The Pinkbike Podcast: Aaron Gwin on Winning, Team-Swaps and What He Would Give for a Rainbow Jersey

 Do you even think we’d rather listen to weird Canadian accents over British ones?

 @scary1 There’s never enough Aaron Gwin.

 Daymnnnn boyyyyyy

 Podcaster Problems! The Struggle Is Real!

 Sweet. Thanks for the heads up. I’ll give this a miss and listen to yours tomo instead…

 Ah! It’s Henry! Twice the Brits twice the Gwinn!

 Your podcast is great as well!!

 @marthinpercamp: thanks @marthinpercamp

 @chopper-uk: ha, thanks for the support! Just listened to the Pinkbike one and there's very little overlap other than some Windrock chat, so that's a relief.

 Great work- I love that Gwin talked about how when he showed up to the broadcast box that others had a bunch of resources as paid broadcaster. I found it funny as I felt Gwin added 93-99.99999999999% more insight that the other two commenters whenever he was in the box. Shout out to Gwin and really shows how well he knows his craft. I hope he races next year but if for some reason he can't I sure hope he comes back to commentating. He crushed it.

 @snl1200: I agree, it would be awesome if he came back. But in the DT Podcast, he said that if he had to haul himself around to all the races, it would only be for racing. Mayyyyyybe sometime in the distant future.

 Hope he washed his shammy.

 I agree he seems decent and is a great communicator. Here is a technique he uses.

Before criticizing anyone or anything (even if is a response to a direct question) he first praises the person /thing and then qualifies or adds context, before any criticism.

e.g. They are great guys.
I really like those people.
It is great to see them at the races.

Their business has different pressures than being a racer.
It is their first time doing this.

This greatly decreases the chance of an argument.
Takes any negativity away from you and can make you look better.

*"The only person you should not praise (and qualify) before you criticize them is yourself."
(both online and in person) Quote from me.
*(Everyday life. so not Adolf Hitler or Osama bin Laden.)*

 I sort of interacted with him once in Leogang. We were a group of dudes trying to meet friends at the hotel where they stayed, but as it was after opening hours already the front door was locked. As we were discussing what to do Mr Gwin walked into the lobby. It looked like he was trying to find someone from the staff. He saw us standing outside and decided to open the door for mere mortals. We had a quick nice chat and everyone went their way. Sounds super boring as I read it but it was huge for us back then. Generally all these WC racers are super chill people always ready to interact with the fans. At the same race I met the Rat when he was warming up on a bike lane. He liked my SS park bike and I would never ride multiple gears again.

 Cripes man that is rough.

 I’m just glad that I don’t have to hear about Gwin’s politics.

 @dualsuspensiondave: So important you had to type that twice, from Bellingham none the less.

 @atrokz: I didn't type anything twice. That's a website issue you dolt. What does Bellingham have anything to do with it? I lived in the midwest and traveled to the south my whole life up until a year ago.

 @dualsuspensiondave: cool story bro. you have two comments in here stating the exact same thing.

 It was a good day.

 Hi, similar message to @oldfut but I didn't want to just go and not acknowledge this. When we recorded the podcast, Aaron and I talked about the intersection between faith and the dangers of racing quite a lot. However, upon reflection, we decided to save it for another time but being the idiot I am I didn't remove the reference in the intro. I have since done this, but if it doesn't make sense that's why. Thank you.

 @henryquinney: I was confused. Thank you for clarifying.

It is sad that a trigger warning is needed for discussions of faith. I don’t fault you or Aaron. It is just the state of the world.

 And likewise, those chose no spirituality (or religion) & strive to be free of them are ridiculued too - particularly by the "religious" and "spiritual". 10s? 100?s of millinos of people killed in inquisitions & religious wars worldwide by the very "religious" and "spiritual" ancestors so - not a lot of ground to stand on.

