Appreciate

It’s easy sometimes to become numb to the sheer talent we see in MTB videos, don’t you think? Like many of you, I've kicked off this lunch hour watching Danny Mac’s Cascadia video. If you haven't seen it yet, it's more logic defying, full mental. Danny starts on the rooftops of Spanish apartment block and works his way down to the sea following what I can only describe as the scenic route (see - https://goo.gl/SGafUP).

I first had this thought watching helmet cams Red bull Rampage. Aside from the 70+ foot gaps which I *actually* can't get my head around, I would genuinely struggle to drop in from that starters ledge and yet because we see all these riders drop in, it becomes the norm. 

Since then, I haven't really picked my jaw up off my desk at work, admiring the sheer flow, skill and balls of these gentlemen. If it's watching Remi Metallier tearing through Coast Gravity Park, Cam McCaul being, well, Cam McCaul or Danny Mac's Cascadia, I feel like I am appreciating everything more than ever and it's pushing my riding to a whole new level.

So sit back, get your lunch time brew, watch these and next time you're out on the trails, have a think about how these guys would ride it.

Remi @ Coast

Sam Reynolds @ Rampage

Cam McCaul - 3 Bikes, 3 minutes

Success isn't Everything

When your hobby has a competitive element to it, there is always a danger that you can psych yourself out of things and your once favourite past time becomes a chore.

Pilgrim
I have just read Sam Pilgrim's article on Pinkbike. It's a really interesting insight into the life of a professional mountain biker. Pro's are probably the envy of anyone who enjoys riding bikes. The thought of getting to travel the world and riding your bike every day is surely the dream! Well, yes, in theory, but it's not all parties, trails and free bikes.

Careful what you wish for...
Now, I have never been a professional mountain biker, and quite often, the demands of my job get in the way of being able to ride my bike as much as I would like. But when you have big companies supporting you financially in your globetrotting bike riding exploits, there comes an expectation to perform. Especially, in Sam's case, if you are the world champ.

For me, the best thing about mountain biking is being in a stress free environment, being able to get away from all the demands of everyday life and let loose on the trails. That would all change with the weight of expectation.

Whether your sponsors say so or not, it would be difficult to not feel the pressure. Sometimes, even you can be your own worst enemy. It's the same in your 'normal' day jobs. The people who pay the wages expect some level of performance. Throw into the mix that the level of performance requires tricking 30 foot jumps with little margin for error, that would really add some pressure.

Respect
Whether you can sympathise with the pressure that is on professional athlete, surely you can agree that it adds to the respect they earn every time they huck themselves off a kicker or hurl themselves down a mountainside, knowing just what could be on the line.

What We're watching this week (It's not even a little bit MTB)

So these videos are not strictly MTB (not even a little bit) but we cannot stop watching them. Both incredibly inspiring edits for different reasons.

Hillside Dirtjam

Firstly we have a re-cap of Cam White's Hillside Dirtjam. Cam is someone we have been fans of for quite some time. One of the huge contingent of BMX riders who constantly push and break the boundaries of what is possible. Thinking about it, we can't think of a BMX rider who doesn't do that. All you have to do though, is watch the previous highlight reels of this contest to see how rapid progression is in BMX riding. We will never get bored of watching people go this huge and nailing big tricks. Enjoy. 

Skateboarding Rules

You all seemed to really enjoy my piece on how I feel about the suggestions of skateboarding in the Olympics so it probably comes as no surprise that I am a huge fan of the sport. It's paved the way for extreme sports entering the mainstream which has made everything more accessible to people, yet it still maintains it's loveable rogue attitude. This video showcases the hard work, dedication, big balls, blood and sweat that go into achieving goal in extreme sports. It doesn't have to be a medal being chased, a race being won or even a shot being made. It all comes down to personal achievement. Whatever your level, I hope this video inspires you as much as it did me to get out on the bike and push personal boundaries.

Sean

Bad Smells...

We're Back!!!!!!
We've neglected All Things MTB for a while, because we're all heavily involved in other projects which are taking up A LOT of our time. You shouldn't be mad though, because it's mainly to do with charity work and you can't be mad at us for charity work.

Anyways...we are back. We didn't *really* go away, just like that bad smell clinging on to your knee pads, even when you wash them, it doesn't actually go away. Not properly.

2015 and beyond...?
So, what can you expect from us in 2015...? Good question. More of the same, all things that go along with the MTB lifestyle, we'll bring you our own riding experiences, reviews of events we are interested in reviewing and anything else we generally feel like writing about.

Stay tuned for our Hard(tail) Lovin' article dropping at the end of the week(ish).

Slopestyle

So, we've got a little bit to catch up on. The introduction of lighter evenings and nicer weather marks the start of competition across Mountain Biking (apart from Whitestyle). Kicking things off properly was Vienna Air King...

