can buy a Corvette or race it, but they'll buy an Impala with dreams of one day ripping out the clutch of a Vette.
I love big R and have only met him in passing. He knows we love the kid.I'll let Rich Sr. know you're looking out for his son's best interest.
JP
..
It's better that we as strangers care and have passion for the kid as fans than for us to wish him ill out of spite for his talent.
Oh, and as for conspiracy theories, I just finished reading about how the first American summit of Everest (they actually did summit) staged a fake video of the actual from just outside basecamp to appease the media.
Makes you wonder.
This article sums it up for me:Really? It blows my mind. Enduro may be an "event" that's all the rage right now, but it isn't going to sell bikes or be good media. It's cool and I'd love to do a multi-day one (as a father of two it ain't happening though), but DH grew exponentially in mainstream media last year. It is the marketing platform for mountain biking. Bike parks are still an infantile business and lots will fail as the few succeed and figure out the right business model.
No one outside MTB is going to pay to sponsor Enduros or the horrible media coverage that comes with the sport, just like motorcycle enduro. Motorcycle enduro has tons of participants, races everywhere and way more trail bikes in moto are sold than supercross bikes. But supercross sells.
There is no way media, video or major press coverage of enduro motocross will generate outside interest from sponsors. And I'm confident that it won't sell near as many bikes as the factories project. I think the money everyone is about to pump into it won't boost sales or put any company in the black.
It's a great crossover for DH racers to change up the routine in competition, but I think it's a step backwards for our sport. I think the thrill will be short lived and the exposure and excitement of Rampage and the World Cup have more staying power.
Not everybody can buy a Corvette or race it, but they'll buy an Impala with dreams of one day ripping out the clutch of a Vette.
http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/01/commentary/notes-from-the-scrum-american-cyclocross-a-brand-all-its-own_313562
We 'Muricans seem to be attracted to participating rather than viewing bike sports, just like cross. Going this route with enduro is clearly a marketing strategy aimed at participants & associated riders, which I would hazard a guess will sell more bikes overall.
John, you've explained yourself perfectly clearly, but apparently the dolts sitting at their computers know better than the people actually racing the bikes and making decisions on behalf of their own futures. the level of stupid in this thread, re. Rude, is even higher than normal. Free will people, just because he didn't make the decision YOU want him to make, doesn't mean he made the wrong decision. And even if you think he did, guess what, it's not your life, it's his and if he wanted to continue racing DH, he probably would have made that decision.
Your "free will" has no power here on a DH forum!
PS, Richie had his own nice write up on this subject on the book of faces!
PS, Richie had his own nice write up on this subject on the book of faces!
regardless of what discipline he's racing, rocks still need to be scared of RR Jr
having met him on quite a number of occasions, i'm having a difficult time imagining how he would express "super excited". Maybe with some push-ups or jump squats.
Are you being for real? That is all that's selling. DH bikes sure aren't. If you don't believe me, talk to somebody we both respect, Dave Turner, about it. He will tell you first hand.
And in my own experience in the last two years leading a team that is sponsored by Yeti, I can tell you with all honesty that our team has gotten a ton of 66 bikes sold for them. It was crazy how many people tried our 66 bikes or asked questions about them and then went and bought them. That said, we have not sold them squat for dh bikes. I wish that was not the case, but it is just the truth. People love to watch world cup dh racing, then they hop on their trail bike and go for a ride. The only people buying dh bikes are racers and people who live at the bottom of real bike parks. Riders who just visit bike parks from time to time are just riding their perfectly capable 6 inch "enduro" bikes and that is all that is needed.
I actually am bummed about not seeing Rude racing World Cup DH next year. He is the fastest junior and is also an American and World Cup DH is what I like to watch. But Yeti stands to sell a helluva lot more bikes by marketing their top riders on bikes that are actually selling to he public. I don't like it. It makes my balls droop just thinking about a traditional team like Yeti not being on the World Cup Circuit. But this is what happens when thousands of pudgy middle aged men on MTBR control the MTB market. They want enderpo bikes with insignificantly slightly bigger wheels and they want them now and they are not buying anything else!
That. Most DH bikers are <25 and that means they are BROKE.
Enduro is more friendly toward older and therefore richer riders who will pay RETAIL and buy complete bikes. They will ride less but as long as it doesn't kill DH it's a good thing. Many companies might treat DH like you've said - as an advertising method for the company. (I think Giant does that).
no ****. how can anyone who pays any attention to this sport not see this?
I think the answer is in both Jeremy and Bizutch's posts.
I'm no marketer, and I'm not in the industry, but I think DH drives the interest in our sport, but the participation is where the money is for manufacturers. Jeremy, I'm presuming the pits where you had your bikes on display were at a DH race right? The enduro race I attended had no pits.
Bizutch, you draw a comparison to moto enduro, which has tons of participants, but few spectators, whereas supercross gets spectators, but that doesn't translate to sales of supercross bikes. I'm not sure if it's true or not, but that comparison defeats your argument. Supercross generates the views, but what sells are trail bikes.
I think it'll be the same in mountain biking. DH draws the eyeballs, and drives sales of trail bikes. Enduro is the participant format.
Personally, I'm dissapointed to see Yeti turn away from DH. I think they've been such a great team, developing such awesome talent over the years. I also think that being out of the DH limelight will hurt their sales of trail bikes in the long run because DH is where the eyeballs are, and it drives brand awareness. But that's not based on any research or numbers, just a hunch.
I'm no marketer, and I'm not in the industry, but I think DH drives the interest in our sport, but the participation is where the money is for manufacturers. Jeremy, I'm presuming the pits where you had your bikes on display were at a DH race right? The enduro race I attended had no pits.