Meanwhile - most of us are actually good, loving people trying to go well & live good lives, have fun, take a morning dump, tell a few jokes, eat some good food & bev's, get some sleep, have a purpose in life, have some friends. If people just respect others and love themselves, they can love anyone and anything else. Religion and the amorphous "spirituality" are not at all required to feel, love, give, ponder, regret and the 1000's of other things humans feel - its universal. In fact, I would say the dilute and blind us to our true humanity & feelings.

That religion or spirituality believe they have a lock on love, universal mysteries, serendipity (etc) is beyond simplistic. Were this true, religious wars could not exist - or witch hunts, inquisitions, and the endless purges to wipe out the infidels, godless others, and heathens that don't look to outsiders for help.

That being said - I could care less if Gwin (or you) proclaim your gods & spirit all day here... have at it. Fly yr flags & be yourselves. We don't have to agree & its better to read up & know what others think that to just know your own views. Of course none of this - and nothing Gwin could say about "God" has anything to do with bikes. Its just bikes.

 @Mtn-Goat-13: Careful climbing down from that soapbox.

 To quote Leterekenney “come down off the cross there Jesus. We need the wood”

 The way “spiritual people” have behaved lately in this country with regard to women, minorities, and the freedoms of other peoples religions, I’m not terribly bothered if they’re mocked a bit.

 @Mtn-Goat-13: if u gonna write several paragraphs about something and then say u don't care about it, at least use the correct terminology.

 @blinglespeed: I believe Tom Waits said that first (though could have been used before). Great quote nonetheless, but in the context of the song I think it has a different meaning.

 @Trailfingers: nice. Tom Waits is way cooler.

 @blinglespeed: which ones? The ones online, the ones portrayed by the media, or the ones in your neighborhood?

I'm not saying you don't have a good example. Just noticing that the more face to face the interaction, the less toxic.

 @crussell: careful indeed. I'm not a religious person, but the 20th century is a showcase for some *pretty bad* atheists, well up in the body count running with religious wars and inquisitions throughout history.

 @henryquinney: when is that other time? Why was it removed?

Great questions, thanks for the pod.

 I think that's pretty fair, 500 years ago you would throw stones at us, a little bit of irony form atheists is well deserved.

 @crussell: Didn't promote my own religion or lack of - just pointing out the "ridiculed" are pretty much everyone.

 @savagelake: I'm saying - and its obvious - that 1) religious or spiritual people do not have a lock on being ridiculed Ior having ideas about how to live a good & moral life) and 2) I am not bothered whatsoever - even as a self proclaimed lifetime aethiest that thinks zero of "God" that Gwin attributes "God" to his skill or wins - he should express that and it doesn't irk me in the slightest. I wanna hear it all b/c its the disagreement that literally helps me find my way, not a bunch of tools patting me on the back without any basis to think otherwise.

I didn't tell anyone to STFU - on the contrary I said its best to say all that and consider it even if you disagree - sounds like you didn't even read my comment and are plastering over it with yr own opinion.

 @henryquinney: I would really like to hear this part of the podcast if possible.

 @Mtn-Goat-13: nope. u said u could care less, and i think u meant to say u could not care less. unless u meant that u care a lot, and in that case, that was very nice of u.

 @savagelake: Chill grandma - I don't mean I don't care what that have to say - I"m saying I'm not offended by Gwin (or anyone) attributing their wins to "God" by saying so. Surely I could've worded that differently since you insist you know what I mean when I know what I meant... but hey - if you insist the words I wrote mean that to you - then eat it up and enjoy. This is why words on a screen (or even books, esp those written 1000s of yrs ago in cultures that don't exist any longer) are so easy to confuse. People interpret everything differently, even when its meant to be very plain & simple.

 I too, would have been interested in the intersection of faith and racing or competition. Especially because it would give us some insight into Gwin's mindset over the years. That being said, it's also great to listen to the word without context, because sometimes peoples spirituality, political views, etc can influence how willing we are to listen to the rest of the on-topic stuff.

 www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcS1bNSSmTU
1:58 for inside line shenanigans.