It was great to see the some of the worlds best slopestyle and dirt jump rider's back in one place for this FMB World Tour Silver event. The first chance riders get to show off the fruits of their winter training. A chance to get your bangers competition ready for the more important Gold and Diamond events.

The course was fairly straight forward...in the sense that it was a straight line. The huge kickers, gaps, crowds and talent in the field made sure that it was not easy going. The line up might not have had the full compliment of freestyle MTB royalty that we can expect to see later in the year at the likes of red bull district ride, but with X Games gold medallist, Brett Rheeder, rising talent Thomas Genon and the UK's Same Reynolds in the top 10, the competition was fierce.

Kicking off the podiums was the best trick competition. Szymon Godziek stomped a cliffhanger-backflip with all the moto flow and style you could ask for to take first place and coupled with a second place overall, earned himself a wildcard to the district ride.

Perhaps not surprisingly, Trek rider Rheeder took the win for runs of flips and barspins scattered all over the place with the top 3 rounded off by Genon. Brit Sam Reynolds struggled to nail his 720's but provided typically entertaining style for the thousands of spectators earning himself a 10th place finish.

With cashrolls, moto style tricks and a swarm of even more young talent emerging, this season is set up to be an absolute belter.

Check out the photo recap from Pinkbike here - http://www.pinkbike.com/news/photo-recap-2014-vienna-air-king-finals.html.

Sean

Off the Bike

Nothing beats Mountain Bikes, ok? But we *do* have to spend some time off the bike. Because this means we get to have all sorts of fun doing and watching other things as well. Here's a monthly run down of what we're up to...

What we're listening too
Mainly Miles Kane. We're off to see him at the Olympia on Saturday, so he's on repeat and will be for the foreseeable. Check him out for some energetic guitarism and a wonderful dress sense.

What we're wearing?
Topman. Sorry. It's really good though. Short sleeve lumberjack shirts, skateboard esq. long sleeved tee's are ace though. Look.


Get the look






Get the look





What we're watching
The Moto GP started on Saturday, did you really have to ask. We were stoked to see the Brits battling up top. Bradley Smith arguably had the best weekend out of all the Brits with his highest position on the grid and mixing it with the big boys until he binned it in the second half of the race. It was great to see Cal Crutchlow and Scott Redding getting top ten finishes, both riding bikes they're not happy with, the latter a rookie in the class. Sam Lowes also impress with a top ten finish in his first race in Moto 2.

What we're doing
Ironically riding another bike. A stationary one. In a gym. Needs must, rehab for leg injury is necessary and there is less (no) wind.

Sean

Skateboarding (and other extreme sports) and the Olympics

As I am sure a lot of you are aware, there has been a lot of talk about the possibilities of Skate Boarding being a part of the Olympics. Just a lot of you reading this, I'm big fans of skateboarding, and tonnes of other extreme sports as well. The main reason behind this is the inspiration we all get from other extreme sports. Whether that comes from clothing, style, tricks, even equipment, we all share a lot more than you'd expect.

Publicity for all extreme sports is great and I'm be the first to stick it on the TV when its broadcast, but I'm not convinced that the Olympics is the right for skateboarding, or for that matter, whether skateboarding is right for the Olympics.

One of the attractions of sports like skateboarding (maybe more so than MTB) is the rebellious side of things. When you tell people you skate, there is a stigma that goes with that. Some people frown upon it (inexplicably). But there is something quite nice about that. A sense of individuality. And, perhaps contradictory to that, a greater sense of community amongst who you skate with. There is something empowering about being able to make a choice to do something a little out of the ordinary and to really express yourself through a hobby in a way that isn't possible in other hobbies/sports.

Understandably so, there are people in the industry and who take part in extreme sports that are bored of the stigma and want to get their sport out to as many people as possible as many ways as possible. There are obvious bonuses to go with this, namely money. Skateboarding becoming an Olympic sport would pave the way for huge cash injections in to the industry and would pave the way for other extreme sports to get in.

"What about snowboarding?!" I hear you cry. Well, for me, snowboarding and skiing have always been more of a middle class past time. Yes they are extreme sports and incredibly entertaining but until recent years with the Chill Factor in Manchester for example and some bonkers weather, snow has been pretty difficult (expensive) to get too from the UK. Yes, MTB is not cheap either but you *can* get out on anything with two wheels (probably need the rest of a bike as well) and go and shred anywhere. Snowboarding and Skiing has traditionally been a past time of the wealthy and the businessmen and women of the world making it a more favourable sport for the (Winter) Olympics.

I say keep extreme sports as they are. MTB has the FMB tour which can be seen all over the world online, World Cups, World Championships, Skateboarding (and many other things) have the X Games.

Peace
Sean