Bizutch, you draw a comparison to moto enduro, which has tons of participants, but few spectators, whereas supercross gets spectators, but that doesn't translate to sales of supercross bikes. I'm not sure if it's true or not, but that comparison defeats your argument. Supercross generates the views, but what sells are trail bikes.
I think it'll be the same in mountain biking. DH draws the eyeballs, and drives sales of trail bikes. Enduro is the participant format.
Personally, I'm dissapointed to see Yeti turn away from DH. I think they've been such a great team, developing such awesome talent over the years. I also think that being out of the DH limelight will hurt their sales of trail bikes in the long run because DH is where the eyeballs are, and it drives brand awareness. But that's not based on any research or numbers, just a hunch.
Isn't this how this always goes but the consumers and industry loves change. There was down hill, then it was free ride bikes, then it was park bikes, followed closely by slopestyle bikes, then it was dh bikes again and now its Enduro.
Still trying to get over the fact that Yeti/FOX (Yeti Factory team) has turned its back on DH. They have been such a huge profile team over the last few years, seemingly going from strength to strength from year to year.
They're responsible for the style of coverage we all wait for post WC's, due to their years of work with a younger Clay Porter.
As much as I hate the entire essence of enduro and everything it stands for, this is probably a good business decision for the company. I roughly gauge that close to 90% of Yeti's worldwide sales are made up of Alloy/Carbon Hard-tails (whatever they call them), SB66,SB66C,SB75,SB75C,ASR5,575,575C, ETC,ETC.
Again I imagine the following 10% of their sales is made up of DJ frames,Cross frames,BMX frames if they still make them, 303DH frames and then shirts and mugs, as we all know how all Yeti owners long for all sorts of **** with the yeti logo on it.
So for a company of their size, the fact that they are pumping huge money into a race team which the potential for such a small return, without even considering all the money consumed in their R&D dept. Furthermore this R&D dept has been pumping out DH bikes of all shapes and sizes for the last decade or so, and I have owned one (303 WC DH 09 I think, the one Blenkinsop won Schladming on all those moons ago).
As for Mr. Rude I think its a bad time for him to leave the DH scene, especially if he has devoted his last few years to it, with a rainbow jersey on his back. I do believe it was a very smart decision by graves as it seems to suit him down to a tee,also the fact that he's not the astest descender in the world and he's getting on age wise. It makes me think if Cam Cole previous season went a bit more to plan, and Rude was not forced to look up towards Graves, would it all have turned out this way. Rude's build would be far more suited to BMX and DH as opposed to enduro, didn't graves loose like 15kg to race DH and then even more for his latest project. Rude is built like a ****ing bear, but this might be counterproductive for such a endurance demanding discipline. See photo below for instance.
Food for thought I guess. BTW this isnt me having a go at Yeti as it may be taken, more of a reluctance to change
They're responsible for the style of coverage we all wait for post WC's, due to their years of work with a younger Clay Porter.
As much as I hate the entire essence of enduro and everything it stands for, this is probably a good business decision for the company. I roughly gauge that close to 90% of Yeti's worldwide sales are made up of Alloy/Carbon Hard-tails (whatever they call them), SB66,SB66C,SB75,SB75C,ASR5,575,575C, ETC,ETC.
Again I imagine the following 10% of their sales is made up of DJ frames,Cross frames,BMX frames if they still make them, 303DH frames and then shirts and mugs, as we all know how all Yeti owners long for all sorts of **** with the yeti logo on it.
So for a company of their size, the fact that they are pumping huge money into a race team which the potential for such a small return, without even considering all the money consumed in their R&D dept. Furthermore this R&D dept has been pumping out DH bikes of all shapes and sizes for the last decade or so, and I have owned one (303 WC DH 09 I think, the one Blenkinsop won Schladming on all those moons ago).
As for Mr. Rude I think its a bad time for him to leave the DH scene, especially if he has devoted his last few years to it, with a rainbow jersey on his back. I do believe it was a very smart decision by graves as it seems to suit him down to a tee,also the fact that he's not the astest descender in the world and he's getting on age wise. It makes me think if Cam Cole previous season went a bit more to plan, and Rude was not forced to look up towards Graves, would it all have turned out this way. Rude's build would be far more suited to BMX and DH as opposed to enduro, didn't graves loose like 15kg to race DH and then even more for his latest project. Rude is built like a ****ing bear, but this might be counterproductive for such a endurance demanding discipline. See photo below for instance.
Food for thought I guess. BTW this isnt me having a go at Yeti as it may be taken, more of a reluctance to change
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To clarify, in terms of it selling bikes, I don't think the amount of marketing dollars that are being reallocated on Enduro racing will sell that many more bikes. I think the SB66 sells itself and people like Graves and Rude racing enduro isn't a good way to gain market share (my opinion).
I thought enduro racing would be more XC riders and racers migrating to a more exciting fitness format with XC racing and budgets morphing into Enduro racing.
Yeti is just one company shutting down WC DH for Enduro...that I get. But from what I gather, the industry is dropping everything for this race format and throwing a lot of money at it.
Enduro racing was infantile when the explosion in "enduro riding" bikes in 27.5" and 29" dress took off. The demand for bike designs with large travel and/or larger wheel sizes preceeded this race format.
I hate typing my random (but what seem really clear cut) thoughts.
Just going back to the moto comparison, anyone know how big a Honda or KTM budget is for enduro racing compared to Supercross?
I agree with Slyfink. I'm gonna let him clarify everything I spit out from now on.